Saturday, August 21, 2010
Greetings Folks,
Easy day today, 285 leisurely miles from Halifax around the Nova Scotia peninsula to Digby on the north coast. Before leaving Halifax, we visited the Citadel fortress at 8:30 AM. It was build in 1879 to defend the city and harbor. The gate was open, the ticket booth was closed, so we accepted their open invitation to visit. While walking around the walls inspecting the cannons, and enjoying the view of the city and harbor, a security guard yelled at us, saying that they don't open until 9:00 AM and we had to report to the ticket booth to pay the entrance fee. We said, "Yeah, get right on that," thinking who's the idiot who opened the gate thirty minutes before they opened, the security guard? Anyway, we must have missed the ticket booth when we left.
It was a beautiful day for riding, about seventy degrees and clear blue skies, which was a pleasant surprise considering that showers were forecast for the day. The map showed the highway following the coast line all the way so we expected to see beautiful coastal sights. What the map didn't show was that the highway is lined with tall trees all the way with only an occasional glimpse of the sea. There were however several beautiful small tree-lined lakes along the route.
About half way to Digby we stopped at the historical town of Shelburne, established in 1784, by English loyalists and enjoyed a nice seafood lunch on the patio adjacent to the small boat harbor. They claim that their harbor is the third best natural harbor in the word. Who can say it isn't?
We arrived in Digby about 5:00 PM and made a quick stop at the Ferry Terminal to confirm our reservation for the ferry to St John's, NS, in the morning. Then, we checked into the Mountain Gap hotel, shared a couple of Canadian beers and discussed where to eat supper. We discussed it so long it got too late to eat, so we all opted for blueberry pie and ice cream. Blue berries are very prevalent in the area, so we felt obligated to sample them. We need to be at the Ferry Terminal at 7:00 AM in the morning, so we need to be prompt in the morning. It's one boat we don't want to miss!
Before we leave Nova Scotia, I thought I'd share a little Nova Scotia history with you before we depart the province. In 1497 Explorer John Cabot claimed Cape Breton Island for England. In 1534 Jacques Cartier claimed the region for France. Are you starting to see the conflict that still seems to exist here? In 1755, France cedes the territory and Arcadian residents who refuse to swear loyalty to the British are deported. 1848 brings a responsible government to the Canadian territory of Nova Scotia. In 1901 Guglielmo Marconi sends the first west to east wireless radio message from Glace Bay to Cornwall, England. In 1912, Halifax became the final resting place for some 200 plus Titanic victims, most of them unidentified. Some 2,000 townspeople die when a WWI munitions ship collided with another ship in Halifax Harbor and exploded. And finally, in 1984 North America's first tidal power generating station opened at Annapolis Royal, Bay of Fundy. Now, don't you feel more informed?
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