Monday, October 19, 2009
We're Home
We got home Friday night. It was a great trip even though we had rain, cold, and wind. The countryside was gorgeous!! Thanks for keeping up with out blog!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Fall colors in the north east
The following pictures were taken in different parts of Maine and Nova Scotia
The Reds were beautiful
One tree many colors
I can't pick the prettiest
The Colors of Maine and Nova Scotia
One of the beautiful trees in Ogunquit, Maine
The Maine coast
Hiking trail in Nova Scotia
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Walking in Schoodic Point
We have driven 2400 miles so far. It was sunny again today. Breeakfast in Bar Harbor at the general store visiting with the locals, probably our best breakfast. Brought us some fresh muffins for later. We started to Sch. Pt but had to stop at the discount sweatshirt place. I have been dying to see a moose. Everyone said they are plentiful on the Cabot Trail but when it rains they don't move but stay undercover. It rained--no moose. New Bruns. the same, and northern Maine is full of moose-even in the sunshine we didn't see one. So the next best thing was to buy at sweatshirt with one on it, so I did. 40-60% off wasn't so bad.
When we go to the pt. the tide was coming in and crashing on the rocks. We walked way out on the rocks and got some great pictures. We got our drinks/muffins and saw in the sun on a flat rock and enjoyed ourselves. We walked the Alder trail. IT was a beautiful one through the woodlands. We encountered a porcupine but he ran back into the woods before we could get a picture. No moose!!!! We stopped by Ruth & Wimpers in Ellsworth on the way back and had lobster rolls. Delicious! Came back to the room and enjoyed our wine overlooking the bay. We had a plate glass window and we were inside because it was cold and windy outside.
We are heading south to Vinalhaven for 3 days and then to Ogunquit and will probably have no computer. Will finish when we get home. Right now it is pouring so we've had to change our plans. Later
When we go to the pt. the tide was coming in and crashing on the rocks. We walked way out on the rocks and got some great pictures. We got our drinks/muffins and saw in the sun on a flat rock and enjoyed ourselves. We walked the Alder trail. IT was a beautiful one through the woodlands. We encountered a porcupine but he ran back into the woods before we could get a picture. No moose!!!! We stopped by Ruth & Wimpers in Ellsworth on the way back and had lobster rolls. Delicious! Came back to the room and enjoyed our wine overlooking the bay. We had a plate glass window and we were inside because it was cold and windy outside.
We are heading south to Vinalhaven for 3 days and then to Ogunquit and will probably have no computer. Will finish when we get home. Right now it is pouring so we've had to change our plans. Later
Schoodic Point
We got up to sunshine (yeah) Had breakfast then walked a trail along the water in front of our motel. The tide here is 27 feet between the low/high tides. We headed down #9 which went through a few small towns where the leaves were spectacular! Nancy was driving and I was the photographer. I took a lot of pictures through the window because she couldn't stop. We did stop when there was a pull-off and then both of us took pictures. Every corner we went around we couldn't believe that the leaves were even more beautiful. You can see them change every day. We saw nature at it's best!
We drove to Schoodic Point to check it out. 7 yrs ago we walked a trail and wanted to find it again. We talked to a ranger and he gave us directions. There were no accommations anywhere around so we drove into Bar Harbor for a room. We will stay here 2 nghts right on the bay. We had clam chowder at the Log Cabin, then relaxed in our room.
We drove to Schoodic Point to check it out. 7 yrs ago we walked a trail and wanted to find it again. We talked to a ranger and he gave us directions. There were no accommations anywhere around so we drove into Bar Harbor for a room. We will stay here 2 nghts right on the bay. We had clam chowder at the Log Cabin, then relaxed in our room.
Across the Border
We had an okay ride across the Bay of Fundy to New Brunswick. The first thing we did was go to the Reversing Falls. We wanted to see where the river met the bay. It wasn't the correct tide to see this but we could at least see the swirling of the fresh and salt water colliding. Then we headed south along #1. We turned twice to go to some small harbors. It was the same as we'd seen in N.S. so we went on. When we crossed the border back into the USA it was still raining. The rain followed us from N.S, on the ship, New Brunwick and now in Maine. We still have 12 more days in Maine and were so hoping for sunny days. Today through N.B. we saw the prettiest colors since we've been here. It was raining, no pictures. We just enjoyed viewing them from the car.
Our motel in Calasis, Me was on the river so we sat outside our room with our coats and wine and enjoyed the scenery.
No computer so we watched T.V.
