BACK IN NOVA SCOTIA - CABOT TRAIL

Aug 13, 2016
Our last morning in Newfoundland and we woke up to Frost.  Just a wee bit cold.  And of course the 6 hour boring Ferry ride.  Newfoundland was awesome so well worth it and we loved it.
We are staying in Nova Scotia for a few more days and today we did the Cabot Trail.  We were going to go yesterday but it rained all day and was forecast to rain again today but oh well we gotta go.  We actually lucked out as the weather was cloudy and rainy in some spots but just cloudy in other spots.
The Cabot Trail is "Breathtaking"  Honestly one of the most beautiful spots (there have been so many on this amazing trip)
We left North Sydney where we are staying at around 10 am and the whole of the Cabot Trail is approx. 5 hours without stopping.  We stopped at most of the lookout points (I took only apporx. 175 pics) and we also stopped at some of the gift shops along the way. 
We also stopped for lunch at a place called Harbour in a small town called Cheticamp.  Real good food and I won't tell you what we ate but it begins with the letter " L"    Anyway got back to the RV at 7:30 Long Day but so amazing
It is so hard to describe the beauty of this drive along cliffs so just check out the pics below for a peak at what an incredibly scenic drive this is.

 

And even though it was cloudy and at times raining we still found a Beach for Arlene

FOGO ISLAND - UNSPOILED BY TIME

Aug 4 2016
Today we took the 45 min ferry ride to Fogo Island although 45 min ride turned into a 6 1/2 hour day.  We arrived at the ferry at 12:30 and it had just left so we were waiting for the next one at 2:45 which left at 4 pm and one stop at another island got us to our campsite at 7pm. The positive is the cost is $20.35 Return for Truck & RV.   The campsite is a bit primitive but right on the ocean with an awesome view (pic below)and some incredible hiking trails next to the campsite.  I don't mind a bit primitive when I have a view like this. 

After dinner I decided to follow one of the hiking trails right beside the campsite.  I got about 1/2 way up and came back a bit to where I could see Brian in the campsite below and motioned for him to come up where I was at.  The hike was a fairly easy not very steep trail that I knew he could do and the end result was so worth it.  It took us up to the top of the rock heads and we could view the other side of the rock heads down into a beautiful cove.
Look a these pics  Beautiful

We toured around the island the next day and it is exactly what we hoped it would be and more.  Tiny fishing villages, old homes, rock cliffs.  All the homes are built to fit the land and that is straight ROCK  The tiny fishing villages are so quaint and are exactly what we had hoped to see in Newfoundland.

After our day (a bit of rain) touring the island I decided to try the other hiking trail by our campsite.  It is a series of very steep and narrow stairs up to the top of the Rock Head.  I wasn't sure if could do it or not but I got just over a third of the way up when my fear of heights won the round.  I physically could have made it (stopping occasionally to catch my breath) but the height did me in.  I got as high as the pic below then the stairs stopped and it was rock for a bit with a post and one chain for a rail and beyond that was cliff so yes chicken that I am  I was done. 

But I have to say even the part that I climbed the views were incredible.  I was able to take the pic below which is the town of Fogo behind and not visible from the campsite. 

We had planned to go to the Fogo Island Inn for dinner while there but they were fully booked and we were told they are booked several weeks in advance for both lunch and dinner and from what we heard it is almost impossible to book for dinner as priority is given to guests of the Inn and apparently it is fully book quite far in advance also.  Popular place
So because we had to cook our own dinner we went to the seafood plant and bought 1 lb of Scallops for $13  and 2 lbs of crab claws cooked with the cap off (easy) for $30 and had the most awesome seafood dinner and a nice bottle of wine.  Yum

Fogo Island is exactly what we wanted to see in Newfoundland.  The history, the small villages, and the incredibly resilient and friendly people.  This is definitely one of the highlights of our trip.

We have loved Newfoundland and are so very glad we came here. 

NEWFOUNDLAND

July 31, 2016
The ferry to Newfoundland is long, 6 hours, and not a lot to see except water.  They load their ferries differently than in B.C. (very slow process 1 to 1/2 hrs just to load) and therefore the ferry left 1/2 hr late.  Arrived in Port aux Basque NFLD at 7 pm  Drove about 1/2 hr to our campsite in a little town called Codroy and honestly it is probably the nicest campsite I have ever been in.  Very large sites, green grass and not a pothole to be found anywhere.  Alice who runs the RV Park is so friendly and accommodating.  We plan on spending a couple of nights there before getting the ferry back to Nova Scotia. 
Newfoundland is very different that what we are used to but also very beautiful.    It is very unique and is like being in a different world.  It really is a land like no other.  The Newfies that we have met have been so friendly and helpful and we absolutely love their accent.  The people here have a way of life that it so simple compared to what we live,  and good on them. 

