Day 13 - Hopewell Rocks

We got up early so we could get to the Hopewell Rocks at low tide. We were one of the first cars through the gate. This worked to our favor because there were only a handful of people to clutter up our pictures. We had to go down a set of steps that is half under water at high tide. The rock formations resemble stemmed drinking glasses. The tidal flow eats away at the bottom and leaves the part above the waterline un-eroded. They are formed by erosion. Over time, small gullies are formed and create small peninsulas. Once they stick out into the flow of the water, they erode away from the shore. This creates these rock formations. Each formation will last about 1000 years before it erodes away at the bottom enough to fall over. It is estimated that there is enough shore to make these formations for another 100,000 years.

When we got to the bay floor, it was easy walking. It was cool to walk around each of the formations. At the stairway, there were many signs that warned us away from the caves that were eroding into the shore. They were trying to protect us from falling rock. When we walked away from the stairway area, we could get into a few caves. The bay floor was mostly rocky, but there were spots of pure mud. It was difficult when out got close to the water’s edge to stay out of it. Several times we had to clean our shoes in the water.











Our next stop was the Reversing Fall in Saint John. We were not going to stop in Saint John, but we had some extra time to make the stop. It was cool to see the fresh water colliding with the incoming tide. It created some wild looking currents. The ducks were just swirling around in the currents.



Kim wanted to do some shopping at the City Market. It was housed in the old market house for the city of Saint John. When we walked in, you could see many produce, meat, and seafood vendors. Once we got in further, the “artists” with their wares were everywhere. If we stopped and looked too long, they would come over and explain their product. At one of the produce stands, some guy came out and started talking to Kim about Dulce. It is seaweed that is cleaned (hopefully) and dried in the sun. The guy swears that it is like potato chips. Really! I don’t think so. It had a salty dead fish taste. I only put a small piece in and I could not get rid of the taste. I had to by a drink to get rid of the flavor. Kim made me give her a few sips to get rid of the taste. It wasn’t long before I told Kim that I was all shopped out.



We stayed in the Blair House B&B in St Stephan, NB. It is advertised as the most British of the B&B’s in New Brunswick. The owner came from England with his parents. At one point his parents started the B&B and he eventually took it over. It was a very nice place to stay. At 9:00 he would bring out decaf tea and cookies. We had not really spent any time at night in the B&B’s common rooms, but we wanted to see what the evening tea was about. Everyone was interested in the Lizzie Borden B&B and the schooner trip.