Fredericton   |   Accommodation: The Fort Nashwaak Motel, 15 Riverside Drive Fredericton NB

Being in Fredericton feels incredible! I have always considered this city as a major milestone in the walk, similar to the cities of Montréal, Charlottetown, and St. John’s. Today will be a day for acquiring new gear, replacing old items that have lost their performance. So to make good use of the day, I wake early in order to soak all bedding—quilt, and liner. The base layers are washed and hung to dry. The long sleeve fleece is still damp, requiring additional drying time, so I suit up with the Patagonia rain jacket that will soon be replaced. I set out by 9:00, crossing the river by way of the walking bridge, on my way to invest in a coffee. I arrive at “Backtrails” sometime around 10:00. The people working at this store really know hiking, and I find a new rain jacket made by “Outdoor Research,” as well as a new pair of lightweight gloves that will keep my hands dry and warm in the rain. Thanks to Kaylee and the store team for helping me upgrade a few gear items, in the process having learned something new! I then walk over to the “Beaverbrook Art Gallery” where close to 2.5 hours are spent enjoying creative work made by Judy Blake, Edward Burtynsky, Shane Perley-Dutcher, and Susan Low-Beer, as well as work produced by the graduating class of the “New Brunswick College of Craft and Design.” There are even some paintings from Salvador Dali filling an entire wing of the gallery. Later, lunch is enjoyed from the restaurant “A Bite of Beijing” before returning to the east side of the river, picking up take-out from “Dixie Lee.” When I return to the motel room, all the rest of the clothing is hung up to dry. Tomorrow I should be able to re-pack the bag with all of the dry gear. By 4:00, I am ready after a full day to rest, eat, and sleep! Fredericton has been a great city to take a break from the trail in, and I am grateful to finally have experienced it.

Today’s distance walked: 11.88 km    |    Total distance walked: 1,647.66 km