 

Went to Gros Morne National Park which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Beautiful mountains but not rugged like we have in B.C.  They are for the most part flatter and rounder than what we are used to at home although there are some rugged mountains in the area as shown below. The trees here are so much smaller than we have in B.C. because of the harsh winds and weather.    It is a very diverse landscape and we so enjoyed the beautiful mountains and the small villages inside the park.  If mobility was not an issue we would have been able to do some hiking and seen a lot more of the park but Oh well we really enjoyed what we were able to see.  Newfoundland is very beautiful and we are loving our time here.

 

Aug 9, 2016    We decided not to do the drive to St John's as time is limited and we wanted to see small town Newfoundland not the cities and we have definitely done that.    We returned to Codroy Valley for a few nights before taking the ferry back to Nova Scotia and we are so glad we did. The first night here they had a local 3 piece band come into play for the guests and what fun that was.  They played NFLD folk music and they were quite good. 

We have also done some driving around the Codroy valley and it is an absolutely gorgeous area.  We also managed to find Arlene  another beach where the Codroy river empties into the gulf of St Lawrence.  And of Course we also bought more Scallops & Lobster.   

 

ON THE ROAD TO NEWFOUNDLAND

July 30, 2016
Just wanted to post a quick note to say we are on the Ferry to Newfoundland tomorrow and will be there about 2 weeks  Not sure about internet (we heard it can be sketchy in areas) so if you don't see something new here in the next while not to worry we will have lots of stories to tell soon.
Brian & Arlene

HISTORY LESSON FROM NOVA SCOTIA

July 26, 2016
We are in Annapolis Royal and it is one of the oldest European settlements in Canada  The area was first settled in 1605 by a small group of French explorers led by Samuel De Champlain
Also in Annapolis Royal still standing are the 1st to 4th oldest wooden structures in Canada.  Below are some pics of the town and area.

 

Also of note The Bay of Fundy has the greatest tides in the world.  They have been in extreme years as high as 53 1/2 Feet.  This picture shows a typical dock at low tide, and at high tide you could walk off the dock onto the boats.  We have seen boats sitting on the ocean floor many times in the Bay of Fundy

 

 

July 27, 2016
Today we toured Port Royal which is the original location of the settlement of 1605.  The buildings have been authentically reconstructed down to the minutest detail. The originals were burnt down by the British raiding party 8 years after they were constructed by the French.   It really was incredible to see and feel the history of Canada

Today we also went to Digby - home of the Famous Digby Scallops.   Cute town with a marina full of the fishing fleet. 

 

 

PLEASE NOTE::::: We also went out to dinner in Digby but I decided against putting a picture of our very Large Digby Scallop Dinner (6 large scallops) on the blog as I wouldn't want you to be drooling on your Computer.  It was awesome - cooked to perfection - YUM

 

PEGGY'S COVE, NOVA SCOTIA - AMAZING

July 25, 2016
Today we drove just over an hour to Peggy's Cove and it is the most beautiful place and truly we were in awe of the spectacular view, the quaint very small fishing village, the incredible lighthouse and the history of the area.  We spent hours there walking the rocks, looking at the view, walking the village and I took approx. 80 pictures.  Ok maybe I over did it with the Pictures  but you would take just as many if you were here.  It is literally amazing.  It is incredible how Nature can make you feel very small.

NOVA SCOTIA - BEAUTIFUL

July 23. 2016    We are in Nova Scotia.  Lunenberg to be exact and I am in love with this town.Lunenburg is a UNESCO Heritage Site.  It is an  absolutely beautiful seaside town.  The old refurbished homes painted in all different colors and the spectacular waterfront. There are also  a ton of B & B's in the area (pic Below is one of them)   The whole area is incredibly beautiful and I have been overly enthusiastic with the camera which I am sure I will regret when we get home and I start going through pictures

 

The Church in the picture above was build in 1753 then severely damaged by fire in 2001 and restored.  It is the Second oldest Protestant Church in Canada and the detail on it is incredible. 


 Today we drove to Mahone Bay which is about 10km away and just another quaint seaside town.  This area is definitely worth seeing and it is a major highlight of this trip. 

 Oh and did I mention the Mussels---Scallops (with bacon jam on top)  and Yes the LOBSTER    YUM YUM