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This is the end of our fascinating, fantastic trip, as you can see we did not let the grass grow under us traveling 4,800 miles in 3 weeks and did not even scratch the surface. A "special thanks" to Lonna for her 2 pages of "MUST SEE" information saving us a ton of time going through all the other info we obtained. The Nova Scotia Doers and Dreamers booklet is a must. Sometimes it was overwhelming. And yes Larry and Emma there are Motels and a ton of B&B's all over. Till next time Love and God Bless....Dick, Brigitte and Lindsey........

This is Sunday and we got back home yesterday afternoon. Got everything back in one piece, (thank you Lord) and all of your prayers. Funny thing though on the last leg when we slowed we could smell something strong but could not figure out. Well, when I went to move the truck today it wouldn't start and the battery light stayed on. Checked it out and one of the 2 batteries blew up. It spit acid all over. Now I know what that smell was. I guess 6 years on a battery is enough.

Getting back to the last few days I did write about Mahoney Bay and Lunenberg. We also stopped in Saint John and saw the reversing falls and did a 2 hour bus tour of the town. Of course we checked out the water front and found a farmers market in the middle of town. Here are a few pictures.

Note the water flowing from right to left on the Saint John River. This was high tide at 10:22 in the morning. The other is more dramatic at low tide when the water drops 28 feet. Eighty miles down stream it drops 50 feet but we did not have time to go down there. Note the jet boat in the rapids. Looks like fun to me. He spun that boat around on it's nose. What a pleasure it was to have Lindsey along. She had the best time and I'm sure learned a lot, especially how big the country is. She spent a lot of time listening to music on her MP3 player and watching movies on her portable DVD player while on the road. Every night she would torment us with her love before turning in for the night. But all good things must come to an end until the next time. Hope you all enjoyed the blog and I do plan on keeping it open for awhile.

Maximum Fun day near Halifax

This is Friday the 15th and I have updated some of what we have done as we have a little time on our way home. We are currently about 6 hours from home and I will finish up with our tour around the Halifax and Saint John area later.

Peggy's Cove

Sunday we were on the road to Halifax arriving early afternoon, did I mention it rained. When we got here it quit. We had a very nice secluded site with trees around so we kicked back enjoyed a campfire, Lindsey went swimming and we made s’mores.
Monday the 11th was a truly maximum fun filled day. We started out by visiting Peggy’s Cove. Just before getting there we stopped at the memorial for Swiss Air Flight 111 along side of the road where 229 passenger and crew went down about 5 miles out on 9/2/1998. Peggy’s Cove was one of my favorite places to see as I like little fishing villages and water. We took a lot of pictures also had a local take a picture of us with the lighthouse in the background and had postcards made. We left there and continued on the coastal route to Mahoney Bay, a quaint little village with 5 churches that stand out just before you arrive. Walked around the shops a bit and took more pictures the continued on. The next stop was Lunenburg. A picture perfect little seaport village with tall ships and yachts and every thing else that goes along with them. The town is built on a steep rocky hillside about 8 blocks long and 8 blocks wide. We enjoyed walking around and taking pictures watching people, shopping and just enjoying the sunny day. We topped off the day in down town Halifax on the waterfront with a fabulous seafood dinner. We walked it off on the waterfront wharf where there was a lot going on including entertainment, music,
food vendors, gift shops and some weird people. You know the ones with the different colored hair, leather, tattoos, tons of makeup and all. Anyway a good time was had by all.
Today we left Halifax and are now in Saint John NB. Did I mention it rained all day. So we parked it and called it a day. Tomorrow we plan on seeing the reversing falls. More on that tomorrow.

The memorial

Peggy's Cove Lighthouse which is acually the US Post Office

Finally a picture of the three of us.

