I expect as we go along, there’ll be more days like this! After only 4 weeks, we find we don’t pay much attention to the clock anymore. We’ve finally realized we don’t have to. This is our life – we’re no longer in ‘vacation mode’. 😊 And those of you who actually know us will be absolutely shocked by this, but we eat dinner whenever now! It might be 3pm, it might be 7pm! We’re still not sleeping in though. Well, sort of. I usually make it till 5:30, Blaine sometimes goes till 6:30. I guess that’s sleeping in from when we were working. 😊
Our only outing today was to visit a local site and a bike ride.
Someone had told us about the Irving Plantation Memorial Park. The Irvings are big deals here in New Brunswick. And VERY wealthy. But they are also great preservationists, designating several parks, etc. including the Eco Park we visited the other day. According to Wikipedia (and we all know Wikipedia always has completely accurate information, right?), in 1989 Forbes named KC Irving at the age of 90, the 11th wealthiest person in the world and worth $10billion. I’d say they can afford to be magnanimous!
One of Canada’s most dynastic companies, the Irving group got its start back in the 1920s, when K.C. opened a small service station in Bouctouche, N.B. Nearly 100 years on, the family controls more than 250 enterprises scattered across Canada and the northeastern United States. Together, the companies, spanning oil and gas, shipping and transportation, retail and media sectors, are worth an estimated $10 billion. ~ taken from Canadian Business, 2017
The park is just down the street from us. It’s a beautiful place where 5,000 trees and shrubs were planted by one of the Irving women – Jean. I can’t remember which one she is. Needless to say, it’s huge! You could walk for miles! But such a very nice place. There are picnic tables and benches placed throughout.
Plaques on either side of the entrance to the park in both English . . . .
. . . . . and French
They also have the Irving Memorial Chapel and a cemetery.
Irving Memorial Chapel
Stones are from Bouchtouche, roof is slate from Vermont and the large sandstone pieces are from Pennsylvania
When we entered, a woman came to us to tell us about the Irvings and the Chapel. We were surprised to learn that it was built in 2004! It’s in such pristine condition! The wood is all cherry, except for the ceiling. The ceiling beams are cut by a specially made lathe created just for this purpose and carved from single trees. The floors are laid using no nails – they used wooden pegs. She also told us that they hold services every Sunday and the Irvings are usually in attendance. They have about 100-125 every week! And at Christmastime, it’s standing room only – about 250.
Flags are – original Scotland (blue w/white X), behind that is New Brunswick. On the other wall, red and white is Canada, the one behind is the Christian flag. on the floor under the Canadian flag is the Acadian flag
Window is stained glass and designed by Mrs. KC Irving
Our Lunch View
Entrance to the cemetery
This one was really sad . . .
A sweet smelling flower near the entrance. Thought you could use something nice after all those tombstones.
Later in the day, we rode back to the ospreys with our big camera. Notice the perch is man-made. They do that around here. In all kinds of places, including the tops of utility poles, and apparently also off the beaten path.
Still not great quality for some reason, but this time we saw two babies! Mama was NOT happy with us being there.
Away she goes!
See the fish she’d brought? Now the babies don’t get to eat because we showed up. : (
Close . . .
See the baby on the right?
Closer . . . .
Now you can see two
Closest.
Just one now.
We’re done bothering them now.
We stopped and got ice cream on the way back which would have ruined our dinner, but we just ate later. 😊