Author: kaybrownsite

I woke early, however, the internet was still down so what else can one do? Go back to bed.

Another relaxed start to the morning and another ham and cheese English muffin for breakfast made with husband love (Pete sometimes thinks my blog is OTT so that one was for him).

An empty of the motorhome waste and on the road at 9.25 am

Out past the gorgeous small fishing villages, another beautiful day in Nova Scotia.

A quick stop to restock our food supplies and then back on the road taking the google scenic route along the coast.

Another stop at the small port town of Lunenburg and a lovely wander around the historic town. I just wanted to scoop up the pretty houses and transport them home.

By mid-afternoon, we had reached our destination for tonight, Fisherman’s Cove RV & Campground.

Time to set up camp, washing, a quick walk to the beach for Noah and Pete and then the remainder of the afternoon spent relaxing around the campground.

A simple BBQ for dinner and then a Brown Family, Modern Family series marathon.

They need a haircut!

Cute Houses

Big boat, small boat

Lunenburg

Fisherman’s Friends

Love the colours

Relaxing

Historic Old Town

Can I take you home…

Fisherman’s Cove RV and Campground

Father and Son, the Aussies

Today is the last official day of summer, tomorrow it will be fall, our Autumn.

A nice relaxed start to the morning in a stunning location.

Ham and cheese toasted English muffin made by Peter for breakfast, delicious.

Then, a wonderful bike ride along the coast to the gorgeous fishing villages of Peggy’s Cove and West Dover.

It was a beautiful ride, however, the closeness of the cars along the windy road was a little hairy.

Back to the motorhome for lunch and time to soak up the beautiful scenery.

Internet down, no it’s okay back up again…

The afternoon was spent relaxing around the campsite.

A short walk to Rhubarb Restaurant in Indian Harbour for dinner.

Internet down…

One of the prettiest and relaxed campsites we have stayed at.

Beautiful Scenery

Entering Peggys Cove

Brown Family Ride

Gorgeous Fishing Village

My Bike Buddy

The Cheaters

St Margarets Bay

Peggys Point Lighthouse

Rugged Coastline

Pretty Lakes

Chebucto Peninsula

West Dover

Another cute fishing village

Postcard Pretty

Back to Camp

Cute Houses

Rhubarb for Dinner

Gorgeous Churches

It will be sad (for me) to leave Prince Edward Island, however, as we have only three weeks left in the motorhome and a lot more to see between here and New York, it is time to move on.

P.E.I has been everything I could have ever imagined and I am very grateful that I have been able to spend time here and live a little of the Anne Shirley life. It really has been a childhood dream come true.

Today we will be crossing back over the 8 mile Confederation Bridge to New Brunswick and then over the border into the Province of Nova Scotia.

After a quick run to the end of the campground entry, taking the last P.E.I pics and fighting off blood-sucking mosquitos, we were back on the road at 8.45 am.

Soon we had crossed into beautiful Nova Scotia. A stop at the visitor’s centre to get advice on what to do and see and a stop for lunch and our first Tim Hortons feed. It was average but better than McDonald’s.

The scenery was stunning and after a gorgeous drive, we arrived at our destination for the next couple of days, King Neptune Campground in Peggy’s Cove. We had only booked one night, however, on arrival the outlook was so beautiful that we booked another night on the spot. Regardless of the internet, which is not looking great…

Both Pete and I (separately) went for a lovely afternoon bike ride along the coast. The little bays and seaside houses were breathtakingly beautiful.

A stop for reflection, overlooking the ocean at the Swissair Memorial Site (On September 2, 1998, Swissair Flight 111 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean southwest of Halifax Stanfield International Airport at the entrance to St. Margaret’s Bay. All 229 people on board perished. The crash site was 8 km / 5 mi from the shore, not far from Peggy’s Cove in the South Shore region. A short walking trail (160 m) leads to a monument in memory of the people who lost their lives can be found at the Swissair Memorial Site.)

Across the road to the Make And Break Cafe for a lobster dinner.

Back home to the RV, no internet, one tv channel, time to relax in bed.

