Been a little while since I posted, we've been running around a fair bit. We're on a 3 hour ferry ride, so I thought I'd get the blog caught up.
Since last time, we drove to Moncton ... way to early in the morning ... and did a tour of the city. Moncton wasn't really all that impressive, basically a small city. The tidal bore is kinda neat, but we didn't get the chance to actually see it happen.
The next day we did our marathon tour of the Bay of Fundy. The tour was run by Roads To Sea, Basically they take groups (in our case, us plus one young woman from Sweden visiting Canada for 2 months), around the area via a large van. The tour runs from Moncton down the coast to the Fundy National Park and back, with a running commentary and fairly frequent stops at particularly picturesque spots. The tour was great, the guide knowledgeable and funny, the vistas breath taking and the phenomenon of the Bay of Fundy tides was a reminder of just how small we are compared to mother nature.
From Moncton we drove to Saint John, not St. John's, which is where the ferry to Nova Scotia leaves from. We walked around uptown Saint John for a day, constantly getting asked if we were from one of the two cruise ships docked there that day and ducking in and out to avoid the rain.
The next day we decided to go whale watching, the boat leaves from Saint Andrews by the Sea, which is a small town very close to the border with the US. The whale watching tour was great. We saw a bunch of hump back whales, including a mother and her calf. The calf was feeling playful when we arrived, breaching the surface, rolling over onto his back and waving at us with a fin. The only pity was that the last of the batteries on my camera died about half way through the tour.
And that takes us to today, we're playing cards and updating the blog on the 3 hour ferry ride from Saint John to Digby. Free wireless FTW.
See you all soon, we'll be flying back to Toronto on Sunday.
2009-09-17
2009-09-12
North Point
Drove to North Point in PEI today, was definately worth the drive.
We picked up some picnic supplies before leaving Charlottetown, and headed out on the direct route to the point. We decided not to do the coastal drive, because I didn't really want to be in the car all day again.
North Point is the site of a Wind Farm, Lighthouse, and interpretive center. we got up there around 1:00 in the afternoon. After looking around in the interpretive center, which was mainly about how wind power works, we had a nice picnic lunch on a picnic table a few feet from the bluffs. Then we took a walk around the edge of the bluffs.
We're packing up before going out to dinner tonight, we have a tour of Moncton tomorrow at 9AM, which means we need to leave here around 6 - 6:30.
Ciao
We picked up some picnic supplies before leaving Charlottetown, and headed out on the direct route to the point. We decided not to do the coastal drive, because I didn't really want to be in the car all day again.
North Point is the site of a Wind Farm, Lighthouse, and interpretive center. we got up there around 1:00 in the afternoon. After looking around in the interpretive center, which was mainly about how wind power works, we had a nice picnic lunch on a picnic table a few feet from the bluffs. Then we took a walk around the edge of the bluffs.
We're packing up before going out to dinner tonight, we have a tour of Moncton tomorrow at 9AM, which means we need to leave here around 6 - 6:30.
Ciao
2009-09-10
Charlottetown & PEI
We spent the day walking around Charlottetown Thursday.
It's a beatiful little city with an interesting history. There is a walking tour that leaves from founder's hall and retraces the steps that Canada's original founders took on their way to the first conference about Forming Canada.
We spent yesterday doing the Points East Costal Drive, which was pretty disappointing. Most of the drive is through farmland, far enough away from the coast that you may as well be in Ontario, the roads are often pretty bad as well. The east point light house was nice, and the view of the beach around it was breath taking, but I wouldn't consider the rest of the drive worth the trouble. We quit about 1/2 through since we hadn't seen much so far and we had already done the last 1/4 on the way from the ferry. Luckily, there was a highway that cut straight to Charlottetown.
Today we'll drive to the North point and get a certificate that we've been "Point to Point".
It's a beatiful little city with an interesting history. There is a walking tour that leaves from founder's hall and retraces the steps that Canada's original founders took on their way to the first conference about Forming Canada.
We spent yesterday doing the Points East Costal Drive, which was pretty disappointing. Most of the drive is through farmland, far enough away from the coast that you may as well be in Ontario, the roads are often pretty bad as well. The east point light house was nice, and the view of the beach around it was breath taking, but I wouldn't consider the rest of the drive worth the trouble. We quit about 1/2 through since we hadn't seen much so far and we had already done the last 1/4 on the way from the ferry. Luckily, there was a highway that cut straight to Charlottetown.
