On our last afternoon at the KOA campground outside of Halifax, we spent some time with our neighbors. They had a campfire so I got to share my marshmallows with them! Yes, it is chilly outside.
leaving Nova Scotia
driving through New Brunswick again
Our drive home took us back along the New Brunswick coast that we saw earlier on our trip.
The only campground that didn’t close a few days after we left was Fundy National Park outside of Alma, so we’re going back for an overnight so we can close down that park!
On an afternoon walk around the campground, we saw these yurts for people to stay in who don’t have tents.
By the time we left, only one other camper was still here. Pretty empty. The campground will be closed in a couple of days.
our last drive out
last of the picture signs
the border
Before we leave Canada, we wanted to share some of our observations after being in the Maritimes for 6 weeks:
- The country is beautiful (what we’ve seen so far).
- The people are friendly.
- The country is bilingual so everything is in English and French.
- They have no pennies.
- Their dollar bills are a coin that’s called a loonie because a loon is on the back (loons are found throughout Canada).
- They have a $2 coin that’s called a “twonie” so they have loonies and twonies.
- When paying with a credit card, the machine is brought to the table rather than the server taking the card to a back room (we like this)
- Drivers are curious and let others merge.
- Gas is expensive.
- Everything is in metric (luckily our GPS turned kilometers into miles).
- Since the country is bilingual, the services on the highway road signs are pictures—we think so they wouldn’t have to use so many words.
- It’s strange seeing our history through Canadian eyes, especially our Revolutionary War and Civil War since they thought then that American might attack to get more land.
- It’s strange seeing how much the British hated the Scots in The Outlander in the mid-1700s and then made the 78th Highlanders the unit staying in the Citadel in the mid-1800s in Halifax. Guess the Scottish immigration to Nova Scotia gave Canada a new look at them, and they’ve been good citizens.
- It’s been interesting watching Murdock Mysteries that take place in Toronto at the beginning of the 20th century. We’re seeing forensic work just coming into police work, new inventions (just saw the first electric car last night), and suspicious (negative) attitudes toward the U.S. government’s intentions.
- Canada’s northern border goes so far north that the country is larger land wise than the U.S.
- A favorite food is poutine: a dish that includes french fries and cheese curds topped with brown gravy. It originated in the Canadian province of Quebec. I just couldn’t bring myself to try it.
So much that we like about Canada. We can’t wait to explore the other provinces.
trip home
Our trip home will take us to the eastern most spot in the nation, LL Bean, Williamsburg, and Raleigh to see our friend Susie. We’re planning on getting home in 1 1/2 week, so I’ll talk to you then and tell you about our trip home.