The shore line of Peggy's Cove

Puffin Trip

Today is Saturday and it was another busy day for us. Rained again last night and the ground is more then soggy now. A 5th wheel just came in and made about an 8 in deep rut along side of our trailer. We will be moving on again tomorrow, providing I can stay on solid land, to Halifax a little over 200 miles. GG did laundry this morning then after that we went on the boat trip. It was out of English Town north of Baddeck as Baddeck is on an inland lake. Lindsey said this is one of her favorite places. We went on Donelda’s Puffin Boat Tours to Bird Island. We saw lots of Bald Eagles, I would say over 20, hundreds of Puffins, Black Guillemots, Gulls, Great Black Backed Gulls, Cormorants, a lot of those, Great Blue Herons, Northern Gannets, Idler ducks and seals. The seals were in the water and would poke there heads up once in awhile along side of the boat only a couple were up on the rocks. We did not see any whales but they said occasional they do on the north side of the island. It was too rough to go on that side and the boat is rather small, 40 passengers at most. Half way around the Cabot Trail there is a village called Pleasant Cove that has whale watch tours. If you don’t see any you get your money back. But the trip we took was a 1st class trip well put together by a local couple. She gave us a lot of information about the area and the birds we saw on the way out and on the way back, a lot of information about lobster trapping. They are also lobster trappers. Starting at 4 in the morning and also running 3 puffin trips. Lobsters have to be 1 pound and it takes 5 years to grow that big, they also molt once a year and the season ended on July 15th. Lobsters can be kept for a year in pounds, individual shoe box size wire cages, where they are kept in hibernation form. Cool water is run over them along with cool air. So there you have it a short lesson on lobsters. She said there is no cod fishing here and that when the cod fishing is bad, lobster fishing is good also the reverse is true and it runs in cycles. Night is falling now and campfires are going, dogs being walked, and it’s not raining. Lindsey and GG are playing games so I guess I’ll call it a night for now.

There was a pair of eagles after fish.

There are some puffins up there somewhere

Loads of birds of all kinds

There are a few seals out there

Cabot Trail

This is just a sample of the pictures we took on the Cabot Trail

A challenge for the driver..............

Fantastic View from the Cabot Trail

Lindsey is getting lazy.

Picture Postcard

In Nova Scotia

Taken from the Alexander Graham Bell Museum

Yesterday we left PEI early and boarded the ferry to Nova Scotia. An experience for all of us as they squeezed us in with 17 semi’s. They put the cars on the lower deck. We caught the 8:00 ferry and it took us about an hour to crossover. We then headed for Baddeck arriving at noon at a very nice campground called the Baddeck Cabot Trail Campground. Had to laugh when we got here as it rained pretty hard just before we got here and the guy that signed us up said the site we were assigned to may be a bit on the soggy side because we just got a “splash” of rain an hour ago. I think it was more then a splash. It stopped raining for most of the afternoon and we went into town to see the sites. The waterfront was busy with sail boat races and shops busy with visitors. It’s a picture perfect little village. One of the races was for little kids in dinghies with sails. There must have been about 30 on the water. Later we visited the Alexander Graham Bell Museum and spent about 2 hours there. We learned a lot about him. Lindsey was impressed and I think it was a great learning experience for her. He was quite an inventor and teacher, especially for the deaf as his wife was deaf. After that we ate overlooking the waterfront to top off the day. The halibut steak was excellent, excellent. So was Lindsey’s seafood alfredo and GG had scallops in some kind of sauce ringed with mashed potatoes. It was a great day.

Today was another great day. Most of the day was sunny and we took to the road for a day trip around the Cabot Trail and the Highlands. It took us about 6 hours after stopping to take pictures here and there and stopping for a picnic lunch we packed. What fascinating scenery and a challenge for the driver. Sometimes we were high above the water and other times next to the water. We went through many little villages. Sorry to say Robert, (he said there was fishing in Cheticamp) there is no deep sea fishing available according to the visitor center personal. She said there may be a local fisherman that may take us. There may still be a moratorium on the cod fishing here, I forgot to ask. Anyway we plan on a boat trip tomorrow out of Baddeck tomorrow. The boat will take us on a tour to look for whales, seals and puffins! Lindsey wrote that. People are out and about in the campground here and it’s just getting dark. People walking there dogs and there are 2 motor homes appearing to be traveling together, side by side across from us with a campfire going. It’s nice to see for a change from the last week of rain. Lindsey and GG are playing a game. Yesterday was the first day they did not play a game since we have been on the road. Tomorrow is another day so till later,
Take care and love from all of us………
Dick………………

At the harbor in Baddeck, boat races were going on.

On PEI

I am writing this on Thursday morning. After a long day of driving yesterday we crossed the bridge to PEI and drove through a lot of farm land. Can’t believe the potato or (budata as Lonna would say) fields we saw along the way. There is a lot of red dirt they even dye tee shirts for the tourist with it. We are here in a campground called Marco Polo Land. A large campground with over 600 sites and all seem to be occupied. We are impressed with the clean well kept up large sites. Shortly after setting up we went to St. Ann’s church for their famous lobster dinners and it was more then I expected. Lindsey said it was the best meal she ever had, not having to have eaten a lobster before. The meal included seafood chowder, mussels, salad, rolls, and choice of budata, veggies, lobster and dessert. Today we slept in for the first time since we started this trip and was a welcome change. We are off exploring and setting up a date for fishing and going to see the play Ann of Green Gables. Noticed lots of shops along the way so I would imagine we will do some shopping. So for now we are off. We took a trip to Charlottetown, about 25 miles away, and made reservations for Ann of Green Gables for Saturday night. We spent some time walking around town in Charlottetown and the waterfront. Lots of shops to checkout. Wondered back to Cavendish and went to the Cavendish Boardwalk. Lots of shops to checkout. Lots of looking, not much buying. I have not been able to get connected to Wi Fi. Went to the office and they said it was down and were working on it but did not know when they would get it up and running. Lindsey and GG (Grandma Gitta) are playing a game and I think I’ll call it quits for now. Tomorrow is another day.

