Another Dale

Kouchibouguac is an interesting place. When the governments of New Brunswick and Canada agreed to create Kouchibouguac National Park in 1969, the province began expropriating the lands from some 228 households, comprising about 1200 people, who lived within the proposed park area.

While most residents left willingly, many truly wanted to stay. Some fiercely opposed the alleged "illegal eviction" and inadequate compensation. It is unclear from the presentation at the Visitor Center just what happened next, but there were pictures of police action and blockades. In 1980, a Special Inquiry into the handling of the expropriation resulted in a finding of - surprise - "poor government planning." It was also commented that never again would the government expropriate land this way for a park. Plus, original residents were/are allowed to continue commercial  and recreational fishing.  That must be what the boats behind our campsite are used for.

I guess to try to have something positive come from this difficult history, the Visitor Center has a panel on each of the towns that were abolished. 

Outside the Visitor Center was this interesting sculpture - next to another, empty picnic table. Can you find Frederick?

Miracle of miracles, late this morning we received a phone call from Dale Monroe, the man at OK Tires in Moncton, who helped us with the order, telling us that the replacement tires had arrived this morning. 

Off with the old and waiting for the new.

Here is one of the new tires. This picture was taken when we got back to the Park. Notice the green stem cap? That is to indicate that there is nitrogen in the tires and not "air". Supposedly it doesn't heat up in the tires as air does.