September 28


Wow, wow and wow!
I am truly humbled about today's activity on American-Traveler. Al's mentioning the blog has resultet in an unprecedented rush of readers and we got 2 new followers today. Come right on in Janna + Mike and Dave + Susie. Thanks for being followers.
Janna and Mike have a blog called Tin Teepee/Log Cabin. Their pics from Montana are really looking great. Dave and Susie are hoping to one day get on the open road and "feel the wind from the back!" That is a very fine goal as there is so much to see out there.


Over here we had another one of those beautiful early fall days. After I had puttered around with the building of a new addition to our garage I decided to take Molly out for a beach walk. So we were both getting into the car and headed on the 3-minute drive to Herring Cove Beach.


A fresh breeze from the South-East had brought up a bit of a  surf and it sure kept me from building up a sweat. Molly was completely absorbed in finding stuff she could either eat (yukk) or sniff on. Two lonely beach wanderers came from the other side, but keeping their path close to the water's edge, they did not greet. So I just walked on, taking in the stunning scenery. 


Suddenly a little bird jumped out of the shadow of a piece of driftwood. he flew ahead of us for maybe 50 feet, then sitting down again. As we kept on walking we got close to that birdy again. And this time it was just sitting there. I was afraid Molly would start chasing it but she didn't. I praised her for that and slowly approached that bird in a crouched-down position.

It looked at me with real curiosity and did not seem to be afraid at all. I got as close as 5ft before it started on another short flight. I had never seen birds like that on our beaches and it looked quite a bit like it was lost. But I have found out that it was a Semipalmated Sandpiper. Of course I did not have my Nikon 3100 with me, arghh, so I had to find a pic on WIKIPEDIA. In order to put in the correct link I tried to look it up again, but made a spelling mistake like Semiplamated Sandpiper. Google didn't take that too friendly and asked in a rather naive way:  Did you mean Separated Sandpaper? I sure got a chuckle out of that.


After a while I found a white driftwood log and it seemed to me that this was an inviting place to just sit down and look around. Molly kept her beach-combing close, and I was spiding across the blue Bay of Fundy. Across from us, there is the Island of Grand Manan. It is a bit farther south and located off the coast of Maine. Grand Manan is the southern-most place in New Brundwick. We have not visited there yet, but may do so one day. It is said to be very beautiful as well.


The sun was warming my back while I had the cool breeze in my face. Almost a summer day, I thought and got up for the walk back. At this time I saw an elongated gleaming white spot on the horizon. It had just emerged out of the coast line of Grand Manan and it was moving north, riding on the horizon. It was the Grand Manan ferry heading towards Blacks Harbour on the Canadian main land. What an unbelievable peaceful sight!

You can even find Dollars on the Beach
- Sanddollars -

Returning home, I stopped in at the post office.
Talking (and listening) to Kathryn is always interesting, but today I got surprised to say the least. She asked whether I was selling my truck. "Trying to", I confirmed. After all it had been placed along the road with a For-Sale sign in the windshield. Kathryn told me then that "a guy" had asked her what I would be asking for the truck. As Kathryn hadn't even seen the truck being for sale she sure didn't know the answer either. So now I told her and she promised to let "the guy" know.  


What I am asking myself is, of course, why are people asking the post lady for the price of my truck, instead of coming to me and get it first-hand. Is the local post office  some kind of an unpaid broker? When I was telling Bea the story we both laughed. ISLANDERS... we said.


Are there similar experiences out there? I just wonder.

August 21

We've all been praying the weather would be dry and nice on this day, so everybody could enjoy the annual light house day celebration. Yesterday we had been setting up the stage and all the benches which had to be hauled from the Provincial Park Campground. This morning we had some fog, but it sure cleared throughout the day. Local vendors showed up and pretty soon our BBQ's were set up for burgers and Hot Dogs. The Ladies had made a delicious Fish Chowder and Chili, so there would be plenty of food.

Local musicians made for a variety of entertainment and as always the auction was a popular place to be.

Evelyn is dishing out Chowder here, but had to
realize that she wasrunning out of it all too soon.

And here is the Hot Dog Guy - just starting out

Great conditions for a sail on the bay

 With the money made on this event the friends of Head Harbour Light house can continue to renovate and improve a major tourist attraction in New Brunswick.

Campobello --- Island of Flowers

June 24


I'm just coming back from a walk along the North Road. Down below the road, on an empty lot stands a patch of Lupines. They were standing in the golden rays of this late afternoon. I saw two ladies being busy with taking pictures of the lupines. One of them turned towards me exclaiming "What a  beautiful island".  Yep, they are right. Campobello IS VERY beautiful. And Bea had taken pictures of the flowers  just days earlier. She was also in a neighbor's garden where she found orange Rhododendrons.


And here are her pictures:

With a view over the Passamaquoddy Bay

The East Quoddy Lighthouse

JUNE 21 (Summer  start)

Lightstation at low tide

When the Canadian Coast Guard gave up ownership of the East Quoddy Lightstation in 2006, it became the property of the Friends of Head Harbour (another name) Lightstation Inc., which is a non-profit, charitable organization based on Campobello. 
At that point and time in 2006, the buildings hadn't been touched by a paintbrush for more than 20 years, and everything was boarded up.

