Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia

Today we drove 240 miles back to the southwest to Peggy's Cove just west of Halifax on the south shore of Nova Scotia. About 1/2 of the rte was back tracking the rte we were on when we went to Cape Breton Island. As we neared Halifax we began seeing a lot of farms and did see some corn that was in the 2 leaf stage.
It was much warmer today but at Halifax if became foggy and the temp dropped 15 degree's. Today's pictures are of a couple of the white wooden church's that are in nearly every little town that you come to. They are all neatly maintained and well painted. The two steeple is a Catholic church at North Sydney and the other is a Presbyterian on the Cabot trail.

Alexander Graham Bell National Historic site

Today was the first sunny warm day we have enjoyed while here in Nova Scotia. We visited the Alexander graham Bell Historic site here in Baddeck. Bell was born in Scotland, however he moved with his parents at a young age to Ontario because of the ill health of he and his siblings. His life long passion was education of the deaf. He taught the deaf in Boston and invented a device to help them hear and talk as well as the telephone. He married one of his deaf students. After achieving financial success he and his family built a summer home at Baddeck, Nova Scotia. The hills and trees and water reminded him of his beloved Scotland. He was a man who would spend hours thinking about how he could make things happen. He took the Wright Bros. airplane invention and added aerleons and had the first motorized airplane flight in Canada in 1909. He figured that if boats could raise out of the water that they would move much faster. He along with a young engineer that was like a son to him developed the hydra-foil boat during WW1. However the war ended and it never caught on. He also invented many other things including instruments for measuring airflow. His most cherished invention was a glass tingle enclosure in which he would put salt water from the Bras d-Or lake. The sun would condense it on the sides and the water that dripped off would be pure drinking water.

Fortress of Louisbourg

Today we made the trip across St Ann's Bay through Syndey to the Fortress of Louisbourg on the extreme south east side of Cape Breton Island. A trip of around 65 miles one way. The Fortress is a the largest reconstructed 18th century town in North America. It existed from 1730's to 1760 when it was destroyed by the English who had taken it from the French. Reconstruction started in the 1960's and some of the buildings contain the original cobblestone floors and rock walls. It was a French held fortress with a population of 1500 up to 3000 depending on how many ships were in port.
The major export to France was fish a high percentage of which were Cod. Nearly all of their products they used for their existence were imported from France. Many of the buildings have people in period dress that talk to you as if you are actually there in that time in history. We had lunch in one of the buildings where we ate from old pewter bowls and spoons. We tied large square bibs around our necks while we ate. We had beef stew, bread baked from a period recipe in a large wood fired oven daily, and a sugar cookie. On the way back we drove through down town Sydney located on the water front. A fortress is a walled settlement of people along with a military encampment and a fort is just a walled military encampment.

Baddeck, Nova Scotia

Sun. we awoke to cloudy drizzly weather. We started toward Sydney but due to the poor visibility we decided to wait a day. Turning down a road that said ferry to Cabot Trail we came upon this two deck bus that had been converted to a cafe. We stopped and had tea as we sat on the top deck watching the ferry and talking to some of the local people.
We then drove into Baddeck a fishing town located on Bras d"or Lake which is connected to the Atlantic ocean by St Anns Bay. The rest of the day was spent doing laundry and repairs.

Cabot Trail

Brr 49 degree this morning & 55 when we got back this afternoon. It was also cloudy damp and windy. After we crossed the Conso Causeway yesterday we are on what they call the Cape Breton Island the northeastern part of Nova Scotia. Today we did the Cabot Trail loop it is the northern part of the Island. It has been called one of the 7 wonders of the world as well as one of the most scenic drives in the world. It is a 190 mile drive up the east coast with views of the Atlantic Oceans rocky bays and then up over tree covered mountains to elevations as high as 1400 ft.
We passed through small fishing villages and saw many boats out checking their lobster traps. We stopped for lunch at the small fishing village of Neil's Harbor where we enjoyed one of the better meals of our trip at the Clam Chowder restaurant. It was in a small building overlooking the Atlantic ocean next to a light house. As we rounded the top of the Island and began coming down the west side we had many more scenic overlooks both over the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and up the tree covered valleys into the mountains.
Near Cape Le Moine we came across this quirky display called joe's scarecrow Village. It consisted of 50 or 60 scarecrows that had masks of famous people as well as just ordinary Halloween masks. They were dressed in bright cloths or cloths to match the mask and most had names as well as some saying pinned to them. Surprisingly this drive is not very commercialized, it does have a lot of small pottery shops and craft shops run by Celtic people that live in the area.

