Road trip snippets

* New Brunswick is officially a bilingual province. Being a bilingual couple, we found ourselves speaking Frenglish with most people. The Acadians speak French but it is kind of anglisized. The accent was very interesting. Everyone in the province seemed able to communicate in either language. I kept thinking how harmonious the different subcultures seemed to blend together.

* Everywhere you look, you see the name "Irving". From paper mills to gas stations to nature preserves, you can't miss this name. I began referring to them as the "treekillers". To be fair, there seems to be nothing but forest for endless miles in New Brunswick.

* On our 13th anniversary of meeting one another, we donned bibs and gleefully devoured fresh snow crab. Prior to that, we stopped in at the Hilton for a martini in Saint John. It was $35 plus tip for them. I found this gall offputting.



* 1282 feet long.

* Some signs indicated you to turn just before the intersection, while other intersections had the signs posted on the corner after the intersection. This increased the spousal hostility level in the car. They should probably codify the placing of the signs. Just a suggestion.

* I insisted on following the signs to the world's largest axe. It was a small detour off the highway in a little podunk town. I couldn't picture the axe in my head, "Was it a REAL axe that a surly lumberjack used? Was it displayed inside of a case of some sort?" And then we rounded a corner and POW, this gigantic statue of an axe, or axe if you will, stuck in the ground at the top of a small riverside knoll. A smile inducing detour.

* There were "beware of moose" signs everywhere. Apparently collisions with the beasts kills hundreds every year. We never saw any though.



* It was pouring rain, and we went alone to see the Moncton tidal bore at 9:45pm as listed in the newspaper. It arrived ten minutes late just as we were about to give up. It was just a couple inches but thrilling nonetheless. We ran alongside it as it moved up the riverbed. Total geekdom.

* The ride from Miramichi to Grand Falls is one of the most grueling stretches of highway. Bumpy, curvy and solid forest on both sides of a road for HOURS with no towns or anything in between. You don't want to break down out there.

* I was fascinated by the whole "tide" thing. In Saint John, the river flows over some rocks into the bay. But when the tide comes in, the water flows over the rocks upriver. This is called the reversing falls. I dragged spouse down to the lookout points four times to see it during "stasis" (no movement) and at low and high tides. Finally he said, "Okay, this is the last time and then I don't want to hear anything more about the tides!"

* All in all a great trip. Next time though, we're flying in.



* We bought no souvenirs. This is the souvenir. Moving on now.