Adventures of Tin Can Lulu

Our bucket list is long for many places we still want to see and experience. We headed to Canada for the first car trip focusing on New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. 

It was a 1700 mile (four day) journey to our first stop in Saint John, New Brunswick. Not hauling Tin Can Lulu allowed us to go farther and faster, and the miles definitely flew by each day.  As we skirted around the big cities on the east coast, the scenery was a lusher green, rolling hills, pine trees and mountains. We drove thru the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia and near the Shenandoah Valley. In New York we went thru the Poconos Mountains. In total we drove thru 12 States (including Florida) before we reached the Maine/Canadian border. Whew!

For our multiple night stays we are using Airbnb’s. We decided to go this route as it gives us the flexibility of more space, kitchens, and washers & dryers to keep up with the laundry. It’s not like Tin Can Lulu, but so far we like the setups.

Saint John is a city on the Bay of Fundy, in New Brunswick, Canada. It’s known for the Reversing Rapids, a phenomenon caused by bay tides colliding with the Saint John River. It is Canada’s oldest incorporated city, established by royal charter on May 18, 1785. The city has a strong industrial base, including oil refining and manufacturing, matched with finance and tourism sectors and research institutions. It is currently the second-largest city in the province.

Our Airbnb was located on Orange Street in the uptown part of Saint John. Older homes that had a lot of character was what the area was comprised of.

We drove the Fundy Trail in a provincial park. It’s known for its dramatic coastal views, waterfalls, and unique ecosystem. The park features a 19-mile scenic drive with numerous lookouts and access to beaches and waterfalls. 

Next we visited Fundy National Park located on the Bay of Fundy, near the village of Alma, New Brunswick. Fundy NP was created on April 10, 1946 and officially opened on July 29, 1950. The park showcases a rugged coastline which rises up to the Canadian Highlands, the highest tides in the world and more than 25 waterfalls. The park covers an area of 80 sq miles along Goose Bay, the northwestern branch of the Bay of Fundy. When one looks across the Bay, one can see the northern Nova Scotia coast. It was foggy during our drive, but that only added to the beauty of this coastline.

Moncton was our next stop in New Brunswick. It is the most populous city in New Brunswick. Located in the Petitcodiac River Valley, it lies at the geographic center of the Maritime Provinces. The city has earned the nickname “Hub City” because of its central inland location in the region and its history as a railway and land transportation hub for the Maritimes. The metropolitan population in 2024 was 188,036, making it the fastest growing metropolitan area in Canada.

Our Airbnb, called the BRIX, was located above a very trendy coffee shop and culinary cooking school. We were walking distance to the downtown area and amazing restaurants.

Earle wanted to see the sea stacks, which is a geological landform consisting of a steep and often vertical column or columns of rock in the sea near a coast, formed by wave erosion. We went to Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park where these rock formations are located. Low tide allows you to walk at the bottom of these formations and see how the ocean erosion forms the sea stacks. It was cool to walk the ocean floor and stand below the stacks!

Have you ever heard of a Tidal Bore? This is a regularly occurring wave that travels up the Petitcodiac River on the leading edge of the incoming tide. The city has a web site where you can check what time the tidal bore will be occurring. It is amazing the impact of the moon’s gravity.

Lastly we did a walking tour of Moncton called Unexpected Moncton. What a great way to see the real city of Moncton. Owner and tour guide Mark, took us to six hidden gems and answered all of our questions about the city. Donna (a local person) participated and she also provided stories and tales about Moncton. It ended up being a private tour and we enjoyed all of the food samples, a visit to the LaRouere Chocolate factory for tastings and various adult drink samplings. The rooftop bar was a wonderful way to end our visit in this marvelous city.

Next up Prince Edward Island and the bike tour!