a leaping salmon and a mountain (day 1)
On December 31, 2013, I started on Phase 8 of my virtual cycling program. In this Phase, I am going to ‘travel’ on my stationary cycle along the north shore of my own Province, New Brunswick. I decided to start in the City of Campbellton because I have so many pleasant memories of working and vacationing in that area. Most of the roads I am ‘cycling’ in Street View, I have driven in reality, so most scenes are familiar.
~
8-1 December 31, 2013 35 minutes 3.0 km (Campbellton to Richardsville)
~
I began at a familiar landmark in the Campbellton area, the statue of the leaping salmon. The Restigouche River is world famous for its Atlantic Salmon population so the salmon is a fitting symbol for the area. In 1999 when my husband, son and I vacationed in the Gaspé of Quebec, we stopped here for a photo before leaving New Brunswick.
~
my son and I in front of the leaping salmon in 1999
~
start of my 2014 virtual cycling trip (image from Street View)
~
Across the street from the leaping salmon (and visible in the photo of my son and me) are the waters of the Restigouche River and the distant hills of the Gaspé. Since these will be with me for the first few days of my virtual adventure, I took a side trip a few kilometers inland for the subject of my first watercolour – Sugarloaf Mountain.
~
Sugarloaf is 281.1 meters in height, a part of the Appalachian Mountains and of volcanic origin. The mountain is within the City limits of Campbellton and is the location of Sugarloaf Provincial Park. Sugarloaf is the site of a ski resort, hiking and cross-country ski trails and a system of mountain biking trails.
~
In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s I climbed Sugarloaf a few times, gathering plants for air quality studies. I’ll talk more about those hikes as I proceed on my virtual trip since I have many memories of working in the area.
~
December 31, 2013 ‘Sugarloaf, New Brunswick’ Jane Tims
~
~
Although I enjoyed my virtual cycling in France and England, I find I have a more accurate perspective and sense of scale as I travel in New Brunswick. I am looking forward to showing you some of the beautiful scenery along the Restigouche River and la Baie-des-Chaleurs!
~
Copyright 2014 Jane Tims
nichepoetryandprose 
[…] I crossed a creek eventually flowing into Lac Talon and saw le mont Sugar Loaf in the distance (see my pencil drawing above). There are lots of mountains named Sugar Loaf in Canada and the northeastern United States. For example, we have a Sugar Loaf in New Brunswick – see https://nichepoetryandprose.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/mountains-and-shorelines-day-1/ […]
LikeLike
virtual cycling along the St. John River – Day 1 and 2 | Alexandra
January 29, 2015 at 6:06 pm
What a lovely watercolor of Sugarloaf Mountain! There is a Sugarloaf Mountain in Massachusetts, too, but it’s not as high as yours (241 meters).
LikeLike
Barbara Rodgers
January 7, 2014 at 4:33 pm
Hi Barbara. Thanks! Now that would be a great challenge – to climb all the mountains named Sugarloaf in the Atlantic Provinces and New England! Better knees than mine would be needed! Jane
LikeLike
jane tims
January 7, 2014 at 7:29 pm
Beautiful watercolor, Jane. I wonder how many Sugarloaf Mountains there are in the world? I just did a quick search and found out there’s one here in Maryland. I’m looking forward to seeing and learning more about New Brunswick as you take your virtual trip. 🙂
LikeLike
Robin
January 6, 2014 at 8:28 pm
Hi Robin. Thanks! The one I always hear about (Sugarloaf USA) is in Maine. I think a lot of these were named because they resembled a sugarloaf (the common form of packed sugar before the sugar cube). I think I’m going to learn a few things about New Brunswick too! Jane
LikeLike
jane tims
January 6, 2014 at 10:09 pm