Wanderlust; A New Brunswick journey

During my re-entry from my African Trip, every day was a battle to fend off the explainable by-product that seeped from my bones into my flesh. I had wanderlust. The powerful addiction to migrate, take flight, roam. I was short on cash and rapidly weakening to it’s force.

With paper and calculator in hand, I tapped and scribbled,  conjuring up scenarios  The weight of being a single 49 year old women working for the man, trying to pay for now, pay for later, boiling down to desires verse needs. The prospect of being patience for many more years was constricted my chest- Impossible, I must travel.

Stay vacations, as they are called, was the immediate cure.  I had heads-upped the recreation director that this summer, I would not be available to teach my outside of regular work- evening and weekend fitness class. from  June 19th to Sept 5th. that gave me 12 weekend to live out my dreams- pure delight.

Until the  winter weather improved, I would use my  free time to plan what New Brunswick have to offer and I would allocate a weekend to “most want to see list.” I  Needed a plan, and I started with a New Brunswick Tourist Guide Book . I would branch out from there.

The lists began to form. Itemized into headings such as wildlife viewing:  Mary’s point looked appealing the endangered Piping Plovers stop here on their migration .  Grand Manan Island was only place to book a excursion to see the  normally pelagic Atlantic Puffins nest. Deer Island’s old Sow whirlpool  stirred up lots of food for its sea-life whales and seals porpoises all  congregate here to feast; a great photo opportunities. Might as well go to Campobello Island while in the vicinity it fit into historically significant places.

Kouchibouquac National Park for camping  and hiking in old growth forest and walking along Kelly’s beach. A trek up Atlantic Canada’s highest Peak would take me to Mount Carleton Provincial Park.  Clamoring up an extinct volcano required a trip to Sugarloaf Provincial Park.  Miscou Island just because its placement on the New Brunswick map was magnetizing.  The pictures I have seen of Cape Enrage were breathtaking definitely wanted to go there I had walked the ocean floor at Fundy National Park but I would be glad to do it again.. I was getting sucked in. I wanted to do it all now.

More planning more itemizing lists.  National Historic Sites of Canada, showed me there was a designated historic building on Broad Road the road I drive daily into Oromocto. I would stop and have a look at the listed Anglican church on my way to pick up groceries.

I pulled into the parking lot of the little stone and siding house of worship. In a few seconds I had snapped a few pictures of its architecture and some historical plaques, thinking that was all to see at the front.  I have always been a graveyard tourist so  the headstones at the back of the building beckoned me to come stroll around the yard.

The biggest dedication was in the second row. A weather beaten dirt encrusted white monument; a concrete base was the platform for a taller square base – topped with a cross.  A stately  bronzed maroon coloured plaque lay in front of the final resting place of this important soul and I had to see who garnered such a marker. It read;

Father of Confederation

Robert Duncan Wilmot 1809-1891

A delegate to the inter colonial conference of London (1866-1807) of which the base was laid for the federal union of the British North American Provinces in a new nation.

This grave is marked by the Government of Canada.

My mouth hung open,  here in my own back yard  was the start of a treasure hunt to first identify all he fathers of confederation, research their final resting places and seek out their graves. 2017 was Canada’s 150th birthday of confederation and this was my way to mark the occasion

Please join me for .In honour of Canada’s 150th

Happy Travels from Maritime Mac