Camping Culture

Our campsite at Perce’ was terrific. We were jammed in side to side, but everybody had a “back yard” that overlooked the ocean and the famous Rocher-Perce. This pierced rock is one of the primary landmarks on the Gaspe’. It is a sheer rock formation sitting in the Gulf of St. Lawrence just off the village of Perce’ (Pierce) and is one of the world’s largest natural arches located in water. A little further off-shore is Bonaventure Island with the second largest gannett rockery in the world.
We took the boat to Bonaventure and spent the day hiking the trails and looking at the hundreds of thousands of birds. Gannets are really beautiful birds but the smell and the noise were a little much. Fortunately the Chemin-du-Roy trail returns to the boat dock via the edge of the cliffs on the other side. It descends to a lovely little beach with a spectacular sea cave. These rocks are formed of reddish-gold limestone and shale and the colors are stunning. I love the driftwood that collects in these indentions in the shoreline and of course the pebbles and rocks are wonderful. This being a Parc National, we couldn’t collect anything.
It’s funny how campgrounds can have a personality. We didn’t care for Camping Gaspe’ and left two days early, forfeiting our prepaid reservation. It was over crowded and the parking and traffic issues seems to be an irritant to everyone. Camping Le Havre de la Nuit, at Perce’, was also crowded, but there was plenty of parking space and everyone was super friendly. There was a holiday mood with lots of visiting, campfires, walking on the beach, and drinking wine. We were included in the general good will even though we don’t speak French.
On Canada Day there.t no flags are flying and no parades or “fetes”. Very different from our past experiences. I feel badly for the Quebecer. Their separatism has isolated them from their own country and is an economic burden for their young people. I do understand wanting to preserve your culture and your language, but it’s hard to participate in a global economy when you can’t even communicate with your own countrymen.
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