09/06/2007: "On Y Va A Gaspé"
music: Travelling from Tadoussac then on to the entire Gaspé Penninsulamood: To go, where no chow, has gone before!
From the North of the mighty St. Lawrence River, on to the South shore, then on to discover the entire Gaspé Penninsula - a 10-day magical ride!
A part of the Maritimes re-visited!!!
We drove 3551 kilometers! (2082 miles)
Mom, were are we going? I've been in this car for a long time now! . Dying to get out to schniffle things. Boy this new dog park is surely far away. hmmm... we should be there soon. My Chow tummy is getting hungry! The weather was not too hot, not too cold. Another reason why travelling in this part of Canada, at this time of year is perfect for both pets and humans.
We left Montreal early in the morning, so early I didn't even get to go on my morning walk. We drove and drove and drove and drove then arrived at a place called Tadoussac!
Mom cleared out the back of the SUV so I had plenty of leg room.
Included in my travel pack was packets of my frozen raw food, and a nice water bowl. Mom kept bottled water available for me at all times, and every time we stopped for gas, I'd get out of the truck, walk around and autograph the local posts and shrubs with my signature. Then I'd take a nice cool drink , then, back into the truck.
It was kinda grey and rainy that day, but Mom and Dad kept saying how beautiful it was in Taddousac. There is ocean front and beaches everywhere here... just everywhere... wherever you look, as far as your eyes can see.... and chows are allowed on the beaches here!!! We arrived at our campground and put up our tent trailer just in time to have a nice chowy supper of fresh cod and scallops! YUM!
Tadoussac is in the Charlevoix district of Quebec right at the mouth of the Saguenay River - there is a lot of rich history here. While the city mostly thrives on tourism, there are plenty of artistes, traditionalists and the countryside is lovely and picturesque. You cannot imagine the whale watching either. Many different species of whales spent their Summers on this part of the St. Lawrence Seaway, so needless to say, the first activity was Whale Watching. Another wonderful activity is kayaking the Fjords of Saguenay. I LOVED drinking the semi-salted water of the St. Lawrence Seaway . On this trip we saw Minke whales, Beluga whales, Fin whales and Blue whales. Blue whales are the largest mammals on earth.
We stayed at a campground that offered kayaking and horsebackriding through the fjords or beaches.
I found the prices very affordable. Unfortunately, we were not able to locate not one doggy daycare to look after Merlin so we could participate in those activities. I didn't want to leave him alone in the trailer either.
Horseback
28.00/ hour along the beaches
or rates varied up to 3-day excursions through the fjords starting at: $550.00 for the 3 days, meals, lodging included.
This compared with kayaking. The rates were very similar (if kayak rental necessary), and some excursions lasted up to five days long.
Camping rates varied from 22.00/day with services to 30.00/day
We did rough it for 2 days at target="_blank">Forillion Park and managed without services at all, however, like all Canadian parks, there are plenty of showers, bathrooms, areas to eat indoors if it rains, dish washing bins and lots of potable water.
We camped along the beach. I was able to run in and out, in and out, as much as I wanted to. Boy that water is COLD..... the average water temperature at this time of year is 1 C to 5 C. That's almost the same temperature of ice. My chow toes froze but I love it. I ran and jumped around like a young, little, chowling.
Of course, after a big day of whale watching and kayaking the best thing to do is wet-the-whistle with some local beer in Tadoussac.
Please enjoy the scenes of Taddousac - Click on the thumbnails:
Potterie de Port-au-Persil (St. Simeon). Yes, please DO stop and visit to see the incredible talents of the local Quebec artists. It's serious art at it's best. Hostess and potter, Helene will do her best to show you the atelier and the inner workings of pottery making. Learn about its founder, Pierre Legault, renowned master potter. Browse the wonderful art while enjoying the Espresso, served up by Helene's cheery and knowledgable husband! (apologies, we don't remember his name at time of writing). We enjoyed our coffee on the rear deck overlooking the St. Lawrence Seaway. A perfect view. We listened to an indepth history of the area as told to us by Helene's cheery husband.!!!!
One can even take a short pottery making course right on the spot, and create their own souvenir of their visit to the Charlevoix area.
Check them out at:
Potterie Port-ai-Persil
further on down the quaint highway...
As our good luck would have it, we stopped into a local art boutique named: La Folklorique Boutique, in Malbaie. Much to our surprise Mom was asking the store owner about one of the paintings, and lo and behold, in through the door walked the actual artist; Laurent Lafleur !
