Howland Falls

Located approximately 20km past Mactaquac park off Route 105 is the small but powerful Howland Falls. I couldn't tell you if there is always this much water pressure coming through the crevice of boulders but Amy, Miray and I went looking for this one after receiving three days of rain showers.  I'm sure that had something to do with it.

Howland Falls

To view this waterfall, take Route 105 past Mactaquac and head alongside the river to Bear Island. It's a beautiful drive.  The falls is located on a dirt road leading up the hillside called the Old Scotch Lake road. It's not a very long drive up the road.  Park just before the old concrete bridge.  There is a pathway on your right that leads down the hillside to the falls.

I really enjoyed this waterfall, minus all the garbage.  This was one of the dirtiest areas I've visited so far - garbage, beer bottles, empty shells and gross soggy towels.  Its a shame that people ruin beautiful spots such as this one when it really doesn't take much effort to take your garbage home with you!  Aside from garbage, the falls is beautiful!  The pathway leads down a very steep hill and you feel like there is a canopy of trees shading you from the outside world.

Fall Brook Falls

Can you spot me?

Fall Brook Falls, NB

Fall Brook Falls is reportedly the official highest waterfall in New Brunswick at approximately 100 feet. I made my boyfriend, Chris Travis, do this hike with me on Sunday, May 6th. It turned out to be a beautiful sunny spring day! This waterfall is located near Boiestown. To get here from Fredericton, drive north on Route 8 towards Boiestown and take your left onto Parker Ridge (Route 625). After approximately 4km, take a right onto Bloomfield road. You will cross a bridge over the Southwest Miramichi River. From there continue driving until the road takes a sharp right turn. Do not take the turn, drive straight and this is the County Line Road. Continue your trek until you come to an Irving Forestry gate.

Apparently there is an Irving employee at the gate that charges you ten dollars to use their very well maintained dirt road, but we were lucky and the gate was unmanned! Although we got a free visit, he is suppose to give you directions on how to get to the falls. Trav and I had to solely rely on the directions I found on the waterfalls of nb blog. We had already got that far, I was determined we could find it on our own. While traveling down the dirt road, we spotted a black bear cub running into the bushes beside the road. It was ironic because we had earlier had a discussion about seeing bears in the car on the ride up. We continued along this dirt road until we got to the second bridge crossing a brook. We parked the car along the road just before the bridge. To your left you'll see a logging path heading into the woods. Hoping this was the right trail we started on our journey into the wilderness.

The walk down the old logging road wasn't too long. When you come to the end, there is a steep hill and you can see the beautiful Southwest Miramichi River.

Chris taking a view of the Southwest Miramichi River

 To your right you'll see a sign posted on a tree that says Fall Brook Falls.

Sign at the bottom of the logging road

I jumped for joy when I realized that we were actually on the right route! From here the logging road turns into a footpath that leads you to the falls alongside the bank of the brook. The brook is not deep or wide, but the falls at the end was spectacular and every minute worth the trip out there!

As close as I could get without swimming in the pool of water.  (Also got soaked waiting for the photos to be taken by the spraying water)

Tay River Falls

This particular waterfall is not big by any means, but rather a series of small cascading falls. I found it really difficult to snap a shot without the falls just looking like rapids. (there is no real amazing angle to shoot from). The falls are probably about a meter high but it's a beautiful river for those of you who enjoy taking in the scenery. Mossy covered rocks line the river banks.

To get here, head towards Taymouth along highway 8. Just after you pass Tay River, take the road on your left called English Settlement road. Approximately 3.5km down this road there will be a turnoff for Tay Valley Bible camp. It's a rickety dirt road. Take it, and drive approximately 2.5km until you reach a clearing on your left. I just pulled over to the side of the road to park as someone (I'm assuming the bible camp people?) put chains across the clearing where parking would have been possible. The falls (or should I say "rapids") are located just behind this clearing!

Beautiful, but I probably wouldn't waste my gas and drive all the way to Taymouth to see this waterfall again.  

My summer bucket list

- hike the mountains in welsford and visit the falls
- visit as many waterfalls as possible in new Brunswick
- hike the Walton glen gorge
- hike fundy national park (I haven't done this since in at least ten years)
- try rock climbing
- get over my fear of putting my head beneath water (laugh all you want but this is the only reason I can't learn to swim!)
- learn to run a straight 30 minutes!
(and then when I complete this goal, learn to run a full hour straight!)
- Go visit another province ie. Hike the cliffs in Cape Breton
- day trip driving the fundy coastline from the Hopewell Rocks to St. Stephens, while stopping in scenic areas and beaches to take photos
- learn how to take better photography (because lets face it, I just point and click on auto and the waterfalls I try to capture deserve more respect than that!)
- get my passport
- switch from cigarettes to e cigs (I know quitting in general is better but this goal is good for me for a first step!)
- try kayaking

I'm sure I'll think of others to add to this list but this is good enough for now!

Stay tuned for a few waterfall updates! I have at least 3 to blog about that I've recently visited!

In need of a new back...or amazing painkillers!

Excuse my language, but I am so fucking sick of having a bad back. Everytime I try to do something active it starts bothering me more than usual and I usually give up on my physical activity. I have been noticing it getting worse the last few days and I'm wondering if it's from starting my running program. Argh!! I'm not giving up this time, even if it means I can't get a good nights sleep without waking up in pain. I really hope running will help it in the long run, altho I'm starting to worry that I'm only making it way worse.

Run, Run away little one!

I've never been able to run, ever.  I either get winded, end up with side stitches or excruciating shin splints.  I feel it would be extremely rewarding to make my goal this summer to learn to run!  So here I am!  I downloaded a pretty neat app on my iphone which tracks my progress - its a couch potato to 5K running program that takes 9 weeks.  Apparently, in 9 weeks I'm going to be able to run for 30 minutes without stopping (or 5K equivalent depending on my running speed).  Currently, I don't even think I'd make it to 5 minutes.  I just finished Week One, Day Two last night.  If anyone is interested, you can view the program Here! 

Can a smoker learn to run for 30 minutes, when they have never accomplished this goal even before they took up smoking?  Stay tuned for further progress...