Day 75, Aug. 8, Riviere Grande, St Leonard, N.B., 93 km

We put our watches forward at the border to our new province. The Info Centre was excellent, with well informed staff and we got lots of little tips about how to navigate N.B. with its new and old highway systems often running parallel to each other. It felt good conquering yet another province and entering what we are all taking as the final phase of this incredible journey.

Some people took the new highway, highway 2, which was hilly, fast, busy and with good shoulders. Others took highway 144 which was pleasant, quiet and flat. Nevertheless, we all had to get over the remaining wicked hills in the last few kms. of Quebec.

It was a "short" day for us. The weather was off and on rain, some wind but not bad, river at our side, etc. etc. The Info centre suggested we have a meal at a motel/auberge - this is the French end of N.B. after all - not far from the border. We went there but they didn't serve lunch. We were a bit early, but from th linen tablecloths, we wondered if their statement should have included "we don't serve lunch wo wet, bedraggled cyslists. So we went on to a canteen, self designated as the best in the region.

We enjoyed the ride to the campsite which was virtually empty because it rained here 29 days in June and 22 in July and pretty much every day so far in August. People are staying away in droves. Campgrounds are waterlogged, and for that matter, so are we!

Tomorrow is another day. Submitted by Carol.