East Coast 2018 - Part I

We began the trip to the East Coast with a plan to break the drive up more than normal, mainly due to Jane's knee. Day One was a relatively easy jaunt from home to eastern Ontario, for a quick visit with family for the night.

We set out from there early the next morning, and before long crossed into Quebec. The new by-pass around Montreal (Highway 30) is fabulous, and well worth the low low discount bridge toll price of $2.80 to avoid the stress and chaos.

Most of the day was then spent following the east bank up the St. Lawrence River. By mid-afternoon, we hit the turn at Riviere du Loup and headed due east for New Brunswick. The day suddenly got later as we lost an hour switching to Atlantic Time at the New Brunswick border, and we stopped for the night around 5pm in St. Jacques, just outside Edmunston.

After a quick dinner at Cantine Chez Mel, we settled into our private little cabin behind Auberge Les Jardins for a quiet night.

Day Three began early as well, with a McDonald's and fuel stop in Edmunston before carrying on. Heavy flooding had closed the Trans-Canada around Fredericton, so after a stop to visit Grand Falls, we opted to take the old Plaster Rock road across the interior of the province.....shorter, yes.....but the road gets pretty interesting in spots. At least there was very little traffic, and it's a scenic drive if you like trees and wildlife.

We emerged near Miramichi with our tires miraculously intact, and sped southeast on better roads along the Gulf of  St. Lawrence and towards the bridge to Prince Edward Island.

Bienvenue!

Crossing into New Brunswick.....and losing an hour!

Cabin #1 at Auberge Les Jardins, St. Jacques, NB

Grand Falls, NB

The Plaster Rock "short cut"