We travelled from Ste Anne des Monts to Forillon Park along the river. It’s a gorgeous drive that hugs the coast with high hills or mountains. We are at the end of the Appalachians here. We stopped in Grande Vallée, where a former neighbour of mine is from. Of course, we had to stop at the poisonnerie for a huge lobster for dinner. For $17, plus $1 for cracking it, we got a 2 lb lobster, suitable for a shore dinner at the park. We also stopped for lunch and ate some home made egg sandwiches at the city beach. Lovely little town.
Our campground at Forillon was in the Desrosiers section. We had a slight view of the water from our picnic table area but it was a short enough walk to the beach, which reminded me of St. Tropez with the flat large pebbles. We made camp and had a nap, then after a great dinner, we were off on our bikes along the trail that follows the beach back to the lighthouse area. We were pretty sure we saw a seal but I couldn’t get a good picture of him, even with the focus lens.
After the bike ride, I was still restless, so we took a short walk along the beach and Leon skipped some stones in the water which was getting quite smooth at low tide.
In the morning, we visited some of the other parts of the park which recount the days of cod fishing. Gaspé was an important cod exporting port from 1865 to 1940. The tiny community on the edge of the peninsula, which is now part of Forillon Park, was known for its salt cod which was of a high quality and could last for several years without fear of spoiling. European markets would get the very best quality cod, whereas the second grade cod was shipped to the West Indies and Brazil. By the way, we did notice that back in the late 1800s, they had trouble finding a school teacher for the area. Leon suggested there might be the possibility of a teaching exchange for me?
Today’s drive took us to Percé where the big rock with the hole is. For my Aussie friends, this is as close to the 12 Apostles as we get. The area is also known for its large colony of Northern Gannets, really cool birds that dive from several meters high to fish mackerel (Reading up on them, it seems their cousins live in Tasmania, and I never knew!). Our campground here is across from the sea. We had a nice walk, a beer at the seaside bar and free concert at a local bar by a country singer. Leon says: Johnny Cash est au Québec! By the way, the last picture on the bottom right is of the little penguins or razorbills. Unlike the penguins we normally think about, they can fly, but they are related to the penguins of the Antarctic.
Turning my world upside down! 
Hope this isn’t more burden than help….!!!
NEW RICHMOND: Some history Rich in history and heritage, the Stanley House Inn is a Queen Anne-style summer residence built of natural materials.The Inn is located in New Richmond at the mouth of the Grand Cascapedia River and overlooks the Baie des Chaleurs, one of the most beautiful bays in the world.
Lord Stanley The Inn was built as a summer home by Frederic Arthur Stanley, Lord of Preston, 16th Earl of Derby (1841-1908).Lord Stanley was Governor General of Canada from 1888 to 1893 and was no stranger to politics; he was born into British Aristocracy and his father was Prime Minister of England for three terms.
It is now privately owned and “the cup” never visits and of course it is no longer accessable…….. My notes…!!!
CASCAPEDIA ST.JULES is situated exactly 5.2 K north of the junction of 132 and 299 on 299…worth the side trip if time permits…fishing museum and of course my “second home”…that of the Cormier side. Also a great little Canteen…best burgers and fries around…ask for Patti and tell her I sent you. These little road side canteen are really popular in the summer….not McDonalds…way better…there are lots of them.
The Cascapedia River is one of the world’s most famous salmon fishing rivers. Its history tells the story of a river, the community that surrounded it, and the rich and famous who came to enjoy the sport of salmon fishing. In the late eighteen hundreds, it became the domain of the Governors General of Canada and the summer retreat for Queen Victoria’s daughter, Princess Louise. Her time here has left us with a valuable treasure of information. Many of the great American families enjoyed fishing on the river and left part of their legacy here as well. There were also the celebrities, including presidents, prime ministers actors and artists who came to enjoy its beauty and resources. The story of the Cascapedia is one that is rich in tradition and history. The need to preserve this history has resulted in the creation of a community museum. The Cascapedia River Museum was officially opened in July of 2000 and has the support of the community of Cascapedia- St Jules and the anglers who come back year after year to enjoy this beautiful river. This history will be passed on to future generations, and will give our community a distinct pride in knowing who they are, and from where they came. This heritage also reflects a world wide angling community who have a passion for the sport of Atlantic salmon fly fishing. The Museum, like the Cascapedia River, portrays an image of quality, class, history and tradition. Throughout the Museum our unique history is brought to life. Although our collection of angling memorabilia is the envy of many collectors, it is the stories from our rich heritage that most interests our visitors. The Museum’s many services offer our guests a chance to step back in time to an era where the lure of Atlantic salmon fishing was only available to the rich and the elite. We also emphazise the importance of conservation of the Atlantic salmon, so that this valuable resource can be preserved for future generations. The Cascapedia River Museum offers a fascinating visit not only for anglers or local history buffs, but for those who know little about either. It is a delightful discovery.
Brian
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Thanks for all your comments, Brian. We had a lovely day driving along the Baie des Chaleurs. We are presently on the north short of NB, just outside of Bathurst, with another great view.
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