Kejimkujik National Park

Canada

Kejimkujik National Park

Kejimkujik National ParK

June 2022

We left the coastal route and continued our trip to Kejimkujik National Park. At the Visitor Center two very friendly ladies gave us a lot of information . The weekend promised many visitors and little availability, so we quickly drove to the canoe rental 5 kilometers away, rented a canoe for 24 hours tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, and then – with a lot of patience because of the slow Internet – we successfully reserved backcountry camping site 11 on Moose Island for the next night. We found a place to sleep for tonight just outside the park on a small dirt road next to the main road, quietly hidden behind trees.

Then our Kejimkujik canoe adventure could begin. We had everything prepared for this trip. Tent, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, food, stove and so on we packed in our backpacks and drove to the canoe rental at Jack’s Landing. The canoe was loaded and off we went. On the first kilometer we saw some other people with kayaks or canoes, but after about half an hour of paddling we were alone on the big lake on the way to our island. We enjoyed the solitude and the beautiful landscape.

After about two hours, our overnight spot came into view and we anchored at Moose Island. A small island with two camping spots, a covered shelter, an outhouse and the barbecue area was not to be missed. We first explored the surroundings on the water. We discovered the Little River, on which we paddled quite leisurely, the silence was deafening, only now and then some bird chirping. Two bald eagles accompanied us on the last meters and then we finally pulled the canoe ashore for today. After a bath in the not so cold lake we sat the remaining evening at the campfire, enjoyed our Soljanka and hot tea and then disappeared in the tent. Chirping crickets, some nocturnal birds and a kind of roaring from the opposite forest provided an interesting soundscape.

The next day we were going to return to the starting point, but we didn’t want to take the same route, so we decided to carry the canoe over a portage and then paddle through Jeremy’s Bay. Boy, was this thing heavy – we didn’t expect it to be. It was only a short stretch, but we had to keep stopping and setting the canoe down. Suddenly a deer got in our way. Both sides were equally frightened, after a short hesitation the animal disappeared in the bushes. Finally we were on the other side and the boat could be launched again.

Just as lonely and alone as yesterday, we paddled back to the canoe rental. After the well-deserved breakfast in the camper we drove a bit deeper into the national park and made two short hikes through the wooded lake landscape, in which already the indigenous people, the Mi’kmaq had their campsites. This area also formed the center of the traditional canoe routes between the Bay of Fundy and the Atlantic coast. After that we finally took a shower again, after several days it was about time and the sanitary building of the campground in the national park offered the perfect opportunity. Freshly washed we went back to our overnight spot of the day before yesterday, because for tomorrow we have planned again a hiking day in the park.

Most hikes in the park are no longer than 6 kilometers, but recently the park has opened a new 14 kilometer hike called Ukme’k. In the visitor center, we were reminded that there are particularly many ticks and upon returning, Eddy indeed had one that had already attached itself to his right leg.

Our next goal was the Digby Neck in the extreme northwest of Nova Scotia. An elongated peninsula located between the Bay of Fundy and St. Marys Bay which includes the islands of Long Island and Brier Island, where small ferries take you from one to the other. Upon arrival at Brier Island, you feel like you are at the end of the world. There is a typical island atmosphere. Everything seems to take place in a lower gear. The male population is probably employed in fishing. The female half takes care of the tourists. We followed the “main road” to the north side of the island and were looking for the lighthouse that should lead ships into the Bay of Fundy.

Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, we parked the car in the grass next to the lighthouse. This is a place where we can hold out for a night. The weather lately has been uninterruptedly exceptionally good. With temperatures above 20 degrees, we try to schedule a swimming stop every day. While the outside temperatures are pleasant, the temperature of the clear ocean water is cold, but for that very reason it is very refreshing!

We made our way out again, with destination Cape Breton. Driving unsuspectingly on the highway, we saw our first bear walking on the side of the road like it was Sunday! We had our first brown bear to catch! Unfortunately, we quickly drove past it on the highway, but no doubt more will follow.

Canada