Living in central Alberta doesn’t give us many opportunities to get to open water. Every once in awhile we find ourselves at a lake, but it just can’t compare to the ocean. I enjoy that salty smell, and water to the horizon too much. On our trip to the Maritimes we made sure we were able to dip our toes in the Atlantic. We visited seven beaches, some sandy, some rocky. Our first trip was less than 24 hours after landing at the beach in Cap-Pelé, just over the dune from a seafood restaurant. Mmmm…
Two days later we were back, just up the beach from the first place, but this time with swim suits.
Two days later, we went to a very different beach, this time on the Bay of Fundy. It was a cool, windy day at the Hopewell Rocks, but we enjoyed lots of beach combing.
Two days later (seems to be a theme…) we went to Slacks Cove, also in the Bay of Fundy.
From Naomi: “I love this picture, not just because of the crazy kids and amazing husband in it, but because it was taken at Slack’s Cove. Slack’s Cove is the beach where Canada’s first Baptists arrived and settled. They founded the church that eventually became Troy’s home church of Main Street Baptist Church. It reminds me that just as the faithfulness of those 7 little-known individuals several hundred years ago is still bearing fruit today, so the Lord will help us bear fruit that could impact others long after we’re gone, as we walk with Him. So, keep keeping on!!”
The next trip was a brief stop on the New Brunswick side of the Confederation Bridge.
On the other side of the Northumberland Straight are many lovely Prince Edward Island beaches. On our way back home, we stopped by Chelton Beach Provincial Park just before sunset.
The last and final trip to the Atlantic was to my old beach, Masons Beach. This is where I spent lots of time as a kid at our cottage. A small, (mostly) quiet beach for long summer afternoons. It was nice to take my family to a spot where I have so many memories.
The tide was going out, but we still had fun hunting hermit crabs, finding shells, and sharing stories of ye olden days. Thanks to the Pooleys for hosting us and the awesome surf-n-turf supper. And the great memories!
A hermit crab changing shells
Eating clams and mussels picked from the beach
We came back to land-locked Alberta with a few kilos of shells, beach glass, drift wood, a heavy bag of sand, and lots of great memories. So long, ocean, sea you in a few years!