Atlantic Bubble Vacation (August 8

September 03, 2020

Atlantic Bubble Vacation (August 8 - 16 , 2020)

Our kids and partners had planned to come to visit this week BUT ...we all know what happened. COVID 19 meant that even if they got permission to visit, they would be required to self-isolate for 2 weeks upon arrival. Hard to do when planning a one week vacation.

Since that wasn't happening, and we'd always wanted to visit more of Nova Scotia we booked a week in Bridgetown, near Annapolis Royal, to explore the area.

Scott picked me up after work on Saturday, we hooked up the car and were ecstatic to be back on the road again. Apologies in advance. This was a jam packed week so the blog is lengthy.

Nearing the Confederation Bridge

Pretty comfortable - back in the saddle again

We had filled out a COVID form needed to enter New Brunswick and were waved through on the other side of the bridge. Not sure if that's because they had our plate on a list or they only do spot checks. I think the form helped since we drove by a more stringent check an hour later for people travelling from Nova Scotia into New Brunswick on a back road.

The bridge is always fun

Police checking people coming into New Brunswick from Nova Scotia -
No check for us going into Nova Scotia here

The first night, we drove just into Nova Scotia and stayed at Amherst Shores Provincial Park. There were plenty of wonderful sites here, private and spacious.

Extreme high fire risk but wood fires were still permitted (strange).

We elected for a fake fire since it was only for the night.

These backroads were narrow and bumpy - just like PEI.

Scott had a childhood memory of a great park in Truro so we decided to make it our lunch stop. Located Victoria Park on Google, plugged it in and went, totally ignoring the fact that the RV is larger than a car. We just drove into the long narrow parking lot without any exit. Luckily there were a few empty spots near the end and after unhooking the car, Scott was able to turn it around. We got more than a few "looks". Below is the AFTER shot. Car is parked to the right a ways (with kayaks on). All is well that ends well but we'll check Google Earth next time.

We could have easily spent the day there. Plenty of walking, lots of stairs if you choose, a waterfall. Great stop.

Feeling happy to be out exploring

Did I mention the stairs!!!

The highways in Nova Scotia are great as are the views - Minas Basin in the distance

Shout out to 2 friends who grew up in the area. We were thinking of you both.

Grace in New Ross and Robert in Berwick. Who knew Berwick is the apple capital of Nova Scotia.

We even passed the Allen's Apple Juice factory.

Another happy to be travelling pic LOL!!

We landed at our campsite late afternoon and checked in. A quick conversation with the owner (husband/wife/family team), we're from PEI..well Ontario.. they are too... where from.. she says Espanola ..oh my sister lives in McKerrow.. she laughs.. we're actually from Mckerrow but most people have never heard of it. (FYI Township of Baldwin which includes McKerrow only has 600ish people). At this point she looks at my last name, gives me a strange look and says "are you Karen's sister".. Small world. Turns out she used to cut Karens hair in the early 90's. Too Funny!!

This campground was recommended by friends, Evelyn and Ken, who we'd met camping in Georgia last year. They are looking for a house in Nova Scotia and have been staying there too. Lucky for us they had offered to make dinner for us the night we arrived.

Chef Ken

The royal treatment - BBQ pork tenderloin and veggies for dinner on arrival - thank you so much.

We toured around the Minas Basin area the first day and loved it.

From a historical perspective, the first European settlers were French and their descendants were considered Acadiens. They built dykes, reclaimed land in the basin which resulted in very fertile farming. Eventually the British deported the Acadiens and Grand Pre and a nearby cross were built in memory of the deportations.

Grand Pre - UNESCO World Heritage Site

Evangeline - Heroine of Longfellow's poem
Evangeline - A Tale of Acadie

Memorial church built in memory of the Acadiens

The grounds are beautiful and entry to them is free. The cost to visit the Church and Interpretative Centre was around $8 a person. We paid but didn't think it was worth it since all the interactive displays were closed due to Covid. We'd visit the grounds again though.

Traditional kitchen gardens

The well and willows are said to be from the time of the Acadiens (pre 1755)

We always try out the red chairs

The UNESCO World Heritage Site encompasses the whole area, including Evangeline Beach. Every year beginning in mid-July huge flocks of up to 350,000 Semipalmated Sandpipers fly from the Arctic directly to the Bay of Fundy (and Delaware Bay in New England. Each bird spends 10-14 days replenishing there stores and strength before flying non-stop up to 2,500 miles to South America.

Panoramic view of Evangeline Beach - great feeding ground for migrating birds

Horton's Landing, presumed site of Acadien deportation from the area.

Tide is way out - below, an eagle looking for a meal flies low.

