After the cow thoughts in Montmagny, QC, we headed east along the south shore of the St. Lawrence River into the area called Bas-Saint-Laurent, which is where Chantal’s from. A quick visit with her brother in Lapocatiére, then to Riviere-du-Loup and south to Dégelis, home town of her mother, where we camped the night.
Next day we crossed into New Brunswick with only 1 night stay there before we entered Nova Scotia. My father and his whole family are from Sydney, Cape Breton and the last time I was here I was only 13. A long time ago (I won’t say the year). He and his siblings are all gone now so I had a special feeling for him on this trip. Actually, I was thinking of them all, especially Uncle Frank, Aunt Charlotte and of course, Uncle Mange. More on this later… much, much more.
We spent a few nights camping in the Northumberland shoreline, which is the region across from PEI. Then the Canso Causeway into Cape Breton, as shivers ran up and down my spine. Or was it just the old chevy V8 vibrations. And then we entered the Cabot Trail. Travelling the trail in a clockwise direction we spent the first night in a wide open campground, called Waves End, which sloped down towards the ocean until a cliff drop to the beach. So nice here we spent 2 nights.
Next day we headed across, through the forests and mountains of the Cape Breton Highlands, which is a National Park. Funny, we just recently moved to Collingwood to be closer to Ontario ski country, but the smallest of the Cape Breton hills would put Blue Mountain to shame. Coasting down these mountain road switch-backs in 2nd gear engine braking made me think about skiing a lot. Of course I rarely have the brakes on when I’m on skiis.
We finished up the Trail and made it to North Sydney, where the next episode will continue.
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[Click on any photo for the slideshow. Please leave comments at the bottom of the page]
August 4, 2022 at 7:43 pm
Looking forward to hearing more about your adventures nd seeing more pictures. We head out to Nova Scotia and Cape Breton later in September
August 4, 2022 at 8:48 pm
more to come. Thanks for the comment, John.
August 4, 2022 at 7:47 pm
Beautiful pictures! The sky looks larger where you are then where I am… What a great trip. Thanks for sharing with us what you see 🙂
August 4, 2022 at 8:49 pm
I always try to make the sky look bigger when doing landscapes. Really, it’s only doing them justice, n’est pas?
August 4, 2022 at 8:22 pm
Just finished reading about the Pugwash Conferences and the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the Conferences. Seems like a distant past where nuclear disarmament was seriously being considered. Whatever has happened!
Great photos. Keep having fun.
August 4, 2022 at 8:54 pm
We were just walking around Pugwash and this old guy came out to chat with us. He gave us the whole history of the conference and really thought that in the tiny town of Pugwash, the world may have been saved. I’m old enough to remember the nuclear scare and of course, the Cuban missile crisis. I remember teachers telling us to hide under the desk if we’re attacked. Imagine.
August 4, 2022 at 8:52 pm
…oh …so envious….i can smell the salt sea air….enjoy….enjoy….enjoy….
August 4, 2022 at 9:01 pm
I just finished replying to an email from Dani…
We’re camped just outside Charlottetown. I just posted a blog, then went into the ocean for a dip, then into the freshwater pool to rinse the salt off, and now another beer as I write this. Life’s good, eh?
August 4, 2022 at 10:16 pm
Hello Len and Chantal
We have been thinking of you and glad to see you are having a wonderfull trip! The pictures are fabulous as always. We are hoping to get out that way at some point, sooner than later. Looking forward to hearing more about your trip when you are back. Safe travels.
August 4, 2022 at 10:31 pm
Hey Dianne, sounds like some stories to be told over beer at a Collingwood or Wasaga patio.
August 5, 2022 at 11:28 am
Glad you are both enjoying your trip Len. Love your pictures. We will be in Cape Breton in 10 days or so, currently in NB after driving the stunning Gaspesie. What a spectacular country we live in.
August 5, 2022 at 9:00 pm
Hi Sandra, yes, I agree. Enjoy your trip. Maybe we’ll see you at New Years.
August 5, 2022 at 3:08 pm
Congratulations Len, Hyunjoo found these photos very moving.
I, on the other hand, was very interested in the connection with Captain Pugwash, the famous British pirate – look him up we have a lot to learn from him.
August 5, 2022 at 9:02 pm
Never heard of him, but I’ll check it out. I’d be interested to know more about Hyunjoo’s take on the photos.
August 8, 2022 at 1:30 pm
#5 something old something new …..
August 8, 2022 at 2:41 pm
Mostly old, Johanne