Since the age of 23, Laurent Lafleur has been creating beauty, laughter, whimsical fantasy paintings full of surprise. His paintings, combined with a delicate use of colour, light and thoughtful or sentimental titles, the artist suceeds in creating a sense of hope, and a belief in peace and harmony. You can write or even visit Laurent's atelier during the Summer months in Pointe-au-Pic at 209 avenue Richelieu, G0T 1M0 - (make an appointment first though). Mom did buy a small reproduction for Norman the Butcher, because Norman is deep into his garden knomes, (butchers and their hobbies.....), and this painting features two of the stealing a tricycle!
Can you see the Fin Whale in the picture? The Fin whale is the second largest whale in the world.
I, Merlin the King, have my own way of kayaking!
Hmmm...... this water tastes so funny, but it sure makes my skin feel good. Gee, my beard doesn't even stink anymore either!
Schucks!!!! Everyone here loves me. We even met a Chow Chow breeder from the past. Her name is Michelline and she showed us pictures of her chows. She loved me. Turns out she even knew my breeder. What a small world eh?
On we went, back into the car. We crossed from Taddousac over to Riviere du Loup and continued our trek on highway 132 east to the tip of the world of Gaspé and Percé.
Gaspé is pronounced: (Gas-pay)
Percé is pronounced: (Per-say)
This entire area is nestled in the Appalachian mountains. The scenery is literally breath taking, but if you come here, make sure you have a good car with a good engine because you'll be travelling up and down the mountains. The rate of asent or desent can be anywhere from 6% to 17%!!! (that's really steep). Mom kept saying she could retire here. She kept squawking about how she'd open up a horseback riding center in Gaspé to take riders through the mountains and down onto the beaches. I wonder if I would like to live there. It seems so far away.
Click on some of the wonderful pictures below:
Beautiful water and mountains everywhere
I think I'll just hangout here for a while
Whew.... just look at me.. I'm a young chowling again!
The Road to Gaspé - on the South side of the St. Lawrence Seaway
I'm just a great little camper Chow
We finally climbed the mountains and turned the bend into the quaint town of Percé
Here we arrive into the town of Percé.
By the way, we stayed in Forillion Park which is one of the great Canadian parks. A MUST VISIT for any outdoor person! I truly wish we could have stayed longer. It's an entirely fabulous place to be.
My Merlin Chow Brag!
I am the ONLY CHOW in the world to have placed his paw on the Rocks of Percé!
No other chow has done this. ... and if one has..... please come forward and state your name and let me know where your paw print us!!!!
Together with my short, little furry legs, I descended the great many stairs down to sea level of the Rock of Percé. I'm a blind chow, so it was very difficult for me to navigate the large rocks. Here you can see someone building a Inukshuk. There are many Inukshuks along the highway to Perce. Do you know what Inukskuk is? Click Here
By the way, please take note that dogs are NOT allowed on the rocks of Percé, but, alas, I'm King Merlin and was mistaken for a Teddy Bear, so I got away with it. Please RESPECT the signs! Do as I say, and not as I do!
Here I am with Dad finally reaching the Rock of Percé. Isn't it beautiful? We had to leave because the tide was coming in, soon to cover up all the pathway and walkway!
It was such a beautiful day today. Can you see the doorway in the Rock of Percé?
I'm SO POOPED from climbing up and down all those rocks - but I'm such a good chow boy... I still guarded the grounds and the tent to make sure Mom and Dad were safe and sound.... especially right before mealtime..(I can already taste those butter fried scallops)Yum.... can't wait.. can't wait!
Only 10 kms west of Gaspé, you'll encounter the Authentic General Store, which is furnished with oak cabinets, (made by the Ken McClain showcases factory). The "Office", contains the store's vault as well as the original ledgers and contracts. the "Back Store", holds bulk items such as animal feed, horse harness, horse-drawn sleighs and a Summer buggy. The exhibit in the iron department illustrates the commercial, Maritime and forestry activities along the Gaspé coast.
