The Rocks Rocked!

Roz and Manny At Low Tide

One of the best things about driving on the roads less traveled are the gems you find along the way. Noticing a sign for Hopewell Rocks on tiny Rte 114 in New Brunswick, I consulted the internet with my trusty iPad and found an amazing natural wonder, one which I didn’t know existed.

Located in the Bay of Fundy, the Flower Pot Rocks are formations of sandstone and conglomerate rock caused by tidal erosion. These otherworldly pillars stand between 40-70 feet tall. The tides are so extreme that at low tide you can walk on the beach amongst these giants, gazing up at the balsam fir and dwarf spruce that grow on top.  Six hours later, at high tide, you can kayak amidst the formations which then almost appear to be islands rising from the sea.

We usually travel at the end of the high season, avoiding crowds whenever possible. Sometimes however, sites are closed, events are over and the weather is less than ideal. This year we decided to get out of Philly during the hot months, which also happens to coincide with the tourist season in most places.

So it was with deep concern that we set off in July for Canada. The Hopewell Rocks was our first real tourist attraction. Although crowded, I am happy to announce that people were respectful of each other, staying out of view while others took pictures, patiently waiting to walk through narrow rivulet channels. Maybe we were all awe-struck at nature, sharing this moment of the tides and time, recognizing the immensity of the natural world and our tiny place within it.

Hopewell Flower Pot Rocks