Trip 2013

Gratuitous shot of Luna seen from Oromocto.

So I have finally finished transcribing the notes from my steno pad to the blog along with some photos mostly so that I can remember my trip to Cape Breton in 2013. Sadly this will not quench my thirst for visiting Cape Breton and another trip will be needed.

All the new entries have a Trip 2013 tag on them and are all in June 2013 for those interested :) 

Day 11 and 12 - driving back to Montreal

Bridge on St John's river

Day 11, I drove from Mira River Provincial Park to Oromocto. Things were not working well with my companion and after 2 days in completely silence I decided we needed to head back home. I messaged my gf in Oromocto who was leaving for her trip on the Friday to ask if I could crash at her place that night.  She tried responding NP!!! for no problem, but instead her autocorrect made it in to NO!!!! Thankfully I did not see that until 3 hours later when I stopped to gas up again. She had then added the NO PROBLEM in words to make sure I didn't think she said no.  I think if I had just read NO!!! I would have responded "Ok fine I won't crash at your place, but could I spend the night?"  

St John's river at Sunset, seen from Oromocto

I had left Mira River at 7am, and we got to Oromocto mid afternoon. I was burnt from all the driving in the pissing rain in Nova Scotia. At least it was nicer in New Brunswick.

Went for a long drive with my gf that night. It helped me relieve some of the stress and I also vented at her some. We both needed to vent. About the dicks in our lives.  Yeah it sounds sexist, but when you act like a dick what can you expect?

Moon shines over Oromocto at dusk

Day 10: Mira River Provincial Park

He was carrying either food or nest material in his mouth

Loon stretching her wings

Duck

Spotted Sandpiper

Clouds on Mira River

Posing with the tent, that is still holding up

Luna

Day 9: Mayflower Mall in Sydney and Mira River Provincial Park.

Train bridge near Grand Narrows

It rained all night and we packed up in the pissing rain. Drove around the Bras d'or lake going by Grand Narrows, to reach Sydney. Wanted to check out the biggest Mall, most likely one of the few malls in Cape Breton, the Mayflower Mall in Sydney.

IT's a big sprawling mall and like malls in other parts of the country, there were a few unrented shops. And while it's small compared to say Carrefour Laval, it is a good mall considering the size of Sydney :)  I spent 2 hours in the mall and didn't buy anything. I wasn't in a mood for shopping. I wasn't in the mood for much after driving 4 hours in the rain and being told I was impossible to be in a car with didn't improve my mood either.

View on Mira River from our campsite

We then drove to Mira River provincial park, where I was told "Welcome to camping in the pissing rain". The irony was that it was NOT pissing rain, but sunny at that point. I took advantage of this, and lay the tent fly on the ground for about an hour to completely dry it.

My only complaint about Mira River Provincial park was the lack of adequate showers for women. Despite there being 2 women's bathrooms with showers, one bathroom was completely closed for renovations, and the other only had 1 of it's 2 shower stalls working. However if you hung anything on the door it got soaked. The water just sprays the entire stall. There is no place to put your clothes nearby. I had seen the spray on the damn shower and left my clothes on the counter next to the sinks. I was able to do that since I was one of the few people camping. I would hate to see it filled to capacity like this week-end with 250 sites and only ONE SHOWER!!!!! Here's hoping the staff had all the plumbing fixed for Canada day
week-end!

Day 8: Baddeck and Whycocomagh provincial Park

Today we stayed put, and drove around Whycocomagh and went to check out the scenic village of Baddeck. We spent about 2 hours wandering around Baddeck but left a touch disappointed. For starters there isn't much opened on Sunday's in Cape Breton other then some tourist shops.  The tourist shop with the most unique merchandise had NOTHING my size.

We came back to park to register for a second day, and then went for a wifi lunch. It's only a few metres on the main road to get from Whycocomagh provincial park to Charlene's Bayside dinner and nursery.  But on that short stretch of road I saw another bald eagle. While I was driving of course. By the time I parked at the dinner, it was gone!!!

Twice in 2 days, what are the odds? The chowder at the dinner and the fries were awesome. Service was slow, and we ended up waiting more then 30 minutes for our food, but I'm guessing since it was mid afternoon they might not have expected so many patrons. The place was absolutely full, as soon as a table would clear it would fill.

