rain!

We were getting a little too cocky about our good weather but have been brought down to earth now.  We just spent a very wet hour birdwatching in a wetland just north of Miramichi, NB.  Enjoyed the herons, plovers, yellowlegs and sandpipers through the raindrops and wind, then made grilled cheese sandwiches in the trailer. Now we are trying to decide where to head next.  Had hoped for a couple of sunny camping days in Kouchibouguac National Park but, just like in 2005 when we were last in this area, the weather is putting a damper on plans to cycle and canoe in the beautiful park.
Spent most of yesterday at the Acadian Village near Caraquet.  The Acadian, proud descendents of the French who refused to swear allegiance to the British flag, celebrate their 'national' day on Aug 15th so many  houses around here are decorated for the occasion with their own form of blue, red and white flag with yellow star.

One of the more decorated Acadian yards

 The historic village was very interesting and covered the style of houses and ways of making a living from 1750 to 1950.

spinning flax into linen. Each house or business featured a skill used in days of yore so we learned about both wooland flax; carding, spinning and weaving on a loom; tinsmithing, salting cod; cooking over a fire; using a printing press; cobbling shoes; etc

This morning we went to a local museum in Tracadie-Sheila to watch a film and see displays on a part of Canadian history about which we had not heard.  The town was the site of the only place for lepers in Canada - at first a colony secluded from all of society with no treatment then, slowly over the year, a hospital facility run by nuns where many lepers from across Canada lived out their lives.  Some lived with the disease for more than 30 years.  The facility closed when the last of them died in 1965.  Leprosy appeared in this area due to the community accepting and helping two sick Norwegian sailors in the mid 1700s, only to contract and spread the disease among the Acadians here. Only now are residents finally disclosing that they had relatives with leprosy.  A very interesting, and sad, part of our history. 

Some days, this trip is all about the scenery, some days about the culture.  Who knows what we will find around the next corner!!