Our motel in Calasis, Me was on the river so we sat outside our room with our coats and wine and enjoyed the scenery.
No computer so we watched T.V.
continued
We left for the terminal at 6:15, boughtt our $150 tickets and have our muffins. I get motion sick so I needed something n my stomach-food on the Acadia Princess was too expensive.
We had our fish for an early supper and listened to celtic music. Then we walked to the wharf. As we walked to the end we could see fishing/lobster boats very low in the water. We saw a ladder going down to boats. There were 27 steps. Only 5 of them were in the water now. 2 or 3 boats were tied together and go up and down with the tide. We shared a kahula before bed. I'm at a visitor so don't know how I long it have on computer
We had our fish for an early supper and listened to celtic music. Then we walked to the wharf. As we walked to the end we could see fishing/lobster boats very low in the water. We saw a ladder going down to boats. There were 27 steps. Only 5 of them were in the water now. 2 or 3 boats were tied together and go up and down with the tide. We shared a kahula before bed. I'm at a visitor so don't know how I long it have on computer
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Beautiful Sunny Day to Digby
After an included breakfast we left Windsor on a gorgeous day. We went up to Blomidon Park way up on a finger in the Bay of Fundy. We went through a beautiful valley. The farmlands were abundant with healthy crops such as corn, brocolli, apple, pumpkin, apple, plum, various kinds of berries ready to be picked and shipped to market. There were a lot of roadside stands with produce. We stopped to check them out and ended up buying some neat looking gordas. Where we'll put them on the way, no one knows. The tide was out so we saw large fishing boats sitting in the marina with not a drop of water under them. When we finally got to the park it was closed. It seems almost everything closes on Sept 30th up here. This includes restaurants, motels, and shops of all kind. Very few places stay open yr. round. We walked down to the beach, remember the tide was low, so we had a lot of ground to walk on. We took some pictures and then headed back to the car. We looked for trails but couldn't find any. We got our muffins and drinks and sat on a table in the sun.
We arrived in Digby, the scallop capital of N.S. and went directly to the ferry terminal. We wanted to pay our $150 dollars for our car and the 2 of us. They wouldn't let us so we'll have to get up early (5:45)tomorrow to go pay. We checked in our room on main (only) street. We were actually in a room over the restaurant on the wharf.
We had eaten in the restaurant 2 1/2 weeks ago where we had the delicious pan-friend haddock and wanted to get it again. We unpacked only the essentials for the night and took the rest of the stuff back to to car. Since there would be no restaurant open (nothing opens here before 10)we b;ought some muffins for bkft. (Have to go and get in the car-the boat is docking) more later
We arrived in Digby, the scallop capital of N.S. and went directly to the ferry terminal. We wanted to pay our $150 dollars for our car and the 2 of us. They wouldn't let us so we'll have to get up early (5:45)tomorrow to go pay. We checked in our room on main (only) street. We were actually in a room over the restaurant on the wharf.
We had eaten in the restaurant 2 1/2 weeks ago where we had the delicious pan-friend haddock and wanted to get it again. We unpacked only the essentials for the night and took the rest of the stuff back to to car. Since there would be no restaurant open (nothing opens here before 10)we b;ought some muffins for bkft. (Have to go and get in the car-the boat is docking) more later
Beautiful Sunny Day to Digby
After an included breakfast we left Windsor on a gorgeous day. We went up to Blomidon Park way up on a finger in the Bay of Fundy. We went through a beautiful valley. The farmlands were abundant with healthy crops such as corn, brocolli, apple, pumpkin, apple, plum, various kinds of berries ready to be picked and shipped to market. There were a lot of roadside stands with produce. We stopped to check them out and ended up buying some neat looking gordas. Where we'll put them on the way, no one knows. The tide was out so we saw large fishing boats sitting in the marina with not a drop of water under them. When we finally got to the park it was closed. It seems almost everything closes on Sept 30th up here. This includes restaurants, motels, and shops of all kind. Very few places stay open yr. round. We walked down to the beach, remember the tide was low, so we had a lot of ground to walk on. We took some pictures and then headed back to the car. We looked for trails but couldn't find any. We got our muffins and drinks and sat on a table in the sun.
We arrived in Digby, the scallop capital of N.S. and went directly to the ferry terminal. We wanted to pay our $150 dollars for our car and the 2 of us. They wouldn't let us so we'll have to get up early (5:45)tomorrow to go pay. We checked in our room on main (only) street. We were actually in a room over the restaurant on the wharf.
