Fundy Trail, Fundy Bay.. Funday eh!

I came down from my perch camping on the cliffs in Saint John, New Brunswick and found myself surging forward exploring on the road again. My next stop was the Fundy National Park. I was excited to go crazy exploring in the park as I have heard allot about the park for some time now and have always wanted to check it out. But… there is always a but isn’t there… I felt compelled, even tugged, to visit the Fundy Trail first. It was a second sense pulling me off course, driving me deeper south, out of the way, towards a small community located at the doorstep of the trail called St. Martins.

Prior to the village is a gravel road leading to a lighthouse on the point. It is an unmanned, unpopulated lighthouse.. and, therefore, it was a lighthouse dedicated to entertaining just me and me only on this day. I liked the attention. I soaked up the views and enjoyed the peacefulness of being off the beaten track. But time is precious… and I headed back into civilization.

Low Tide, Marina, Covered Bridge in St. Martins

St. Martins is a small hamlet on the Bay of Fundy. The main street is lined with homes and stores. There is a small museum and a marina. Just off the main street is a sand and pebbled beach.

At low tides the beach reveals itself and the water empties the marina stranding boats. Boats must time the tides to enter and leave the marina. At the marina the road continues to a covered bridge and to the entrance of the Fundy Trail.

The Fundy Trail… threw me for a loop partly because of my lack of research… and partly because I assumed too much. I figured the Fundy Trail was a hiking and backpacking trail. But to my surprise it is a sightseeing driving route and hiking trail second but with a twist. The road is only 14 kilometres long and then hits a dead end and you must drive back the same way you came.

Along the road are lookouts, points of interest, waterfalls and beach trails. All connecting to the Fundy Trail footpath. The main centre is at the Big Salmon River. The centre is also home to a suspension bridge. It is from the suspension bridge that the trail becomes a backpackers adventure. It is 41 kilometres long and it connects to Fundy Park. The trail is rough, rugged and challenging. You must pack out what you pack in. I so wanted to do it.. but for now I just added it to my ever growing wish list.

Fundy Trail.. and we begin!

Plans are to complete the road therefore connecting the to Fundy Park. It is an actual running joke amongst the locals.. as it is taking forever to complete.. some say it may never complete… “ha ha ha, ho ho ho,” they laugh away.

I arrived at the gates and the park cops were there to take my money so I could see my country. This is common unfortunately. Sadly, the more I travel this country the more I see that anything that is beautiful is locked up under key and charged an admission. Very few backyards left to explore at will. The parks just do not get it. Parks should have a free access area providing some free hikes, lookouts, picnic areas, etc. to attract ALL people (locals and visitors) and then charge an admission for the top sightseeing destinations. A great example of this is Gatineau Park in Quebec and some parks in British Columbia.

Anywho.. I paid the blood money and entered the park embarking on my, there and back, adventure. It was going to be a drive and hike type of day I figured. The road route was lined with picnic areas, large parking lots, plenty of lookouts and viewing benches… plus some had access trails connecting to the Fundy Trail and one connected to Melvin Beach. There were many views of the Bay of Fundy. On my clear day the skies kissed the ocean – it was blue on blue scenery for as far as the eye could see.

Melvin Beach Low Tides

My first stop on the Fundy Trail was at Fox Rock Lookout. It was a viewing deck with a picnic area overlooking the Bay of Fundy and some cliffs. Where was the adrenaline rush in it? There was none.. been there done that… I am getting spoiled.. next please.

Things picked up at my next stop – Melvin Beach. (Main Blog Photo) Here I connected to the Fundy Trail and hiked down the hill to the massive pebbled beach. It was raining out. It did not matter I had rain gear and a walkman. The tide was out. The cliffs and boulders were exposed. They stood tall and were colored with an angry red.

The beach was a sand box filled with smooth, round and sculptured beach stones. They glistened from the rain. It was like walking on marbles. Two steps forward, one step back sort of thing. I danced. I hummed. I picked up rocks and studied them pretending to know something rockish. No matter no one was around. Not that it matter.

Left the beach and hiked back up the hill. Rain dripping from my brim of my baseball cap. The air smelled like fresh cut grass. No one was out. No one was as stupid (some would say smart) as me to do this in the rain. My legs burned. The music played. And before I knew it I was in my jeep again, dripping wet, feeling great. “Whats next!”

Suspension Bridge

I set my compass on the suspension bridge. On the way I stopped at a few lookouts. None provided access to the shoreline which I already knew, but you never know, I snooped anyway. The suspension bridge crosses the Salmon River and is a main starting point for backpacking the toughest part of the Fundy Trail (41 kilometres of wilderness bliss) .

Just my luck.. as I am crossing the suspension bridge to take pictures a group of backpackers appear. It was like the spirits were teasing me. Rubbing it in my face. They knew I would love to be joining this group exploring 41 kilometres of grunting and sweating with wet river crossings, wilderness camping, campfire stories, wildlife sightings, mosquito bites and dirt, mud everywhere – sign me up – what is there not to like!