Home in Rural New Brunswick: GECA Part 4

One of my favorite things about going home to New Brunswick and my parents' home is looking around to see how much things have changed (or haven't).  As I pulled off the long stretch of highway between Quebec and the my parents' home, I remarked how familiar every turn was.  Despite living away for 10 years, nearly every landmark was almost exactly the same.  Some trees had grown taller, a few new buildings here and there.  But, not being subject to any sort of economic boom, like many other cities in this province, it has remained as familiar and comfortable as a pair of old leather shoes as I drove through town and into the countryside where my parents live.

Here, much to my delight, was the crux of the changes--new paint on the siding (finally!!!), trees cleared (through massive windstorms mostly) or grown from seedlings to huge sources of shade for the house, rooms updated and long-anticipated renovations done.  The old playhouse was restored for the grandchildren and the tractor rumbling, ready for rides around the yard.  Is there anything quite like taking your children to visit the home of your childhood?   

After four days of driving (roughly 21 hours in the car) and 1800 kilometers behind us, we were ready to settle in for more than a night.  Bumpa and Nanna kept the kids occupied with tractor rides, big airplanes launched with a fishing rod and fishing line, a zipline for my brother's old batman toys--one that stretched down to the playhouse, and baskets full of toys.  It was fun digging through all those retro toys my mother saved.

And just like any Saturday when I lived in New Brunswick, we had to stop into the market, if not for locally grown goodies or crafty purchases, then just to see who we might run into from High School.  

I was happy to see that the market was alive and thriving--filled with other people our age and their young children (even if I, strangely, didn't really recognize anyone). 

Time with Bumpa and Nanna were the highlight of the trip.  Here is a play-by-play of the airplane on a fishing rod.  Amazing to see in person.

Building garages for cars in the rock wall.  

Great-Grammie came to visit us.  Thank you for coming up to see the little ones!!  I often think of you when I write blogs because I know you enjoy seeing pictures of the littles so much.  And today, here you are, on the blog!!

Two highlights for the trip for me, were a day trip to Saint John so my little ones could meet and spend time with their Great Aunt Julie and cousins and so I could spend time with this family--friends from my childhood. 

The other highlight was some much-needed, long-overdue time with my brother and his wife (below).  They are so beautiful and so in love.  It was so great hanging out with them for an evening.

And we are off again already on parts 5 and 6 of our travels!  Keep tuned in! :)

xo

From us in New Brunswick

Island of Montreal Parking and first steps in Salt-water: GECA Part 3

Four days in on our journey to the East Coast, our overtired, sugar-hyped, bleary-eyed crew arrived in Montreal early afternoon and had to park outside ChouChou and Fizey's condo and haul ourselves in.  Picture this:  A big white fluffy bear tied to my waist, a tiny toddler COVERED in cheerios hanging off my hip, a day bag slung over my shoulder, a toy bag in the other hand followed by an overtired, gangly toddler jacked up on sugar and six hours worth of sitting still silliness (who's idea was it to give him a sucker to calm him down in the car 30 minutes before destination again???).  And here we go, parking our car several blocks from the condo, crossing a busy street at rush hour.....  (More on Montreal parking later).

Ok, here is "later:"  Montreal parking.  Ohhhh Mmmmm Gee.  Driving and parking on the island of Montreal is like playing Tetris.  You can't park on THIS side of the street T and Th 9am-5pm.  You can't park on THAT side of the street M, W or F 9am-5pm.  And you can't turn right on a red light.  And you can't read any of the signs because they are all in small print AND in French.  And let me be clear, I can read French just fine...  But zooming my eyes in on time to read a sign and translate absurdly legislated Montreal parking regulations in French after a six hour drive with littles yelling to play EYE SPY with their sugar-induced hysteria is enough to send any rational person over the edge.  But I'll get off my soapbox now.

So after a lovely night in the condo with ChouChou and Fizey (and it was sooo lovely), I snuck out early to drive around in circles for a half-hour to find a new spot to park because it was a "Thursday," We packed up our things and hiked down the street several blocks to our new parking spot.  Aiiiyiiiyii....  Remind me never to move there.  Lively city, terrible parking.  I suppose it's sort of a fun game to play with one person and a laptop bag.  "Where is my car?  Where do I park today." But maybe not so fun with little people and lots of bags and dogs and stuff. 

One of the other longest days in our journey was from Montreal to Rivière-du-Loup.  Fortunately we had ChouChou to join us on this leg of the journey.  Somehow we managed to squeeze her in between the soft-sided cooler and the three bags of travel treats, my purse, laptop and camera all piled in the front seat.  It's a good thing she is tiny!!  

Total kms to date:  1300 kms

Hours in car this leg: 6 hours

Montreal to Riviere du Loup

Highlights from the day:  A rest stop overlooking Quebec City area where we ran around chasing bubbles for an hour, visiting the ocean in Rivière-du-loup, and ordering room service for the littles to our hotel room overlooking the mouth of the St. Lawrence Seaway.   Don't they look so "posh?"

Two "Stephs" in Ottawa: GECA Part 2

After a great little visit and a couple of overnights in the Kawartha Lakes, we hit the road bright and early for a long, long trek to Montreal.  We made great time and stopped just outside of Ottawa for a visit with Stephanie, yet another friend from BC who has now relocated with her family in Ontario, and her two boys.

It's funny, that despite all the time that has passed, her oldest, Noah, still seems to remember us.  He didn't even bat an eye and it seemed as though we all picked up right where we left off, with only a year and a half of time (and growth passing).  Noah thought it was pretty cool that his mommy and Gabriel's mommy share the same name.  He's just about the only person in the world who calls me "Steph" and I like it.

The littles got out their energy in all the best ways--eating a healthy and delicious spread and then jumping on the trampoline until the moment we had to get in the car to head to Montreal.  It was perfect, really.

Total kms to date:  800 kms

Hours in car this leg: 6 hours

North Kawarthas to Montreal

Our longest day on the road likely four our entire trip was the day we drove to Montreal.  Luckily we had such a great visit in Ottawa mid-way.  And then a beautiful big dinner, bubbles on the terrasse, warm baths and stories with grandparents awaiting us in Montreal before we continued on the next day, this time with a fellow traveler to Rivière-du-Loup.  But more about that in the next post.