Goodbye P.E.I

My morning run

Farmland P.E.I

Driving to Nova Scotia

Our Campsite View

Wild Apples P.E.I

Seaside

Gorgeous Houses Nova Scotia

Brothers

Cornwall KOA

King Neptune Campground

Site 15

Swim?

Boat House

Gorgeous Coves

Peggy’s Cove

Swissair Memorial Site

Amazing Coast

Coastal Ride

Ready to eat!

Lobster

Nova Scotia Sunsets

PJ Pics

It’s the Anne of Green Gables Sightseeing Tour that keeps on giving. Well, I have waited a few years to get here…

Today we will be visiting Charlottetown, the capital of Canada’s Prince Edward Island, the host of the Charlottetown Conference of 1864, spurring the country’s birth and the home of the Confederation Centre of the Arts, where Wes and I will be seeing Anne of Green Gables, the musical.

Pete and Noah have decided to sit this one out…

Noah and Wes were once again ready for their last day at the Kids Kamp.

I combined my morning run and touring to take the last opportunity to visit Green Gables. I managed to arrive before the crowds but the painters were still working. At least I got a whole photo of Green Gables minus the tourists, however, with the painters.

After a lovely walk around the home and gardens, the tour buses began to arrive and it was time for me to leave.

A nice run back to the campground.

The 11 am checkout time arrived and it was also time to pick up Noah and Wes from the Kids Kamp. Once again they had a brilliant time, making Harry Potter wands, playing games, enjoying the attention of the camp leaders and kids.

A stop at the KOA shop to collect their slushie winnings from the scavenger hunt.

The Cavendish KOA has been by far the friendliest and best family campground we have stayed in the USA and Canada. It even had a 24hr laundry and good internet, what more could a girl ask for…

Off and onto Charlottetown.

We decided to park the motorhome at Walmart and take a cab in, rather than try and park it in busy downtown.

A quick stop at Starbucks for lunch and then Wes and I were off to the Confederation Centre of the Arts to see Anne of Green Gables the Musical. After a 3.5 hour show, we left wanting more (I was left wanting more). It was fantastic and a great way to finish our Anne of Green Gables sightseeing tour (my Anne of Green Gables sightseeing tour).

There is another musical, Anne & Gilbert, based on the books Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island, however, I think I may be pushing my luck trying to extend the tour.

Although the boys have enjoyed the Prince Edward Island scenery, they still have no idea who Anne of Green Gables is, and my obsession with her.

Back in a taxi to the motorhome and to Peter and Noah who had enjoyed a lovely walk back from Charlottetown (not so much for Noah) and done the shopping while we were away. Pete even spotted a barge with my other name, ‘Beaver Kay’.

And, onto our destination for tonight, Cornwall/Charlottetown KOA.

We have a spot overlooking the river however the mosquitos are so bad it is difficult to remain outside.

Where to tomorrow? Even we are not quite sure yet.

Green Gables

Welcome to Green Gables

Fresh Paint

Matthew’s Room

Anne’s Room

Marilla’s Room

Lucy Maud Montgomery

Goodbye Anne

Here come the crowds

Winners

Cute houses on my run

Charlottetown

Lunch

We are ready to watch

Anne of Green Gables the Musical

West River

Cornwall KOA

Beaver Kay!

Noah and Wes were bursting to go back to the Kids Kamp and were completely ready for the 9 am starting time.

I used my spare time to go for a lovely run back past Green Gables and up to the Green Gables Post Office.

A run back to the Cavendish Cemetery were both Lucy Montgomery’s grandparents and herself are buried. A run back into the National Park to have one last look at the wild apple trees and then back to the campground.

And back in time to tidy the motorhome and leave by the 11 am checkout.

This was also the time to collect the boys from Kids Kamp and to say that they had an absolute ball would be an understatement. The retired school teachers that took the activity were brilliant, with endless energy and enthusiasm.

The Cavendish KOA has been one of the friendliest campsites we have stayed in.

