New River Beach Provincial Park, New Brunswick

New River Beach was my first real stop in New Brunswick. I crossed the border early in the morning and, after obtaining a map and a guidebook at the information center in Saint Stephen, headed north. I decided to start up the coast a ways, passing some of the lower shores in attempt to be mindful of the change of seasons, and so deliberately skipped certain places . My second order of business – after acquiring a map and before stopping at New River Beach – was to re-supply on local, highbush blueberries; I made off with an overfilled quart for only $5 Canadian. The sweet older lady who sold them to me also offered to adopt me. Recalling those blueberries now I should have taken her offer more seriously.

Weather-wise the day was absolutely perfect: vibrant blue sky, puffy clouds, warm sun, and cooling breeze. Once at the beach I broke out the stove and made some lunch (I believe it was whole wheat couscous and zucchini) before heading down the the beach, a mile-long sandy crescent which rimmed the shallow blue-green water. It was stunning. Afterwords I changed into my hiking shoes and headed to a sign on the other end of the parking lot that said nature trail and ended up on a two hour jaunt which skirted the perimeter of the peninsula before turning back across the inland peat bog. Along the shore, the trail accessed numerous coves, sandy and pebbled breaks in the pointed headlands. Inland sections were dense, lush forests and overgrown bog, bright with the purples of pitcher plants and other wildflowers. When I finally returned to the trailhead, I went for a refreshing swim in the Bay of Fundy, and then continued my way north.