For us, the day was an ebb. Occasionally we need those, and savor them like a warm blanket cold porch. Yet for the Bay of Fundy, it was another day of ebb and flow.
The Bay of Fundy has the highest tides in the world. Our wandering route crossed into New Brunswick (Oh, Canada!) so we can see the flow up close. We started in St. John, home of the Reversing Rapids. This place takes vacillating to a whole new level as white water rapids form in opposite directions twice daily. We watched at high tide as the water surged in from the Bay and then came back five hours later to watch the giant waves form in the other direction.
If you’re interested here’s a 6 minute YouTube with cool videos and some background.
While we were watching the river surf, we met a couple of guys (Luke and Chris) who were in town to perform for St. John’s Buskers By the Bay Festival.
At dictionary.com, “busk:”
verb (used without object)
Chiefly British. to entertain by dancing, singing, or reciting on the street or in a public place.
Canadian. to make a showy or noisy appeal.
These guys were the band, Dirty Hippie Music, and they make their way of life playing didgeridoo and percussion at festivals. As we checked out their performance later, I wondered what it would take to arrive at a decision to teach oneself how to play the didgeridoo, much less have the patience to practice four hours a day for a year. You know what? They were happy, and enjoyed life. Funitude in music.
Walking about St. John was a rewarding mix of buskers, galleries, storefronts, music, foodies and families enjoying the day. The city is the oldest formed in Canada (1785) with lots of history, but it seemed too busy with a big shipping terminal and a beautifully renovated waterfront to make a big deal about it like Charleston or Savannah. Finishing the day with a waterfront stroll and the return to the rapids for sunset was just right.
https://funitude.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/img_2993.movHigh tide flowing into the bay from the Bay of Fundy
https://funitude.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/img_9932.movLow tide flowing out of the bay to the Bay of Fundy
https://funitude.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/img_2996.mov
