Two time-lapse from Cape Breton trip 2014

One of my travel companions makes really nice time-lapses. These are two from our road trip to Fundy National Park and Cape Breton.

The video below is from the location that destroyed my tent last year. As you can see it was not that windy this year otherwise the tri-pod would not have been stable enough for this sunset.

Day 15 - We drive all the way back to Montreal

It started to rain at 4am, and didn't let up. It was more of a drizzle when we packed the truck but we didn't care. We got so little rain the last 14 days that this rainy day didn't phase anyone.

If anything we were more comfortable driving in rain, we thought we had a better chance of making it back to Montreal without my rear left tire blowing up.

We left Murray Beach around 10am and drove towards Moncton. We stopped in Moncton to fill with gas and again in Edmunston. I have figured out that I can make it from Edmunston to Drummondville on one tank of gas and these are two of the cheapest places to gas up.

We were at my place by 9ish. We took the tunnel into Montreal and were lucky to get almost no traffic crossing Montreal. It's amazing how quick it can go from the Tunnel to my house when it's unclogged.

It was an awesome trip. My travel companions were awesome, I really enjoyed travelling with them.  Heck I didn't even get vaklempt in Sydney never mind frustrated or mad!!!

Day 14 - Murray Beach Provincial park, Cap Pele, Aboiteau Beach

Murray Beach Provincial Park - The beach

It threatened to rain but didn't rain. We walked the beach and then decided to drive down towards Cap Pele . On our way we stopped along a road and walked the beach there, where we found 3 golf balls.

Lupins on seafront, on a small road near Shemogue New Brunswick

We found Aboiteau beach behind Aboiteau wharf and the Restaurant and fish store.

Aboiteau Wharf, restaurant and fish store, Cap Pele, New Brunswick

We spent several hours walking the beach and though it wasn't as much polished beach glass as Inverness beach it was a close second.

Sunset at Murray Beach Provincial Park

Day 13 - Baddeck, Wagmatcook, Port Hawksbury

We packed up our stuff and left Mira River Provincial park and drove through Sydney to go back and take the 105, which drove us down past Baddeck.

Blooming tree in Baddeck, Nova Scotia

We wanted to souvenir shop and Baddeck has 5 gift shops. We also stopped in various other artsy shops.

We stopped at the tourist information, not so much to get information but because they all have washrooms and they are generally in far better shape then the gas station toilets or the outhouses in some of the provincial parks.  Most big enough towns I've been to in most of the Canadian provinces I've travelled in have tourist information. I've seen them in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, & Nova Scotia.  I'm sure I've seen one or two even in PEI.  Usually signalled by a large ? on a brown sign, with arrows to show where it's located.  Also good place to get free maps and find out what's around the town you just stopped in

We also stopped at the RedBarn gift shop at the cross roads of the Cabot trail, and we left the Cabot trail for good.

Wagmatcook giftshop in Nova Scotia

We also stopped in Wagmatcook in a gift shop to get Micmac souvenirs.  I found this dream catcher type piece of art really interesting.

Artwork in Wagmatcook gift ship.

 Our last stop before leaving Cape Breton was our beginning point, Port Hawksbury. We stopped at the Canadian tire to pick up a part for my Coleman propane stove. Which I found no problem. Would you believe I know the layout of the Port Hawksbury Canadian Tire?

MacPuffin Motel in Port Hawksbury, Cape Breton

Driving out of Nova Scotia and into new Brunswick we saw many different sunsets. Most of the photos I took are filled with bugs on the windshield. Despite having scrubbed the windshield an hour or two earlier when we last gassed up.

Border between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick at Dusk.

Day 10, 11, 12 - Mira River Provincial Park

We didn't spend that much time in the park because during the day and as long as it was warm, it was filled with mosquitoes and black flies.

Panoramic view of Mira River, from Mira River Provincial Park

The first night we went to shower in the new bathrooms, the one they were updating last year.  We did like the idea of the unisex bathroom. Basically a large room with a large shower at one end, a toilet, a baby changing table and a sink.  This way if you are travelling with 2-3 small children, you, your significant other and all the kids can use this one bathroom to cover all your needs. 

What we didn't like was the fact the shower was way too hot and with no way to adjust it... well it was way too hot. You don't want to stay under it and rinse.   I'm not against gadgets but this idea of the human will not adjust,  will mean people get water that's too cold or too warm...  not everyone likes their water at the same temperature.

Campsite 141 in Mira River Provincial Park

The 2nd night, that bathroom complex was closed for repairs. Hopefully they adjusted the water from scalding to acceptable.   The bathroom available was in an area that is  under renovations, to make it available to camper-trailers but they had added a path to make it findable. It was closer to our campsites, and the showers, while not new, were a good temperature and acceptable.