Today we'll drive to the North point and get a certificate that we've been "Point to Point".
2009-09-09
Cape Breton Island
We spent Monday, Tuesday and Today (Wednesday) on Cape Breton Island, mainly to follow the Cabbot trail.
On Monday we drove from Dartmouth to Baddeck, the small community that is the beginning and end of the cabbot trail. Baddeck is the home of the Alexander Graham Bell museum, which was an intresting diversion for an hour or so, it focused mainly on his work after making a pile of cash on the telephone. The view from our motel room door was spectacular, the back of the motel faces a bit of the Bras D'Or lake's shorline.
On Tuesday morning we got up early and got started on the Cabbot trail, starting with the
Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts, an interesting and beatiful campus right at the start of the trail. From there we started on the trail itself, which included some truly breath taking views. The mountains here are much gentler than the rockies, and the mist rising off their tree lined slopes is really a sight to see. I hope the pictures come out, but I doubt they'll capture the majesty of the place. We ended our day in Margaree Harbour, decided to find an inn, listed in the books as having nightly live music, for dinner. That was a mistake, we learned 2 lessons that night, always double check the directions that the GPS gives you ... especially in rural areas and when you come to a wooden, single lane bridge on a barely paved road ... it probably isn't the best route to where you want to go. When we finally found the place the food was mediocre and over priced and the service sucked, we left before the music started.
Today we drove down the Ceilidh (Pronounced "KAY-lee") trail, Ceilidh is gaelic for a visit or gathering, basically its an informal event featuring scottish fiddle music. This took us through Canada's first and only Single Malt distillery and the Celtic Music Center, where we stayed for a demonstration on Cape Breton's musical traditions and a lunch time Ceilidh. I had a great time, don't think Andi enjoyed it as much though.
From there we drove to the ferry to P.E.I., just barely making the ferry we were sure we would miss, and avoiding the 2 hr wait for the next one, literally as the last vehicle to board, no more that 2 or 3 minutes before it set off. And now we're in Charlottetown, planning out what to do for the next 3 days. I'm getting a bit tired of driving, so I think tomorrow we'll spend the day exploring Charlottetown. Its apparently about a $10 cab ride to downtown from our hotel, so I think we'll just leave the car here and let someone else do the driving.
Well, that's it for now.
On Monday we drove from Dartmouth to Baddeck, the small community that is the beginning and end of the cabbot trail. Baddeck is the home of the Alexander Graham Bell museum, which was an intresting diversion for an hour or so, it focused mainly on his work after making a pile of cash on the telephone. The view from our motel room door was spectacular, the back of the motel faces a bit of the Bras D'Or lake's shorline.
On Tuesday morning we got up early and got started on the Cabbot trail, starting with the
Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts, an interesting and beatiful campus right at the start of the trail. From there we started on the trail itself, which included some truly breath taking views. The mountains here are much gentler than the rockies, and the mist rising off their tree lined slopes is really a sight to see. I hope the pictures come out, but I doubt they'll capture the majesty of the place. We ended our day in Margaree Harbour, decided to find an inn, listed in the books as having nightly live music, for dinner. That was a mistake, we learned 2 lessons that night, always double check the directions that the GPS gives you ... especially in rural areas and when you come to a wooden, single lane bridge on a barely paved road ... it probably isn't the best route to where you want to go. When we finally found the place the food was mediocre and over priced and the service sucked, we left before the music started.
Today we drove down the Ceilidh (Pronounced "KAY-lee") trail, Ceilidh is gaelic for a visit or gathering, basically its an informal event featuring scottish fiddle music. This took us through Canada's first and only Single Malt distillery and the Celtic Music Center, where we stayed for a demonstration on Cape Breton's musical traditions and a lunch time Ceilidh. I had a great time, don't think Andi enjoyed it as much though.
From there we drove to the ferry to P.E.I., just barely making the ferry we were sure we would miss, and avoiding the 2 hr wait for the next one, literally as the last vehicle to board, no more that 2 or 3 minutes before it set off. And now we're in Charlottetown, planning out what to do for the next 3 days. I'm getting a bit tired of driving, so I think tomorrow we'll spend the day exploring Charlottetown. Its apparently about a $10 cab ride to downtown from our hotel, so I think we'll just leave the car here and let someone else do the driving.
