'Granny Bought an eBike' - Episode 8

 

Episode 8

"All of my childhood punishments have become my adult goals: 

eating vegetables, 

staying home, 

taking a nap, 

going to bed early."

- Anon

(We override this second 'adult goal' at the end of June.)

We load our two bikes and two kayaks into the back of the truck 

and secure them well. 

We pack the rest of our gear into the back seat cargo area - 

clothing, rain gear, 

boots, bike helmets, pfds,

a bit of food and bev.

Before sunrise the following morning, we are 

en route.

We are making our way, eastbound via Highway 401, toward Quebec. 

Our destination is Woodstock New Brunswick, which we reach around 6:00 pm,

(5:00 pm our time),

about a twelve hour drive. 

Early afternoon the following day, we are on the ferry from

Black's Harbour NB

to

Grand Manan Island.

⬇

Grand Manan Island bound, with a view of the 

Black's Harbour bound ferry - Bay of Fundy.

We are staying in the 'Grand Harbour' area of Grand Manan. 

It is about halfway down the length of the island, 

about a fifteen minute drive from the ferry terminal in 

North Head.

Grand Manan map (detail)

It is less hilly than 'Seal Cove', where we stayed three years ago. 

That, 

and the fact that 

'Granny Bought an eBike',

are good news for us doing a bit of cycling while here.

We are right on Grand Harbour 

and our cottage stares out at the bay. 

It is beautiful here - sunny with gentle breezes. 

And quiet.

View of Grand Harbour and our campfire pit.

We try out our bikes, and cycle up Ingall's Head Road to the actual harbour,

a working harbour with fishing boats and the terminal for the

White Head Island ferry.

It is a relatively flat ride and not busy with traffic.

"Yes, I am comfortable biking here", I think.

"This is going to be good."

There is more to explore by bike further on past the harbour,  

but that we will leave for another day.

Doug cycling - about halfway along the pier.

While staying in Grand Manan,

we visit a few of our favourite spots, including the 

Grand Manan Museum, 

an absolute treasure and well worth a visit.

*Note: Grand Manan fisherman's socks

We also have some pretty spectacular lunches,

lunchtime being our chosen time of day

to sample the local fare.

Our  favourite eatery 

is a wee bit too far from our cottage to cycle

 and involves a sometimes busy road 

so we decide to drive.

It is a little window,

 outside a typical Grand Manan shingled building,

a locally owned fish market.

⬇

Several picnic tables are handily positioned outside, 

a place to sit and wait for your order,

and/or a place to eat.

While the window can be quite busy, 

on this day we seem to be the first ones here.

The kitchen, (the other side of the window), 

is run by a beatific woman, an island resident, who takes our order with 

a gentle smile on her face.

When we are done,

she reaches under the counter for a stainless steel bowl

and begins to concoct the mixture which will become the 

heavenly filling of a 'Large Lobster Roll'.

Sitting at one of the picnic tables,

the sound of seabirds high above, 

sunny and still,

consuming these can only be described as

a spiritual experience.

The lobster filling is spectacular, 

but a few words for the actual 'roll' part of this Lobster Roll:

soft, buttery, yeasty.

Delicious.

And also locally made.

Oh, I do love bread.

It is one of four meals we enjoy this trip at outdoor eateries...

all involving seafood.

Lobster, 

(of course, lobster fishing being one of Grand Manan's main industries),

haddock, clams, scallops,

and shrimp.

🦞

On Canada Day,

a bit of a change in the weather.

Cloudy and cool.

We cycle up to our local pub, 

and spend the afternoon listening to live music on the deck.

The music has a Caribbean slant, 

but is also so profoundly Canadian, that we 

order a couple of beers and sing along like any 

red-blooded Canadian,

in our bulky sweaters and (local!) wool socks.

A Grand Manan moment. 

*To be continued.*

Stay tuned for Episode 9....