After 5 years of work, done by volunteers, it looks quite different today. The group is able to acquire government grants for the restoration and maintenance. The lighthouse has become a beacon for the tourism industry of Campobello and New Brunswick. Matter of fact, when we were out there today for doing some painting, tourists from Spain and The Netherlands were visiting the Lighthouse.


The lighthouse tower was built more than 51 feet high in 1829, but at first with no keepers house. The keeper was simply living in very sparse accommodations in the tower. 

Tower and Keeper's House

The lighthouse had a very important function as it marks the entrance to the inner waters of the Passamaquoddy Bay and Head Harbour. Even though the Lighthouse is now owned by a private organization, the Coast Guard is still running the light in the tower and the fog horn.
When service on these features are needed the Coast Guard comes with their helicopter and services the facility.

The lighthouse can only be reached by foot under low-tide. It is remarkable that an entire family with children once lived here. 
The history of the lighthouse is full of stories where storms have been pounding the rocks, with waves reaching up to the windows of the buildings. It is told that in one such stormy night the wild waters crashed through the windows and the entire family was huddled up in the tower fearing that the whole building would be washed out into the North Atlantic.


Luckily, all 5 buildings are constructed with strong materials and anchored to their foundations. 

It is a sight of beauty when one comes over the last rock and the white and red complex of buildings are coming into view, standing in a stark contrast to the deep-blue waters of the sea. 

Walkway to the Lightstation

Another reason why people are visiting the Lighthouse is  for being close to the huge whales which are feeding around this area.


An advice for visitors: When you come, please observe that there only 4 hours around the point of low tide, where you can actually enter the complex and go back.
As soon as the sandbar is covered in water no attempt of crossing can be made! The tide current is a very strong one as the tide comes in at the tune of 5ft pr.hour.


From the moment you have left the main island, Campobello you are entering private and protected property. Everything you carry onto the Lighthouse-Island must be taken back the same way. There is a fee for entering East Quoddy Island of currently $5.00. Lighthouse Tours are available during the summer. The fee for a  tour into the tower is $10.00. All income is directly applied to upkeep and maintenance of the facilities.


And when will YOU be coming to Campobello and the East Quoddy Lighthouse?

June 11


We are exhausted!


It is going to 8am.  Bea is still in bed and obviously in a kind of comatose condition. I had my first coffee here by the window, but the thought of having breakfast is too much. The reason is (or was) the succulent supper we had yesterday at Evelyn's place. Boy these islanders can cook like gods. Have you ever tasted lobster soup with a lot of cream and butter in it? Delicious!!! Though, I didn't think much of the bowl of soup I started on, but, being half ways down, I noticed something. I noticed that this meal was too much for me.
And I haven't mentioned the Swedish meat balls in a rich tomato sauce and the rice with chicken. 


This is the second invitation in a row. One more to go today and then we take a break over Sunday. Wednesday WE will be the hosts as I have my birthday coming up.


If it wasn't for my foot I could use some hard work to get over all this eating. 


Oops, --- I am hearing steps from upstairs -- she is awake and just disappeared in the bathroom. Now what?


I think we've gotto get out to the lighthouse today. Three ladies from the Chesapeake area in Maryland are visiting on the island. They are helping with the lighthouse project. maybe we can shoot some nice pics for the blog out there.
And here we have a few nice shots for you:

Herring Cove Beach towards Atlantic Ocean

The rocky Island where East Quoddy Light House stands

Images from Head Harbour

June 06

Exquisite on Campobello (part 2)

From friends we had heard that the Roosevelt Cottage had planned a luncheon as a fund raiser for our lighthouse group. 

Roosevelt Cottage

Of course we had to support the idea, and besides it would be an excellent opportunity to meet our friends and enjoy the exquisite surroundings of the park buildings. The luncheon was to be held in the Prince Cottage.  The cottage is normally not open to the public. Most visitors will never see or notice it as it is hidden between big trees.

A wide, double-columned porch invites us inside. As we enter we are immediately taken by the elegance greeting us from the living area. We are also invited to view the upper floors where all the neatly renovated bedrooms, most of them with ensuite baths, are located. The Prince Cottage serves as part of the parks conference activity as it offers a large dining area with modern equipped kitchen.

After lunch we walk over to the Hubbard Cottage to enjoy the Eleanor Roosevelt Tea-time.

Hubbard Cottage

Living Room in Hubbard Cottage

Living Room towards the Bay side

Hubbard was an American Millionaer who, like the Roosevelts, had fallen in love with the islands charming nature and remote location. He had a cottage built which is one of the richest decorated cottages on the island. Like also the Prince and the Roosevelt Cottages the Hubbard was built with a wide view across the Passamaquoddy Bay.  When touring the cottage, it becomes clear that the woodwork is even more elaborate than that of the Roosevelt Cottage.  Also, the living room is just stunningly beautiful.

The Hubbards often enjoyed Campobello together with the Roosevelts and had picnics together.

We were served tea with delicious cookies and it turned out to be the most inspiring afternoon.

But we hadn’t brought our camera and Bea wanted to get back to fetch the Nikon. In the meantime I took Molly and drove out into the Roosevelt Park. The park features a coastal trail offering amazing views across the ocean. Since I am still hampered with the recovery of my left foot, I had brought a camping chair, while Molly was exploring the close-up surroundings.

The quiet of the park can hardly be described. Today it was only the faint surf along the beach which could be heard.

I will write more about the Park, the history and the Roosevelts. Just hang in here and read on tomorrow.