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.

Day 2 - We drive to Fundy National Park

We left Kingsbury at  10AM and headed down the 20. We stopped to eat at St Louis du Ha! Ha! at La Cantine. The fries were really good but sadly I was still not feeling very well so I didn't eat much.

Truck we saw on the road, had vintage paint job.

We made it to Edmunston by 2pm, Oromocto around 8PM and it was 9:30 by the time we arrived at the entrance of the campground. Despite not feeling very well it wasn't so bad. It's amazing what good company can do to make you feel better.

We stopped at the "Blue Canoe" to gas up and pose with the blue canoe in the Fredericton area

Day 1 of trip starts slow

Was feeling so miserable this morning that we did not pack the truck and leave. I rested till about 1pm

I would have slept if I could. At least my throat is better today.

We finally left montreal at 7pm and drove to Kingsbury  so we can leave from there tomorrow.  Then straight to fundy national park

Another giant douchebag

So the guy I sent an email to tell him I wasn't going to see him again, replied the next day with a long rant disputing my reasons.Really? I tell you why I'm not going to be seeing you anymore and you tell me this is not really how I feel?

I didn't bother responding I figured it was a ginormous waste of time.  So eight days later he messages me again affirming how really the more he thinks about it, the more what I'm telling him is not right and he knows how I'm thinking and feeling.

For some reason he's got it in this head that I prefer women and he's not liking the fact that essentially I broke up with him because he drinks.

Well tough SHIT. I didn't tell you not to drink. I told you I would never have sex with a man who has drank while he is under the influence. The smell of alcohol on a man is a HUGE turnoff.  And no matter what anyone says, smells are triggers and what I lived at the hands of drunks before I was 18 has profoundly traumatized me.

If he wants to be told "Its not me, she was just a lesbian" then he can go right ahead. He can think whatever he wants to get himself through the night.

I'm not even going to bother responding to his email. This rant itself is even more attention then this guy deserves.

Moose Sheppards Pie

So last night I made sheppards pie using some of the ground moose I have. 

New dress from today.

$5 Coupon bought at Value Village.

Love the way the dress turned out and the hibiscus print.

New dresses

Pattern picked up at Value Village for $1

Crinkled stretched knit dress

Green cotton fabric

Dress with green cotton fabric.

Shiny new lens

For the past year and a half I've been trolling kijiji for lenses for my Sony dSLR's. It had been a week since I'd last looked when I loaded up Kijiji and found this lens.  Looks in mint condition. Owner sold it because he hardly ever used it.  I doubt it would be a lens I would lug on a 3 hour walk. However with tripod outside my window this lens sounds like a winner.

Tamron SP AF70-200mm f-2.8 Di LD IF Macro

Report: Puberty Class

So the 11 year old who had puberty class yesterday told his mother that the class was disturbing.  When asked why it was disturbing, because he was told that his privates might grow.

I laughed. This is a good thing, but I laughed, I laughed so hard...

Birds from Reserve faunique Portneuf

Puberty Class

Or how to traumatize an 11 year old boy in grade 5.  My friends son has been talking about it since he got home yesterday. That today is puberty class.

For some reason he's more traumatized of going to puberty class then he is of hitting puberty.  We can't help but wonder if this has anything to do with "Anger management girl", who seems to like him.   And although he doth protest too much, we think he likes her too.   When asked if he'd throw something at her, he agreed. Seems legit!

Can't wait to hear all about puberty class when he comes home from school tonight!!!

Camping trip cut short

I was expecting to come home on the Monday. Instead I came back home on the Sunday. My daughter  was feeling home sick and didn't have enough of her stuff with her to be comfortable so after spending all of Saturday being rained on she decided it wasn't working for her and she wanted to go home. I only drove her back to Quebec City, where she's having a course, which so far is boring her stiff because she knows all the material. She would have benefited from this course more last year. But it's the army and she will be on this course know the material or not.  She would have preferred going back home to Halifax, but at least in Quebec City she can talk to her bf.

Sometimes the people you meet.

On Saturday night a couple arrived and settled across the way from us. They seemed friendly but also fairly noisy. They kept turning on the car over and over late into the evening. And they were up at 6am, and not caring if they woke up anyone else.  I managed to go back to sleep and doze in and out until 10am and then to leave my daughter sleep I took camera and wandered off to catch birds. I did a wide detour around the couple currently inflating a inflatable raft type of flotation device.