Time to continue the Anne of Green Gables Sightseeing Tour. One of the remaining tourist spots we needed to tick off was The Anne of Green Gables Museum, which also included the Lake of Shining Waters.

Although, there is a debate on exactly which lake in the Cavendish area is the exact inspiration for the Lake of Shining Waters. Possibly all of them.

After arriving at the museum the boys and I lined up to pay our entrance fee (Pete is going to skip this one). The line was long, not moving and unorganised. Hence, I decided to miss the home and just enjoy the grounds, gardens and Lake of Shining Waters. I was probably still supposed to pay for this, however, on this occasion, it was not going to happen.

The historic Island property was owned by Lucy Montgomery’s Uncle John and Aunt Annie Campbell and was the site she chose for her wedding on July 5th, 1911. It is a beautiful spot and as Lucy Maud Montgomery herself described “a big white beautiful house smothered in orchards that was the wonder castle of my childhood”.

Prince Edward Island would have to be one of the prettiest places I have ever been to. I never want to leave…

Until it gets cold, I believe the winters here are extreme.

Before we left the motorhome to the museum Noah had discovered that he had left his favourite hat at the Kids Kamp. This was a sign. The boys had enjoyed their couple of days so much at the KOA that it was only fair to give them another night.

We jumped into the motorhome and returned to the Cavendish KOA. The boys will have another morning at the Kids Kamp and we will have another two hours on our own.

The evening ended with a Wagon Ride and Scavenger Hunt. Noah and Wes were thrilled, they won the scavenger hunt!

This is how we roll…sleep…

Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Grave Site

Changing of Seasons

Wild Apple Trees

Apples!

Kids Kamp

National Park

“A big white beautiful house”

Anne of Green Gables Museum

Silver Bush

Lake of Shining Waters

Sightseeing

Carriage Rides

Campbell’s Farm

Google Maps!

Gorgeous Church

Gorgeous Farms

Wagon Ride

Awesome Evening

Walking to Dinner

Green Gables Post Office

Cavendish Cemetery

One of the big bonuses of this KOA Campsite is that they offer a Kids Kamp with supervised activities from 9-11 am, Monday to Friday.

Much to Noah & Wes’s disapproval, they were going to attend. They desperately needed other kid interaction and we desperately needed a couple of hours to ourselves.

Even with their procrastination and sleep in, we had them all ready for the 9 am start.

Pete decided to spend his hours relaxing and I  took the opportunity to jump on my bike and start exploring.

My first stop was the Avonlea Village (a recreated rural village based on the village where Anne lived), however, I was a little early and nothing was open until 10 am.

Back on my bike and down the road to the Green Gables Heritage Place. This is the home of Green Gables, the inspiration for the setting in Lucy Maud Montgomery’s beloved Anne of Green Gables.

In real life Lucy Montgomery did not live at Green Gables, it was the home of David Jr and his sister Margaret, cousins of her grandfather.  Lucy lived with her Grand Parents after her mother died of tuberculosis when she was 21 months old.

She came to know her cousin’s farm through her exploration of the woodlands and her own Cavendish home was within walking distance of Green Gables, through the Haunted Woods Trail.

The Green Gables House and Gardens have been restored and decorated as per how Lucy Montgomery described in the novel, and it is magical.

I wandered through the Green Gables House, strolled along the Haunted Wood Trail and through Lovers Lane.

Luckily, I arrived at Green Gables just ahead of most of the visitors. It was beginning to get crowded on my exit. I still did not manage to get a picture of the whole homestead without a tourist in it.

A stop at the gift shop on the way out to buy myself a little Anne of Green Gables souvenir.

Back on my bike and back to Avonlea Village. And who do I bump into?  The remainder of my personal tour group.

The Kids Kamp had finished and they were out on their bikes to see if they could find me.

We decided to cross the road into the National Park and ride to Cavendish Beach. The scenery was breathtaking.

As it was such a lovely day we decided to ride more of the National Park Trails, taking little photo stops along the way. I felt like I was in an Anne of Green Gables novel.

