East Coast Canadian Adventure - Day One

The most common question I've been asked: "Why eastern Canada?" I guess I could answer, "Because it's there." Back in college someone mentioned an island called Prince Edward Island and I'd have to say that I had never heard of it before that time. I looked it up on a map and found it to be a small island in eastern Canada and thought, that would be kind of interesting to visit. And, so I'm on that adventure.

Yesterday was a travel day, on the plane. Long flight across the country. I arrived in Halifax last night and stay at a horrible hotel - Quality Inn Halifax Airport. It was right next to a race car track and a sewage plant. I ordered a chicken caesar salad from the restaurant (they didn't do room service), and it cost me about $20 Canadian for what I considered to be a small salad. The chicken was like chicken jerkey - gross. I ate for sustenance and then slept.

This morning I got in my little rental car and drove from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to North Sydney, Nova Scotia, on Cape Breton Island. Long day of driving, but very beautiful scenery. It's very green here and if you are not looking at some tributary or inlet, there's always a beautiful blue lake. I drove along Bras d'Or Lake for quite awhile today. Huge lake, very pretty. 

Nova Scotia means 'New Scotland' in Latin and you wouldn't believe all the signs! The name of the community or area of a community would be on the top of the sign and the same name, but in Gaelic, would be underneath it. Lots of words I couldn't pronounce, but one street name I really liked - Jimmy Gillis Street. So Scottish! Lots of Scottish names - MacIntyre Mountain Road, Glennora, MacMaster Street, etc. 

I'm staying in a lovely bed & breakfast called 'A Boat to Sea.' I'm sitting on the couch by my open bedroom window which looks out over the north arm of an Atlantic sea inlet. Across the arm is Sydney, where the cruise ships dock. But just about one mile north of where I'm at is the Newfoundland Ferry terminal. Cape Breton Island is very close to Newfoundland, but the town where the huge ferry docks is about a seven hour ferry ride. Oh well, next time.

Part of the reason it was such a long driving day, is I did a two-hour, round trip, in the opposite direction drive to see Canada's most photographed lighthouse. Peggy's Cove Lighthouse. One of the coolest things about this lighthouse is the rocky landscape. It seems to go one forever, with signs posted every so often to be very diligent about staying off the black rocks and to always be aware of the possibility of rogue waves.  It's hard to get a picture of the lighthouse without people in the picture, but one time I turned around and . . . 

I didn't get much of the rocky landscape in this one, but I couldn't believe there were no people standing around it. I really do like the rocky coastline. My pictures don't do it justice.

  

I loved the little community of Peggy's Cove. There were cute little artisan shops and a bakery and cute little houses, surrounded by lobster traps. I learned today that lobstering season is officially over, so that's probably why all the traps were stacked on land. Makes for a quaint little fishing town.

Peggy's Cove. The lighthouse is behind me.

After spending a few minutes here, I had to get back on the road. I was anxious to get to Cape Breton and it ended up taking longer than I thought. By the time I arrived, my empty-gas-tank light was flashing at my quite angrily. I was praying for about the last 30 miles that I would make it and not run out of gas!

There is a causeway - Canso Causeway - that allows you to drive from the mainland of Nova Scotia to Cape Breton Island. The only time I ran into more than one or two cars at a time while driving was on the causeway. We were at a standstill for a few minutes. Not sure what that was about.

This is the picture I took from the ground, heading over the causeway,

and below is a picture I found on the internet.

Mainland Nova Scotia is at top of picture; Cape Breton Island at bottom.

I made it to North Sydney on fumes and a prayer, and thank goodness didn't get lost trying to find the B&B. I met the proprietor, she showed me to my room, I went out for dinner and now I'm ready for bed. Who knew driving was so exhausting?!

A Boat to Sea Bed & Breakfast

The view from my bedroom window. Very calming. 

Can't wait to check out the gardens tomorrow!