Maritime - Week Six

Sunday, July 10, 2005 - Day 36

Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia

Today was a travel day, at least most of it was.  We drove about 325 miles, in about 7 hours, which is a pretty good haul in Canada.  Fortunately we were mostly on divided highways.  We left the KOA in Cavendish early, had everything plotted on the GPS to get us back to the Confederation Bridge.  Unfortunately, we hit a 'bridge out' sign on a little two lane road.  You just don't turn this rig around on a two lane road with a toad behind it.  The good news is the GPS was able to re-route us and we maybe drove an extra 15 miles or so out of the way, and lost maybe a 1/2 hour.

The toll to 'return' from PEI on the bridge was $45.25 Cn, or about $36 US.  There is no charge to cross into PEI, just to leave.  I took some pictures, but again today, it was really rainy and foggy, like when we came over. 

We will be in Annapolis Royal for a couple of days, and will do a lot of sightseeing this afternoon and Monday.  Several historical sites here and the village of Digby not too far away.  In particular, we are looking forward to visiting the 'Historical Gardens' near downtown.

We still don't have the DataStorm working, but tonight I was able to use a connection in the office to publish everything through Saturday the 9th.  Since we are much further south again, we do have TV reception on Dish Network, but won't much longer since we will be heading more north on Tuesday.

Monday, July 11, 2005 - Day 37

Annapolis Royal, NS

We were out early today, to a slight mist of a rain, and after getting fuel for the little truck, we visited the Fort Anne site near downtown.  The fort has been used by the British and French for nearly 400 years.  It actually was several forts built on top of the previous one over all the years it was in use.

As is obvious from the picture, the fort was built with lots of 'berms' for protection from shelling.  I wondered just how they kept the berms mowed so nicely... then I found out.  The guys lowers the mower down the slope with two ropes, moves it over a bit, then pulls it back up, mowing in both directions.

After visiting the fort we intended to visit the Gardens, but it started to rain a bit, so we decided to forgo the gardens, and drive on over to Digby, about 30 minutes away.  Digby is a nice size little town in the summer, even has a Wal-Mart, but one local guy told me only about 800 folks live there in the winter.  There is quite a large fishing fleet there, and a couple of whale watching tours available.  We didn't see any fishermen come with their catch, and declined the opportunity to go whale watching in a raft with an engine.

We did go to the bank to change some money, and found out the US dollar has dropped 3 cents since we changed some in Fredericton.  We got $1.22 Cn for $1.00 US before, and was only $1.19 Cn today.

One really interesting thing here in Annapolis Royal is the Tidal Electric Generating Plant, an experiment in using the rise and fall of the tide to generate electricity.  There are two separate gates between a large river/lake and the Bay at Annapolis Royal.  As the tide come in, and as the tide reaches the level of the lake, one gate is opened to flow water into the lake.  Then as the tide reaches its peak, and the tide starts out, the other gate are opened, with the out-flow going over turbines to generate the electricity. This method produces enough power for 4500 homes every year.

We visited the Historic Gardens this afternoon. A really beautiful place, with its main focus being its Rose Garden.  There are over 230 different roses featured in the Rose Garden, providing a dazzling summer display.  A Rose Maze containing hardy Rugosa varieties is situated beyond the Rose Garden, bringing the number of rose bushes to over 2000.

UP AND RUNNING ---  After numerous phone calls to the installer, and one previous call to Ground Control (my ISP), I finally talked to Makill, at Ground Control, tonight.  After having to convince him where I was, that my dish SHOULD be working, he went through a few settings and WALLA -- one little number was off, we changed it, and BINGO -  LOCK-ON.. 

Tuesday, July 12, 2005 - Day 38

Halifax, NS

We drove this morning from Annapolis Royal to near Halifax.  We are at the Woodhaven Park in Hammond Plains, NS, about 25 miles to downtown Halifax.  We plan to be here at least 3 days, maybe a day or two more, depending on what the area has to offer.

This afternoon, we took a few hours and drove over to Peggy's Cove, a quaint little fishing village south of Halifax.  Just before arriving in Peggy's Cove we spotted a pull-out and viewing spot.  At the spot was a very simple memorial among the granite rocks this area is noted for.  This area was instrumental in the recovery efforts of those lost in the crash of Swiss Air Flight 111 that crashed just off-shore on September 2, 1998.

Then on over to the village and lighthouse.  There is actually a gift shop and Post Office inside the bottom of the lighthouse.  As we returned down the hill to the village wharf, we ran across a lady painting a scene there on the water. As you may can tell, she is painting the boat in the background.  I took this picture in Black & White mode, hoping to add a little more dramatic effect.

As we walked around the wharf, a fishing boat came in after a day of very successful fishing.. a catch of 31,000 lbs of mackerel which they said would be used by sport fishermen as bait in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.  After docking the 3 accessory boats that they also used while fishing, they left the harbor to take the catch to the market, but I didn't find out where that was.

Wednesday, July 13, 2005 - Day 39

Halifax, NS

Today we drove about 40 or so miles to visit a couple more fishing villages, turned tourist attractions.  The first was Mahone Bay a town on a bay by the same name.  We drove around a bit, snapped a couple of pictures, then head on to our primary destination - Lunenburg.   This little town (bigger than a village) is built on the side of a hill, reminiscent of San Francisco, only just about 2% the size.  The main part was maybe 10 blocks long, and 8 blocks up to the top of the hill.  A typical street scene is shown at left.

