A seventy-five-minute ferry ride took us from PEI to Nova Scotia. In an hour we were settled in Truro.
The next morning we attended a Farmer’s Market, one of our favourite activities. This one did not disappoint as we had nice chats with several vendors and made purchases from quite a few. There was also a challenge between nearby fire stations on a blocked off street in front of the market and it was interesting to watch the competition.
We drove along the south coast of Minas Basin and stopped at an info area on the Shubenacadie River, the longest river in Nova Scotia. This was a tidal bore area and we were told the river can rise ten feet in thirty minutes!
We went into Canada’s oldest general store, Frieze & Roy in Maitlands and then to Burntcoat Head Park, where the highest tides in the world have been recorded.
We drove the Annapolis Valley as far as Middleton before stopping for the night. After visiting a local church in the morning, we drove south to Bridgewater to spend some time with friends. They took us to a Gospel concert that afternoon and the next day we were treated to a tour that covered many areas we wouldn’t have found on our own.
A stop was made at the Sand Flats, where the tide comes only so far and then stops, before going to Kingsburgh where La Havre River flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Next was Hartling Bay, where I kicked off my shoes, rolled up my pant legs and stepped into the Atlantic Ocean.
A highlight for me was Lunenburg, an UNESCO Heritage Site. I loved the buildings painted in bright colours and the chance for an up-close look at The Bluenose. Unfortunately, the last sailing for the season had been the previous day, so we weren’t able to go aboard the schooner.
The picturesque area of Blue Rocks followed. In Mahone Bay we went into Amos Pewter and watched the process of creating pewter ornaments. We went back to Lunenburg for a delicious dinner of fresh haddock before ending this very full day.
The next day we visited Peggy’s Cove. We were amazed at the huge rock formations. There were several tour buses there so it was impossible to get any pictures without other people in them. From there to Halifax and some exploration around the harbour.
We stopped in Antigonish for the night, ready to go to Cape Breton Island the next morning.
Travels with Tandy 