Saint John New Brunswick, Canada

 



Saint John, New Brunswick (for the Bay of Fundy) 
    
Saint John, Canada's oldest settlement is the gateway to the scenic wonders of New Brunswick. One of Canada's oldest provinces, New Brunswick remains remarkably unspoiled: 85 percent of the province remains unsettled. New Brunswick boasts vast forests, purling streams, gentle hills, rich farmlands, and a spectacular coastline dotted by historic towns. Nature also blessed the area with one of her most astonishing phenomena: the reversing River Rapids. The fierce tides of the Bay of Fundy rise with such force that they actually cause the St. John River to reverse direction and its waters to flow upstream. Saint John's history dates to 1604, when the Sieur de Champlain landed nearby on the feast day of Saint John the Baptist. After the American Revolution, American Loyalists flocked to the area. Saint John became a thriving industrial port. But the catastrophic fire of 1877, declining commerce and decades of neglect gave the town a sad and careworn look for decades. That changed in recent years. Redevelopment of the waterfront and the old district has restored Saint John's charm and its sense of history.
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[Friday, 26 September] to put the clocks forward an hour.    We are thoroughly enjoying the cooked breakfasts.    Don't feel hungry for dinner.    We went down at 9 a.m. to get on the Pink Hop on Hop Off Bus.

The Bus

 
Took the City Route A first, very hilly, beautiful day 21 degrees.   Toured the town not a lot of interest unless we wanted to look at Churches or Museums or go shopping very short route.

The Towns Parks were very nice.

Towns Parks

Got on the B Loop which took us out of town much more interesting.

First lake was the Fisher Lake and the Rockwood Park very pretty.

Fisher Lake

Proceeded across bridge to Fort Howe and saw the Carleton Martello Tower (National Historic Site of Canada. 

Carleton - Martello Tower

Martello Tower

Then caught the next bus to Wolastog Park and Reversing Rapids Falls. 

Margaret at the Falls

There were 120 Steps to the Falls

Bridge above the Rapid Falls

From the top - Road

Saint Johns has the largest tidal system in the world, we had to come in on the tide and go out of the tide in our Boat to Saint Johns.

We went to the falls where the water builds up with the tide and as the tide goes out creates Whirlpools, unfortunately we were a little early, the tide was building up as we left.   We walked to the bottom near the water which was 120 steps and then had to climb back up.

These tides are so powerful (they change a foot a minute!) that they actually reverse the flow of the St. John River.   How does the river go backwards?   The bay is shaped like a tunnel and when the turbulent tides meet the rushing waters of the St John River head on there's no place to go but back upstream.

Autumn colours just coming on Trees



We then caught the next bus back to the ship and walked around some streets before boarding the ship and going through all the procedures on boarding the ship.     We need to show copies of our passports ever time we board the ship and our cards are swiped through a machine.

Margaret with Picaroons

The top of the line Restaurant $25.00 a head is advertising New Zealand Lamb.

The Swimming pools and spa pools are good. 

The ship leaves early today at 4 p.m. because of the tide.

There is 24 New Zealander's on the ship, we have not met any yet.   The drying in the bathroom is excellent.  Something I have noticed is that people are filling thermos Flasks with hot water and take it back to their Cabins for Hot Drinks.