Saturday, August 23
August 23 Saturday Cap-Chat, Gaspesia, QB
Tonight we are in the most wonderful camping spot, a very simple campground, right beside the Saint Lawrence, and we are parked about 5 metres from the waters edge. When we arrived there was quite a breeze blowing, but by tonight it has dropped and the temperature is quite balmy.
Anyway the day started well, we were on the road by 8.30, and traveled north east up the Gaspesia coast passing through many seaside villages, and some larger ports including Rimouski and Matane. It was quite a change to be in a less busy part of the country and some of the towns looked quite windswept, and seemed to be just exisiting, waiting to survive another winter. All the houses were well maintained, but gardens were non-existant, and every village seemed to have a huge catholic church with a towering steeple. We stopped in some for photos, others we just ambled through.
We had been told about the garden at Grand-Matis, the Redford garden, which was a must to see, so arrived soon after midday, and had lunch under trees in the carpark. Ian decided to read a book while I wandered through and what a wonderful place. Along with traditional gardens there was an International Garden Festival with 15 contempary gardens designed by landscape architects from around the world…just breathtaking. It really was a treat, and could easily have spent a lot longer there. Decided that we would like to camp beside the sea, so found this ground in the book, and arrived about 4. Surprise, surprise, when I turned on the laptop to write my diary, found a wifi connection from another camper. So ended up chatting to family and friends, home in a very wet and miserable New Zealand…sounds like we have really chosen a good time to be away. Skype has been wonderful, as we can keep in touch with everyone, and not feel so isolated.
Tonight we are in the most wonderful camping spot, a very simple campground, right beside the Saint Lawrence, and we are parked about 5 metres from the waters edge. When we arrived there was quite a breeze blowing, but by tonight it has dropped and the temperature is quite balmy.
Anyway the day started well, we were on the road by 8.30, and traveled north east up the Gaspesia coast passing through many seaside villages, and some larger ports including Rimouski and Matane. It was quite a change to be in a less busy part of the country and some of the towns looked quite windswept, and seemed to be just exisiting, waiting to survive another winter. All the houses were well maintained, but gardens were non-existant, and every village seemed to have a huge catholic church with a towering steeple. We stopped in some for photos, others we just ambled through.
We had been told about the garden at Grand-Matis, the Redford garden, which was a must to see, so arrived soon after midday, and had lunch under trees in the carpark. Ian decided to read a book while I wandered through and what a wonderful place. Along with traditional gardens there was an International Garden Festival with 15 contempary gardens designed by landscape architects from around the world…just breathtaking. It really was a treat, and could easily have spent a lot longer there. Decided that we would like to camp beside the sea, so found this ground in the book, and arrived about 4. Surprise, surprise, when I turned on the laptop to write my diary, found a wifi connection from another camper. So ended up chatting to family and friends, home in a very wet and miserable New Zealand…sounds like we have really chosen a good time to be away. Skype has been wonderful, as we can keep in touch with everyone, and not feel so isolated.
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