Well, that's it for now.
2009-09-07
Yesterday in Halifax
Sorry this post is so late, it should have been put up on Monday but I didn't get the chance to finish it before leaving for Baddeck and haven't had net access since.
So yesterday we explored Halifax proper. Drove to a parking lot on the edge of the historic walk we were taking and parked the car. The weather was exactly as has been described for the maritimes. Windy in bursts, cold when the wind was blowing, swealtering hot whenever it stopped.
Halifax is a really beatiful small city, with centuries old churches and residences mixed in with a bustling downtown core. We visited the oldest burial site in Canada, the parliment buildings and a little italian style outdoor piazza reminiscent of Ottawa's Byward Market.
The walk took us along the docks, which I'll come back too, and to the hallowed halls ;) of the Keiths Brewery. We took the brewery tour, which was actually a lot of fun, and then had lunch at a nearbye restaurant, before heading back across the docks.
The docks were definately setup for tourists, with the gift shops, boat cruise operators and food stalls. We booked a tour on a sailing ship, the Mar, that was "pirate" themed. Actually it was the only real sailing vessel we came across, the other being a large metal hulled monstrosity whose drapes ... I mean sails ... then again I had it right the first time, couldn't have moved it's bulk with a hurricane force wind.
The sail was pretty spectacular with some really nice views, but the "pirate theme" was pretty superficial, they had a pirate flag flying and a little mini canon (which they "fired" at a passing sail boat).
We had dinner at a restaurant right on the docs, I had lobster and andi had a fried sea food plate, the food was good and the view was quite nice as well.
So yesterday we explored Halifax proper. Drove to a parking lot on the edge of the historic walk we were taking and parked the car. The weather was exactly as has been described for the maritimes. Windy in bursts, cold when the wind was blowing, swealtering hot whenever it stopped.
Halifax is a really beatiful small city, with centuries old churches and residences mixed in with a bustling downtown core. We visited the oldest burial site in Canada, the parliment buildings and a little italian style outdoor piazza reminiscent of Ottawa's Byward Market.
The walk took us along the docks, which I'll come back too, and to the hallowed halls ;) of the Keiths Brewery. We took the brewery tour, which was actually a lot of fun, and then had lunch at a nearbye restaurant, before heading back across the docks.
The docks were definately setup for tourists, with the gift shops, boat cruise operators and food stalls. We booked a tour on a sailing ship, the Mar, that was "pirate" themed. Actually it was the only real sailing vessel we came across, the other being a large metal hulled monstrosity whose drapes ... I mean sails ... then again I had it right the first time, couldn't have moved it's bulk with a hurricane force wind.The sail was pretty spectacular with some really nice views, but the "pirate theme" was pretty superficial, they had a pirate flag flying and a little mini canon (which they "fired" at a passing sail boat).
We had dinner at a restaurant right on the docs, I had lobster and andi had a fried sea food plate, the food was good and the view was quite nice as well.
2009-09-05
Lunenberg & Peggys Cove
First an apology, I remembered the camera, its batteries, its charger etc. but forgot the card reader and/or the usb cord for the thing, so pictures are going to have to wait until either I happen across a computer store where I can get a usb reader for reasonably cheap or until I get home.
Today Andi and I went to Lunenburg and Peggys Cove, two historic sites within about an hour and a half drive of Halifax.
Lunenburg is a small community on the southern coast of Nova Scotia, it's claims to fame are the fact that "Old Town” Lunenburg is an Unesco World Heritage Site and that it is the home of the Bluenose II.
Unfortunately the Bluenose II is out of town at the moment, but there were a handful of smaller sailing vessels in port. The Bluenose II is normally docked at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic which we walked through. We had a nice lunch at a little restaurant facing the water, did a little bit of souvenir shopping (Gavin will have to grow into his gift a fair bit, but we couldn't pass it by) and walked around the little colonial old town.
From there we drove to Peggys Cove, a small ... scratch that, tiny ... fishing village sitting in the middle of this incredible rock strewn coastline with the iconic Light house out on the rocks. The space is beautiful, the tiny village idyllic, but the amount of tourism spoils it. We walked around for a bit, through shops with over priced trinkets and even more over priced artwork. We had dinner at the one restaurant in town, which I would strongly recommend skipping, the only saving grace for the fish and chips we both ordered was that the fish was really fresh ... soggy and poorly prepared, it was a total waste. In the end, if you visit Nova Scotia, you really do need to see Peggy's Cove, but go in knowing that you'll have to work hard to look past the tourist trappings to enjoy the natural beauty of the area.
