Two Weeks in Nova Scotia: Page 14: Truro to Wolfville

On the northern shore, in an area called the Annapolis Valley, things turned a bit more lush and agricultural, and we are able to see wide views of the Bay of Fundy.  See a helpful map here on Wikipedia.

The Bay of Fundy is known for having the world's highest tidal range.  At one spot, the range between the average high tide and the average low tide is 45 feet.

Today's destination is the green pin, Wolfville.

Favorite Takes

1) Bay of Fundy near low tide

 Where you see red, you are seeing the red mud bottom of the bay.

2) Farming

3) Hull's Cove: our high tide visit

 This is not all that interesting.  But wait until the next post when I took the same
shot at low tide!

Again, I have this same picture at low tide.  See the next post.

 Lobster Roll and Caesar side salad.

Lobster Mac and Cheese.

4) Tattingstone Inn

We had this cute little two-story guest house.

Two Weeks in Nova Scotia: Page 13: St. Peters to Truro

We're glad that if any one day rained and poured cats and dogs, that it would be this day.  Our trip from St. Peters to Truro was really a transition day.  We drove inland and across Nova Scotia on mostly the TransCanada Highway to arrive in the city of Truro.

Today's destination is the green pin, Truro

Other than being buoyed for the day by a fabulous breakfast at the Bras d'Or Inn in St. Peter's, the only highlight of the day was an educational trip to the Hector Heritage Quay in Pictou.  Here we learned about the Hector, a small sailing ship that brought 189 souls from Scotland to start a new colony in Pictou in 1773.  The replica seen below was launched in 2000.

Favorite Takes

1) Breakfast at the Bras d'Or Lakes Inn

It's been a long while since I have had crepes.

2) The replica of the "Hector"

View through the stern cabin door.

Along with a boarding ticket each family had one bunk and one bucket.

That's one bunk per family, not per person.
The journey took 10 weeks, longer than expected
due to storms.

Two Weeks in Nova Scotia: Page 12: Sydney to St. Peters

Today's destination is the green pin, St. Peters

On this day, we traveled the last bit of the Cape Breton shoreline, from Sydney down to St. Peter. The day was beautiful and the scenery was awesome.  The first part of the drive started in Glace Bay and was called the Marconi Trail and the final section was called the Fleur de Lis Trail.

You may recognize the name Marconi.  The trail is named for Guglielmo Marconi (Wikipedia article). In 1902 from a Marconi radio transmission station in Glace Bay the first radio message to be successfully transmitted across the Atlantic from North America was completed.

Favorite Takes

1) A few fishing villages along the Marconi and Fleur de Lis Trails

2) Bras d'Or Lakes Inn at St. Peters

A good bacon cheese burger is always enjoyed.

We loved the all wood interior.

Two Weeks in Nova Scotia: Page 11: Sydney (Louisbourg)

We spent two nights in Sydney.  This allowed us a full day at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site.  In fact, on day one, we spent the full day at the Fortress, taking a guided tour, exploring the main areas, and walking about the old ruins and reconstructed areas of this 300 year old fortification and town.

To learn more about this historical site, check out the wikipedia article here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortress_of_Louisbourg

We were told that only about one-quarter of the town has been reconstructed, and that it has taken about 30 years to get this far. There are currently no plans to continue the reconstruction because there is already no way a tourist can see it all in one day. Sounds like the Canadian government did a cost/benefit analysis and decided to spend their scarce resources on other projects.

This site is the largest historical reconstruction in North America.

Favorite Takes

1) The Fortress of Louisbourg

Pano shot with iPhone

There was little in the way of self-guiding resources.  

Taking the guided tour was essential and time very well spent.

We were told the ocean is about 3 feet higher than it was

in the 1770's

Governor's Apartments and King's Bastion Barracks

2) Louisbourg Lighthouse

As part of the Louisbourg reconstruction, Louisbourg Lighthouse was completed in 1933 on the spot of Canada's first lighthouse and second lighthouse in North America.

3) Dinner at the Governor's Pub and Eatery, Sydney

A couple of cold ones... local beer

Lobster Roll with a Caesar Side Salad

Maple Curried seafood linguine with shrimp, scallops, mussels

roasted peppers, and broccoli

Two Weeks in Nova Scotia: Page 10: Baddeck to Sydney

Today's destination is the green pin, Sydney

There was not much to show from this day.  It mostly rained.  We did enjoy the Little Narrows Ferry.  It took about 3 minutes to cross. Americans would have just built a bridge so they could "get there" faster.

Below is my favorite photograph from this rainy, foggy day:

Taken somewhere northwest of Sydney