Celtic Village and Louisbourg NS

Moved onto the ferry at Little Narrows on my way to the Celtic Village, another of the wonderful reconstructions of Canada's past. This recreates how and where the early Scottish settlers came to Nova Scotia mainly but all through Canada. It has been gathered here in Iona, around a beautiful hill, from many small villages around NS.

Little Narrows ferry

Horse didn't trust me

Spinning Wheel

Model of village hut in Scotland in the 1700's

Here is the view from the cliff at Marconi's site in Glace Bay

Louisbourg 1700's:

Village Fisherman's cottage outside the fortress

City Gate

Detail over gate

The fortress is a huge enclosure even though the ocean is over running parts of the land. 

Louisbourg Lighthouse:

Seacoast at the Lighthouse:

Three looks with different exposure times and combinations

Tomorrow it is off to North Sydney and getting supplies, propane and fuel before the ferry.

On to Newfoundland!!

Day 97 - Nova Scotia

I am sitting in my MoHo and after doing a cleaning and floor mopping - the dust and dirt never stops - here Louisbourg NS and trying to catch up and get ready for Newfoundland. In the last few days I have made the journey around the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park; stayed at a most amazing and most Northwesterly part of the island called Meat Cove; gone down the Eastern coast to Baddeck to see the Alexander Bell Museum; visited the Celtic Village near Iona and on into Sydney (not Australia); stopped to see what's left of the location Marconi made his first transAtlantic wireless broadcast - not much, and of course the Miner's Museum in Glace Bay. That has brought me here to Louisbourg and the site of Fortress Louisbourg built by the French in the 18th Century. Back and forth with the American/British and then again the British. Being a non-ice port it was of great value to all during the many wars between France and England. It is they say the largest reconstruction historical site in North America. Here are a few shots leading up to the fort.

Mabou Light House along the bay

Etched glass door of lighthouse

Cheticamp from across the bay with Cormorants

Cheticamp Lighthouse

Cheticamp LH

 As I was walking for this shot I happened to catch movement out of the corner of my eye and turned just in time to see two eagles soaring on the updrafts. Fortunately I had my 70-200mm and not just my 24-70mm.

Eagle

 Then up the road to Margaree Harbor.

Decommissioned and used as channel marker

Then on into the Park. Beautiful trees, beaches and construction along the road, oh well. Stop at the bog trail in hopes of some small animals but as I began my walk a tour bus pulled in and all hopes of quiet left.

Always enjoy reflections

Since I was in hopes of animals, I only walked with my 150-600mm. a little tight

Bay St Lawrence Harbor is the Northernmost Harbor on the island and they are preparing for winter. 

This is Meat Cove and the campground. It is perched on the heights and is probably the most spectacular setting I have yet found. Just above the three building in the right frame (cabins) is where I stayed. I got parked and it began to rain - all night!

The beach just below the campground

I'll pick up from here in next post
Choa

Nova Scotia

Yesterday I drove back over the Bridge from PEI and thru New Brunswick and onto Nova Scotia. Next thing I knew I was close the Halifax. I had to find a second Walmart to stop at as the first one didn't want campers.
As I said in the last post, this morning started out with a deep fog and I carefully drove along the South East coastline. They say there are plenty of pullovers along this road - Highway 7 - but I'll be damned if I spotted any - or more precisely, soon enough to stop in ones that were just barely long enough at 50 MPH.
I did stop at a beach along the way with a marchland on one side of the road and beach on the other. I got a couple of bird shots before the mosquitoes over powered me. So here is todays group (yeh that's right -today!!).

This one I know - Blue Heron

Foggy Surf

Tomorrow it's off toward Cape Briton. Can't wait.

Hope Everyone had a Great Labor Day

I spent my last day on Prince Edward Island and then drove to Nova Scotia to stay near Halifax. I decided not to drive into the city when I awoke this morning as there was a very thick fog and from what I could research - driving a Motorhome into town was not the best and I didn't wish to try their bus line on the first day back from Holiday.
Here are a few more Lighthouses from the island:

Cape Tryon still operating

French River Light house

Panmure Head Lighthouse

Panmure Head with yellow chair

Cape Bear - Famous Marconi station - Titanic SOS!!

Wood Island Lighthouse

+David Mathre that should be a good finish to the PEI lighthouses.
Here are a couple of more shots that I thought captured the beauty of the East End of PEI.

French River Harbor - One of many pretty little Harbors

View of the Saint Lawrence Bay

Storage shed

Wind Farm along the coast

I even got up for a Sunrise!!

Day 86 - PEI

This is West Point Light House near Cedar Dunes PP where I am staying at the moment. This is the West side of the Island and I'm following the coastline around the Island. There are three areas - North Cape Coastal Drive (which I'm on); Central Coast Drive (Green Gables anyone?); and Points East Coastal Drive. That's about 650 miles around the island and the views are beautiful. Yesterday I bought a 2.5 lb lobster fresh off the boat for what worked out to be about $13 US. Not bad, Right? Now to find those wonderful oysters I have come in search for this whole trip. It's supposed to rain a bit today, but I will head North tomorrow and then continue my journey in a counter-clock direction around the island. I have made reservations for the ferry from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland yesterday for the 14th of September with return on the 24th. Looking forward to that!!

Hopefully it won't be as long before I find another wifi campground so I can get this out sooner.
Enjoy September!

Acadian Coast

I drove to Miscou Island at the Northern tip of New Brunswick to see the lighthouse located there.

Thing they had to use the guy wires to stabilize the lighthouse as they said it had been moved several times because of land erosion. This looks out on the the Atlantic Ocean at the southern end of the Bay of Chaleurs in the Gulf of St Lawrence.
Many of the fishing fleet was already drydocked for the winter.

 Anyone know what this is?

These are Oyster beds along the coast. They grow them by the tons for export to Asia.

WiFi is Hard to Find

That's the way it seems while traveling in the remote areas of Canada, well that makes sense. The journey has been continuing as you would image and I'm having a good time.

This is one of the 'tasks' I set myself - Travel the length of Hwy 2

This was in Houlton, ME at the border crossing into New Brunswick Canada. I made this landmark on the 78th day of my travels on August 24th. Sorry, I didn't note the mileage at the time.
Now journeying around NB started by traveling up the West side of the Province then around the Northern section and then of course down the Eastern side to the bridge connecting NB to Prince Edward Island (another goal). Here are a few Highlights of NB:
The longest wooden bridge in the world at Waterville.

(I may have wifi - but it is slow. I think I'll just do a few photos - sorry!)
Next was Grand Falls on the St. John's River and I was able to get a shot of cable run across the falls.

Just checking out the line

I had about as much of the forest scene by then that I could take, after driving through New England and now NB, I had to get to the water. Along the Bay of Chaleurs that divides NB from Quebec just below the St Lawrence River is the heart of the Acadine "Nation" in Canada. These are descendants of the French who were displaced by the British in the 1800's. Many were moved to New Orleans, but many hid out in the unexplored areas of NB and now live here. My French is lacking these days but the people are very friendly and most speak some english. 

I happened to be in Charlo along the Bay when the Canadian Snowbirds had an airshow. Great opportunity for shots.

These two shots are interesting to me because I am 2.5 miles away from the action. Here are a couple when they came closer.

See the heat exhaust?

Great Fun

I stop here and start again with the rest of NB.