Grand-Barachois to Cadman Corner   |   Campsite: 46.18017° N, 64.02238° W

Writing this at the end of the day in the tent that has been set up in the backyard of Loella’s Country Market directly on the coast, I’d say that today was a very mixed bag. I was out walking by 6:00, but an hour into the walk I come to a bridge that was closed for repairs that neither Google Maps nor Apple Maps indicated as being under construction. A kilometre-long detour is required, bringing me southward to link onto the very noisy, busy, and fast Highway 15. Somewhere along this section of highway I lose a trek pole tip cover and have to use one of the two replacements I bought in Moncton. I walk the highway for close to 45 minutes, transferring onto a gravel service road that brings me back to the coast again. Stopping at a gas station for beverages, I speak to a woman working at the register about where and how to access the shuttle service that transports passengers over the bridge into the province of Prince Edward Island. The bridge was not designed with pedestrian or cyclist access, and they are therefore not allowed to walk or cycle across. She assured me that the shuttle waiting area was close to where the bridge connects with the New Brunswick shoreline and that it is easy to locate. Later on into the day as I was taking a photograph, a man crossing the road from his home to pick up his mail walked toward me to begin a conversation in French. We talked about the area and I asked about a flag or graphic that I had been seeing. It was composed of three vertical strips in blue, white, and red, with a yellow star in the upper left corner in the blue stripe. This was the flag of Acadia, (Acadie in French), he says. I say that I did not see it much throughout the province of Québec. “It is there in some regions. The Acadian culture was present in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, but also in Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Mississippi.” I understand much of what he is saying, but I am sure that I miss most of the context. “Well, good day and a good walk,” he says with a smile and we each go our ways. The day then fluctuates between drizzle and rain well into the evening so that the rain jacket is accessed a few times. Walking Highway 950 and 955, over the course of the day, wears me down. It has been a tough day walking. I think I am ready to leave New Brunswick. The roadways are not very safe, nor do they offer any form of rest areas for anyone traveling them. I was again forced to cook lunch right next to the shoulder of the road as I had delayed my lunch by hours searching for a comfortable place to make a meal but finding none. Regardless of the size of the road, everyone in this province tends to drive dangerously faster than the posted speed limit. And so by 4:00, I was feeling a sense of relief in the knowledge that tomorrow morning I will be in Prince Edward Island! Upon arriving at a place called Cadman Corner I stop at Loella’s Country Market for beverages and a few snacks. A conversation begins, and I talk about the walk so far. I ask if anyone knows of a public place where I might put my tent for the night. A man says “Yes. You can tent out back behind the market if you would like.” His name was Stan, and he owned the property on which the market was built, as well as a number of the surrounding buildings. He also took care of the properties, including the immaculate cutting of grass. He shows me to a spot behind the market which was protected by a small fence where I could camp, as the waist-high structure would limit the amount of wind that would blow upon the tent. We talked about the Confederation Bridge as I would be crossing it tomorrow, and he tells me that he was a member of the construction team that built the structure. He shows me photos of him walking halfway across the bridge as one of the first people to set foot on the finished bridge before it was opened to the public on May 31, 1997. He was an interesting man with many skills—most of them self-taught—and an interesting career. By 5:00 I am inside the tent and out of the rain. Today I walked 48.93 km. A long day, but good as it sets me up well for tomorrow with the Confederation Bridge only 16 km away. I will be trying to make it to the small town of Victoria tomorrow, which should put Charlottetown in range for the following day. I journal the day out, read for an hour, then let the sound of the rain on the tent relax me into sleep.

