Canada Day 8: August 7, 2010

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Packed up our campsite by 8:30am today and drove out of the park to the cute town of Alma.  Picked up some sticky buns, bread, and donuts at Kelly’s, the only bakery in town and took the scenic route 915 towards Hopewell Rocks.  Stopped to eat breakfast at a scenic spot on the Bay and drove past farms and a doe before arriving at Hopewell Rocks around 11am.  Our pass from yesterday was still good today so we could see the change in tides at the Bay.  We were about an hour past high tide, but the water was still many feet deep at the Flowerpot Rocks where we walked yesterday.  In fact, if we didn’t know any better, we would never have been able to tell that you could walk where we were.   It was neat!

Canada Day 7: August 6, 2010

                      

                              

                              

It was still misty and foggy when we got up today.  We decided that we were not leaving until we rode the bikes on the trails in the marshes.  Fantastic decision!  We followed part of the Atlantic View Trail to Lawrencetown Beach, then took the Salt Marsh Trail through Cole’s Harbor.  Both trails are part of the Trans-Canada path that runs throughout the entire country.  The trails were awesome!  We rode about 20km roundtrip on well-maintained gravel paths over salt marshes and bridges through Cole’s Harbor on what use to be the railroad bed.  There were lots of wildflowers and different birds in the marshes along the way, and a huge rabbit crossed out path.  The weather was even sunny for bit the further we got from the beach.  It was a beautiful ride…something Joe and I both wished we had at home.  Reminded us of Plum Island a bit and it even had a slight resemblance to the Dike in Quincy, but it was much bigger, beautiful, and we were actually able to ride out on the marsh.  Canada certainly seems to be making some progress in regard to developing bike paths for its residents to enjoy.  Wish the U.S. would do the same!

Canada Day 6: August 5, 2010

The weather did not improve when we woke up this morning.  It was raining and very foggy and overcast.  We slept in a bit and Chris made omelets for us.  After breakfast, we ventured out and walked down to the beach.  It was windy and foggy still, but at least it wasn’t raining.  We walked the length of the beach, collected some neat rocks, watched some surfers, and took some pictures.  Lauren also entertained us with seaweed twirling!

Canada Day 5: August 4, 2010

The rain continued overnight, but fortunately our tents held up and were not too wet in the morning.  We packed up all our gear and left the campsite by 9am.  Tim Horton’s was hopping when we stopped for breakfast.  It is essentially a Dunkies, but with more slightly more portion control.  Ate breakfast in the car as we drove towards Halifax in the steady rain. 

Canada Day 4: August 3, 2010

 

BONUS VIDEO!

Woke up bright and early today to a nice pancake breakfast courtesy of Chris.  After breakfast, we drove a few minutes down the Cabot Trail to the signature Skyline Trail for a morning hike.  We had heard that this trail would be full of wildlife.  In fact, we even received brochures on the way into the campground about how to defend yourself in case of a coyote or bear attack.  Needless to say Laur and I in particular were on guard as we started the hike.  The trail was very flat and took about three hours since we stopped often for pictures.  We were at treeline for the entire hike, and walked counterclockwise through well maintained paths that started inland and wove out towards the coast.  For the first hour and a half we didn’t see many other people or any wildlife except a bald eagle in the distance.  When we reached a boardwalk out onto the cliffs overlooking the sea and the Cabot Trail and shoreline, we had pretty much given up hope on seeing wildlife.  We figured we must have just been unlucky or caught it on a bad day. 

Canada Day 3: August 2, 2010

It was another early morning for us.  Packed the car, drove our favorite lighthouse at MacCallum’s Point and made it to breakfast by 8:15.  Today, Diana made us an egg tart, bacon, and raspberry yogurt parfaits.  Had a few minutes to, bacon, and raspberry yogurt parfaits.  Had a few minutes to chat with Diana this morning about her garden and growing organic food.  Chris got some tips for garlic and might try to plant some this fall.  Also found out that it is some sort of Civic Holiday in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.   Although we would have loved to stay and talk, we had to catch an 11:15am ferry and had to leave.  Laur and I are definitely going to miss Maplethorpe tonight when we’re camping!

Canada Day 2: August 1, 2010

Got up and out the door just after 6am this morning for an early 12 mile bike ride to the lighthouse at MacCallums Point.  It must have been between 50 and 60 degrees when we set off because my hands were freezing on the ride.  The ride was well worth it.  We rode to the one room schoolhouse that Lucy Montgomery (author of Anne of Green Gables) taught at, past several farms, and down a red dirt road to a picturesque lighthouse at the end of a long jetty.  We walked onto the beach for some beautiful pictures.  Can’t believe how red the sand is here.  The dirt roads remind me of Kauai but the red sand beaches are like nothing I’ve ever seen!  Lauren says the green fields, farms and dirt roads remind her of Ireland minus the sheep, stonewalls, and red dirt.  Guess we’ll have to go back and find out for ourselves someday!

Canada Day 1: July 31, 2010

We’ve only been on U.S. soil for 39 hours and we’re already on the road again en route to our sixth country in a week’s time, three on one side of the Atlantic and two on the other!  What a feat!  Laur and Chris arrived around 10:30pm last night, and after catching up, we turned our living room into a makeshift bedroom for them.  Woke up bright and early to pack the car, and by 8am we were at Dunkies and on our way.