We had eaten in the restaurant 2 1/2 weeks ago where we had the delicious pan-friend haddock and wanted to get it again. We unpacked only the essentials for the night and took the rest of the stuff back to to car. Since there would be no restaurant open (nothing opens here before 10)we b;ought some muffins for bkft. (Have to go and get in the car-the boat is docking) more later
We arrived in Digby, the scallop capital of N.S. and went directly to the ferry terminal. We wanted to pay our $150 dollars for our car and the 2 of us. They wouldn't let us so we'll have to get up early (5:45)tomorrow to go pay. We checked in our room on main (only) street. We were actually in a room over the restaurant on the wharf.
We had eaten in the restaurant 2 1/2 weeks ago where we had the delicious pan-friend haddock and wanted to get it again. We unpacked only the essentials for the night and took the rest of the stuff back to to car. Since there would be no restaurant open (nothing opens here before 10)we b;ought some muffins for bkft. (Have to go and get in the car-the boat is docking) more later
Tidal Bore Rafting
We're on the ship taking us from from N.S. to New Brunswick.
We got up at 6:30 (8 degrees C outside)went across the street to the restaurant for our included breakfast. We left at 8:30 so we'd be early for our trip. Well--we took a "detour" (that's our word for being lost) but still got there on time. We put on our "old" clothes and then tennis shoes of theirs. Then we put on wader jumpsuits and a thermal jackets. 14 of us walked down stairs and slushed to the 2 zodiaks. When the tide is low most of the water is out and leaves mushy clay. To describe this: take clay and mix water with it. With 7 of us in each boat plus our guides we went slowly upstream between 2 high walls of different colored rocks(saw 3 bald eagles soaring over up) We were waiting for the Tidal Boarto come in (the crashing of the fresh water stream going upstream and the saltwater of bay of funday water coming downstream)As the water rose over the sandbars waves were created. We held on, lended in and road the waves. Most of the time our zodiak was under water with us in it. The waves were only 8 feet this time but have been up to 24 feet depending on the tide. We went back and forth again and again yelling and laughing like kids. In between the waves Joel would "gun" the boat bringing the 8' wave over us. All of us loved it. It was high tide now. We got back to the shore and had to hold hands to get up the first stairs because they were slushy. It was hard to get back up the rest of the stairs because we were full of this muddy water, there wasn't a part of us that wasn't soaksd. All of our clothes, face, etc were orange colored. We took showers/washed our hair and had hot chocolate and were then on our way. Everything was going good until we hit roadwork again. We would sit in line from 5-10 mins. We drove along the Cobequid Bay and the Minas Basin. It was 4:30 when we got to Windsor so we decided to stay there, another Super 8 on a hill overlooking the village. We went down the hill after taking our things upstairs/putting our soiled clothes in a washer to a grocery store. We bought chicken, salad and had our supper in the room.
We got up at 6:30 (8 degrees C outside)went across the street to the restaurant for our included breakfast. We left at 8:30 so we'd be early for our trip. Well--we took a "detour" (that's our word for being lost) but still got there on time. We put on our "old" clothes and then tennis shoes of theirs. Then we put on wader jumpsuits and a thermal jackets. 14 of us walked down stairs and slushed to the 2 zodiaks. When the tide is low most of the water is out and leaves mushy clay. To describe this: take clay and mix water with it. With 7 of us in each boat plus our guides we went slowly upstream between 2 high walls of different colored rocks(saw 3 bald eagles soaring over up) We were waiting for the Tidal Boarto come in (the crashing of the fresh water stream going upstream and the saltwater of bay of funday water coming downstream)As the water rose over the sandbars waves were created. We held on, lended in and road the waves. Most of the time our zodiak was under water with us in it. The waves were only 8 feet this time but have been up to 24 feet depending on the tide. We went back and forth again and again yelling and laughing like kids. In between the waves Joel would "gun" the boat bringing the 8' wave over us. All of us loved it. It was high tide now. We got back to the shore and had to hold hands to get up the first stairs because they were slushy. It was hard to get back up the rest of the stairs because we were full of this muddy water, there wasn't a part of us that wasn't soaksd. All of our clothes, face, etc were orange colored. We took showers/washed our hair and had hot chocolate and were then on our way. Everything was going good until we hit roadwork again. We would sit in line from 5-10 mins. We drove along the Cobequid Bay and the Minas Basin. It was 4:30 when we got to Windsor so we decided to stay there, another Super 8 on a hill overlooking the village. We went down the hill after taking our things upstairs/putting our soiled clothes in a washer to a grocery store. We bought chicken, salad and had our supper in the room.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Tidal Bore
We left our cottage on the bay and stopped at a gas station/store for our coffee/hot chocolate.
