Waking up at 5 am, having a cup of coffee all while watching the sun come up is not hard to take. This was taken from the step of our 5th wheel.
On Tuesday we decided to take Rue de la Montagne which leads from town to the summit of Mont Saint Joseph. The climb is from sea level to an altitude of 555 m (1821 feet). The grade is from 13% to 35%. And yes while going up and then later coming down our ears popped several times. At the top admission is $10 per person which will give you access to breathtaking views and the church. A boardwalk with a series of interpretive panels highlights the history and geography of the area. I have labelled the picture below to give an idea of where we were.
Humans have always been fascinated with mountains, they represent a challenge and create the feeling of being closer to the "Great Creator". So at this point a disclaimer is needed. I minored in Anthropology in university and my belief is in the evolution of man. So, that being said here is the story of Mont Saint Joseph. In the bible, mountains have always been a place where people go to worship God. Eager to be nearer to God people of Carleton-sur-Mer started climbing Mont Saint Joseph since the early 19th century. In 1935, a small chapel was built on top of the mountain. You can rent small domes or chalet style facilities to pray, hike, or bike some of the trails leading in and around Mont Saint Joseph. On Wednesday we drove up the coast, yes in the direction we are heading on Saturday. However, it is a little hard to pull off in little road side parks or scenic outlooks with a fifth wheels. So away we go, it's a beautiful day, the sun is shining, and there are sights to be seen. The first stop was a very small roadside pull-off with breathtaking views of the water and mountains. The next town we stopped at was New Richmond. My French is not great but I can finally pronounce this place. The town has multicultural roots in Mi'gmaq, Acadian, English, Scottish, and Irish. I was amazed at Taylor's Point Park which is where we pulled off. For a small town this park has everything kayaks, canoes, and electric bike rentals, plus a paved bike trail, several hiking trails, and picnic areas. Somewhere out there is a bald eagle flying around...I did not have my large lens so you have to take my word for it. The tide is out, all the birds and the eagle are fishing for crab, mussels, and fish. Our last stop before we turned around was Bonaventure, a place rich in Acadian history. We opted to bypass the museum since we have been to two others. Hugging the coast is a 4 km walkway where one can bike, hike, or in-line skate. Yes, I have a fascination with lighthouses if you can't already tell. In 1902 a short wooden lighthouse measuring 10 metres (34 feet) was erected on Pointe Echouerie. Due to the inability of sailors seeing the light when approaching from the east, the lighthouse was moved two kms to Point Bonaventure in the spring of 1907. In 2005 the lighthouse was moved again this time 4.3 kms to the west side on Bonaventure River where it can be accessed by the public. I can never turn down the chance to go up a lighthouse. I climbed two sets of ladders then crawled through a 3x3 foot hole to reach the top and out onto the balcony. What an amazing view. We have seen some pretty interesting sculptures but this one says it all. You have now arrived at your destination...Plage Beaubassin campground. Got to love it!
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