“You’re the guy who goes walking on the shore.”
Well I used to be that guy. I haven’t done any big hikes along the Bay of Fundy since 2007.
The last long one was Gulliver’s to Centreville, 10km as the crow flies. Hiking in the summer with long days, I ended up crawling the last couple kilometers in the dark.
The biggest mistake I made back then was lack of planning.
There a few things I’d like to differently this time. First off, I’m hereby letting you all know I’m officially planning a trip from Centreville to Sandy Cove. I’d love to hear from anyone who has walked along that stretch. Where are the hard spots? Where are the gorgeous spots? Good spots to rest and have lunch? Will I have cell service for any of it?
I’d also be interested in any historical information about that stretch of shore.
I didn’t check the tides before my last long shore hike and I got stuck sitting in Gulliver’s waiting for the tide to drop a couple feet before I’d gone anywhere.
Because I don’t know the shore past Centreville, I don’t where I need low tide.
Given the short days in November, I ‘m just going to plan for a tide somewhere in the middle of daylight.
The next possible weekends for me with good midday tides are Nov. 5-6 or Nov. 19-20.
Weather also starts becoming a real factor by that time of year. There’s not much I can do about that. I have the clothing and experience. I can only wait and see and hope for clear skies.
I have been trying to get myself back into shape for the walking and climbing and carrying a pack. I’ve been doing some little walks around Point Prim and Boar’s Head.
Earlier this summer I walked from the Racquette in Digby out to Point Prim without ever leaving the shore. I did have to walk around the ferry terminal but then it was back through the woods to the shore.
Boar’s Head was fun. I was coming off Long Island with some time to spare last month and got it in my head I’d walk along the shore from the Tiverton marina to the point.
About half way along, I was sitting on a ledge on the cliffs watching the whale watchers when my phone rang.
It was a local fisherman from Tiverton as chance would have it. I told him where I was and he said, “Oh Jonathan, you’re going to have a hard walk there. Call me if you get in any trouble.”
It was a tough little slog. But beautiful. I’d always wanted to see that big cube sitting on the cliffs up close.
And it was just the little tune up I needed.
On the way out I took the perfectly good paved road. Because it is gated you have to walk, but besides one steep hill, the going is easy.
And if you time your hike for September, you might just be able to refuel as I did on the endless blackberries.
I sat out by the lighthouse for a long while and just watched the tides swirl around the point. The current was making long standing waves where it collided with the swell from the open Bay.
After that little hike and a little dreaming there on the shore I was dying to just start walking up along Long Island.
But I’d better finish first what I’ve started. Centreville to Sandy Cove here I come.