The scenery was gorgeous and it was wonderful seeing all of the wild fruit growing along the trail, apples, blueberries, raspberries…

About 10kms or so later Noah’s little legs were getting tired and we were all getting a little hangry. Time to eat.

Back to Avonlea Village and pizza at Piatto Pizzeria.

Oh no, I have forgotten to visit the Lake of Shining Waters. Back on our bikes and back into the National Park to Cavendish Beach. We had seen it earlier in the day but did not realise it was the Lake of Shining Waters. A photo was taken.

Back on our bikes and back to the campground for a little rest after our long ride and Anne of Green Gables sightseeing.

And, as Anne with an (e) would say “Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it… Yet.”

Welcome to Avonlea

Green Gables

Green Gables with the tourists…

Pretty Gardens

Green Gables with the painter…

Avonlea

Inside Green Gables

Haunted Woods

Anne, Miss Stacy and children

Lovers Lane

O Canada

Biker Noah

Ready for a ride

Wild Fruit

To the Beach

The Browns do P.E.I

Cavendish Beach

Anne and I

Beautiful Scenery

Lake of Shining Waters

Our riding trail

Cavendish

Gorgeous Fields

Anne Shirley’s Green Gables

Today is the big day that we drive to Prince Edward Island. I have only been looking forward to this since I was 10.

Our plan for an early start did not quite happen and we were not on the road until after 9 am, with an additional McDonalds stop along the way.

Soon we were back on the Trans Canada Highway through the wooded forest, with lots more beware of moose signs, but still no moose.

You can already see that a few of the leaves of the trees are beginning to change from green to orange and red. It would be a spectacular sight to see them in all their Fall glory.

In the distance, we viewed a small bushfire and along the road, a terrible crash which looked like the vehicle was a motorhome, it was now almost unrecognisable and in pieces.

We zoomed passed the towns of Fredericton, Oromocto and Moncton and stopped at Salisbury for a light motorhome lunch at the Green Pig Country Market and a play for the boys on the pumpkin blaster.

Onto the Veterans Highway, HWY15 and then back on the Trans Canada Highway.

A stop for gas and then over the huge, long, impressive bridge and onto Prince Edward Island.

And, it was as picturesque as I had imagined it to be, full of gorgeous green farms and pretty farmhouses.

A quick stop at Lucy Montgomery’s birthplace in New London and then onto our destination for tonight, Cavendish KOA Campground. Right in the heart of Anne of Green Gables country.

To say that I am super duper excited is an understatement.

A lovely ride to dinner from the campground to Chez Yvonne’s Restaurant and campfires and marshmallows for the boys on our return.

I am looking forward to exploring all things Anne Shirley tomorrow.

Cavendish KOA

Pumpkin Blaster

Evening Ride

Corn Fields

Trans Canada

Breakfast

Lucy Montgomery’s Birthplace

Hay Slide

Gorgeous Farmhouses

Crossing the Bridge to P.E.I

Lunch Stop

Wheat Fields

New London

Yogi Bear’s Woodstock

Ready to Blast

We have a big day of driving ahead of us today, therefore, we were all packed up and leaving the campground by 7.30 am. No time for a run this morning.

Our journey began on the Trans Canada passing farms, crossing rivers and following the St Lawrence River.

The scenery then changed to more wilderness, through mountains, rolling hills and forest with pretty wildflowers lining the road’s edge.

The never-ending, beware of moose signs and fences were a bit of a worry, however, there were none spotted alive or resting on the side of the road…

A border crossing leaving the Province of Quebec and into New Brunswick.

We bypassed the city of Edmundston and had a light lunch in the motorhome in a village on the outskirts.

Another time change, we have just lost an hour.

By mid-afternoon and nearly 8 hours later it was time to get off the road and find a campground for the night.

Welcome to Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Woodstock (not the 1969 kind). It is like a mini theme park, waterslides, numerous jumping pillows, splash zone, mini-golf, sports fields, the list goes on.

After 8 hours confined in the motorhome, the boys were becoming feral. A quick set up of camp and time for them to burn off some energy in the splash park. They had a wonderful time.