However the husband saw me and says "So going to take pictures of the fishies".  I'm standing there half awake in my PJs, no breakfast, very braindead so I didn't even understand him at first. I said "What" ?  he repeated his question.  I looked at him with what my daughter would call an "Are you stupid" look and said "no" and wandered off to take photos, I had heard the loon and was hoping it would be close enough from that waterfront spot to get a good photo.

I over heard his wife say "Wow, she didn't stick around long enough for you to ask her anymore questions. She must have been menstruating".!!

Really?

I don't go to wildlife reserves to meet people. I go there to be one with nature. I really have no interest in starting a conservation with my neighbours. I don't mind if they ask me where the bathrooms are or what have you. But just socializing. No. I'm awkward. I'm in the woods, I want to just be with nature.

Trip to Reserve Faunique PortNeuf

I left Montreal at noon, gassed up and made my way to Quebec city in heavy rain. Because of the weather I didn't get to Repentigny before 1pm. The rain finally slowed down by the time I got to Trois-Rivieres.

By the time I got to the dockyards in Quebec City it was muggy and quite hot. A bit unexpected after driving in the pissing rain for several hours.  We stopped at a Canadian Tire so she could pick up a pair of rainboots and I picked up campsoap and propane. No clue what happened to my campsoap

We got to the entrance of the reserve faunique Portneuf by around 6:30:M to check in. We got a camping site in the canoe camping spots at the top of Lac Lapeyrere.

It rained on and off while we were setting up the campsite. We tarped over the picnic table and then put the moose stew I'd made Monday night. While that was cooking we put up the tent then tarped over it.

It rained on and off most of the night and until about 11AM Saturday. Then there was less rain. We drove around and stopped at various lakes just to look at them. We had decided if we were going to canoe it was not going to be on Lac Lapeyrere because it's huge and with the wind, the waves were epic.  We wanted to find a smaller calmer lake to canoe on.

Some idiot across the lake from us kept blowing up fireworks between 10-11pm both nights we were there.

Despite the fact it was cloudy the entire day I still ended up with a sunburn on my face.

As for animals, I saw a deer on the side of the road driving up to the campsite. We saw several hares, a wild chicken, some red squirrel, turkey vultures, and several types of waterfowl including loons.

Friends with benefits, harder to find then hoped

I had met a guy on POF sometime in mid April, he was older then I usually go for and not exactly my type but he had a lot going for him that I thought might make it fun as a FWB. However it turned out he was far more looking for a committed relationship then advertised.

I can be socially inept and have a hard time reading between the lines, but sometimes I can read the clues. Like he was more interested in cuddling then sex.   I can get cuddling from any of my friends. Most would probably enjoy if I was more cuddly from time to time.  It's the sex I want dammit!

I tended to find him very critical. Usually when you meet someone knew you should be all looking at the new shiny instead of criticizing. First it was my sleeping habits, he had the nerve to say that perhaps I hadn't looked at all options to manage to sleep longer every night.  Then there was the rant about how my strange dietary habits didn't make it easy to socialize with others as meals are a social thing.

But his bringing up certain things as deal breakers for a long term relationship last Sunday night, got my shackles up. What long term relationship? I don't want to be his girlfriend.  Especially not of a guy who drinks and gambles. I've had my share of people who drink and frankly I don't want you near me if you smell of alcohol. He was never near me without having 5-6 glasses of wine.  Shudder.

So writing an email to say I won't see him again.    Been on several dating sites since last August and well... it's been mostly catch and release.  Most of the guys I write to, never write back and so few of the ones who write to me have anything remotely exciting to say. 

But honestly I don't want a long term relationship. I just want to have someone I can go camping with or canoeing with from time to time and talk to sometimes and also as a sex partner.  I have enough good friends in my life I don't need more.

Mother's day Week-end

So Saturday of mother's day week-end I spent most of the day shopping on St Hubert street going to the various fabric and notions stores. Then headed back home at dinner time where my eldest daughter was waiting for me. We caught a quick bite at an Amir's and took the metro to Cafe L'Artere to see Tranna Wintour The show was awesome.  Here's a few photos I captured myself.

I was very touched that my daughter in England messaged me to wish me a happy mothers' day. The daughter who was with me took me to an awesome show and gave me a very touching card. I cry each time I read it.  I was also very touched by the bouquet of flower I was given by my friend younger then my daughters. She wanted to thank me for being supportive of her in the two years she's known me. I was just so stunned, and I always react strangely when I'm stunned.