The owner had seen a coyote roaming her parking lot this morning. A black bear was sited close to where we slept last night and we had a window OPEN! We saw a fox yesterday-a road kill. We had an eye-opener about Canadians health care as we talked to the owner and several locals. First of all-we are paying, like all residents 13% sales tax (AND that is only everything) to help pay for their health care. In this rural village the one doctor comes on Monday and half a day on Friday. If they are sick most of the time they can't get in to see him because there are lines of others waiting . They could go to a clinic next but there are usually more people there. If they thought that they were having a heart attack and couldn't get into the doctor, they could call 911. 911 would decide if they really needed to go to the hospital. They pay 30% of their medications until a certain amt. is paid and then the govert. pays the rest. I'm only repeating what they were saying. They did not like the health care they had. After our visit, the owner said, "Your drinks are on the house".
Since we hadn't had our breakfast we stopped at the Double D Truck Stop. Our odds were great there 13/us!!. Our food was great like most truck stop food.
We drove to Truro and got us a room at the Pallisers. We stayed here 7 yrs. ago. Next to the motel you can see and hear the tidal bore. The tidal bore (water coming in after a low tide)
comes from the Bay of Fundy which is oval shaped. The water comes from the bay into the rivers. The rivers water is flowing out, tide coming in. When the waters collide the tidal bore sounds like a train and huge waves form. We wanted to ride these waves (we did this 7 yrs ago also). We drove to the Tidal Bore Rafting place to see when we needed to be there tomorrow.
We wear old clothes we brought and then their wet suits/shoes.
Tonight the bore is coming in by our motel at 11:30. Everyone will go out around 11:05 and wait for it. Tomorrow after a great breakfast (included) we will head down to take our ride. WE CAN'T WAIT!!!
The owner had seen a coyote roaming her parking lot this morning. A black bear was sited close to where we slept last night and we had a window OPEN! We saw a fox yesterday-a road kill. We had an eye-opener about Canadians health care as we talked to the owner and several locals. First of all-we are paying, like all residents 13% sales tax (AND that is only everything) to help pay for their health care. In this rural village the one doctor comes on Monday and half a day on Friday. If they are sick most of the time they can't get in to see him because there are lines of others waiting . They could go to a clinic next but there are usually more people there. If they thought that they were having a heart attack and couldn't get into the doctor, they could call 911. 911 would decide if they really needed to go to the hospital. They pay 30% of their medications until a certain amt. is paid and then the govert. pays the rest. I'm only repeating what they were saying. They did not like the health care they had. After our visit, the owner said, "Your drinks are on the house".
Since we hadn't had our breakfast we stopped at the Double D Truck Stop. Our odds were great there 13/us!!. Our food was great like most truck stop food.
We drove to Truro and got us a room at the Pallisers. We stayed here 7 yrs. ago. Next to the motel you can see and hear the tidal bore. The tidal bore (water coming in after a low tide)
comes from the Bay of Fundy which is oval shaped. The water comes from the bay into the rivers. The rivers water is flowing out, tide coming in. When the waters collide the tidal bore sounds like a train and huge waves form. We wanted to ride these waves (we did this 7 yrs ago also). We drove to the Tidal Bore Rafting place to see when we needed to be there tomorrow.
We wear old clothes we brought and then their wet suits/shoes.
Tonight the bore is coming in by our motel at 11:30. Everyone will go out around 11:05 and wait for it. Tomorrow after a great breakfast (included) we will head down to take our ride. WE CAN'T WAIT!!!
SUNSHINE ALL DAY
tHIS WAS THE FIRST DAY THAT WE WOKE UP TO SUNSHINE. a bit chilly but that didn't bother us. We had blueberry pancakes at the Inn with some local fellows. David convinced us to backtrack and go to Cape D'Or. Don found fossils close to where we were of the largest crocodile, estimated to have been 30' and weigh in at 10 tons. He had spoken many places including the Smithtonian. There were 10,000 "fossile lovers" who listened. We felt honored to be talking to hinm. David explained why the seaside villages were 15 milles apart. In the days of the horse and buggy, horses could only go 15 miles before they had to be fed and watered.
