Sunday, June 16, 2024, Minister's Island, New Brunswick, Canada

On Sunday, Earthfest was held on Minister's Island, New Brunswick, Canada. I think it was roughly equivalent to Earthday in the US but held later in the year so it would be warmer.

Minister's Island is only accessible during low tide. The road to the island is 16 feet underwater at high tide. While we waited for the tide to go out, Joani chatted rocks with others in line.


When the water receded the road was rough but not the least bit soft. We never felt like we might get stuck in the sand.


The island was where Sir William Van Horne (Canadian railway magnate) built his summer home. On the road to his house, we passed the no longer operational creamery. Obviously, a huge number of cattle were here at one time to support such a large operation. Now there were only a few cattle milling about in the field. 


As we parked we saw what must have been the pump house to supply fresh water to the estate. I don't believe I have ever seen a building quite like it.


We selected a nature walk from a list of activities taking place on the island and were directed to the bathhouse. This was where guests would change into swimwear before entering the saltwater pool along the shoreline. The pool was long gone but the bathhouse exited on the rocky beach below. Joani found a unique chunk of driftwood next to some moss that made a nice foreground for the bathhouse below.


The driftwood certainly would have looked nice in a landscape outside someone's home. I don't think I could have lugged it back to the car even if the folks at Earthfest didn't object.


Our nature walk took us along a wooded path where our very nice (and knowledgeable) naturalist guides showed us how to use an application on our phones (inaturalist.com) that would help us identify plants by taking a photo of anything in question. Another app could identify birds by their song. Our hike ended at the estate's carriage house and we returned to the main house.



We loved the leaded glass windows in the main house. The house is normally open for touring but it was closed for this free event. We will need to return and pay the $16 apiece to explore the interior of the house beyond the main sitting room. Maybe another time.


I snapped a picture of the attendees listening to some kids singing about something "earthy".


We were not rushed for time but still, you had to be sure to leave the island before the tide came back in or you would be stuck for another 12 hours or so.

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