I arrived in the Moncton area around 5PM with the sun still high in the sky. The gentleman who gave me a ride from Truro was very kind. He dropped me off along the highway between Mapleton Road and Gorge Road, which was a great location because there was a huge forest area nearby that would be perfect for camping out. I thanked him and said goodbye as I contemplated the feeling of meeting people and never knowing if you’ll ever hear or see them again.
New Brunswick was HOT.
I was feeling a little drained by this point (as the photo above clearly expresses). My body felt sore, I needed a shower, and my socialising meter was running on empty. All I wanted to do was clean the sweat off my body, eat, and head to bed.
I made my way into the forest area and found a decent location to set up camp. Once the tent was set-up, I grabbed a few things from my backpack and left to find a place where I could wash up. There weren’t any ponds or streams near my camp, so I made my way into town.
Walking along Mapleton Road, I came across a Tim Horton’s. Excitement pulsed through me for two reasons: I could get cleaned up in their bathroom, and I could get an iced cappuccino. To be honest, I think I was more excited about the refreshing sensation of the iced cappuccino. The heat was becoming too much for me.
This was my first time ever trying to “shower” in a restaurant bathroom. What a hilarious experience! I easily managed to clean my body by using a wash cloth, but trying to fit my head under the faucet so I could wash my hair was insanely amusing to me. I realized that having a cup with me would have been useful. Alas, I managed to clean myself up and could finally sit and enjoy an iced cappuccino.
I made it back to my camp before sunset and started making a fire so I could cook some rice and beans. I brought an old pot with me and an adorable bowl and spoon from a dollar store. I’m sure there are better supplies I could have used, but these were cheap and easy. I enjoyed my meal whilst watching the sun go down over the horizon, and I must say, it felt good to be away from traffic, people, and noise pollution.
After cleaning up my pot, bowl, and spoon, I smothered the fire with sand and went to bed. Everything was peaceful and quiet until I heard bushes rustling and something moving outside of my tent. At first I thought “A BEAR!” but then quickly realized that it sounded much too small to be a bear. I eventually grabbed my flashlight and gathered courage to peek outside and investigate. This is what I saw:
Now, I’m not sure if this was a possum, some sort of badger, or an overly fed squirrel… but I left it alone after taking the photo. It also returned the favour and left me alone after I made my presence known. So, I quickly settled back into bed and enjoyed a peaceful night’s rest.
Whoa Dana 