Start of Travels on the South Shore, Nova Scotia



On our drive from Halifax to Chester Basin, these are some of the sights we enjoyed on our coastal drive on the Bluenose Coast.

 
 
 

A common scene of fishing and sailboats



Checking out one of many beach areas

A perfect place to live

A painting on a fish shack at the Hubbards wharf area

Near Chester we found this interesting stonework (wall and the sheep) in the garden of a local artist.  The tree in the background is made of driftwood.

A closer look at the driftwood tree.



It's been 15 years since Swissair Flight 111 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off

Nova Scotia, killing all people on board.  On September 2, 1998, Nova Scotians

near the coast felt their homes tremble as the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 plane

bound for Geneva, Switzerland crashed into the water a few kilometers off the

shore of Peggy's Cove, which is just across the water from the South Shore.



We visited this Monument showing the names (229) of all those who died.

The Seaside Shanty Restaurant

Don't let looks deceive you.  They serve a wonderful chowder and delicious fish cakes. The Blueberry Grunt dessert was "wow"!  We will definitely dine here again.

 

 

More to come of the South Shore of Nova Scotia...

 




 

Nova Scotia...

My Nova Scotia Home (lyrics)
There's a place I'll always cherish, 'neath the blue Atlantic sky
Where the shores down in Cape Breton bid the golden sun to rise
And the fragrance of the apple blossoms sprays the dew-kissed lawns
Back in dear old Nova Scotia, a place where I was born.

The Scotian and the Ocean Limited, and the Maritime Express
Their mighty engines throbbing, make their way towards the west
And the sturdy fishin' schooners, sways so laz'ly to and fro'
Nova Scotia is my sanctuary, and I love her so.

For across the great Dominion, I have traveled far and wide
Where the shores out in Vancouver, kiss the blue Pacific tide
I have crossed the snow-capped Rockies,
saw the wheat fields' golden blaze
Headed back to Nova Scotia, where contented cattle graze.

Where the pretty robin red breast, seeks its' loved ones in the trees
And the French di'lect in old Quebec, keeps callin' out to me
It seems to say, be on your way, there's a welcome at the door
Where the kinfolks are a-waiting on that gay Atlantic shore.

Down through beautiful New Brunswick and across the P.E.I.
To the rock-bound coasts of Newfoundland, I'll love them till I die
But if God came here on Earth with us and asked if he could rest
I'd take him to my Nova Scotia home, the place that I love best
-----------------

 

Paul and I recently made a 10-day trip to Nova Scotia (Cape Breton Island and Northumberland Shore) and it was a wonderful adventure.  (Nova Scotia is one of the four Atlantic Provinces of eastern Canada.)

 

 

We started our trip with a weekend in Truro for the Dutch Mason Blues Festival and then headed out for Cape Breton Island.

 



 

We enjoyed many of the sights and sounds of the area: Five Island Park, Rita's Tearoom, Sydney, Fortress Louisburg, Lighthouse Point at Louisburg, Cabot Trail, Glenora Inn & Distillery, Inverness, Mabou, sunsets and coastal drives.

 



 

  

Driving the Cabot Trail

 

Inverness Beach

 

Amazing sunsets

 

My next few blog posts will share some of our memories while in Nova Scotia.




 

 

 

 

Easter Sunday on Surfside Beach

This is the start of the busy time of year at Surfside Beach, so the Police are patrolling more often.

 

 

 

There was a lot more activity on the beach today.
Children making sand castles, kites in the air, footballs being tossed
and the braver ones were in the water.

 

A nice surf today.  Lots of rolling waves...

 

 

This little guy was playing out on the beach in front of our condo.
He was busy picking up shells and filling his yellow bucket,
maybe an Easter present.

 

 

Activities on Surfside Beach Today

A little girl and her Dad feeding the seagulls

 

A bike ride at low tide

 

A family outing at the beach

 

 

Go fly a kite

 

A wedding to take place at 3:30 today

 

It must be lunchtime...

 

One beach umbrella gone out to sea...

 

 

It Doesn't Get Any Better...

We started the day with a beautiful sunrise, on Sunday...

 

 

 



And finished our day with "Happy Hour" on our Beach Steps
(LtoR: Paul, Jackie, Me, John)

 

Phase Two of "Happy Hour" with our Canadian friends Cal and Cathy
Another great day at the beach...

 

 

Early Morning at the Beach

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Great Afternoon of Enjoying Nature

 

After going out for breakfast and running a couple of errands today, Paul and I decided to take a walk on what we refer to as, our bird route.  This route is off the beach and we often spot the occasional bird along the way.


This is my favourite house along our walk.  I love the big trees.
(front view)

 

View of side garden

 

One of the waterways

 

Today we saw this turtle on the waterway

 

A nice fountain behind the houses

 

A Woodpecker

 

A cute Bumblebee lawn ornament

 

A Northern Mockingbird

 

I found this plant very pretty and have not seen it before.

 

Now, two turtles sunning on the log

 

Spring blooms

 

A red Camellia bloom

 

After we enjoyed the walk on our bird route, we decided to head for the beach to see if any treasures had washed up with the high tide. 

Paul heading out on the beach

 

The dune fence buried by the sand.  A great surf.

 

We enjoyed some time soaking up the sun on our beach steps,
while watching the waves roll in

 

We love watching the pelicans on the surf

Another great day of enjoying all that surrounds us.