The original barber shop of Gaston Cloutier still remains a fine insight into the humble beginnings of the visionary businesman whose dream was to preserve the local heritage. The walls are hung with archival photos, witnessing the time when the Gaspesians who sought work at the loggings camps in Ontario during the Winter season. Find out more at: www.mghistorique.com
We left Perce and headed South into New Brunswick and made our way along the original Fisherman's trail through the Acadian section of the province. The weather is really holding out and it's sunny and warm day after day. We couldn't help ourselves and stopped in the town of Newport, to discover the world and music of Mary Travers - La Bolduc
A ruggedly beautiful place, New Brunswick is the largest of Canada's Maritime Provinces. The province is made up of forests, river valleys, sand dunes, and rocky coasts and includes the tail end of the Appalachian Mountains (which stretch north from the tip of Alabama) amongst which is Mount Carleton, Atlantic Canada's highest peak. The shoreline along the Northumberland Strait, which separates New Brunswick from PEI and is now spanned by the Confederation Bridge, has the warmest salt water north of Virginia, and contains some of North America's most distinctive dunes, including the Irving Eco-Centre and La Dune de Bouctouche. This white sand dune stretches 12 kilometers (seven miles) across Bouctouche Bay.
Onward South east we went - on to Kouchibouguac National Park - another MUST VISIT for any naturalist or outdoors person!
We had the most enjoyable time here. The nights were getting a bit frisky, the night we arrived the weatherman announced FROST!! - but our camper has a heater and Mom and Dad really love each other, so heat is never a problem......
Exploring the eclectic fauna and flora of this area is truly an enriching experience for everyone.
One of the benefits of travelling later in the Summer months , is having front row at all of the interpretations, no waiting lines at restaurants or events, vacancy at ALL campgrounds, and no traffic, not to mention perfect weather. It's a perfect time of year to go on holiday. We met fantastic people, most who shared our sentiments of the outdoors and our zest for being part of it.
Here I am, standing at the tip of the world looking across the Atlantic ocean over to France!
What a chowy experience! Am I the envy of all chows or what?
Just look at the coast line here. I was mesmerized by the beauty and tranquility of our experience.
To stand alone on this dune together with the grey seals, is a special and rare treat.
If one does the Acadian coastline an important thing to do is sample some of the local cuisine.
We stopped in Bouctouche for some Poutine Rapé (pronounced rap-pay), (pork wrapped in grated raw and mashed potatoes), or sample some chicken Fricot (chicken in potatoe stew)
A view of Poutine Rapé 
There are more pictures to come. I hope you enjoyed reading about my Chowy Holiday with Mom and Dad. Maybe your Mom and Dad will take you on holiday too. Please let me know if they do!
If you arrive to any of the quays when the fishermen return, you are guaranteed two good sized lobsters for under 10.00. A 5 lb bag of scallops only sets you back $4.00 or so, and cod or haddock or salmon, well, it's as well priced as the lobster.
We were saddened that some of the places we visited years ago were no longer there, like the Richibucto River Resort, but we discovered many new places!
Here I am looking for signs of seals. Two types of seals are common here.
The large grey seal, and the harbour seal. We often saw them with their heads sticking out of the ocean looking at us. Did you know that the grey seal is a very large seal. It's about the same size as a cow.
Mom made sure that we respected all the nesting areas of the pipers who were nesting on the dunes with their chicks. We didn't want to disturb them. Very few make it to fledglings, and the dunes at Kouchoubugouac are the world's most important nesting concentration of them, so it is important to let them raise their young with as little disruption as possible.
Like I said a little higher up. Travelling at this time of year is wonderful.
I enjoyed the quiet and calm and the isolation from the reams of tourists which must come through here all Summer long.
It was just me and and Mother Nature here, which I didn't have to share with anyone.
Merlin's private Atlantic Beach
Alone with my chowy thoughts
At One With Mother Nature
Wonder if breakfast is ready. Better go check
Hey, look at my chow prints!
Our last evening. Dad got the fire goingready for the lobster pot. We enoyed a fabulous last seafood meal, and packed up everything and got ready to leave for home early the next morning.
I had a great holiday.
Your pal Merlin
PS: For your information, I've been home less than a day and those pei girls are already treating me like a rag........ Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
SPECIAL NOTES - Everyone's been commenting on how beautiful our pictures are, so we've made some postcards that you can EMAIL to your friends and family. To use our E-Card service CLICK HERE
PPS: . While we were able to find campgrounds, including Provincial and Federal ones who accept dogs, more and more, we found hotels , terraces, walkways, and other eventful areas, very un-receptive to dogs.
Dogs and their responsible owners continue to pay a huge price due to those humans with poor or lazy or uncareing attitudes towards cleaning up after their dogs.
It is imperative for ALL dog owners to adopt a militant and diligent attitude towards poop-n-scoop!!! We made sure we clean up at every instance. Please do your part to continue to keep dogs welcomed at special places. Always pick up after your pet!! Thank you.