Day 32: Moncton Rest Day

Day 32: Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada

July 14, 2016

Miles: 0


Here it is, almost midnight, and I have just begun to write this entry. I say this as way of apologizing in advance for the brevity that will follow.  Di and I plan to rise early tomorrow because we have a hilly 50 mile ride ahead of us, so I should turn in soon to try and make that plan a reality.  If the past is any guide, however, the successful execution of such a plan seems highly unlikely.

We were up this morning by 9am and went to the hotel restaurant for the complimentary breakfast.  The offered breakfast included hard boild eggs, oatmeal, fruit, scrambled eggs, sausage patties, make-your-own waffles, juice and coffee.  And while the food could not be considered stellar, it was certainly plentiful.

At breakfast before coffee has worked its magic

We threw a load of laundry into the washing machine and had 37 minutes to wait before the clothes were done.  I had already researched the location of the nearest used bookstore and told Di it was only six minutes away by foot.  So we walked to Folio and I was able to pick up book three of the Anne of Green Gables series.  This latest installment, for me at least, is called Anne of the Island and is the primary cause for my late entry.  I am enjoying it to such an extent that it is hard to put down and I continued to read it when I should long ago have put it aside to start writing this entry.  Good books make you late.

We returned to the hotel before the laundry had finished - a successfully book store venture by any measure!  We strung the clothesline as usual and hung our clothes to dry.  For me its not strange to hang clothes instead of placing them in the drier, for this is my typical behavior when I am home.  I do this in the belief it will make the clothes last longer.  This practice actually works, but changing styles and waistlines undermine my efforts to keep my clothes until infinity, so perhaps it doesn't matter that much.

We walked the short distance down to the Petitcodiac River, which locally is called the Chocolate River due to its resemblance to that melted delicacy. 

On the bank of the Chocolate River

When the tide changes from low to high, a wave up to a couple of feet high surges up the Chocolate River.  This event is known as the Tidal Bore.  We missed today's tidal bores, but it is possible for us to catch tomorrow mornings at 7:29.  Possible, but not probable.

Still on the bank of the Chcolate River

The walking path along the river

Di tried her hand at taking some panoramic shots.  They came out looking pretty good, aside from the fact it looks like they are from another planet.

The river doesn't really bend like that

That's me

We saw this memorial to the Irish families that settled in Moncton. 

Not mini-Stonehenge, but a memorial to Irish families

This is what is etched into the memorial

 We continued walking and came upon a sculpture of representatives of the Canadian police.

Even I would look good in an RCMP uniform

Even though it was a very windy day it was also very hot, so we decided to look for a cafe where we could get some iced coffee.

View of downtown Moncton

We found the perfect cafe that served great coffee and also served sandwiches.   I got an iced coffee and a turkey panini and Di a lemonade and a lettuce and chicken thing. I was happy and feeling somewhat vindicated that my hot turkey sandwich came with a cheese option (as well as spicy mustard).

I was in that vacant chair

We headed back towards the hotel where Di wanted to relax a bit.  I chose to hang out in the cafe across the street from the hotel where I ordered more coffee and began reading my book.  Life can never be boring if reading is in your life.

I returned to the hotel room after I drank my fill of coffee (yes, that is possible) to prepare for our 6pm dinner with Costi.  I met Costi a few years ago and right away I enjoyed working with him.  There are some people who take the time to know their limits and there are those who don't waste their time on such considerations and merely do what needs to be done.  Costi is of the latter type and it was a lot of fun to work with him.  When I think of the enjoyment I got from working with people like Costi it is almost enough to make me regret retiring, but fortunately, not quite enough.

We saw this odd vehicle on the way to dinner (yes, a full grown man was inside)

At dinner with Costi

I had a great time catching up with Costi.  Our dinner conversation ranged from motorcycles to work to owning a home and to a variety of other things.  Our time at dinner flew by and eventually we had to say goodbye.  Costi sometimes comes to Providence on business, so I'm hopeful that it won't be too long before we meet again.

Saying goodbye

Well, that's it for today and I feel that, like Polonius, I have given the lie to the meaning of brevity.

Tomorrow, we are off to Sussex.