Adventures on the Restigouche
Posted By Sarah on July 14, 2010
The Merganser and crew spent last weekend in New Brunswick, Canada, up at the Restigouche 1760 event. It was a long drive, about 9 hours, made longer by the excessive heat and lack of air conditioning in the truck. We got there just in time to get nailed by a heavy squall. The rain felt great after the hot truck ride.
There was some skirmishing on the water on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, as well as a field school about naval cannon drill for sailors, a wreath-laying ceremony, and plenty of time to hang around and enjoy the scenery. The site was lovely – a broad tidal river in the middle of the mountains on both side, with a bridge that spanned the water. We had much fun maneuvering to fire cannon under the bridge. The span reflected much of the noise back down in an interesting echo, and then the clap reverberated from mountain to mountain down the bay.
On Sunday afternoon, the entire fleet sailed down the river to the Quebec side. The breeze was light enough for most of that weekend that we had all our canvas up, including the square sail. This photo, taken by Jon Garth Swim earlier, shows us going down river wing-and-wing (the two big sails on opposite sides, going straight downwind).
After visiting Quebec, we teamed up with the Sea Rats to row back to the New Brunswick side and explore the shoreline. The beach is covered with all sorts of interesting flotsam and jetsam, from 19th century ceramic shards to half of an entire concrete bunker-type structure half awash in the tide. We all took turns pulling the boats. The trip was actually one of my favorite parts of the whole event – we looked like castaways on a deserted shore. The impression was bolstered by our frequent stops to pull scrap metal out of the sand. With three blacksmiths between two boats, wrought iron was a useful item to scavenge up.
It was a good event. This was apparently the first time such an event has been held in that area, and the locals were fantastic. I’ve never met such a friendly town – random visitors on the pier bought us meals and offered us crash space to get out of the rain, and everywhere we went people stopped us to thank us for coming. My only regret is that I didn’t get to explore the area more. We’ll just have to go back!
Our next event is Founders’ Day at Fort de la Présentation, in Ogdensburg, NY. That has always been one of our favorite events. (We’re even featured on their boats page… bottom center.) I’m sore, sunburned, and a little deafened, but this was a fun weekend.
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Sarah……..Most interesting account of your visit to “my river”/ I had intended being there for the 1760 event but some health problems prevented the jaunt north.
I find interesting the fact that somene of your age has a vital interest in things historical, especially about the Atlantic area of North America. When I left my job in radio, in Campbellton, in 1954, to come to Nova Scotia to help start TV hereabouts, I had no idea that in the 34 years in television I would produce literally thousands of programs…and items of a historial context….including a series…”Heritage”…some 230 half hour programs re the Atlantic Provinces……a few of which had material from Maine.
I suggest you invest in air-conditioning in your truck…..We DO HAVE heat in the Maritimes !
Should I be of any assistance in your historical researches…please get in touch. I’d be delighted to help.
(I have three grand-daughters…one of whom is to be married in a couple of weeks……and all the vehicles are air-conditioned and the reception is to be in a similarly equipped golf club)
Well done !!
Bill PS…..My little dog, Benji, and I, live in Enfield, Nova Scotia.
It was great to have you and your crew for the weekend! would love to have you back again!
Thank you for the comments! We had a great time up there and hope to come back if/when that event is repeated in the future.
Bill – we ordinarily do have AC in the truck, but the belt broke a few days before the trip and the part was backordered. So it goes…
Northern New England and the Maritimes have such a fascinating history. I feel very privileged to get to participate in all these reenactments and help remind people of our connections to what came before.