Caraquet

 21st September 2022

Sadly the weather forecast was right and we awake this morning to light rain. It is another day on the road today, so a bit of rain whilst we are travelling is OK as long as it fines up this afternoon. 

It is another relatively short drive and we should arrive in Caraquet, our next destination, at around lunch time given there is a fair bit of roadwork going on I guess trying to get it done before winter.

We pass through one major town, Miramichi, "Canada's Irish Capital". It is the home of Canada's Annual Irish Festival and was a major area of Irish settlement during the potato famine exodus from Ireland.

At around 12.30 pm we arrive in Caraquet, the "Capital of Arcadia", where we are spending the next 2 nights. We are staying at a Wyndham property, Super 8, Caraquet, location by the ocean. Arriving far too early to check in (check in time after 3pm), we thought we would try our luck anyway and unlike our last destination, they obliged by letting us check in early.

The rain has stopped but it is still very overcast, and Hurricane Fiona is apparently still looming off the coast with attention now focused on daily updates of her movement.

Super 8 Caraquet

Next priority is lunch and we head out to find a nearby restaurant where we can get a meal. A seemingly easy task became quite difficult as we went from restaurant to restaurant only to be greeted by a sign on their window, CLOSED FOR THE SEASON. What season, don't people still eat ? !!!!

One restaurant we were hoping was open, was at the fishing harbour. Alas, it was also closed but we did see a large fishing boat steaming into a berth near the co-op.

The fishing boat harbour is large and busy

Finally we discovered La Caraquet, a nice little restaurant along the waters edge overlooking the fishing harbour. They were open, and keen to feed us.

La Caraquet

Looking back over the fishing fleet harbour from the restaurant

We have had our fill of lobster rolls for the moment, so a fitting lunch seemed to be the caesar salad topped with prawns and scallops wrapped in bacon. A very satisfying birthday lunch. It's birthday season at the moment with my birthday today and Sharon's on the 23rd.

The weather is still holding for us, so we decide to explore Caraquet's number 1 attraction this afternoon, the Arcadian Historical Village. It is about a 15 km drive from here.

On arrival, the car park is surprisingly empty, only about 6 cars in a massive car park. As we approach the visitors centre the reason why becomes apparent. You guessed it, the village is closed for the season. Fortunately there was a nice young man inside the centre with a map of the village and told us we were free to walk around but the usual fanfare would not be present as it was closed. It was a bit like old Sydney Town, with an extensive recreation of an old Arcadian Village on one side of the site, and a more modern one on the other. It is an outdoor museum with accommodation on site.

During the touist season I assume there were actors playing out roles in the various settings like the blacksmiths shop and some of the farming activities, but for today, it was just a walk around to study the buildings and layout (and the odd mosquito).

The total trail through the village was about 2 km and it helped fill in part of the afternoon.

Village Map

The first lot of images below portray the old Arcadian village and represent the 1800's.

You pass over a covered bridge to enter the next century of Arcadian life in the 1900's.

Covered bridge

Chateau Albert (the onsite hotel) with the gas station in the foreground.

Railway Station

Tinsmith

Having fully investigated the Arcadian Village, it was time to address the next most important task, where would we go for dinner. Finding somewhere that is not closed for the season is a challenge. I have had my eye on a Japanese restaurant called Mitchan Sushi. They do not answer their phone when you ring to make a reservation and do not open until 5pm.

We drove past on the way back to our hotel at around 4.30pm, and pulled into their carpark. Again, no answer on the phone, so I walked around the back of the restaurant and saw a cook through the window, so rapped on the window to get his attention. He was totally bewildered, but a waitress came to the back door to tell me they weren't open. I explained that I wanted to make a reservation and their phone wan't being answered. She let me in the front door and we booked for 7 pm.

The food was sort of Japanese, with the freshness of the raw salmon and Tuna more than making up for the presentation of the nigiri. Overall it was a good meal.