Early birds get shut out

©2014 Lydia Hinshaw

No Information here

  PABOS MILLS, QC -- We didn't do much planning on our trip to the Gaspé Peninsula in Québec.  We figured we do what we usually do -- go to a tourist info center when we got here and collect a stack of brochures on campgrounds and top sights to see.

 Friday we drove across the bridge from Campbellton, NB, to the Gaspé and pulled right into the tourism office pictured above.  That sign in the door says "Fermé" and for good measure "Closed."

 We peeked through the windows and saw boxes of brochures and guidebooks stacked high, waiting to get unpacked.

 So we ate lunch at the adjacent picnic grounds, and just before we left I found a Gaspé Peninsula guidebook abandoned on the counter in the ladies' room.  It was a year old and in French, but it was much better than nothing.

 It was nearly 130 miles later, when we reached Port Daniel, that we finally found a tourism office that was open for business.  Three bored employees were  delighted to see us and rushed to help us in two languages.  We left with maps, campground directories, and assorted other goodies which made for good reading by the campfire Friday night.  They also told  us the weather forecast all but guarantees rain for the next two days.  Figures.

 The office staff explained that the real summer season doesn't start here until June 22. So at least we've succeeded in missing the crowds.