We arrived "above" Cape D'Or, of course down a gravel, curvy road. We walked down the steep, rocky road to the lighthouse. It was high on a cliff. The walk back up was no fun! We then went to the 5 Islands Lighthouse, not in service anymore. Because of the action of the Bay of Fundy the lighthouse has already been moved away from the cliffs 3 times. We gazed at the 5 island about 1 mile out in the bay. The tide was beginning to recede. Once a yr, 2oo runners go 1 mile out to the big island and then run around it. This is always on the lowest tide. There is only a 30 mins. time period that they can get around the island. From having no water to having 56 feet of water made the timing very important. If stragglers get caught in the water they always keep a boat there to get them.
A man from Calif bought one of the islands. He built a retreat on the top with 190 steeps stairs to get there. They take them by boat and use a hydraulic lift to get their belongings up to the top. We age at Mo's owned by the same man. This restaurant was highly recommended by the locals. It was delicious.
Most of our drive today was filled with gorgeous colored leaves. Nancy kept pulling off the road so we could get pictures.
We ventured to Economy Point. Down a road that was more potholes than road. As I said before the tide was going out. At the overlooks on our 2 1/2 miles walk through the wilderness we could see huge boulders that were now out of water.. The water was out more than a mile. It's really amazing to see the high tides then see the water disappear.
We got a cabin overlooking the Bay for the night. We walked down to the waterless bay. It was so dark that we didn't get to see it when the water was high because it was low when we got up. We ended our day with a glass of wine on our porch, a lovely mean at Mo's and another wine when we got home. Since we didin't have a t.v., for the first time we had to read ourselves to sleep. We're hoping for another sunny day.
We arrived "above" Cape D'Or, of course down a gravel, curvy road. We walked down the steep, rocky road to the lighthouse. It was high on a cliff. The walk back up was no fun! We then went to the 5 Islands Lighthouse, not in service anymore. Because of the action of the Bay of Fundy the lighthouse has already been moved away from the cliffs 3 times. We gazed at the 5 island about 1 mile out in the bay. The tide was beginning to recede. Once a yr, 2oo runners go 1 mile out to the big island and then run around it. This is always on the lowest tide. There is only a 30 mins. time period that they can get around the island. From having no water to having 56 feet of water made the timing very important. If stragglers get caught in the water they always keep a boat there to get them.
A man from Calif bought one of the islands. He built a retreat on the top with 190 steeps stairs to get there. They take them by boat and use a hydraulic lift to get their belongings up to the top. We age at Mo's owned by the same man. This restaurant was highly recommended by the locals. It was delicious.
Most of our drive today was filled with gorgeous colored leaves. Nancy kept pulling off the road so we could get pictures.
We ventured to Economy Point. Down a road that was more potholes than road. As I said before the tide was going out. At the overlooks on our 2 1/2 miles walk through the wilderness we could see huge boulders that were now out of water.. The water was out more than a mile. It's really amazing to see the high tides then see the water disappear.
We got a cabin overlooking the Bay for the night. We walked down to the waterless bay. It was so dark that we didn't get to see it when the water was high because it was low when we got up. We ended our day with a glass of wine on our porch, a lovely mean at Mo's and another wine when we got home. Since we didin't have a t.v., for the first time we had to read ourselves to sleep. We're hoping for another sunny day.
Chignecto Bay in the Bay of Fundy
We started down the Nova Scotia coast closest to New Brunswich. It was cloudy early but not raining. We drove to Joggins. This coast is known for finding fossiles of 300,000 yrs. ago. We wanted to walk on the floor of the bay and look for some but it was high tide and all water. We drove down a smaller road heading for Cape Chignecto/Advocate Hbr. The drive was full of colorful trees, overcast, but we hoped we still got some great pictures. Wen we got to the park, it looked like rain so we didn't want to pay to walk the other trails so we opted to walk the beach. This beach was so heavily laden with rocks and was very hard to walk on. These rocks were various colors and sizes. The high cliffs were also. As we began walking back to the park it started to sprinkle. Before we got back to the car it was pouring!!! We both got soaked. We had just washed our clothes last night and now everything was wet again. It was raining too hard to see the road so we had to just sit in the car. When we finally got started on our way, we had to stop again because Nancy couldn't see the road. We missed going to Cape 'Or, a peninsular out in the bay that had a lighthouse. Bay of Fundy rises and falls twice a day. From low tide to high tide can be up to 58 feet. When it's low tide you can walk on the floor of the bay out for a long way. We drove in the rain to Parrsboro, another seaside village. We couldn't see anything so we decided to stop for the night in the town's only motel, Sunshine Inn. Hopefully tomorrow will be sunny.
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