Canada
Shubenacadie River
The Fundy tide charges upriver twice daily, turning a calm brown river into surfable waves.
The flats sit glassy until the bore arrives as a moving line of white. Minutes later, rafts are airborne over waves running the wrong way.
The Shubenacadie's tidal bore is the Bay of Fundy's push felt far inland, and local rafting operators ride the roughest window of each tide. Trips are timed to the lunar clock, with mud-slick banks and riverside barbecues part of the ritual. Between tides the river returns to stillness as if nothing happened.
Family
Older children ride the bore safely with operators who read the tide daily.
Friends
A raft of friends and the biggest tide of the month is the whole plan.
Couple
Share the soaking, then dry out over the riverside barbecue.
- The Fundy bore turns the river into standing waves on a lunar timetable.
- Local operators ride the roughest window of each tide.
- Between tides the river returns to glassy stillness.
Operators fold a riverside barbecue into the rafting ritual between tides.
Up the street in Maitland, the in-store café at Frieze and Roy, said to be Canada's oldest general store, serves hot food, pre-made sandwiches and snacks.
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