After an hour or so their teeth were chattering and they were ready for a warm shower.

A lovely end to a long driving day.

Welcome to New Brunswick

Beware Moose

Splash Zone

St Lawrence River

Small Cute Towns

It’s our 11th Wedding Anniversary today.

Originally we thought we would need two days in Quebec City.

We should have known ourselves better. The Browns do the Cliff Notes condensed version of sightseeing, regardless of it being a good or bad thing.

Therefore, nobody was overly excited to get back into a taxi and risk our lives on a trip to the old city.

Instead, we had a relaxed morning in the motorhome, completing schoolwork and riding our bikes to the laundry for a load of washing.

After lunch, I had a lovely easy ride around the campground.

Mid-afternoon the boys walked to the campground pool and enjoyed their first swim for a while and had fun on the the pool slide. Wes needed a life jacket to help him stay afloat.

Back to the motorhome and a very casual afternoon and dinner.

Our USA and Side Trips, Road Trip so far, 24 August 2018

Camping KOA Quebec

A Nice Swim

Brothers

Happy Anniversary!

During our rainy day motorhome stay in, we decided to prebook for two night at the Quebec City KOA. It appears to be one of the closest RV parks to the old city, it has some sort of a shuttle into town and as it is getting close to the weekend we thought we better secure our spot for our temporary home.

After making the booking we read the reviews, limited internet, and limited English speaking. Wow, this could be an interesting couple of days…

Some fun on the outdoor exercise equipment and then on our way at 9.30 am.

An easy two-hour drive to our next campground with our scenery filled with lots and lots of cornfields and farms. Our destination tonight, Camping KOA Quebec.

On arrival, we were greeted by a very friendly young man who spoke excellent English and was even given an additional internet code for free. Phew, I think our Brown Family will be able to work with this…

Time to set up camp, lunch and then jump into an Uber to explore Old Quebec.

Oh, no Ubers operate from this side of the river? Looks like we are back waiting for a Taxi.

After a wait the taxi arrived, English speaking and we were on our way.

I was slightly concerned he was going to fall asleep at the wheel, however, we made it to Old Quebec safely. Regardless of a Taxi or Uber, you are completely relying on their driving skills.

A lovely wander around beautiful Old Quebec City (the capital city of the Province of Quebec) albeit, crowded with tourists.

A description of the city thanks to Google: Québec City sits on the Saint Lawrence River in Canada’s mostly French-speaking Québec province. Dating to 1608, it has a fortified colonial core, Vieux-Québec, and Place Royale, with stone buildings and narrow streets. This area is the site of the towering Château Frontenac Hotel and imposing Citadelle of Québec. The Petit Champlain district’s cobblestone streets are lined with bistros and boutiques.

Into the Micro Climat(e), a 26-by-9-foot container, refrigerated to 4 to 8̊⁰C and decked out in all the trappings of the snow season to offer tourists a feel for the exotic appeal of Québec winters, with ice sculptures, a mini ice hotel, a ski lift, a Québec décor, and videos on popular seasonal activities (thanks for the description press release).

It was particularly nice when we walked a few streets away from the main area and had them almost to ourselves.

We were told by the taxi driver we could not find a wrong restaurant in Quebec, we did find a Wong Restaurant…

A lovely Italian Bistro for dinner and then an Uber back to the KOA (it operates from this side of the river out). Another slightly scary ride back.

Family movie night again in the RV, tonight’s showing, Night at the Museum 2 (we only have so many movies downloaded).

Go Wessy

Muscles

Crossing Bridges

Huge Rivers

Farms

Lots of Bistros

Beautiful Buildings

Follow the crowds…

Fortified Wall

French Inspired

Château Frontenac

Old Quebec

Terry Tourists

Watching Street Performers

Why did we not stay here?

The Boardwalk

This place is OK

In the Micro Climat(e)

It’s cold in here…

Where shall we go next?

More Street Performers

The Wong Restaurant

Cannons

Apartments

Beautiful Quiet Streets

Walking Old Quebec

Dinner

Patrizio Italian

The Brown Brothers