This is Saturday noon and it’s raining. They need it for the budatas. Found our Verizon modem works well here so here we go. Yesterday we went to Lucy Maud Montgomery’s home, author of Ann of Green Gables. We found it very interesting, also Avonlea the village of Ann of Green Gables. We spent most of the day there. We could not get Lindsey away from the animals, especially the horses. She spent at least 15 minutes talking and petting it. This morning we went fishing but the fish weren’t biting. Got lost on the way to the boat and almost did not make the boat. PEI is very difficult to navigate if you have never been here. My gps is very limited so have to rely on old fashion maps. But I do have a map program and my printer along so we manage. Lindsey did manage to catch some bait, a 12” herring. We caught about a dozen for cod bait but they would not co-operate. Neither would the mackerel. There were about 20 on the boat and no one caught a keeper. I managed 2 sculpin which are ugly. Lindsey did see a seal and some other people saw a whale. Sorry no fish pictures this trip. We made it bad to the campground before the rain. Right now it’s pouring out and everyone is taking a nap. It sounds good to me.

This is Sunday noon and it’s another day of rain with rain predicted for the next 2 days. So I’ll update what we did. We drove back to Charlottetown and out to eat before the play. Then we wondered around town until the play started. Even went to Tim Horton’s Jimmy (inside joke). What a fantastic play Anne of Green Gables was, actually one of the best I’ve seen. Lindsey really enjoyed it. Her name is now Cordelia. She loves that name. Today we are laying back I even played games with Linds. We did go to the breakfast buffet here at the park and that’s about all the excitement for the day. We planned on driving the North Cape route today but we hope tomorrow will be a better day. We drove through the park, lots of standing water and feeling sorry for the tent people. Tuesday we will head out to Georgetown for 2 days of site seeing. There is just to much to see and not enough time. We just have to make choices. Lonna thanks again for all the info. Sometimes it can be overwhelming but we are getting along just fine. The Island is all you said it was.
Take care, all Dick, Brigitte and Lindsey……………..

Lindsey said it's the best meal she ever had.She never had Lobster before.

Ann never looked better..........

The view from the back of our trailer in Georgetown on the last day on PEI

On the ferry arriving in Nova Scotia

The last of PEI

Recapping the last few days it was rain and more rain. They came close to breaking a record of over 200 MM in some places. Don’t know how many inches but I do know it’s a lot. Understand some bridges are washed out in New Brunswick. Despite the rain we managed a road trip to the North Cape at the north end of the Island which we found very windy and perfect for the Experimental Wind Generating Farm. Toured the Museum and took pictures of the North Cape Light House. You can see PEI’s main industry is farming and fishing. Lots of farm land. I think Lindsey is tired of looking at farm land. On the way back to Cavendish we forced ourselves to another lobster dinner and St. Anne’s Church. The second was as good as the first. The next day we bummed around the shops in town again. Yesterday we left Cavendish and headed to Georgetown. Not a long drive, just a mere 62 miles but yes instead of taking just over an hour it took us almost 3. Yup, a wrong turn just after Charlottetown. We called several days earlier to make reservations at Brunelle River Provincial Park but they had no openings so we found a Good Sam Park called Seal Cove. We near the water and it is decent. We then head for Georgetown to check out the Kings Playhouse and found the last performance was last weekend. We then went down to the waterfront to check on fishing. It’s very limited as far as fishing, a 5 hour trip which included clamming on an island, a little fishing for mackerel and a show of how they catch crabs and lobster. Not appealing for us as it included wading in the water for clams in mid 50 degree weather. So we passed. Today, Wed. the 6th we did a day trip to the East Point Light House. It was a beautiful scenic drive along the water. It was a much better trip with some sun once in awhile. We stopped in Montague for lunch for a lobster sub at Subway. Tomorrow it’s ferry time to Nova Scotia and we will be staying near Baddeck for the Cabot Trail drive. So till next time,
Take care, Dick, Brigitte and Lindsey……….

This was at East Point

If I remember