Four Wheeled Adventure in a VW Euro-Van Camper….Trip Report….

Rolled into Yarmouth...not much there since the demise of the Portland/Bar Harbor; USA Ferry. Yarmouth to me is a bit just like Corner Brook, NFLD, nothing there anymore except the hustle and bustle of fast foods, Walmart, gas stations... sad really sad. The loss of the Ferry had a great impact on the Town. Look at Lunenburg, Digby, etc..why can't the Town fathers rejuvenate this well known Harbor of Yarmouth?

Camped outside Town amid hordes of mosquitos... then headed to Digby for the ferry ride to Saint John, NB.

Drove through a large part of Acadian French section of the lower NS coast..











Of course this area is influenced by the Bay of Fundy tides..



Sharon needed her juices.... stop at a vegetable/fruit stand... Local fresh fruits..





Told you it was good...



Then a drink from this cool, fresh roadside stream piped for locals....









Lots of impressive churches along the way....





Cheers....

Tidal flats...







Here one also cultivates the Digby scallop..





Digby Harbor..









three years ago this was our favorite Scallop house right on the fishermans wharf..it's no more.









Boats at low tide...



Boats at high tide...













Digby's Fish Chowder..great flavor, plenty fish bu also lots of tatters .



Campers lunch..

Pan fried Haddoch... Digby's scallops..



The grand Dame...





cheers...

So ends the day here in Digby...on to Saint Johns, NB tomorrow morning via 3 hr ferry.

Ferry Terminal-Digby, NS > Saint John, NB..









Camp dinner..



Smoked Haddoch..



Local Rhubarb/wild strawberry pie...



Until the next shore..

cheers...

Slept good in this cooool Digby Town although the breeze died and the M'quitos invaded the campground...marinated outselves in Deet :huh.... survived the night! Then at 0800 hrs sailed on the good ship 'Princess of Acadia' across the bay of Fundy toward Saint John, NB.

StarBucks landed here with it's coffee and WiFi(1.3 GB/s). Coffee is good compared to Timmie Horton! So here's maybe the last report from Canada:huh.

Harbor Terminal of Digby..





Original Ships Bell...





Exit to the Bay of Fundy..



Adieu NS...



















3 hour sail surely put Emma to doze off... No sea sickness, no fuss,...



New Brunswick in the distance..



Working Port of Saint John, NB



The bow opens...



Into the City..







Kings Park, Saint John, NB





















NB's Police...











She finally got her juices...




cheers....

Some three years ago Sharon was here...

















Lunch at our fav place... were here three years ago also in our moto/sidecar making a trek to St. Anthony, NFLD for an iceberg hunt!



This is the real stuff.... genuine Ceasars salad; hand made; genuine ingredients...none of the bottled stuff...







Hard a work...no hurry...





A work of art... bravissimo...excellente...aahhhh....



A rare sigh of another VW Eurovan..this one from California...wooo...





Left Saint Johns in the afternoon under threatening skies... since the USA border was only 120 miles and we were hardly eager to return...

So ditched camping for the day and decided to divert to a Town called St. Andrews.. no adds on the road; no signs indicating any lodging...

Lo and behold what a jewel we found... totally obscured from tourists.....

So here we are:

St. Andrews founded in 1783......a Town that is located on the Canadian side, south west corner of New Brunswick on the scenic Passamaquoddy Bay..25 min. from Maine. Settled by Loyalists after the US revolution. It continues to reflect the dominant themes of Loyalist social order--peace, order and stability. That's what we like... Sharon wants to move here of the many places she wants to move .....!!

cheers..

Stayed at the Europa, a European style Inn run by an Austrian couple.., neat..German spoken here!





















Tough competitor against Twillingate's Fish chowder...















Thursday Morning local Market...





Adieu Canada..fare thee well

Cheers.............

Reluctantly crossed into the USA... immensely enjoyed Canada. No real traffic, friendly people..... etc, etc.

But before we left we decided to visit the Town Hall of St. Andrews as it was open to visitors.. and met the Mayor of the Town. Charming Loyalist fellow. Was full of information; politics, environment; crime; food; Canadians..Americans... Oh, Marriot is buying the or already has bought the Alonquin Inn. An immensely beautiful resort... Marriot has the $$$$ to refurbish the whole shebang!



He presented us with a book on the History of the Town.. Campside readin'..



Last look of the other side..



Getting in line at the US/Canada border at Calais/St.Stephens..



Border Terminal..



Crossing into Calais, Maine..



St. Andrews is across the river from Maine.



All things Wild Blueberries...nothing special...



One more lobsta' roll taste test, that of Maine.. 2 rolls for $15.00..



Friggin' good...wooo....



The many faces of Maine...





On to Mt. Desert Island; Southwest Harbor, Mansett, Bass Harbor, etc..

Camped at Acadia National Park..

Town of Southwest Harbor..