Baddeck, Nova Scotia

This morning we left Moncton, NB headed southeast entering Nova Scotia we stopped at the welcome center to pick up tour books, maps and advice as to what to see. We then continue east southeast on highway 104 through the gently rolling wooded hills seeing occasional hay meadows. Around Truro it became more winding , wooded and forested. Turning due east toward New Glasco on rte. 4 it became flatter and we saw some farm land with many small fields a few planted to crops but mostly hay fields.













Traveling on east it became more forested and we met many trucks hauling logs. After passing Antigonish we began catching glimpses of the
St George Bay to our left. Crossing the Canso Causeway at Port Hastings we turned northeast on rt 105. We had been noticing the change in the trees along the way to more deciduous but as we traveled north they became predominately Spruce.
As we passed around an arm of the Bras d'or Lake at Whycocomagh we could see a beautiful old wooden church across the water. In a few more miles we arrived at the Cabot Trail campground at Baddeck. We traveled around 250 miles today. We will sight see from here for a couple of days.

Hopewell Cape

Yesterday we drove about 35 miles south to Hopewell Cape where the flower pot rocks are located. This is on the Bay of Fundy between New Brunswick & Nova Scotia. The tide in this area rises 40 feet in 6 hrs. from low tide to high tide. The picture shows some of the flower pot rocks at low tide, notice the people walking around. We went down 95 steps to get down there. The park was closed by high tide so we can only imagine what it would look like with the water 35 ft. higher near the base of the trees.
We then drove another 30 miles along the coast of the bay passing through small coastal towns and by small hilly meadows with views of the bay at low tide. We stopped at the small fishing village of Alma, NB ate lunch and browsed the few shops. The picture is of fishing boats in the harbor at low tide. At high tide there is water at least 1/2 way up the shore walls in the marina and these boats are floating.

Moncton New Brunswick

This morning about 11 AM Atlantic daylight time we crossed from Calais, ME to St. Stephen, New Brunswick. After stopping at the welcome center were we received a lot of valuable info. We decided that we would drive to near the entrance to Nova Scotia and do the Bay of Fundy coast on the way back if time permits. We are at the Camper's City RV Resort in Moncton, NB We will stay here until Fri morning visiting things in the area. The first 100 miles coming east on Can 1 were wooded and somewhat rolling with many views of the Bay of Fundy at low tide. After coming through St John we moved away from the coast line and traveled into less hilly and less wooded. After passing Sussex as we neared Moncton we began seeing hay meadows and finally near Moncton we saw many mid sized dairy farms.

Calais, ME

This morning we left Ellsworth headed north on US 9 through the rolling forested hills toward Calais, ME. The terrain became more rugged as we traveled north passing by many clear areas with large smooth boulders in them and the ground covered by short plants that may have been wild blue berries. We arrived at Keens Lake campground shortly after noon. After getting set up we traveled south on US 1 for approximately 40 miles Lubec, ME. There we crossed to Campobello Island New Brunswick, Canada location of the Roosevelt Campobello International Park. This is where many generations of FDR's family spent summers in their cottage. It is really a large 3 story house that has servants quarters, many guest bedrooms, bedrooms for the children, a room for the tutor and a small class room on the second floor. We then drove about 4 miles to Liberty point on the south end of the Island. The first thing we noticed upon getting out of the car was how much colder it was. I suppose it was due to the cold waters of the Bay of Fundy. The point has very rocky cliff formations.

