Coast to Coast in under one hour 30 minutes! September 12, 2012

Today was a travel day again.  It's not that we mind the travel days, there's really just two issues with these types of days:

1. It's so hard to leave the amazing experiences behind in hope that the next experience down the road could even remotely become the same, if not more, amazing experience.
2. The anxiety of getting lost, yet again, has become a fear to both of us.

We are trying to adapt to the second point.  Ken's trying to stay a bit more focused on the map at those questionable times where we fear we may have missed a sign, while I am resorting to what appears to be the more "female" approach - stopping and asking for directions!

This was last nights sunset picture,
low tide, looking up the
coastline from our
campground.



This was high tide, same spot
 this morning as pictured to the left
as last nights sunset picture.



Today's travel plans did not fail our fears!

1. Our time at the Annapolis Valley was absolutely amazing from start to finish.  From the wineries, the landscape, the people, the campground - amazing!  If any of you are considering this trip by camping, we HIGHLY recommend The Land of Evangeline Family Campground.  What an experience!  We will be posting a comment on the accommodation website they subscribe to as soon as we have an opportunity.
2. That's right, we got lost.  Yet again.  In Dartmouth.  Downtown.  With a trailer in tow.  Pretty? Yes.The navigation of streets with Trailer in tow? No.  Enough said.  Why the heck can we not get this right?  Well, once again, insert your comments here...please!  But like all the other "navigational dispenses", we did it Tricia's way this time.  We stopped at the Ford dealership and asked for clarification on directions.  They were fabulous!  And instead of being lost for plus of 4 hours, we were re-routed and back on target within 10 minutes or so.  No marriagee counselling required!

In fairness to both of us, the signage here does need some "tourist" input!  When a sign with arrow appears, it really does mean "turn here...NOW!"  Perhaps this is fine if you are even remotely familiar with the lay of the land, but green horns like us, observing 2-3 road maps, a GPS and a map APP, look down for a glance, and you probably missed the turn off!  Or at least so we are quickly discovering!  Also, this being said, of you are looking for Hwy # 107, but you only see signs for Hwy #7...there's a good chance that's the turn off you want.  Who'd a thought!??  After all it's only a mere 100 count off what you were looking for!

Our destination was for the Dartmouth "ish" area where, thanks to Brad and Tracy Taylor (owners of the the company who makes our trailer) put us in touch with Davis Edwards, a fellow Taylor Coach Owner.  We "like-minded" TC Coach owners stick together!

Davis touched base with us before we left Guelph, and several times prior to today to ensure he would not miss us.  The arrangements were, we to meet up with him at a Super Store just outside of East Chezzetook where he would then guide us to his house.  As we approached Davis in the parking lot, I affirmed to the gentleman walking towards us as, "You MUST be Davis", and his response was, "I thought I was meeting some old folks!"  Oh how these Easterners know how to charm us! 

Yahoo for us! In following Davis there would be next to NO chance of getting lost!  This short drive to our side yard private campground was once again breathtaking and scenic.  Here we parked, unhitched and met Davis in his front parlour over a few beers before any other strenuous activity took place.  The type of living we would have a hard time getting used to!

After our "getting to know each other" chat, Ken and I headed to the trailer to set up for the next undetermined number of days.  By setting up, I mean Ken hooked us to power off Davis' house, lowered the trailer jacks and levelled us up while I went in and had my FIRST afternoon nap!  I rose shortly after, made ourselves a few drinks, prepared the case of chilled Guelph beer and red wine as a Host Gift for Davis, and ascended to his house for homemade Clam Chowder, East Coast Baked Beans, bread and salad.  This meal was beyond description!  Finally, a true Maritime meal!  My mouth salivates as I type!

After dinner we swapped Davis' cross coastal travel adventures for our love of winter camping.  Ken and I have a renewed goal: to convince Davis to give winter camping a try.  We might actually have him half way there!  A few more days, our mission may be reached!  Time will tell.

We are so thankful to Brad and Tracy Taylor for putting us in touch with Davis.  What an awesome kind giant!  When I met him in the parking lot, as Ken went to seek out the local NSLC - the Nova Scotia Liquor Store, I chatted and broke the ice with Davis.  He asked me the date today - hello I've been on holidays for the past week & a half!  We figured out it was Wednesday September 12th, and he said to me, "Today is my 87 1/2 birthday!" adding that at his age, recognising half years is as important as celebrating the actual day!  What an awesome concept!  I think this may become my new tradition!  I may call my 1/2 birthday my "Davis Day"!  Come on January 28th!

As we retire now in our trailer, I look forward to tomorrow with vigar.  The plan is to back track a bit on roads already travelled, kind of, but this time it will be a more relaxed journey up back through to Truro, and across the Cumberland Shore to view what Davis calls some of the most pipicturesque coastal views we have yet to see.  He can wow me with all the views he wants, but he has already won my heart over with his HUGE heart and GIANT love of this land.  Life could simply not be any grander than this very moment.  My only regret is that in all the excitement of meeting Davis and swapping stories, I neglected to ask to take a picture so I could introduce you to him.  I guess you will just have to wait until tomorrow.

We have had a new saying shared to us today by the receptionist as we left the campground.  It's not fitting for today's blog though, so we will store it in our memory bank for another day.

That's "That's 'bout it"...talk to ya tomorrow,

Ken and Tricia