We arrived at New River Beach Provincial Park at supper time. After setting up the tent we headed to the beach. Tonight was dedicated to photography and exploring the beach. Tomorrow would be hiking. Tonight was going to be a full moon. A super moon. And I had used the photographers ephemeris app to tell me in what direction it was going to rise.
I was trying out different compositions of the rocks and the beach while Vicki was playing with her camera. It looked hazy on the horizon. I was about to give up on the moon and focus on the stars around New River Island when it started to rise behind the trees. It was big and it was super. I switched to a zoom lens and took some pictures using people on the beach as a foreground. That didn’t work so I made Vicki run down the beach and stand on top of a rock outcrop. I got her to move back and forth as I lined her up with the moon. I finally got the shot that I had come for.
The tide was almost all the way up the beach now. We started to make our way back, passing once again a group with a bonfire. Just before the park boundary we had to cross a small trickle of water that came out of a bog and crossed the beach. It was now a major stream running inland as the tide overtook the beach. We pulled up our pant legs and started across. After the second step Vicki’s foot got caught in the sand. When she took the next step she left her shoe behind. It quickly floated to the top but just as quickly floating up the stream. After a short chase and some wet pants she finally recovered her shoe.
We woke up late to the sound of a dog barking in the campground. We were sore but not from our walk on the beach the night before. I had forgotten the plug for the air mattress so we only had the tent’s floor and two sleeping bags between us and the gravel.
Vicki took some pictures of driftwood at Tommy’s Cove while I took some pictures of the wild roses along the beach. When we were done we started following the wide boardwalk that made up start of the trail. There were a few trees down along the trail, but not too many considering the damage caused by Hurricane Arthur. We soon came to the first of several lookouts that provided views of the rocky coast and New River Island. The blue skies and the clear green water were beautiful. What a day for a walk along the coast.
The rest of the Chitticke’s Beach Trail returned to the parking lot from the back of the field. The Barnaby Head Trail continued along the coast. We continued on the Barnaby Head Trail. We watched a loon diving in the bay that held Chitticks Beach. I also took pictures of the strange curved roof cottage back at the mouth of New River. We found out later that it was owned by Richard Oland, which added to the interest of the place. We took more pictures of driftwood and rocks and just enjoyed being there.
After the lookout we entered the woods and were once again on a boardwalk. We followed the long narrow boardwalk until we came out into a large bog. We crossed through the center of the bog and took many pictures of the leathery leaves of Pitcher Plants. We went back into the woods and soon passed a crossover trail. Eventually the trail came back together and we were soon back at the small field at Chitticks Beach.
On the next section of boardwalk we got behind a group that were out on a hike put on by the park. We soon came back to the parking lot and to our car that would take us to our next adventure. We filled the rest of the day by checking out Lepreau Falls and Beldings Reef Nature Preserve. We then had to make our way home, ending our 24 hours without kids. I got to photograph the super moon and do some hiking, and Vicki liked it so much she wanted to go camping again for our anniversary. A beautiful day in a beautiful place with my beautiful wife.
We took this trail today. Though we found it quite lovely we noted very few signs and feel we went in circles. I wonder if they can up date their signs for the fall?
The trails at New River Beach needs some
attention! Boards with nails sticking out,
boards the pop up when you walk on them
and places where boards have been broken
but still remain, bushes need to be trimmed,
and one dangerous spot needs rope or a
fence. Sad to see such a spectacular hiking
spot being forgotten 😕