Detours & Discovery: Piloting Challenges & Wonders in Campbellton, New Brunswick.

I have noticed that it’s a bit harder to stay informed on what is happening in the United States, or even our home state, since we have been in Canada for so long. The algorithms that “Big Tech” uses to control our web interface, seem to have changed to deliver news and information with a Canadian slant. When you spend as much time on Google trying to find restaurants, museums, concerts, and walking trails in the area as we do, then there’s a lot of information for those algorithms to use. With this in mind, one of the local news events that has been bombarding our online feeds has been the wildfires, especially those in New Brunswick.

After departing from Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.), we proceeded to the northwest region of New Brunswick, arriving in the town of Campbellton, situated along the Restigouche River. And this is where Real Life meets RV Lifestyle. Our planned route had us heading through the middle of a New Brunswick wildfire in Miramichi. An 18-mile stretch of Highway 8 was closed because of said wildfire and Google Maps selected a 25-mile detour route to bring us safely around the area. The prevalence of wildfire updates in our online feeds ensured we stayed informed, and we were already aware of the change in our intended route several days before we set out. It was a long day of driving, but we arrived in Campbellton without incident. As soon as we parked in our campsite, we were struck by the awesome view of the Van Horne Bridge which spans the Restigouche River. The steel through truss/steel deck truss bridge opened in October of 1961 and connects the provinces of Québec and New Brunswick. Despite the wildfire detours, our journey to Campbellton highlighted the unique experiences and unexpected beauty that come with life on the road. Moments like these remind us to embrace the adventure, adapt to change, and appreciate the stunning landscapes.

Welcome sign (French side), Campbellton, NB

 

Van Horne Bridge as Viewed from our Campsite

That being said, the forest fires continued to encumber our activities. We were able to do some sightseeing, but a provincial park with hiking trails that we had planned on visiting for a day was closed. Here are couple of the sightseeing and adventures we were able to take advantage of, in no particular order:

The Battle of Restigouche National Historic Site

The Battle of Restigouche National Historic Site commemorates the last significant naval battle of the Seven Years' War in North America, marking the final defeat of New France's attempts to maintain its colonies in North America. The battle's importance lies in its role as the decisive moment that sealed the fate of New France, its strategic significance in the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War), and its resulting impact on the British Empire's control over North America. The site preserves the underwater archeological remains of the French flagship Machault and other French vessels, offering a unique window into the battle and its context. We were fortunate enough to get a tour of the museum, in English, with a museum guide dressed in an official period costume corsair uniform. (Cosairs were “freelance” French fighters or privateers). 

 

Walk along the Shoreline at La Petite Pointe walking trail in Pointe-à-la-Garde, Quebec

La Petite Pointe Walking Trail Along the Restigouche River

Trying to find a hiking / walking trail that was not closed because of the forest fires proved to be a bit of a challenge. All parks in New Brunswick were temporarily closed which meant crossing the bridge to find a trail in Quebec. So off we drove across the bridge and northeast into Gaspé Peninsula to a village called Pointe-à-la-Garde, Québec. Here we found a short out and back walking trail that followed the Restigouche River. 

 

Walked along the Campbellton Esplanade & Salmon Blvd

We strolled along the city's waterfront, down Salmon Blvd and along the Restigouche River. It was about a mile long and had some wonderful art sculptures commemorating Campbellton’s place as a prime Atlantic salmon fishing area. This is highlighted by Restigouche Sam, the 28-ft. tall Atlantic salmon - a shiny, larger-than-life, stainless-steel sculpture.

 Salmon Plaza with Restigouche Sam, Campbellton, NB

Throughout our stay in Campbellton, I found the land and geography so interesting. Looking north, the land is quite hilly, one could actually call it mountainous, and very heavily forested, presenting an extraordinary panorama of green hills against a blue-sky backdrop. What we are seeing as we gaze across the river is the continuation of the Appalachian Mountain chain, as it proceeds northeast and ends in the Gaspe Peninsula in northern Quebec. The southern bank of the Restigouche River is in New Brunswick. New Brunswick, as part of the Maritime provinces, runs on Atlantic Standard time (1 hour ahead of Eastern Standard time). Directly across the river is Pointe-à-la-Croix, Quebec. The river is the dividing line between Provinces. Quebec runs on Eastern Standard time like the east coast of the US. Conclusion: We had coffee most mornings gazing at the wonderous scenery across the river whilst also looking back in time! Think about that for a hot second, as we tell… the Rest of the Story.