July 8 ; After a nice breakfast, we headed east to Blacks Harbor and the ferry to Grand Manan.
I sketched as we waited in the parking area, and again from the deck while the ferry prepared to leave.

We arrived at Anchorage Provincial Park a day early, but were able to setup on the site we had booked for our two week stay. 

One of our fellow campers traveled via V.W. camper, we always thought one of the older models of V.W bus would have been great to fix up and travel in.

The island is home to many beautiful old yellow birch trees, and this one was in a campsite near us.

I sat near it a few times during the two weeks, drinking tea, sharing silent thoughts.

Grand Manan Island July 2016

Just back from a nice holiday to Grand Manan Island New Brunswick,camping in our 1974 Trillium trailer.
  After seeing another on-line sketcher making small ink and wash drawings, I decided to try small ink sketches with my regular fountain pen and a water brush (I'll post a photo of my equipment next time).

It worked brilliantly! I was able to carry all of my supplies easily and make small fast sketches wherever I was.

So this has inspired me to continue the blog (I know it's been way too long) with a series of posts of my black and white sketches.

Having stopped for an overnight visit to my in-laws near Montreal, I started my sketch book (very small homemade accordion type pad) with a view of my Mother-in-laws back yard while having tea on the back porch.

Having beat our way through torrential downpours and thunder storms close to Quebec city, we stopped in New Brunswick at PetroCan at exit 253. The "Acorn" family restaurant attached was quite good and served us well for supper that night and breakfast before hitting the road the next day. One advantage of traveling with a small trailer is the free overnight stopping at certain gas stations along the way.

Thanks for looking, and please let me know what you think. I'm not making any money from this (I do sell watercolour sketches on Ebay as: "jcsrealart") but need the encouragement of knowing somebody else is sharing this with me.

Until next time.

Forillon park is one amazing vista after another, and beautiful hikes to get you there. 

The gentle symphony of surf on pebble and the distant call of thousands of sea birds were a constant musical score as I sketched and contemplated the world before me.

Waiting on Bonaventure Island, for the ferry to take us back to the mainland. It is a long walk to the Gannet Colony but well worth the trip.

Unfortunately 35 families were forced to leave their homes when the island was made into a bird sanctuary. Their homes are now preserved as a historical site.
My waterproof ink pen ran dry so I used my other fine marker to sketch; I like these black and white drawings.

Spent an hour or so at the Gannet colony on Bonaventure Island; sketching, watching,listening and smelling the thousands of birds (and flies). The birds were very close and still, allowing plenty of time to observe, photograph and sketch.
The island is quite large and would be worth spending a lot more time, but we were limited by the ferry scedule and our travel time back to the camp site.

From behind the "casse-croute" where we bought ice cream cones dipped in chocolate.

Went for ice cream near Cap des Rosiers lighthouse; good ice cream but  had to eat it fast in the mid-day heat.
The beautiful weather held for our whole trip making outdoor sketching a pleasure.

Lighthouse reflections.

Looking toward the mountains of Forillon National Park, our camp site is just this side of them.

I carried one of the 3.5 x 5.5 inch pads I made and a Pilot v ball pen in my shirt pocket on a hike to "la Chute". This became a habit while out and about, I would sketch in "the field" and add watercolour later at camp.
I liked the results of the top of the falls,but it gave a better idea of the scene to include the forground at my feet.
Having the person in the picture adds interest and perspective, I think.
I would have liked to spend some quiet time here as it was quite "magical".

The hiking trail crossed the meandering tree shaded stream, and slowly crept up the hill to cross the water above the falls.
We took the rising pathway slowly, enjoying the surrounding forest, and as the others photographed the picturesque scene I drew an image of the falls disappearing over the edge to where we once stood.
There is something mystical about forests and streams and falling water.