Travel Days: September 15&16, 2023
Our next destination was Quebec City – another area we didn’t get to see in 2022 thanks to Hurricane Fiona. But Halifax to Quebec City is a 10+ hour drive so we booked an overnight stay in Fredricton with a side trip to Shediac to see the world’s biggest lobster.
When I look at the map today I am disappointed we didn’t got to Prince Edward Island – IT’S SO CLOSE! But, to keep our trip manageable and affordable we had to cut some things out. Oh well, it’s another reason to go back. A few days earlier Carla read about the World’s Largest Lobster, or in French Le Plus Grand Homard du Monde. Even if we couldn’t take the hours it took to to to PEI, we could drive half an hour out of our way to see that.
But first we had to eat! We parked and walked along Main Street to find something. Although not edible, this sculpture caught my eye. I couldn’t see a plaque with the name of the piece or the artist.
While on our walk Jim struck up a conversation with a resident who recommended Bistro Le Moque-Tortue (The Mock Turtle Bistro). What a fun place! It had shelves and shelves of board games to play and – in deference to the mock turtle name – plenty of Alice in Wonderland themed items.
I wonder if the prospect of setting all those clocks would cause someone to call in sick on the standard/daylight time changes. Quick quiz: there is something not right about this picture given that it shows the clocks in the mirror. (I “fixed” it in Lightroom).
Now! Off to see the World’s Largest Lobster!
The 90 ton sculpture was created by Canadian artist Winston Bronnum. It was commissioned by the Shediac Rotary Club as a tribute to the town’s lobster fishing industry.
Here is a view of the front.
Back in the car and heading to Fredrickton we saw signs for Magnetic Hill where your car will roll uphill!
Being mid September we avoided the crowds and the high-season entry fee. We waited our turn while other cars pulled to the designated spot, put their car in neutral, and released the brakes. Sure enough, the cars seem to roll uphill! Surely they were cheating. But we watched as Jim stopped, put the car in neutral, let the brakes off. And we rolled uphill! Either gravity works different there or it’s either an illusion. I choose to believe the former. If you disagree you’ll have to go there and experience it before we argue.
Jim had to take over most of the driving from this point. I caught a bug which turned into a COPD flare. The medications I take are not conducive to driving so the three of us owe a huge thanks to Jim for doing the most of the driving over the next few days. It also cut into my enjoyment of Quebec City; but no so much I didn’t get out and about. More on that in the next post.