At high tide, all the mud is under water.

Later in the day we were looking back at this view from the top of the ridge in the distance,
known as The Lookoff

We visited a lookout with great views of the reclaimed lands.

Stopped at the Foxhill Cheese Factory which we'd heard also had homemade ice cream. Good call!!

Kingsport is a small village right on the shore of the Minas Basin which boasts some of the highest tides in the world with water levels changing up to 52 feet twice every 24 hours.

When we arrived at the Kingsport Wharf, I took the picture above, looking at the wharf from the water. Not to long later 2 guys backed their truck down the ramp and left their boat on the sand.

Boat left on the sand and the man on the right is on the rocks to the right of the wharf when you look at the first picture I took of the wharf.

They got ready and waited.

Time to get in the boat.

Off they go fishing.

Another truck arrives - the water is at the base of the ramp now.

If the little bitty bugs weren't attacking us we would have waited until the water was all the way up the ramp to the floating dock we were sitting on.

When we arrived in Kingsport

When we left Kingsport

Several people we met this day asked if we'd been to The Lookoff yet so we made sure to go. Way up on the ridge there is a pull off and parking with fantastic views of the basin and farmlands.

Spectacular views

Next stop - Cape Split

It was extremely foggy over the water so we didn't see much. If you plan hiking here, be prepared for all weather and know its a long hike. We just read and took a picture of the sign this time LOL!

Beautiful thistle

Beaches in Nova Scotia are mostly rocky

Wild white roses on the beach

Blomidon Provincial Park is a day use and camping park.
It stretches from the bottom of the cliff to the top overlooking the water.

Beach is part of the day use section

Beautiful day use picnic area at entrance to the campground - it was quite a climb in the car.

What a day - We slept like babies.

At the end of June I received an email from a friend, Darlene, in Pickering, addressed to myself and two other people. We'd all gone to school together. I'm pretty sure I was included on the email in error which is great as it got me in touch with Helga, a friend I hadn't seen in about 40 years. We had been on 3 month high school exchange to Germany together and lived in the same town there too. Turns out she lives just south of Halifax now so we arranged to get together. She and her husband decided to book a Bed and Breakfast in nearby Annapolis Royal and we met at the Botanical Gardens. Great place during COVID as masks are mandatory inside in Nova Scotia.

with Helga and Ed

Apart from apparent food deprivation in 1978 we pretty much look the same LOL!!!

Helga and Ed

We saw plenty of gorgeous flowers, heard lots of bees and discovered homemade Ginger Ice Cream Sandwiches which were probably the best ice cream anything I've ever had or at least tied with the homemade Key Lime Pie ice cream we had in Fort Myers. Mostly we talked and talked and talked, lots of years to catch up on. Luckily Scott and Ed got along great too so no worries there.

I should have taken the picture before I took a bit but WOW!!! Look at the chunks of ginger.
The cookies were ginger cookies too.

The day went great so we decided to meet up at Sandy Cove on Digby Neck the next day. It wasn't perfect beach weather but we all enjoyed it anyway. This beach did in fact have some sand on it.

Old friends

Fishing boat fairly close to shore

Sandy Cove used to have a working wharf - has seen better days

Scott and I stopped in Digby for supper on our way home. Digby is known for their scallops. Scott enjoyed them but felt he'd had better.

Everywhere we went we saw boats "stranded" on land.

You really need to fish around the tides on the Bay of Fundy.

Margaretsville harbour

Buoy Decor

Another wharf - note the little boat to the left

Marina with very tight entrance

The tide goes to the top of the dark rocks - Can you see Scott?

Can you see him now??

We watched a few hummingbirds for a while - this is the best shot I could get.
They are soooo fast.

Port Royal was closed so we walked the grounds - it is located on the Annapolis River close to where it comes in from the Bay of Fundy.

Samuel de Champlain established the "Order of Good Cheer" in the winter of 1606 - 1607 to keep up the morale of the French settlers by keeping them active, well fed and entertained. The gentlemen of the colony took turns preparing an evening of entertainment and feasting. The Mi'kkmaq often attended these events as well, with the chiefs sitting at the main table with the gentlemen.

The bees were loving the flowers - there wings look so delicate.

Digby to Saint John Ferry from the otherside of the river - The town of Digby is to the left

Back in Annapolis Royal, we visited Fort Anne.

Built in 1708, this Powder Magazine is the oldest building protected by Parks Canada

Great view of anyone coming up the river

We enjoyed coming "home" to the campground each night and hanging out with Evelyn and Ken.
On Saturday, we went kayaking together which was lots of fun - no pictures believe it or not,
but it did happen. The campground is right on the river.