East Coast 2026: Day 12: Second Best

Today greeted us with the familiar sound of chainsaws and wood chippers. The time was unfamiliar at 07:00. We got up and I headed to the boulangerie nearby. Normally we are well stocked when we wake up in Levis but our cupboards were bare. Boulangerie Le Croissant de Lune was only 850 meters away up the hill. I loaded up on various croissant variants and a baguette, of course. I dropped the haul off at the van and continued my walk.

Upon my return Mrs Milddogs reported that the Almandine was the second best she has had. Second only to the Boulangerie in Drummondville. We shall take the number two ranking!

Once fed and organized we hit the road. First stop was Canadian Tire to pick up some washer fluid. Seems we ran out during the big massacre the day before.

Next we popped over to the Chaudiere Falls. We had never been to this spot before it’s very nice and the trails are hilly but easy. Amy didn’t really like the suspension bridge very much.

After our walk around we loaded back into the van. Next stop was a farm / orchard/ playground.

The farm was busy but we found a parking spot. Amy was not allowed so Mrs Milddogs did the shopping while Amy and I wandered around the parking lot. Sadly they were not making the apple cider donuts today. We clearly needed more baked / deep fried goods.

Back on the road with no scheduled stops. We stayed mostly on the main highways having taken the two lanes roads most of the way on the eastbound part of the journey. Traffic was light so we didn’t have to take any of those questionable detours our GPS offers.

Eventually, back in Ontario we stopped at a dump station and emptied the van just in case we are done for the year. Pretty much at the end of every van trip we feel like we are done for the year. After a successful dumping, our GPS did its best to plot a reasonable course home given the nearest on-ramp to the highway was closed. GPS did well, I missed a turn which then required a 5km jaunt down a gravel road to get back on course.

Good thing we had topped up the windshield washer fluid as the bugs were so dense in the air it sounded like driving through a hail storm. Except a hail storm doesn’t leave big spatters all over the windshield. Spatters that my new washing fluid does not actually clean.

We arrived home after a long drive that felt even longer as the last day always does. We were greeted by the sounds of chainsaws, exactly how we started the day.

Omission from yesterday: driving through Northern New Brunswick we saw a moose. Our first moose ever in NB. However, the moose was in the median of the highway and appeared to be taking a perma-nap. So it probably doesn’t count. Sorry you didn’t make it Mr Moose.

Speaking of moose. Last night we thought we could hear a mouse in the van. A relative of the one I flicked into the woods the night before? We emptied to food cupboard and I set some traps. We didn’t hear it again and the traps were unproductive.

So what did we learn on this trip. Probably nothing new, other than we might need to apply what we have learned more effectively. Things we would change? Probably more time in PEI as it was less familiar to us. Helpful that the best weather we had coincided with our time in PEI and after.

What is next? Van cleaning and minor repairs. We have plenty of fall projects at home. Curling starts. More cycling and stuff. Trips? Likely some to visit family, the kind of trips I don’t document. Some winter fly away trips.

I visited all four Atlantic provinces this summer (I know, we were in PEI in the fall technically).

Y’all take care out there. Keep moving.