Nova Scotia trip - Part 1

Today, my mom and I drove from NH to St.Andrews, New Brunswick. Then tomorrow we are headed to Nova Scotia for a week. This little trip is a surprise gift type thing from my mom to get my gap year travels into action and to just go see Nova Scotia. I've made it through two months of the year, and have worked and hiked through those first two months. So this a perfect getaway that I am looking forward to.

St. Andrews New Brunswick is a little maritime town in Canada that resides in the Bay of Fundy. For those of you who don't know, the Bay of Fundy has the worlds largest tides. It's the most amazing thing. They rise on average of about 25 feet per ride cycle. It's an incredible wonder of nature and it is something I thoroughly enjoy every time I'm here. I have been here (in this very same hotel actually) a few times before, on trips to Prince Edward Island with my family. St. Andrews is a perfect stopping point in long road trips of that sort and a wonderful example of a quaint maritime town. (Damn. After re-reading that, I'm thinking I have a career in travel writing...)

As soon as we arrived, the first thing I notice (as I have in the past) was the smell of the briney sea. I love that smell. Perhaps it is because I grew up on the ocean, but there's something about the fragrance of this ocean air that differs from back home. It seems so pure and more intense. Its refreshing and strong and almost overpowering (depending on where you are by the shore). Immediately, I picture some gnarled, scruffy, bearded fisherman heading out when the tide is high and knowing just how the extreme tides work better than anyone else. It's funny how certain smells make you visualize certain things.
Anyway, I put on my boots and went directly out onto the beach, despite it being already dark. The night was so still and quiet. There were no other sounds besides my squishing footsteps and the slight gurgling of the water as the tide slowly washed out. The quiet was almost unnerving. I kept feeling as though someone was going to hear me walking along because every step sounded 50 times louder than they normally would have been. It was very strange, but also very serene. It was just the gurgling of the tide and the smell of the ocean and me roaming around a red sand beach after dark. Yes, I don't really fit the atypical mold of an 18 year old girl...but hey, I am who I am. And that is one of the biggest lessons I seem to be learning in this year.
I'll be sure to update about further trip adventures!

Oh and by the way, we drive trough Maine today. Let me just say, I totally understand where Stephen King gets his inspiration. It's an interesting place inner Maine is...