We spent the first day driving the Cabot Trail. The Cabot Trail is a scenic highway that is approximately 185 miles in length and completes a loop around the northern tip of the island. It is named after an explorer John Cabot, who landed in Atlantic Canada in 1497, although most historians agree his landfall likely took place in Newfoundland and not Cape Breton Island. There are many areas to pull over for picture taking or to go for a hike. There are also lots of art galleries and craft shops along the trail. We passed through many small hamlets and fishing villages. You go up mountains for a while and then drive along the coast. It was really a great ride! We were told that the fall foliage was spectacular along the trail in late September. I am posting a sample of the many, many photos that we took.
As we started up into the mountains, you could see the trail you were on behind you.
Some of the coastline is very rocky while some have a sand beach.
In some areas the water is as warm as 78 degrees. I stuck my toe in......that's still cold!
These people were definitely locals!
Overlook, Rest Stop, and a Photo Op!
We were very lucky that the weather was so good. A few locals we talked to said a couple of weeks prior it was raining and cold. The scenery looks a lot like the Pacific Northwest, but the climate is very different. It's all beautiful!
We stopped at a little fishing village along the trail for lunch. It was "Chowder House"......but it was not cool enough for chowder for us.
The restaurant is the building behind the barn-like structure on the left.
These boats had just come in and the birds were having a feast on the scraps of whatever they were cleaning on the boat.
I just love these boats!
Each region in this area has a "lobster season". We found out that the season was over in this particular area. That explains why we kept seeing all these lobster traps out of the water.
I thought this was a real lighthouse that was located next door to the restaurant. Turns out it was an ice cream shop. That works too!
It looks like a couple of bikers had stopped here for lunch also.
You see these fishing villages all along the coast.
After lunch we stopped at the Cabot Trail Park where John Cabot was said to have landed back in 1497.
We kept seeing the signs for the Keltic Lodge, so we decided to ride up to it and have a look.
It is a beautiful hotel and spa located in Ingonish, NS along the Cabot Trail. When first built, the hotel was opened for two seasons, but because of wartime shortages and overseas fighting, the government closed the hotel in 1942. In 1946, after the end of the war, the hotel reopened. The lodge continues to play a major role in the community of Ingonish as a source of employment and as a major attraction.
Back on the trail......More of the lobstah buoys!
Deserted boats? or in need of repair? or maybe they take them out of the water like the buoys?
Did I tell you how much I love these boats?
These wild roses grow along the side of the roads everywhere. It's hard to get pictures because there is usually no where to safely pull off the road when you see them. We found this small bush along a road with little traffic.
Now to tell you my Moose story. As we drove along the highway we kept seeing signs to "watch out for Moose". We laughed because we have yet to see a moose. Well.......Alan said "Moose!"......and pulled over to the side of the road. I jumped out of the car with camera in hand and began to take pictures. I was so excited. I had zoomed in and was really getting good close-ups.....the moose and her offspring started to wander back into the woods, so I got back in the car. When I looked at the pictures that I had taken I was mortified!
Mamma Moose
Young Moose
Mamma on left and young moose or right.
I must have moved the camera before the shot was complete. I guess when you have a "point and shoot" camera zoomed up it takes longer to work? Don't know any of the technical terms....all I know is that I was so disappointed! It was the most perfect opportunity and I blew it! Oh well, I will always have it etched in my mind when the mother turned and looked at me.
After completing the Cabot Trail, we stopped in a small town not far from the campground to have dinner. We saw this tour bus ahead of us and we thought of home......
As we drove out of town, we saw this couple sitting on a bench looking out at the water.................. it looked so serene!
Another great adventure in Nova Scotia!
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