This is the very last post of this trip to Quebec and the Gaspe Peninsula.
Our first full day in the town of Gaspe we went exploring. First stop was the museum devoted to the indigenous peoples of this area - the MicMac de Gespeg. Though I didn't take any photographs in the museum buildiing I did capture these recreated lodgings made of birch poles and bark.
None of these structures when in use were permanent. Family units moved from place to place depending upon the season. These structures were easily taken down and moved.
Our next stop was a beach in the Parc National Forillon where we had been told by a server at dinner the evening before that it was a good spot for spying whales.
Not one in sight so we headed to the parking area and trailhead for a walk to the End of the World. Named such by the MicMac because it was the eastern most point of the Gaspe Peninsula.
When we got there the parking was full and I realized there were no restrooms/latrines there. We turned back and spied one sitting on a hill above this picnic table.
Feeling more comfortable for the hike of 2.5 miles one way we returned and were lucky to find someone leaving a very close parking spot. We set off on our hike.
It was a very popular hike especially on a blue sky day on the Monday preceding Canada Day.
Though we put on bug spray we neglected to consider the need for sun screen as I discovered that evening with sunburned arms.
Here is the destination point.
We arrived just as the fog rolled in.
We had a clementine each but no water. We did okay.
Below you can see the fog line.
It felt like we walked up hill both ways.
Another view of the fog line and a bird I caught by accident.
Five miles roundtrip was a lot for both of us but well worth the sore muscles.
After lunch we continued our exploring and visited Manoir Le Boutillier - the headquarters for the John Boutillier Company which was involved in drying fish and trading with the West Indies and England.
This was not his home but it was the residence for his employees.
Sorry no photos inside but I thought the outside was striking.
Canada Day, July 1st, was another beautiful day. We took the walkway along the river to the Musee de la Gaspesie - Gaspe Museum. The museum did an incredible job explaining the history of the area. One of the best historical exhibits we've seen in our travels. They even had virtual reality headgear to put on to experience being on a fishing boat.
I didn't take any photos in the museum but if you travel to Gaspe you must visit this venue.
Lunch was in a bakery and ended with this dessert that we shared.
I had hot cocoa too!
We thought we'd see fireworks the evening of the first but because of the cost the town of Gaspe did not have any to celebrate.
We spent the afternoon enjoying the sun on the deck of the Auberge.
We departed on the 2nd with a brief stop in Perce where we finally found some Canada t-shirts for the granddaughters. We also stopped to view Perce Rock. Fog was almost obscuring it.
Can you see the little opening on the water line?
Our final night in Quebec was in Carleton-sur-Mer where we stayed one night. It was definitely a beach town but we were tired and ready to head home. We got up very early on the 3rd and departed there at 5:30 not wanting to wait around for breakfast at 7:00. We were in Bangor, Maine before noontime which was our planned overnight stop but we called them to say our plans had changed and could we get a credit since it was a non-refundable reservation. They graciously canceled it instead since the charge had yet to be made. Thank you Hampton Inn!
We just kept on driving and arrived home 12 hours after departing Quebec. Traffic the day before our Independence Day holiday was fairly light southbound through Maine especially compared to northbound traffic. All those folks headed to Maine beaches.
Glad to have made the trip to Quebec and Gaspe but nice to be home, too.
