Bay of Fundy
Our first two weeks in our airbnb in Miramichi proved to be an adventure of its own. Our fridge only came with one shelf, the washing machine kept breaking, and the floating shelves looked like they had given up fighting against gravity. We stacked our food in the fridge like a game of Tetris, fixed the washing machine and decided the shelves would be better off left empty. Instead of being frustrated, we chose to laugh about it and chalk it up to one more way we were growing in resilience. If you can’t change it, you might as well enjoy it! All that to say, after a few weeks of finally being together, we were ready to get out of the house and start exploring.
Long before we dreamed of living on the East coast, we had heard of the Bay of Fundy which boasts the largest tidal shifts in the world. Little did we know we would one day be living only 3 hours from this famous landmark. Our first Friday together, after Barry got off of work, we hopped into our converted Sprinter Van and headed out for our first adventure in discovering the Maritimes.
Being late in the day, we chose to stay at Headquarters Campground and planned to wake early to have a full day at Fundy. Our campground was near the lovely town of Alma, best known for its scallop and lobster fishing but also as the gateway to the Bay of Fundy. Not only will you find fresh seafood but incredible local crafts and storefronts. After grabbing a late dinner at the Muddy Rudder, I highly recommend fish and chips, we headed back to the Headquarters for an early night so we would be well rested for the following day.
We arose early the next morning and made it to Hopewell Rocks at Fundy National Park by 9am. The sun was shining, the parking lot was filling up and my daughter, Isla, was beginning to spike a fever. With determination she climbed onto her dad’s back as we made our way down the trail with all the other tourists.
The park is located on a cliff overlooking the ocean making for exceptional views. With this in mind you have the option to stay at the overlook or make your way down several flights of stairs to the beach where park attendants will monitor the tides and keep a watchful eye over the visitors for safety. We had the good fortune of arriving at low tide which meant we were able to immediately make our way down to the beach. Before us were massive structures that had been eroded away over time by the tides. The magnificent rocks that towered above us were aptly named “flower pot rocks” as their tops were covered with shrubs and trees.
The receding tide revealed a muddy landscape that caused you to sink in at least a foot with each step. If you’re ready to be a kid again and play in the mud make sure you wear shorts or clothes you are okay to get a little dirty. And don’t worry, a foot washing station is located at the top of the cliff. With about 6 hours to go in between tides, we headed back to the van to grab some lunch and kill some time. The visitor center on site has a wealth of information where you can learn about the landscape and tidal shifts making it another great place to spend some time while you’re waiting for the tides to change. The time flew by and within a few hours we headed back down the trail to see how much the tide had risen. With a difference of almost 30 feet, the change is quite remarkable to see.
As stated on the parks canada website “Fundy’s tides are the highest in the world because of an unusual combination of resonance (or seiche) and the shape of the bay. Like water in any basin, the water in the Bay of Fundy has a natural rocking motion called a seiche. You could compare this to the movement of water in a bathtub.”
After a full day at the park we headed back into Alma, stopping briefly at a gas station along the way to grab some ice. It was at this time that Isla, now feeling much better, decided to release some slugs she had brought with her from Miramichi. She headed over to some tall grasses while I went in to make my purchase. A few minutes later we were on our way.
After driving for about five minutes I received a phone call from a New Brunswick number I didn’t recognize. I almost wrote it off as spam but something inside made me pick up.. A lady was on the other end asking if I had just been to her gas station. When I replied “yes,” she let me know that we had left our daughter behind. The movie ‘Home Alone’ came rushing to my mind as I blurted out ‘Isla!’ and craned my neck behind me to see everyone in our family but my daughter. With everyone chatting when I had gotten back in the van I assumed she was already in the back. Needless to say we did a u-turn as quickly as possible and headed back to the gas station at full speed.
I rushed into the gas station to find Isla smiling and, Wanda, the store owner, by her side. I thanked her repeatedly, and commended Isla for taking quick action to go and ask for help. Before we left, Wanda blessed all of our kids with some treats and drinks on her. It was one of many occasions in which we would see the beautiful hearts of the people of the Maritimes shine. We hit up the town of Alma once again for a delicious seafood dinner and desert. We were not only celebrating a beautiful day at Fundy but also the return of our sweet Isla.
Although the Bay of Fundy could be taken in in one day I highly recommend making a weekend of it. The town of Alma is the sweetest little village worthy of time and exploration. Beautiful beaches, yummy eats and local crafts, you’ll want to set aside time just to visit. At the top of your list should be a stop at Kelly’s Bake Shop to grab their famous sticky buns. With tons of hiking trails lining the coast, the sweet town of Alma and The Bay of Fundy National Park definitely deserve a full weekend to get the full experience.
Have you been to the Bay of Fundy? We’d love to hear your experience!
Discover more at:
https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/nb/fundy/nature/environment/marees-tides
And don’t forget to check out Kelly’s Bake Shop in Alma
“Actually, the best gift you could have given her was a lifetime of adventures.” – Lewis Carroll