Beautiful St. Martins...

 Summer. That season when you feel free to just take off on a day trip if the weather is good, and you feel like a change of scenery. That's what we did a  few days ago.. we took a jaunt down to St. Martins. It is a small fishing community on the Bay of Fundy, east of Saint John.  Known as one of New Brunswick's most beautiful seaside vacation resort communities, it is also famous for its sea caves, and as the gateway to The Fundy Trail. Situated halfway between Hopewell Rocks and St. Andrews along the Fundy coast, it is a short drive from Saint John N.B. You can watch a short video about the St. Martins area and Fundy Trail Parkway here.

 We enjoyed a seafood lunch before a quick exploration of the beach and the sea caves at low tide. At least we "timed" it right for the tide this time; when I was there last July it was closer to high tide so people were kayaking in and out of the caves!! We learned that the rocks of St. Martins are of the Triassic age, about 250 million years old. Very few fossils are found in these rocks. Across the Bay, Nova Scotia's fossil history includes the oldest dinosaurs in North America found in Triassic age rocks, but these rocks are too old to have dinosaurs!!!

 We didn't really go well prepared, footwear-wise, for a long beach walk to the further caves, so we headed "back to town". Remember last fall I started a little "project" of visiting the province's covered bridges? (You can read that post here.) Well here at St. Martins is the only spot in N.B. where you can get two covered bridges AND  a lighthouse in one photograph!! These two bridges both span the Irish River, but are known as Vaughan Creek bridge (or Irish River #1 - built in 1935, length of 71'6") and the more distant one is known as the Hardscrabble bridge (or Irish River #2 - built in 1946, length 72'). Both bridges have a covered "walkway" with
"windows", not something many bridges have. In case you are not familiar with covered bridge "lore" it is customary to make a wish as you pass through a covered bridge, as well as tooting your car horn. Some people also hold their breath while passing through; supposedly this ensures that your wish will come true... just so ya know!! (I hope to have more covered bridge photos to show you soon...)
Our last stop was to visit the Studio/Gallery of  Gwen and John of Desideratum Art Jewelry. Gwen and I have been blogging friends for a while now so it was great to finally meet her! I laughed when she told me she thought I'd be taller!! Haha- nope - just little ole me at 5'5"!! Isn't it funny how you "picture" someone you haven't met and have this idea what they will be like..then it turns out your image was not quite accurate! Their Gallery is not to be missed if/when you go to St. Martins. Not only does it feature their wonderful whimsical jewelry, but also Gwen's exquisite art cards (photographs and drawings) and John's incredible oil paintings. Click here to see some wonderful photos of their Gallery, and their incredible photos of St. Martins and surrounding area.
Last year I visited the Quaco Light as well so have included two of those photos in my final collage...
My Maritimes and the Bay of Fundy.... gotta love it!

Peace,
Linda

"The tide rises, the tide falls, the twilight darkens, the curlew calls." ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow