Lighthouse Tour of Northern NB

[Acadian Rider]

Last year I started to take pictures of lighthouses in the Maritime Provinces on the bike. I got most of those that were accessible in PEI and some in my home province of NB. This week I spent two days to ride up to the Acadian Peninsula in NB and back home in Moncton and got eleven of them.

If a lighthouse was located on a private road I tried to get some pictures from a public road nearby if I could see it. Some were only accessible by water and since my bike doesn’t float I didn’t get them. My rule when I take a picture of a lighthouse is that the bike and lighthouse have to be visible in the same picture.  



My route for the two days


The first stops were along the Miramichi River / Inner Bay.



Oak Point Range Front Lighthouse located on private property



Let’s try this again with the bike in it


The second stop was not far up the road.



Grant Beach Range Front Lighthouse located on private property


The next one close to Burnt Church wasn’t far either. There were some workers there installing new windows. I asked them if I could take some pictures. I didn’t ask them but it looks like someone is planning to move in judging by the work they are doing.  



Grand Dune Flats Range Front Lighthouse


The next one was not too far up the road close to Neguac NB.  



Lower Neguac Range Rear Lighthouse also located on private property


After that one it was up to the Acadian Peninsula. People are proud to fly the Acadian flag there and even some of the lighthouses are painted with the Acadian flag colours as you’ll see.  

The first one in the Acadian peninsula was the Portage Island Rear lighthouse in Shippagan.  



Portage Island Rear Lighthouse in Shippagan painted in the colours of the Acadian flag


After the Shippagan lighthouse it was time to call it a day and find a campground for the night. This year I purchased some camping equipment for my Alaska trip of June-July and now that I have it I plan on making good use of it. Prior to leaving I had seen that there is a municipal campground close to Shippagan. After checking it out I decided that it would do the trick for the night.

This being after labour day, the campground was not very busy. In fact I was the only camper in the tent section where I was.  

The following pictures were taken in the campground. I did not expect the beautiful sunset over the water. Too bad I didn’t have a pro camera.



Boardwalk in Shippagan camping  



Campsite for the night in Shippagan camping

 

Sunset over Shippagan Bay



Sunset over Shippagan Bay

[Sport-Touring]

[Acadian Rider]

The next morning I crossed over to the Island of Lamèque and got two more lighthouses.

I had to take a picture of the first one from a distance because it was located on a road of deep sand and I had nobody with me to help pick up the bike in the likely event that I went down. Furthermore I had taken my skid plate off the bike to change the oil and filter and clean it and had not installed it back on.



Big Shippagan Lighthouse on Lamèque Island


Between the first lighthouse and second lighthouse on Lamèque Island I stopped at the Sainte-Cécile Church in Petite-Rivière-De-l’Île where there is an International Baroque Music Festival every year. It is billed as the oldest Baroque Music Festival in Canada and I dare say most likely the most remote one.  

Here’s a promo clip in French with English subtitles.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sYzCGW7BFA



Sainte-Cécile Church in Petite-Rivière-De-l’Île on Lamèque Island



I did not pick the ugly colours





After the interlude I got to the Black Point Lighthouse nearby. That one is a working lighthouse. There are not many of those left.  

  

Black Point Lighthouse


Until 1996 you had to take a ferry to get to Miscou Island from Lamèque Island. Since then, there is a bridge connecting the two. Miscou Island has only 530 inhabitants according to the 2016 census.



Bridge to / from Miscou Island



Fishing boats on Miscou Island


Most people that go to Miscou Island go there to see the lighthouse. It is open to the public for a fee. I did not go in.  



Miscou Island Lighthouse



Miscou Island Lighthouse

[Acadian Rider]

Back the other way now and heading towards Bas-Caraquet and Caraquet. On my way I stopped in Shippagan again and took some pictures of the fishing boats out of the water.  



Fishing boats in Shippagan


Recently I had heard in the news that a 14 year old was arrested for torching the Roman Catholic Church in Bas-Caraquet. Sad indeed.  I had totally forgotten about it until a saw the remains of the building.



Burned Roman Catholic Church in Bas-Caraquet






 




The Caraquet Range Rear Lighthouse in Bas-Caraquet is one where you can get close enough to photograph.  



Caraquet Range Rear Lighthouse in Bas-Caraquet





The Pointe-à-Brideau Rear Lighthouse is located in Caraquet not far from you guessed it Bas-Caraquet.  



Pointe-à-Brideau Lighthouse in Caraquet


And now on to the last lighthouse I got before heading back home. This one is another one painted in the colours of the Acadian flag.



Grande-Anse Lighthouse painted in the colours of the Acadian flag








That is it folks. I left home after lunch on Sep 4, 2018 and got back home for supper the next day after a ride of about 700 km (435 miles) in beautiful weather.    

[jay547]

Excellent!  

[NinjaLady]

Beautiful scenery and thank you for sharing.

[kver]

Hey wait a minute -- you have an ADV bike that doesn't go off road?  


Great pics --- thanks for sharing....

[Blue is Best]

Good pictures

[Formerly Known as Bigfoot]

I'm always envious of your trip reports and I want whatever job you have that allows for all this travel.  I'd love to visit that area.  I wish I'd known you before my 30 day tour of New England back in 09 when I retired from my first career.  I had a great time but could have used a little advice from someone more local.

[Jetpilot5]

Well done!

[Acadian Rider]

Thanks for all the nice comments everybody.  

Hey wait a minute -- you have an ADV bike that doesn't go off road?  

  Yes I know. It is a beast to pick up by yourself. As mentioned, I wouldn't be able to do it in the sand.

I did plenty of dirt and gravel roads this summer during my trip to Alaska and back. I am now working on a ride report. I'm up to day 23 of 47 days.  

I'm always envious of your trip reports and I want whatever job you have that allows for all this travel.  I'd love to visit that area.  I wish I'd known you before my 30 day tour of New England back in 09 when I retired from my first career.  I had a great time but could have used a little advice from someone more local.

I have now been fully retired for about 2 1/2 years and enjoying every second of it and when I was working I had a flexible employer.

Fire the questions if you ever come up this way and if you do come and I'm around I can be a local guide.    



 

[Rocky]

Great pictures. Thanks for the tour.
I rode most of that route myself about 12 years ago.