Today’s distance walked: 48.93 km    |    Total distance walked: 1,948.32 km

Moncton to Grand-Barachois   |   Campsite: 46.22718° N, 64.42043° W

I wake at 4:00 as I want to make use of the morning in order to transcribe three more days of notes. More packing and organizing gear is done before a quick shower is enjoyed. At 7:00 I walk over to the restaurant to have the breakfast included with the room. My goal is to be back on the road by 8:00 at the latest, as I really want to reach the town of Shediac on the coast today—further if at all possible. I will be able to refill the water there, so I am feeling confident. Outside, the ground is wet and the sky is grey, but no rain is falling. I eat a full breakfast, fuelled by lots of coffee. I am excited to walk through Moncton this morning in order to see even more of this city along its more north-easterly sections. I’ll be walking Shediac Road on my way to the coastal town of Shediac. By 7:30 I return to my room, finalize all packing, and stretch for the upcoming day. I check out at the hotel office, and begin the sixth segment of this long walk: from the city of Moncton to the city of Charlottetown. I reach the edge of Moncton easily, followed by numerous waves of suburban developments. This is where the sidewalks end, replaced by sand and gravel shoulder. For the most part, the road to the town of Shediac is good. Perhaps in places, my walking space is a bit narrow for comfort, but overall I have a great day out on the road. Rain falls between 10:00 and 11:30, with the rain jacket put on only once over the course of the morning for about 20 minutes. The new footwear works quite well without incident, and the new trekking poles help well in distributing weight while creating a good rhythm. I am happy with both for the time being. I reach Shediac by 2:00. The town is fun, with both historic and newly-created fake vernacular elements to delight tourists. I met Kevin as I was purchasing pints for lunch at the NB Liquor store. He was interested in why I was walking, and we sank into a ten-minute conversation. He and his family had moved to the town from Ontario in 2019, just before the pandemic outbreak. He had never been to the area before the move, and so he was still exploring the province. It was, he said, an expensive place to live. He had confirmed a thought I had when I arrived in New Brunswick that all of the beautiful coast and beachfront land has largely been privatized. This was a source of frustration for Kevin as he believed that these resources should be enjoyed by all Canadians. I find an area with picnic tables adjacent to the building, and I make use of them to cook both rice and ramen. The day has mostly consisted of clouds with drizzle, however sunshine angles into the afternoon as I eat. After packing up and returning to the road by 3:00, I will walk 42.07 km to a church and cemetery where I will rest on a bench and enjoy a few cold pints purchased across the road at a local grocery store. The grounds of the cemetery extended quite far away from the road, and when I explored the extent of the grounds I found a perfect place to camp in the treeline just beyond the cemetery boundary. The tent is raised by 6:30, and by 6:45 I am journalling and decompressing from the day—a good day walking and realizing the benefits made from good gear recommended by knowledgeable people.

Today’s distance walked: 42.47 km    |    Total distance walked: 1,899.39 km

Moncton   |   Accommodations: Motel 6, 1905 Main St, Moncton NB

After an incredible sleep, I bounce out of bed, transcribing two days of written notes, editing photographs, and posting to the blog. By 7:00 I enjoy the breakfast included with the room, writing, and mapping the city of Moncton. This morning I will be walking to a hike gear store on the north side of the city, using the opportunity to pick up a few food items at the nearby BulkBarn store—my favorite store for hiking food! A quick shower is enjoyed before loading the pack with everything I’ll need for a day of urban exploration. I then set out walking northward, seeing the beautiful Centennial Park toward the area known as Canadian Heights. The store Ocean Trail Source for Adventure is next on my list, where I had a great conversation with Mark about what I was doing, and over the course of our conversation, I decided to buy trekking poles, new footwear (that were needed anyway), and a few essential smaller items. We have an interesting conversation that leads to new gear that will be tested over the next upcoming days of walking. 11:30–1:30 I walk around the city, picking up lunch and beverages for the day that are brought back to the room. I treat the new footwear with a water sealer, giving them the night to set. I wash all of the clothing worn over the weekend, drying it all on the heater—all gear is ready for the next leg of walking! I assess the current food stock while mapping the route to Charlottetown. I prepare the pack as much as possible, and I decide on staying in the motel late enough to enjoy the included room breakfast tomorrow morning beginning at 7:00. I enjoy some TV, a soak in hot water, and some transcription of written notes.

Today’s distance walked: 21.53 km    |    Total distance walked: 1,856.92 km