Day 57 Visit Saint John, NB

July 15

Visit Saint John, NB

First stop an RV dealer to find parts for John’s trailer.  There was a listing for an RV dealer on our campsite map.  Program the GPS and we find nothing.  Pull into a gas station to get directions and there is a truck filling up with the name of the RV place we are looking for.  Since the new highway has come to Saint John from the US border the roads have changed.  Got the parts and headed for downtown Saint John.  Found parking then walked to Market Square at the Waterfront. 

Across the street is Barbour’s General Store, a restored 18^th century general store.  Then we walked to Saint John’s City Market.  The roof is built like an inverted hull of a ship to represent the city’s past ship building history.  It is also the oldest Farmers Market open every day since 1876.  

Saint John became the first incorporated city in Canada in 1785.  We stopped briefly at the Fort Howe Lookout built by the British in 1777 to protect the area from American privateers and native unrest.  The building has been reconstructed and has a panoramic view of the harbour and city.  The Reversing Rapids are a must see at high tide and low tide.  The Reversing rapids are created when at low tide the St John River flows down to the ocean through a 137 meter wide gorge.  At slack tide the waters are quiet. At high tide the river reverses going back up stream.

Low Tide flowing out

 From the downtown you can see a round tower across the way.  Driving past the Reversing Rapids we headed to the Carleton Martello Tower National Historic site of Canada and decided to buy a Parks Canada Discovery Pass.  This tower was built to protect the Saint John harbour for the War of 1812 was wasn’t completed until 1815.  The tower remained in use until 1944.  Good thing it was never really needed that’s why it is still in great shape today.

Inside Tower

We went back downtown to have a late lunch on the wharf boardwalk, a lobster roll.  Then we walked around King’s & Queen’s park; past the No 2 Engine House/Firefighters Museum housed in an 1840 firehouse; The Loyalist House, the oldest building in St John built in 1811 by David Daniel Merrit, a Loyalist from New York; the old churches; the old houses and buildings.  Then we drove back to the Reversing Rapids to see the river running upstream.

High Tide flowing in

Last but not least we had to return to the campsite so John could fix his trailer to get back on the road.  Ross helped by supervising and reading instructions.

Daily Stats: 
Today's distance: 125 km 
Weather:  Sunshine; High: 29 degrees; Lo: 22 degrees
Diesel Price:  $1.379 litre (Back in Canada and prices jump)
Wildlife:  Heron
Campsite:  Rockwood Park Municipal Campground $35/night full hookups
Walking:  6 km

Today’s News:  Harper Cabinet Shuffle & email leaked about an Enemies List (who cabinet can and can’t talk to)