Sunday, March 3, 2019

The Lighthouses of Gaspé.




Last Summer I visited Lighthouses,
 around the Gaspe Coast, with family.

I live near the Baie des Chaleur
and grew up near a Lighthouse.
Our beacon in the night, 
also symbolizing safety and security,
and for many years guided ships,
and boats in the Bay.

Follow along as we drive
 Route 132 around the Gaspe Peninsula,
on The Lighthouse Trail, seeking out
 and visiting 14 Lighthouses and
discovering beautiful sites overlooking the sea.
These lighthouses were once only accessible 
to the lightkeepers and their families. 
They are now open to tourists and
a lighthouse map is available at any
tourist centre. 


Here is a map of the Gaspé Pensinula 
in Eastern Quebec, Canada 
and the route we took in red.
(I'm new to "Markup, especially on a map)








I'll start with this lighthouse,
Fauvel Lighthouse,
in it's original location. 
It was moved in the 1990's to 
Bonaventure, a town nearby
This beach below,  is near where I live.


Fauvel Lighthouse on
 Rte. 132 in Fauvel,

An old Photo











At it's new location. Bonaventure near the wharf.
A picturesque area, a camping ground,
and Beaubassin Beach.

Once a navigational aid for nearly 100 years,
The light is no longer active.
This lighthouse has a new purpose, 
to remind us of our past.
Also enjoyment for tourist, especially children. 
What child doesn't like to climb lighthouses.






The door is open in the Summer month,
for Tourist to visit.
My sister Annie climbing the lighthouse
A nice view from the top. (Hi Annie)


Built by Jean Vautier

from Jersey Island.
In the early 1900s.


The dock.




Below is the Bonaventure River that flows
 into the Bay des Chaleur.

The lighthouse light is no longer active.
It is replaced by the mechanical
 apparatus on the dock, behind it.

Grandkids enjoying the beach.
About 1hr. walk up the beach from home.




 ~ New Carlisle Lighthouse ~

The next lighthouse is in New Carlisle.
On private property of Fair Haven Bible Camp.
A wooden structure without a light.







New Carlisle has
A nice beach to walk on at low tide.
As you can see erosion is shrinking the land.


  ~ Cap d'Espoir Lighthouse ~

The next Lighthouse on our journey
is at Cap d'Espoir, Percé.
between Chandler and Percé.
About a km. off the highway.
The light is still active and it
belongs to the Canadian Coast Guard. 




 The doors.


Behind ...

A peek in the back window.
In disrepair



The first lighthouse on 
this site was built in 1873.
It's been replaced by this one in 1939.
The two Keepers buildings adjacent are 
privately owned. One is a tourist rental.

Photo above from Pinterest










 ~ Cap Gaspé Lighthouse ~

Accessible only by hiking, cycling, etc. 
to Land's End, the Eastern end 
of the Appalachian Mountains.
A hike in Forillon National Park.
  of 12km. return, to reach 
 Cap Gaspé lighthouse.

We spend 2 nights in Gaspé,
before the hike,
at Bakers Hotel, visiting *Perce Rock 
and surroundings.




"The Lighthouse Seekers"
My sister Annie, Grandson Mathieu,
 Grandaughter Sabrina,
My daughter Suzanne and
son-in-law Martin,
and Cutedog Pinot.

I took the pic.
The Baker hotel accommodates pets.

A few pics around Gaspé.











Continuing on our Lighthouse Tour.....
Our next Lighthouse was a challenge.
We had to hike 8km to Cap Gaspe.

We started our hike early in the morning, 
to the Cap Gaspé lighthouse.

A beautiful coastal hike.




Our first view of the 
lighthouse through the trees.
After the long hike, 
this was a sight to behold.


The lighthouse under cloudy skies.






The light is solar powered, fully automated.





At the top there is a trail 
down to the bottom of a cliff,
reaching Land's End.



My daughter Suzanne





We brought our lunch and
 ate before heading down. 
we took the forest trail down,
 more scenic,  and closer to the sea.





 ~ Cap des Rosiers Lighthouse ~

The next day we continue on to
The tallest lighthouse in Canada,
at Cap des Rosiers.
A National Historic Site,
 on the tip of the  Gaspé Peninsula, 
at the mouth of the St. Lawrence.

Dating back to 1854.
Cap Des Rosier, named because of the
 abundance of roses in the area, 
by Samuel de Champlain.
(Cap, translated in english,  cape or cliff 
and Rosier, roses.)
.




The walls of the lighthouse, 
at the bottom are 7 ft. thick,
tapering to three feet at the top.
112 ft. limestone tower faced with firebrick.
The foundation is extending 
eight feet beneath the surface.
This area is known for having the
 most shipwrecks along the coast








The light is active and 
managed by Cap-des-Rosiers
Historial Site and Oceans
 and Fisheries Canada.





Carol and Peter


During tourist season 
the lighthouse is open,
for a fee with a guided
 tour to the top.
My son-in-law Martin and grandson
Mathieu climbed to the tower.





On the road again...






Click  here  for Part 2.
Thanks for your visit xo.







8 comments:

  1. Wow, what a wonderful tour you took us on. It was a delight to see the Lighthouses, they certainly seem well cared for.

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  2. What a wonderful selection of lighthouses. They are watercolors waiting to happen! I am very fond of lighthouses but these are all new ones to me. I find the details so interesting -- the colors of the doors, how they appear at the top. Lovely post, Thelma. (OH, and thanks for coming by the other day!)

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  3. I love when you share your gorgeous countryside and buildings. Here in the Great Lakes we are used to many of the tall lighthouses, like the last one on our shores. Great photos, thanks!

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  4. What a fantastic post! I do love lighthouses and you have visited some beauties!

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  5. So pretty! We spend many summers on the coast of Maine and love the lighthouses. :)

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  6. Hi there! i've enjoyed exploring your blog as my family is coming from British Columbia to Gaspe in a couple of weeks. We're going to tour some lighthouses too, so it has been really great looking at your posts on that. We also love thrift shopping and wonder if you could recommend any thrift shops in the Gaspe (we'll be in Perce, actually staying in Campbellton, NB for a day or two, and also on Ile d'Orleans on our way back from Gaspe). Look forward to your recommendations!

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  7. Hi Angelika Thanks for your visit. I do visit some thrift shops in my region. In Caplain , across from the Catholic church, it's open Wed. 12 noon to 4 pm and on Sat. 8am to 12 noon. and Bonaventure, at the Bonne Aventure building across from the Rendez Vous Restaurant is open on Sat all day.
    I visited your post on the Sunshine Coast but I couldn't leave a comment, My son lives in Burnaby, and I visited the Sunshine Coast a few yrs. ago.. Do you live in Gaspe? I go to Campbellton occasionally but sorry I don't know any thrift shops there.
    Hope you have a good visit with family. Thelma..

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  8. I ENJOYED YOUR BLOG ON THE LIGHTHOUSES YOU DID A GREAT JOB THANKS FOR SHARING

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