Acadia National Park

This morning we went to the visitor center for Acadia National Park for an orientation film before driving the 27 mile park loop. On the loop drive we saw many rocky shore areas. The main on was Thunder Hole where the surf comes up through a hole when the tide is up. Just our luck we were two hrs. ahead of high tide. We stopped at Jordan Pond House where we had a delicious meal which featured popovers as the bread entree. It was then on to the 1600 ft high Cadillac Mountain the highest point on the north east coast. We then drove into Bar harbor where Nancy & Mary browsed through a few stores and Paul & I sat on a side walk bench people watching.

Trenton, Maine

Today we drove to Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse on the south side of Acadia National Park. We also stopped at on of the smallest post offices located at Seal Cove that I had ever seen.
We also drove into Ellsworth, ME and toured the Woodlawn Museum. It is an old house of Federal architecture built around 1820. It still contains most of the original furniture. One room has the original carpet in it and it still doesn't look to bad.

Bar Harbor Maine

This morning we are awaking to bright clear blue skies and cool temps in the low 50's. Yesterday we left the NKK rally at Essex Junction around 8 AM. We traveled US 2 through the Appalachian mtns we enjoyed mostly clear skies. Around every turn and at the top of each hill we enjoyed each new panoramic view. We passed through many small towns some of which had festivals going on and numerous small farms nestled in the valleys. Going from the west side of Vermont thru New Hampshire and then to the east side of Mains sounds like a long trip but in actuality it was only 325 miles. Our friends Paul & Mary Osborne from Kentucky greeted us as we arrived at the Timberland Acres RV Park on the edge of Acadia National Park near Bar Harbor, ME. We will be here for two days and then travel into Nova Scotia for a couple of weeks.

Newmar Kountry Klub Rally

Today wraps up the Newmar Kountry Klub International Rally at Essex Junction, Vt. This has been a rather slow laid back rally. There have only been 180 units in attendance, compared to the 600 or more at past rallies. We have renewed old friendships with people from all over the US as well as meeting many new people that we can add to out list of friends. We have had three nights of good entertainment. The Starline Rhythm Boys this evening were very good. They sang & played country western songs from the past. Tomorrow we move on to Bar Harbor, ME.

Montreal

Yesterday we moved the 10 miles from Shelburne Campground to the Champlain Valley Expo center in Essex Junction, VT for the annual Newmar Kountry Klub International Rally. Our check in time was scheduled for 7 to 9 AM so we got around earlier than usual. After the day of checking out the new Newmar motor homes and various displays the evening wrapped up with the opening flag ceremony fallowed by a 90 minute concert of country western music from the 50's to the present presented by Sherwin and & Pam Linton.
This morning we boarded a bus at 7 AM for a 2 hr ride to Montreal, Canada. After our arrival we had a 2 hr bus tour of Montreal narrated by a native tour guide. We saw many old buildings and heard about the history of Montreal. We also saw a cemetery that has over 1 million buried in it and has room for at least that many more. We had a 25 min. walking tour of the 200 year old Notre Dame Basilica. The main chapel will seat 3200 for mass. We then sampled some of the local quisin at an outdoor resteraunt. We had pouten which is a bowl of greasy french fries covered with melted Cheddar cheese curds, and a spicy thin gravy You could get it with sausage, smoked meat, Italian or Greek. The smoked meat is similar to corned beef and also comes as a sandwich.
It was then back on the bus for the long ride back which was made longer by the 1/2 hr. spent coming through customs. We arrived back in time for the wood smoked chicken meal at 5;30. They say that Newmar rallies are rated either as a 5lb. or 10lb. rally. We then enjoyed a very impressive production of the history of flags of our great country and how our history has always been based on belief & trust in God. It also brought out that since the civil war over 1.2 million men and women have given their lives to protect this flag and it's history steeped in our belief in God for our country.

