Travelling Peru

I have escaped the November weather of New Brunswick and spending a month backpacking in Peru. I arrived in Lima on Nov. 17 - and that was a culture shock! Presently, I am in the city of Pisco. People come here to see the wild life by a boat tour to Islas Ballestas. The number of sea birds - including penguins - and sea lions is truly amazing. And there is also a national park with some wonderful coastal views. Today I am catching a bus at 1:30 and heading to the oasis town of Huacachina. It is possible to do sand boarding there. Oh yes, this is a desert.

The highlight of the trip will be my stay at Cusco and a visit to the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu.

On the FreshAir front - we are in the process of creating a number of specialized tours for those wishing to see other aspects of Fundy National Park. We are simply calling them Special Paddles at this time.

Until next time.

Alan

The Return of the Cougar!

I have just received "Action on the Ground" from Parks Canada and it has some interesting information on the Eastern Cougar.

"Researchers at Fundy National Park of Canada have solid DNA evidence that hair samples from two test sites are from cougars, an animal last confirmed in New Brunswick in 1938"

The hair samples were collected from rubbing posts with Velcro-like strips attached to them.

There have been unconfirmed sightings of the cougar since the Park was established in 1948. Hopefully, in the years ahead there will be many more - and that the presence of the Eastern cougar in Fundy National Park is confirmed.

Until next time;

Alan

World's Oldest Red Spruce

Fundy National Park can now claim the oldest red spruce in the world! This summer Mount AllisonUniversity student Ben Phillips found the tree while doing research in the Park. It's at least 445 years old and the oldest documented red spruce tree on the planet. The tree is so old, it predates European colonization in North America. It was here in 1604 when Champlain explored the Bay and established the first European colony in North America on St Croix Island. It survived the logging industry early in the last century as well as disease and fire.

However the tree will not become a tourist attraction - its location is a secret. It is good to know that one of the world's oldest living thing exists in Fundy National Park

Until next time.

Alan

What we are doing...

In this first blog - just an update on what everyone from the summer of 2005 is doing.
Joe is having another busy year teaching at the New Brunswick Community College - Saint Andrews Campus
Brent is finishing off his BEd - practice teaching in Saint Andrews
Robert is in Moncton for the winter - hopefully back with us in the spring
Cait is in her second year at Acadia University - working hard but enjoying it
Sally is working this winter in New Zealand - no doubt getting a lot of kayaking in!
Alan - I have just returned from a course on experiential tourism in Newfoundland and on November 16, I am heading to Peru for a month of travel.

And in Alma - they have rolled up the sidewalks after a busy tourist season.

Until next time.

Alan