Reminiscent of my sailing days..








Lobsterman making his rounds..



Genuine Bakery in Town..





She chose...





Visited this quaint store in Bass Harbor... the gentleman is wheel chair bound and sells his ship models, paintings, books with his wife who knows ASL .











cheers...

Camped at Acadia/Mt. Desert National Park.. $20 bucks for 2 nights; no electricity, no showers; killer DownEast mosquitos....but great camp fire; cool shade; lots of scenery..great Town (Southwest Harobr).





Who dat?



Giving Emma some dinner left overs...



then at night....







Next day for lunch...at the sea shore..











The constant sea breeze makes one hungry... from Camp it takes a good 1 mile to get there...





Rolled thru Belfast, Camden.....













As you cross the bridge into Wichasett..this lobster vendor is well known among those who travel on US 1. Always has long lines especially on weekends... bypased it for another great eatery...





This one's better abut a few miles down the road..



Best fried whole body clams ..



Bath, Maine...ship works. This is where most of the Aegis missile cruisers are born for the US Navy....

Sorry no better picture...pretty off limits..



Now for you VW bus lovers... there are Vanagons, Busses, VW beetles, etc...collector items, etc.etc.. A bit outside Belfast...













Rolled into the L.LBean owned Town of Freeport. Did some shopping for essentials. Booked a Motel room for $$$$; killed our camp savings!

Since we're pretty Lobstered out!! ..

Ate some different camp food this time.....





cheers...

Exited Maine..into New Hapmshire; climbed Mt. Washington there in our VW Eurovan...camped in Stowe, VT. Went up Lake champlain's Islands.....crossed into NY.. :eek1 ... re-routed back to Canada for a bit. Missed Tim Horton's . Here now in Cornwall, Ont.

Homeward bound tomorrow...!

Many thanks for following...

cheers....

Safe trip to home. Enjoyed your trip report and in case you didn't know, we have been having three and half weeks of rainy days before we finally have 7 straight sunny days! So if you notice river is 17 feet higher than normal, you know why!

still reading of course
how did i EVER leave this place?
what an adventure
now i need to buy one of YOUR NEW VEHICLES...
do you know of any others for sale?
good Lord.... something else after which i MUST now lust

thanks for an awesome ride report
WOW
i've missed the 2 of you....a lot

These can be had from:http://www.gowesty.com/vehicle_sales.php

or:http://www.poptopheaven.com/intro.asp?ref=poptopheaven

plus advertised ones across the USA and Canada, although for a hefty price as they are no longer produced nor newer ones coming over from Germany. The Eurovans are called T4. Germany is now building T5 and T6. None of these will come across the Pond.

View the T5 Camper on utube(British)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkVYxb8r-sU

youtube(German)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78n2ahBGQ-4


cheers...

When I read that line about Bass Harbor I wondered if you were the guy who posted the pic of that Westy on the Samba. I can't believe no one has bought that thing and towed it home.

No, it wasn't me. Didn't know that this one was listed in Samba. This Vanagon was pretty well hidden a bit outside Bass Harbor in an obscure neat neighborhood. One would have missed if if staying on the main road.

cheers...

Great ride report 😊😊
I would still check on trying a blog better control over your pictures

Keep writing

Bob

Looking good Elmer. Nice to see some of the places I hit a few years ago when we met up in Quebec. Whole different trip in the van though, I would love to do the trip again in my van but will probably just have to take the GS rig back up.

Hola Dana...

I understand that the TLH is now paved to something like 75% ?, but you got to do route #138 in Quebec and head slowly for Natashqhuan... have then lift your GS onto the good ship "Bella" and enjoy visiting all these Villages, exit and ferry over to Newhoundland.... head to Twillingate... eat cheap Lobster; ferry to NOva Scotia..head to Glennora Distillery(only single malt in N. America)... you'll be in heaven.

cheers...

Hola back at you,
I am glad I hacked the TLH when I did since I knew they were working on pavement. I also got to do phase III when it had just opened up, with just a few construction zones but rideable all of the way.

I heard some rumblings that Claude and a few others were thinking of heading up that way next year and I talked to Stroker about maybe heading up there again with them. Oh well so much to do and so little time especially having a job to support the fun. Enjoy your travels Amigo and give Sharon a hug for me.

Stop, Stop, Your killing me! I read your Translab ride a few years ago and had to do the Gaspie and Nova Scotia with the Side Car, read your Newfoundland trip and ended up in St.Pierre! Been to Canada twice this year and now I see this. Guess we're doing the North Shore next summer. Oh the pain, the pain!

Hi rnbltt... glad you enjoyed these trips yoursellf. Fun wasn't it although a bit $$$ too. But what memories you have gathered for your kids!
Might do one more... outa West to Banff, BC and surrounding areas; it's icefield highway...then maybe to Yellowknife, NWT, IF the VW Eurovan is up to it.

You ride safe..

cheers..