Up to the Cape Breton Shoreline! September 18, 2012

Today we moved on from our private campground at Chez Davis’ (aka: Davis’ side yard) to journey over to Cape Breton and discover what all the hub-bub is about on the Cabot Trail.

...where even the trailers were friends!

Instant friendships bloomed...

First, I need to start by saying it was tough for both Ken and I to leave Davis behind.  It seems a proven fact to us that friendships can be made in heartbeat time.  Although we only met Davis 6 days ago, our friendship seems everlasting now.  We were so blessed to meet our fellow Taylor Coach companion and share our love of adventure.  Although chronologically he’s a big hearted man in an 87 and a 1/2 year old body, he was younger than us in so many ways, and wiser than us in far more ways!  The pleasure was absolutely all ours in sharing this invaluable time with such a refined, knowledgeable free-spirited gentleman.  We will treasure these last 6 days and all the wisdom Davis so generously shared for many, many years to come.  For these, and so many other reasons, we will miss you Davis.  We look forward to sharing our home with you for any sort of undetermined time at your earliest convenience – but NOT before October 1^st!  Happy Trails my friend, Happy Trails!

An abandoned shipped found
literally right beside the road way,
in a little harbour called
Spanish Ship Bay

That being said, on Davis’ recommendation, we headed Northeast towards Cape Breton over the old Hwy 7.  The road is a fairly maintained road which weaves in and out of coastline communities.  Using this highway rather than darting up Hwy 102 and then joining on to the Trans Canada Highway, adds about an hour of driving to our journey, but the landscape views which treat you to beautiful inlets and quaint towns is well worth it. 

We stopped three times along our way to make the point that even though we were committing to a full day’s drive, we were determined to enjoy the ride as we went.  Our first stop was at Sherbrooke, where the town has recreated a turn of the century village where some residence still reside IN the village museum full time, while other journey in as volunteers or staff.  Upon reception we were advised the self-guided tour would take about 2-3 hours.  Davis suggested a park close to the village where we could stay, but we were feeling pretty confident when we arrived in travelling more after a decent leg stretch.



Ken investigating the General Store.
All items were authentic to the era,
and in their original packaging!

The village itself was very quiet and quaint.  Each building hosted a guide to talk about the contents, structure and use of the building.  Each building was operational and skilled in the sense that those hosting the building were trained “members” of the community: a Blacksmith or Potter or Teacher etc.  Lots of pictures later we left feeling even more educated than we went in, and ready for the next leg of the journey.  As we left the village an eagle glided over our heads, circling the skies in search of it’s next meal.  Awesome!

Continuing on, shortly after Sherbrooke, Hwy 7 turned us away from the Atlantic Ocean, northward to Antigonish, a town nestled in the bottom eastern corner of St. Georges Bay, a body of water just off the Northumberland Straight.  Here we joined the Trans Canada highway once again and discovered the high hills overlooking the bay and tree-lined forests of the coastline.  It was here we also started witnessing our first glimpses to the promise of fall.  The trees have not yet turned, but the past few days, with summer-like temperatures and cool nights, have begun the transformation of the leaves here.  We fully anticipate quite a spectacular show of fall once we begin our return home in a little less than two weeks, if the weather continues on this path.

Speaking of weather, we fear a bit of inclement weather may be chasing us as we approach Cape Breton.  In the Halifax area, high winds and heavy rain is being anticipated beginning tomorrow (Wednesday) for two days.  We hope we can hold the weather off here for the next couple of days while we explore the Cabot Trail, but also respect the fact the weather has been far more superior than we could have ever asked for, and it is a show of respect to Mother Nature to allow her to bring us a bit of “seasonal” weather if she must!

Our last and final stop before arriving at what would be our first Provincial Campground in Nova Scotia was the Visitor’s Information Centre as we crossed over the causeway into Cape Breton.   Even though we were only a ½ from our day’s final destination, the last leg of the journey today was the longest.  Anticipating a relaxed drink and kicking back a bit at our new home away from home was killing us!  When we arrived, our Taylor Coach joined all of 3 other trailers in the “just off the highway” campground.  We have arranged to stay here for 3 days, however our intent is to leave the trailer parked here tomorrow, seek out a lovely B&B or cabin/lodge along the Cabot Trail for tomorrow night (our 25^th Anniversary) where I hope to enjoy for the first time ever a full lobster meal.  We will then return on Thursday with the idea of moving on to PEI for Friday.

But as always, that’s for tomorrow’s entry.  For now, I leave you with those thoughts.  A hot shower, after supper beverage and laundry awaits me!  The domestic duties still call our names!

Time to "kick off" again! The sun rises fast in the east!

Cheers,

Tricia & Ken