Blue Jay in Mira River Provincial Park

It was a quiet campsite, and I had wifi at the bathrooms. At our campsite the wifi was come and go.

Day 12 - St Peters & Isle Madame

Mira River seen from Mira River Provincial Park Campsite.

We drove from Mira River Provincial park following Bras d'Or lake road, down to St Peters. Passed next to Battery provincial park.  Ate a a chip wagon.

Chubby's Lunch in St Peters, Cape Breton

Wandered around Isle Madame. Walked on the shore several places where there was parking and easy access to the shore.

Lighthouse on an island part of Isle Madame

Saw a nest of Ospreys on a light post in front of this church which faces the pier.

Eglise St Joseph on Isle Madame

 We talked to a lobster fisherman that we met at the NSLC in  another part of Isle Madame. This was the place where he and his friend docked.

Lobster pound and pier in Isle Madame.

Day 11 - Louisbourg and area

Saw the old fortress from distance.

Louisbourg Fortress

Saw the current town it's one of the bigger ports we saw, but we didn't go to the port of Sydney.

Louisbourg Harbour

Went to the lighthouse and took photos, walked the harbour both commercial and pleasure.

Louisbourg Lighthouse

We had dinner at Lobster Kettle after spending half of the day looking for it. Was just a bit past the main pier where we had been.

Lobster from Lobster Kettle Restaurant in Louisbourg

Day 10 - Mira River Provincial Park

We expected Mira River Provincial Park to have a functional laundromat but sadly because they had just opened a day or 2 before their laundromat was not yet opened. Much like the bathrooms, showers and laundromat at Meat Cove.

Mira River seen from our campsite, Mira River Provincial Park

 So we went looking for a laundromat. We stopped at the XTR in Albert Bridge, to ask where the nearest laundromat was and she sent us to Louisbourg. We had no problems finding it.

The most amusing thing is that at some point we realized the woman washing clothes at the same time as us was a German tourist travelling with her husband in a Canadream winabego, and had been at the same place as us in Corney brooke and Meat Cove. It amused us to no end to realize that we met in a laudromat in Louisbourg.

We went looking around Louisbourg for a decent grocery store and were told to go back to Sydney. So we ended up at the Atlantic Superstore in Sydney River, we also stopped at the McD's that was there and the NSLC, just because it was there.

Newfoundland Screech.

Day 9 - Neils Harbour, Wreck Cove, Ingonish Beach

Neils Harbour, Nova Scotia

Our first stop after leaving Meat Cove was Neil's Harbour. It's a quaint town on the North east side of Cape Breton and is scenic.  The multiple coloured fishing boats always lighten up a photo taken under grey clouds or even rain.

We stopped at a few lookouts on the Cabot Trail, and also at Broadcove campsite, so I could show my friends the beach there, it's pretty. 

Ingonish Beach

'Then we stopped again at Ingonish Beach and walked the beach for beachglass. 

Wreck Cove, Nova Scotia

We stopped at Wreck cove to walk the beach there, which is not sand but pretty much all round rocks. By then we realized it was getting late in the day and used the GPS to head to Mira River. It decided it was faster to go by the Ferry in Englishtown, so we took this tiny ferry.

Lobster Roll with Gluten free bread at Cedar House Restaurant

As we're driving down the 105 towards Sydney we were all peckish and I notice a bakery restaurant, called the "Cedar House" in Boularderie.  We knew it was going to be good as the parking lot was full and it wasn't even 5pm. We had to wait a good 10 minutes to be seated and it would have been worse if we had gotten there at 5:30 for instance.  The lobster roll was delicious and I got it on gluten free bread!!!!

You know you're in suburbs of Sydney, NS when you see this

We drove through Sydney  passing by the iconic "Lick-A-Chick. We also passed by an exit for "Balls Creek" but sadly camera did not catch it . We drove past all of it and went to Mira River Provincial Park. It's a good thing I remember how to get there, as there were zero signs indicating it was going to be there.

Day 8 - Meat Cove

There was fog so the tent was wet in the morning, but not sure it rained. When I opened my tent I had company.

Horses like grazing with a view, at Meat Cove.

We spent most of the day on the beach walking back and forth. it was very peaceful

We camped on top of the hill at Meat Cove

Meatcove

Meatcove campsite is epic

Day 7 - Cape Breton Highlands National park and driving to Meatcove

We had rain and then drizzle from 9 till we left Corney Brooke. We stopped at the Bog but sadly it rained during our walk through the bog.  We could have gone to a few trails through the park like walking to Benji;s lake and several other trails but on the French Plateau it was pissing with rain. As we moved towards Pleasant bay there was a lot of fog so half of the photos at the random lookouts are full of fog.

Hummingbird in pleasant bay

We stopped at Pleasant bay to eat at this restaurant I went to last year that has wifi and some hummingbird feeders. It's also a motel, and has a small giftshop. Food is always good. But their cola's were expensive.