At the base of the hill is the little bay, also a part of the Mahone Bay. At one time this was the site of a major fishing operation, as well as a major ship building industry.  In 1920, the local shipbuilder built a schooner named Bluenose that won the equivalent of America's Cup from 1921 to 1938.

Other than whale watching cruises, harbor cruises, and harbor tours on a sailing schooner, the main attraction is the "Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic".  Oh, I know.. another museum.  Not so!  We have seen our share of museums and historical sites and homes, but this place was really different.

In addition to the memorabilia expected in a museum of this type, the presenters took the whole experience a few steps further.  As I told one of the employees there, "I have seen a lot of dead museums, but this place is fully alive"

There were about 15 or demonstrations during the 6 hours or so that we spent there (including a few breaks and lunch across the street).  We watched a model of schooner being launched into a tank, we heard a presentation about the Bluenose, we saw a scallop shucking demonstration, we saw a presentation about lobsters.  I also talked to a guy that was building a 'dory', a wooden boat with a sail, used for fishing.

We also boarded a schooner, the Theresa E. Connor, that was used for fishing up until 1963, when the Captain was no longer able to hire a crew.  The schooner was idled, later acquired by the Museum, and restored.

There is also a room dedicated as a memorial to the fishermen from the town that have been lost at sea.  A very well done room, and the lady that made the Bluenose presentation pointed out the name of her grandfather on the wall as one of the lost.  She said that almost everybody in town either has a relative or friend that has been lost.  There is also a black granite memorial outside the museum commemorating the same individuals, as well as the vessels that have also been lost.

Lunenberg is also known for all the Victorian and similar style homes, many of which have been made into Bed and Breakfast operations.  A couple of examples are shown here.

Thursday, July 14, 2005 - Day 40

Halifax, NS

Today we drove into Halifax, a 20 minute or so drive from our campground.  We first of all drove along the waterfront and stopped at Pier 21, the Halifax equivalent of Ellis Island in NYC.  The area is now used as a reception area for cruise ships, two of which were there today.  Although we didn't visit it, the museum occupies a part of the second floor.

We then visited the Citadel, a major fort on a high hill overlooking the city and the harbor.  This fort was a star shaped fort, like the one we visited in Baltimore.  It was extremely well preserved, with a lot of interesting exhibits.  We walked the entire perimeter of the inner wall and finished the walk just as the student soldiers gave a cannon firing demonstration at 12 noon.

After having a light lunch at the Citadel we went just across the street from the Citadel is the Halifax Public Gardens, originally established in 1875.  The garden included several water features and numerous beds of various types and shapes.  The garden was about the size of two city blocks, 18 acres, with numerous circular and intersecting trails. 

We then went back to Lower Water Street along the harbor, and walked along a part of the 'Harbor Walk'.  This boardwalk has been constructed to provide a mile-long walk along the water, where cruise ship passenger, and other folks, can visit restaurants, shops, and pick among the many harbor cruises available. 

Friday, July 15, 2005 - Day 41

Halifax, NS

Today was a fairly light day as far as sight-seeing goes.  We hung around the campground until nearly after 10, then drove across the bridge to Dartmouth, and down the coast a short distance to Fisherman's Cove.  The area is a fairly active fishing village, with new commercial development of shops built to look like fishermen's huts.  A boardwalk winds through the area, and even out on to a point of land that is undeveloped.  We had lunch at 'Boondock's Restaurant', a popular place for locals to drive for dinner over looking the bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

As we wandered around we ran across the 'home-made' tractor and trailer.  The fellow took a John Deere lawn mover and built a cab, with doors and windows, and even windshield wipers.

We then drove around downtown Darmouth, crossed the bridge to Halifax, and spent a couple of hours shopping and people watching on the Boardwalk.  Around the board walk, as well as other parts of town, various businesses have decorated Lobster mini-statues.

Then back to the coach about 4:30, took a nap, pizza for supper, and then talked with a couple of guys that are caddying for players in the LPGA tournament currently going on here.  One of the guys is from Ireland and the other one lives is Washington. They are tent camping here in the park, and have been here since Monday.  They said the little rain storm last night got a little exciting with all the wind.

We are leaving here tomorrow for North Sydney, where we will board the ferry for Argentia, Newfoundland on Wednesday, the 20th, unless we change our reservation.

Saturday, July 16, 2005 - Day 42

North Sydney, NS

Today was mostly a travel day, leaving Halifax and driving to North Sydney, a drive of about 260 miles.  We stopped for fuel about mid-way, paying about $3.22 US per gallon.  Fuel is getting higher, the further north and east we go.  About 1/2 of the drive was on 'interstate' type highways, and the remainder was 2-lane, but with passing or climbing lanes where appropriate.

While here, we will do some sight seeing, first on the Cabot Trail, a 150 miles or so loop up the north coast of this part of Nova Scotia.  We are parked at the Arm of Gold campground, in a boondock area, since all the hook-up spots were reserved.  They have 3 or 4 tour groups in here or coming in tonight.  One group is an Airstream group of about 40 units, plus they have a Fantasy RV group, a Adventure Caravan group, and another coming in tonight off the ferry at 11pm.

After getting set-up, the dish locked right in, we settled down for a bit (that means took a nap), then went exploring in the little town of North Sydney, the site of the big ferry terminal.  This is where we will board the ferry for Newfoundland next Wednesday.

After Donna cooked Lasagna for dinner last night, about 9 or so we drove back to the ferry dock, and happened to arrive just as the ferry was unloading.  This ship is huge with 2 levels for cars and trucks, and additional levels for passengers.

We are overlooking a part of a big lake, and there was a beautiful sunset last night.