So far I've seen 2 bald eagles and 2 hummingbirds but I can't prove either.

Day 7: We leave the cabot trail and to go Whycocomagh provincial park

Broadcove, where sea meets river.

This blog was first written in a steno pad I had with me in the tent. Well when I woke up this morning, I found it wet with tea. The plastic bag I had been keeping it in had been compromised and apparently I spilled tea.

Broadcove

Last night I had put my sony battery in a battery charger and left it to charge in the women's bathroom around 9pm. THere was also two mobiles left to charge as well as a Nikon battery in a charger.  I come back 2 hours later, all that is left charging is the Nikon. Mine is gone. My gut told me that someone had picked up the wrong battery charger. I went back around 5am, and still my charger was missing. By 9am it had re-appeared but I had to keep it there till 10am, for the battery to be fully charged. So I was correct that someone had made mistake and at least I had my charger and battery.

Bras d'or Lake seen from Whycocomagh provincial park

We went back to black brook and spent maybe 45minutes there in hopes of seeing an eagle but no such luck. So I started driving towards the Ingonish entry to pay my last night in the park . Just before we got to the chalet to pay, we saw a bald eagle swooping by very close to the car.

We then drove from Ingonish to Whycocomagh, making a pit stop for a lunch in a restaurant at the Lobster Galley Restaurant and Gift shop.  Their Aspy Bay mussels were delicious.

We got a campsite at Whycocomagh provincial park that did not have a view on beautiful Bras d'Or lake but rather that was surrounded by trees for shelter against the wind for our tent. THe bugs here were ferocious. THere was mosquitoes, black flies and noseeums.

Day 6: We drive along the Cabot Trail towards Ingonish

So after spending the evening ignoring a too-friendly neighbour at night at Cheticamp campground, we woke up at 9am.  The tent survived the night and it actually didn't rain. We packed up and drove first to Benji's lake where we saw a female moose eating along the side of the trail.

 We also stopped at most lookouts to check out the various views, we also walked to Macintosh falls. Despite the warnings we didn't see Moose, bears or coyotes. Of course it probably helped we had bear bells and made a lot of noise. We did near 1 dragonfly near the Macintosh falls.

Next to Macintosh falls

We had lunch at Pleasant Bay, and I spotted a hummingbird at a feeder in the restaurant window.

View of Pleasant Bay

We also stopped in Cape North to check out a few gift shops. We stopped at one lookout near black brook, and after talking a bunch of photos, I went to the bathroom. Right after  I left, my companion saw a bald eagle that swooped inches from his face. Pity I wasn't there.

We then continued to drive up until we got to Broadcove Campground. By the time we got there it was raining. We waited for the rain to slow down and put up our tent, then we put up a small tarp to cover the back door of the tent and most of the sleeping area of the tent. We used our large tarp folded over a rope on one end to cover over the picnic table as we only had 2 tarps. At least it gave us a dry area to be able to cook with. 

Macintosh falls

It was weird, when we got to the camping area, there was a weird older creepy guy driving a gray/blue Eldorado pick up truck with red plates that kept going around the parking lot over and over and over. Like he was stalking someone. Then after he finally left, the RCMP went around the campsite as well. This is found strange as I've never seen police in any provincial or federal park I've ever been to camp in. Made me wonder if someone else found him creepy and complained.

I've got 2 swelled up black fly bites, and tons of mosquito bites that haven't swelled.

 

Where river meets sea!

Day 5: We drive around Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Don't think I've ever been this annoyed and scared in a while. It rain and it was so windy that the mother of all tarps, the big tarp to cover our big tent, is destroyed. Also our tent has 3 broken frame posts. Rather all 3 poles have at least 1 broken piece that I taped together with some duck tape so that I could finish the trip with this tent.

Our tent was in the location of the white camper when it was destroyed

Because I'm highly paranoid I spent half the night worried the wind would lift our tent and ditch us in the middle of the gulf of St Lawrence. In the end we survived if not a bit traumatized with the experience.  Note to self , when camping somewhere really windy, use a low tent and lots and lots of pickets.

We went to the information center at the park at Cheticamp and the lady allowed us to change campsites, to one in the woods, far from the Ocean and the gale force winds for no extrsa fee. Pity though. The view at Corney brooke was spectacular, but with the force of the wind today our tent would just keep on breaking, it just didn't make sense to stay there. Now we are stuck inside a forest where there will be lots of bugs.