We stopped at the beach in Pleasant Bay and spent an hour or two on the beach. I enjoy walking on beaches I find it really zen.

Pleasant Bay Harbour

After leaving Pleasant Bay we drove all the way to Meat Cove, the north most point you can get to by car on Cape Breton.

Meat Cove beach at dusk

Day 6 - Inverness, Cheticamp, West Lake Ainslie

It's our 6th day and so far we have gotten nothing but sunshine!  This is impressive. We arrived at Corney Brooke and it was a bit windy. I was afraid perhaps it would break another tent but the wind wasn't as strong and it weakened at dusk.

I woke up and wandered on the beach for an hour or so. It's just so peaceful here. I loved this spot when I came last year despite the fact it had destroyed our tent!

Delicious Aspy Bay Mussels

 We went to drive through ChetiCamp and along the coast all the way to Inverness. Along the way we stopped at a restaurant by the sea, that offered some awesome seafood.

We stopped at the beach, walked down the board walk and walked the beach for about 2 hours looking for beach glass.

Margaree area view from Cabot Trail

We also drove along a road on the other side of lake Ainslee coming back from Inverness. We stopped at various spots to take photos along the coast.

Posing in front of a Gift Shop in Cheticamp.

Day 5 - We drive to Cape Breton

I'm still chugging Buckleys for my flu and cough and it's getting harder. The stuff is really gross, but it does work. I don't seem to be developing bronchitis.

We pose besides the Iconic welcome to Nova Scotia sign

We left Fundy National park today and drove towards Nova Scotia. We got there by 1pm and continued driving  I got so emotional when we crossed the bridge over the Canso causeway.

The Bridge over the Canso Causeway. 

We stopped in Port Hawksbury to eat at the Fleur de Lis, a local restaurant in the mall across from the Canadian tire. We also stopped in Canadian Tire to pick up more propane and fuel for my friends stove.

We also stopped at Sobeys and bought some food before taking the road towards Cheticamp. Luck would have it that I chose to take fastest route and that  was the road along the east side of Lake Ainslie. The lake is big and does not seem to have tons of homes on it.

We made it to Cheticamp, and continued driving to Corney Brooke. The campsite on the side of the Ocean that had destroyed my tent the year before.

View from Corney Brook campsite

Just before we  got to Corney brook, while driving on the Cabot trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, we saw a mama moose with her baby moose. Sadly they ran into the bush so fast 3 photographers were not fast enough to point and shoot!

Day 4 - Hopewell Rocks, Riverside Albert, Cape Enrage

We woke up this morning and I could swear the raven sounded like he was gargling Gershwin.  We got up fairly early as we wanted to be at Hopewell Rocks around low tide.

Hopewell Rocks

We drove to Cape Hopewell and found the entrance to Hopewell Rocks and got to see the "flowerpot' rocks at  low tide. It was awesome.

Hopewell Rocks

On our way back we stopped at SawMill creek bridge, an old covered bridge left for pedestrian, cyclists and horseback riders to cross

We stopped in Riverside Albert and visited an Art Gallery, the local convenience store and liquor commission as well as the Pharmacy. We also took various photos.

Pub in Riverside Albert

We had chosen to also take a road to Cape Enrage. From the photos it looked like a great view. What the literature failed to say is that to PARK there you had to pay $5 per person entrance fee. That was before deciding to walk up to a tiny lighthouse or do some zip lining or even going to the restaurant.  I would have tolerated $5 for the vehicle, but per person???  No wonder they call it Cape Enrage. You drive a perilous narrow dirt road to get there, and then find it's $5 per adult!!!! There was a small spot to park and we parked there took a few photos of lighthouse and the nearby coast and left annoyed

View from Cape Enrage

In the end we stayed an extra day at Fundy National park so we could see Hopewell rocks.

We had lunch in Alma in a restaurant called Octopus Garden like my friends food business. I had gluten free bread and an all veggie and goat cheese Sandwhich that was yummy.

Gluten free bread, veggie only sandwich

Day 3 - Fundy National Park

Eggs in pepper slices and Moose sausage

We got up at 7am and were in Alma by 8:30 am this morning so we could see it at low tide. We walked around the beach for about 2 hours. Then we went pack to our campsite at Chignecto Camping and ate brunch. We had Moose sausages and eggs.

Early afternoon we went to walk along the Caribou plain trail, just on the wooden part of the bog.  Then we set off for wolfs point and arrived at high tide.  We stayed on the beach till low tide, which was about sunset.

Covered bridge, Wolf's Point - Fundy National Park

I was feeling a bit better today, but my cough is nasty. I spent a lot of time just sitting around watching the sea. That made me feel good.

Phrase for the past 2 days is " Fuck you and your shoes"

Wolf's Point, tide receding.