Wednesday brought a couple of highlights of the New Brunswick leg of the trip. Having driven north along the shore road to Dalhousie, we took the highway back down to save time getting to the Caraquet area, where the Festival Acadien was in full swing. Acadian flags and paraphernalia were everywhere. There's clearly no lack of pride here.

And we noticed great pride, as well, in property. Homes, however humble, are invariably well appointed an meticulously cared for. Folks were friendly and very forgiving of less than stellar French.

And the coastline is very similar to the Acadian Belle Cote area between Margaree Harbour and Cheticamp in northern Cape Breton.

But it was the seafood we'll remember. At the Caraquette Restaurant we both enjoyed a meal of the freshest cod we've had outside Newfoundland. Then at the local Epicerie we bought and steamed the biggest, fattest most delicious clams we've ever tasted, anywhere - and an armload of fresh snow crab for good measure. Fabulous!

Then south again to Red Bank, a mainly aboriginal community on the banks of the mighty Miramichi River, just outside Miramichi City: the destination - wait for it - the Miramichi Opry.

This facility is the brainchild of Bill Mullin (whose passion for old style country music apparently knows no bounds) and run with the able assistance of wife Betty. Wednesday was open mic night with mainly locals strutting their stuff (while on Saturdays visiting bands perform). It was a hoot.

Bill's a bit of a character, a raconteur extraordinaire, and the inspiration behind the Miramichi Country Music Hall of Fame. The Opry's origins lie with a group called The Miramichi Valley Boys dating back to the early 70's. Playing benefits for folks in the community suffering  serious illness, house fires etc. the notion of the Opry was to honor those who helped in the fundraising campaigns.

Thursday saw us miss our (pregnant) daughter's 28th birthday.