Neither one of us slept so we were pretty crabby. Typical maritime weather of storms. Everything that could go wrong did go did last night. So at least we had a bit of luck today. We were able to change campsites for no extra fee. Showers are free here and it was nice and hot. That was good since I was so fried and frazzle, from not sleeping and fearing hte tent would become airborn. At least it was warm in my sleeping bag!

Carnivorous flower Purple pitcher plant.

But I'm used to it raining whenever I camp. I always try to bring sufficient rain gear. Including my rain boots, raincoat, rainpants and jacket. Between all that I managed to say somewhat warm and dry.

I messaged my eldest daughter but did not get an answer. I do not get any reception in the Park except at the information centers where there is wifi.  She messaged me back later to say that while she could get leave she was still duty ready so could not leave Halifax.

We went to visit the bog and saw a Moose on the way back.

Day 4: We drive to cape Breton Highlands National Park!

The canso causeway bridge where you enter Cape Breton

We were on the road by 9am to drive to Cheticamp in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. We got to the border of Nova Scotia by 10am and stopped at the visitors information. We were in Port Hawksbury Cape Breton by 1:30pm.

At that point I decided to stop at Canadian Tire. I found myself a butt cushion. It appears I have lost some weight since Christmas, and the lack of padding makes driving for hours very uncomfortable. So now I have a gel seat and can handle 8 hours on my rear! We also picked up a 3pack of propane.

We then stopped at Fleur de Lis cafe and restaurant for a late lunch. He had the haddock burger, and chowder and I had the acadian chower, which was excellent.

We drove along the Acadian side towards Cheticamp going by the 19 until we got to the cabot trail. By the time we got to Cheticamp it was 6:30pm and we stopped for gas. I remembered last time I was in the park almost running out of gas, so I made sure I went into the park with a full tank.







Of course the office for the park entrance had closed at 5pm, so we went into the park up to Corney brooke Campsite, where I did self-registration for 2 nights. THe view was spectacular on the site we chose. We had a chance to put the tent up before the rain and the wind got really bad. We should have chosen a site that was better covered against the elements and I should have brought the smaller tent, but this is neither here or there. We put the big tent in a location where the gale force winds pretty much broke the tent posts.

Our tent before it got destroyed

Despite the heavy rain, I actually managed to capture sunset

Day 3: We leave Oromocto for Murray Beach Provincial Park

Love the effect of the sea/sky here.

 We left Oromocto around 2pm, and drove to Murray Beach Provincial park. It pissed the who way there practically but by the time we got there and set up our campsite, it was not raining. The mosquitoes were voracious. It didn't help that they had just cut the grass. But on the beach there were no mosquitoes so we hung out on the beach until it started to rain. We saw a pair of foxes, lots of birds, ravens, and sparrows flying by 2's by 3's and by 4's.

Fox likes hanging on in cemetery

Oh look a fox!

It was interesting at some point I thought I heard a bee so I stopped walking around with my camera and stood still. It was a hummingbird who stopped for about 10 seconds in front of me as if to say hello and then he zoomed off. I'm guessing it was a Ruby throated hummingbird because  the colour I noticed was red. Even though I was holding camera with telephoto lens, I was so stunned to see him looking at me, I didn't even react.

Day 2: Oromocto and the 4rth covered bridge of Sunbury County New Brunswick

We left around lunch time to visit the 4rth and last of the Sunbury County Covered bridges. We also wandered by Blissville on our way to Fred for some shopping. At least it was mostly sunny and 24. Probably one of the nicer days of the entire vacation weather wise.

Day 1: We drive to Oromocto

Today I drove from Montreal to Oromocto. I was on the road at 7:15AM and was in Oromocto by 6pm New Brunswick time. We made 2 stops at Haltes routieres, and one at a gas Station. We also stopped in the French Fry Capital of the world, the Town of Florenceville.

 Although you get offered a large choice of types of potatoes for your fries, they were not double cooked and just didn't taste that great. For $3.50 for a fry, it really was nothing special.  In fact I'd give it a 2 out of 5.

Northern Flicker in a lawn in Oromocto.