Van Road East (1) |

We’re on the road again. This time to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. We stayed a few days in the Thousand Islands with friends Alain and Claire from Levis, Quebec, then headed east through Quebec and down to New Brunswick. This post was made from a campsite somewhere in backwoods New Brunswick.

We stayed a night in Montmagny, just east of Levis on the St. Lawrence River at a site with a beautiful view of the river. Just above us at another campsite, there were 2 old guys having a very engaging conversation. Hands waving, mouths wagging, beer cans slogging continuing all afternoon. Then it started raining, even a thunderstorm, but the conversations went on even as they kept their fire going. I thought they must have been making great progress solving the world’s problems.

Next morning at 7AM, while I was making coffee outside with my backpacking stove, yup, sure enough, they were still at it.

Made me think of a story Alain told me the other day. He recently bought a barn, which he’s currently restoring and renovating. Along with all the contents, he inherited a few tons of 100 year old hay.

I thought about 2 cows having a conversation about that hay.

“Hey Angus, what do you think about this 100 year old hay? I love how it flows so smoothly down my gullet.”

“Not sure about that, Bullwinkle. It’s kinda greasy for my taste.”

“But this is a fine, VSOP barn-wood aged delicacy. In the same league as caviar or truffles. But I know, you’re more of a fast food kinda guy.”

“Yes, you’re right. As long as it’s not a Big Mac.”

***

[Click on any photo for the slideshow. Please leave comments at the bottom of the page]

View from our campsite – Thousand Islands

Long Sault Parkway

The Lost Villages

Abandoned attic in The Lost Villages

The Lost Villages

The Lost Villages – remember these desks?

The Lost Villages

Long Sault Parkway

The guys above us at Montmagny

Montmagny

Degelis

Someone lost their nuts!

Shack in NB

NB forest

17 Comments

Add yours

Joanne Estok
July 27, 2022 at 12:51 am


Wow Len! Great memories of our Cape Breton family trip years and years ago!! Have a fun adventure!! Love, Joanne

- dobrucki
  July 27, 2022 at 10:17 am
  
  
  Thanks Joanne
  
Johanne R
July 27, 2022 at 1:22 am


NB dead tree looks like the pic where we were last year at Île aux Grues no? Yes ?

- dobrucki
  July 27, 2022 at 10:18 am
  
  
  Johanne, dead trees all look the same, n’est pas?
  
  - Johanne R
    July 27, 2022 at 12:01 pm
    
    
    effectivement
    
Len Klochek
July 27, 2022 at 3:22 am


Len, what a fun adventure.
Photos are great.

- dobrucki
  July 27, 2022 at 10:19 am
  
  
  Thanks Len
  
Jennifer Gray
July 27, 2022 at 12:09 pm


Hi Len: Great blog as usual. Do you guys ever sit still?
I was intrigued by your Lost Villages pix and googled for more info. Fascinating story on the development of the St. Lawrence Seaway – sad too. I’ve included a link on the story for other readers, below.

Jennifer

https://hauntedwalk.com/news/the-lost-villages-of-the-st-lawrence-river/

- dobrucki
  July 27, 2022 at 12:30 pm
  
  
  Thanks Jennifer. Lost Villages is probably the best free museum I’ve seen, except for the Museum of Terror in Berlin.
  
Peter
July 27, 2022 at 12:17 pm


Len there is a new career ahead of you collating and printing the first book on ‘The thoughts of Cows’ – so far an unknown topic.
It’s interesting that as you drive East the countryside turns sepia – I guess it’s because it’s very old Canada?

- dobrucki
  July 27, 2022 at 12:32 pm
  
  
  the cow whisperer? It’s not really sepia. It’s a grungy, contrasty post-process that I like and use a lot. Works really good in downtown Toronto.
  
Andre Fleury
July 27, 2022 at 2:01 pm


I wonder how much beer the two old guys went through?
Dianne found something you might want to look into one day.
BREWDOCKING!!!

- dobrucki
  July 27, 2022 at 7:41 pm
  
  
  They were always waving beer cans around, but not at 7am.
  
Daphne tonellato
July 28, 2022 at 9:23 pm


Thanks Len, for your great talent once again. The pictures remind me that has been at least 20 years since cycling this area. Perhaps it is time to gather some friends and repeat.
Daphne

- dobrucki
  July 28, 2022 at 9:37 pm
  
  
  Flattery will get you everywhere, Daphne. Hopefully we’ll get the bikes out for a short ride on the Cabot trail, but it may be more of a challenge driving the van up.
  
George Lorenz
July 31, 2022 at 7:42 pm


Len, nice pics! In particular, I like the old bicycle shot.

- dobrucki
  August 1, 2022 at 10:40 am
  
  
  Thanks George, that was at the Lost Villages Museum.