The drive back from Peggys Cove is beautiful, but not for the faint of heart, winding roads following the coastline with speed limits of between 45 and 90 kph.
Well, that's it for tonight, going to relax and rest up for tomorrows walk through Halifax.
Ciao
Today Andi and I went to Lunenburg and Peggys Cove, two historic sites within about an hour and a half drive of Halifax.
Lunenburg is a small community on the southern coast of Nova Scotia, it's claims to fame are the fact that "Old Town” Lunenburg is an Unesco World Heritage Site and that it is the home of the Bluenose II.Unfortunately the Bluenose II is out of town at the moment, but there were a handful of smaller sailing vessels in port. The Bluenose II is normally docked at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic which we walked through. We had a nice lunch at a little restaurant facing the water, did a little bit of souvenir shopping (Gavin will have to grow into his gift a fair bit, but we couldn't pass it by) and walked around the little colonial old town.
From there we drove to Peggys Cove, a small ... scratch that, tiny ... fishing village sitting in the middle of this incredible rock strewn coastline with the iconic Light house out on the rocks. The space is beautiful, the tiny village idyllic, but the amount of tourism spoils it. We walked around for a bit, through shops with over priced trinkets and even more over priced artwork. We had dinner at the one restaurant in town, which I would strongly recommend skipping, the only saving grace for the fish and chips we both ordered was that the fish was really fresh ... soggy and poorly prepared, it was a total waste. In the end, if you visit Nova Scotia, you really do need to see Peggy's Cove, but go in knowing that you'll have to work hard to look past the tourist trappings to enjoy the natural beauty of the area.The drive back from Peggys Cove is beautiful, but not for the faint of heart, winding roads following the coastline with speed limits of between 45 and 90 kph.
Well, that's it for tonight, going to relax and rest up for tomorrows walk through Halifax.
Ciao
2009-09-04
Woo hoo
Vacation started today, we left T.O. at around 9 and got into Halifax at around 11:00EST, 12:00 local (all the times I mention from now on will be local to wherever I am)
Got to Budget, and as usual in spite of a reservation they don't have the car I asked for. They offered me an SUV, which I didn't want to pay the gas for and then a convertible ... which, after haggling a bit over the price, I took.
We drove from the airport to our hotel, which is in Dartsmouth basically across the bay from Halifax, got checked into the hotel no problem and then sat down to decide what to start with.
Turns out one of the historic/heritage walks we wanted to do in the area started a few blocks from the hotel. So we went to get some lunch and a few bottles of water and got started on the 1 - 2 hr walk.
I'll admit, it was somewhat dissapointing, the sights were mostly a few older buildings, a pond, and a lake. Dartsmouth seems to be to Halifax what Brampton or Maple is to Toronto, a mostly residential suburb, with not a lot to see.
We forgot the camera, but the only time that I regretted it was when we saw a flock of geese holding up traffic by crossing the road all in a row.
The walk was good exercise and both Andi and I are pretty beat, gonna wash up and relax in the room for a bit and then head out to dinner.
Got to Budget, and as usual in spite of a reservation they don't have the car I asked for. They offered me an SUV, which I didn't want to pay the gas for and then a convertible ... which, after haggling a bit over the price, I took.
We drove from the airport to our hotel, which is in Dartsmouth basically across the bay from Halifax, got checked into the hotel no problem and then sat down to decide what to start with.
Turns out one of the historic/heritage walks we wanted to do in the area started a few blocks from the hotel. So we went to get some lunch and a few bottles of water and got started on the 1 - 2 hr walk.
I'll admit, it was somewhat dissapointing, the sights were mostly a few older buildings, a pond, and a lake. Dartsmouth seems to be to Halifax what Brampton or Maple is to Toronto, a mostly residential suburb, with not a lot to see.
We forgot the camera, but the only time that I regretted it was when we saw a flock of geese holding up traffic by crossing the road all in a row.
The walk was good exercise and both Andi and I are pretty beat, gonna wash up and relax in the room for a bit and then head out to dinner.
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