Vermont

Today was another rainy day. We went to Waterbury, VT and toured the Ben & Jerrys ice cream factory. They make their ice cream with milk from cows that have not been fed any chemical additives. They pride them selves in being very environmentally friendly. They haven't done to bad for a couple of hippies that took a $5 correspondence course from Penn. St on ice cream making.
We also went to the Round Church or Meetinghouse at Richmond, VT. It is a 16 sided structure built in the simple Federal style and was constructed between 1812 & 1814. Funds were raised by selling individual box pews. Once purchased they became part of the owners real estate and were passed down from generation to generation. The list of owners included 5 Baptists, 2 Methodist, 6 Christians, 23 Univeralists and 29 Congregationalists. They contributed just over $3000 for it's construction. In 1880 the church became the sole responsibility of the town of Richmond. They had held their annual town meetings there since it's construction and did so until 1972 when structural problems closed it to public gatherings. In 1976 the Richmond Historical society took ownership and have restored the building. It is now used for weddings reunions etc.

We also visited the town of Montpelier, capitol of Vermont. Toured the Morse Maple syrup farm just outside of town. It was another cool day high around 60 degree's.

Shelbourne, VT

Today was a rainy 225 mile drive to Burlington, VT located on the east shore of Lake Champlain on the west side of northern Vermont. We left Moody Beach, ME about 9 AM Traveled south to Portsmouth, NH on I-95 where we turned west on NH 101 about 30 miles to Manchester, NH. We then turned north on I-93 for for about 15 miles to Concord, NH where we started NW on I-89 toward Burlington, VT. The entire trip was either in the White Mountains of New Hampshire or the Green Mountains in Vermont both ranges are part of the Appalachian mountain range.
As we drove in the steady moderate rain passing through towns like Woodstock, Barre & Montpelier the fog rising from the trees in the mountain valleys made for some very beautiful scenes.
We arrived at the Shelbourne Campground on the south side of Burlington around 1;30 PM. We will be here until Mon morning when we will make a 10 to 15 mile drive to Essex Junction, VT for the week long Newmar Kountry Klub RV Rally.

Mt Washington

Sat. morning we we left the coast of Maine traveling north & west toward Fryeberg, Maine for a visit with friends Donnie & Marie Rowe. We soon left the flatter tree covered coastal area and entered into the mountainous area of central Maine as we traveled the 75 miles northwest toward Fryeberg located on the west side of Maine.
Sat. afternoon we traveled to a few of the small towns in the area. The old new England archetecture is something we both really like. We also looked at the farm land in the valley in which Fryeberg is located, they raise potatoes, corn and sod. Today after a delicious breakfast at the cafe where Marie works we went to Mt Washington the highest peak in the White mountains of New Hampshire. It is 6600 ft in elevation and the base is at about 1900 ft. In the 7 miles that you travel to the top you go up 4700 ft in elevation. The drive is comparable to the drive up Pikes Peak in the Rocky Mountains. At the top you are above tree line and the climate is similar to what it would be 700 miles to the north. The temp was 47 degree's and it was 70 degree's at the bottom. They have recorded wind up 250 MPH. The van driver said that if the wind is above 80 MPH they don't take people up. Today was an unusually calm day with very little wind when we were up there.
As we arrived back at the camp ground this afternoon the 8 to 10 degree drop in temperature from the west side of Maine to the coastal east side was very noticeable.

Moody, Maine

This morning we left Sturbridge, MA heading east on I-90 toward Boston. It was then northeast on I-495 past Lowell, MA to I-95 north through a few miles on New Hampshire and into Maine. After stopping at the Maine welcome center we left I-95 at exit 7 and headed north on US-1 passing many antique stores, resorts and campgrounds in the small beach towns. After about 10 miles we arrived at Outdoor World Moody Beach Resort. It isn't on the beach but is close. As we drove through the rolling tree covered area today it occurred to me that this must have been what the Christmas song or poem that I always heard as a child meant when it said over the river and though the woods to grandma's house we go. As a child growing up on the high plains of Western NE I could never made any sense to me. Today was another short drive of 125 miles, I am liking these short drives.