Day 45, Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Paid for two nights here at Watkins Glen thinking we could get a good long walk in with the dogs. Found out last night that dogs are not allowed on the main, and most popular, trail.
Woke up this morning and looked at the GPS. It said we were 550 miles and 10 hours from home. I started packing up while Ellen was still sleeping. When she woke up I said "were going home now". And we did! Left at 9:00am and got home about 6:40pm.
This trip is "in the book".
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Monday, August 6, 2007
Day 43, Sunday, August 5, 2007
Crossed the border early this morning. The border patrol consficated our lemons, limes, and avocados but otherwise was quick and uneventful. The US is definately more thorough at the border than Canada.
Today we drove 430 miles and got as far as Greenfield State Park, New Hampshire. We would have made it further today but we had to make a return trip to Red's Eats in Wicassat, Maine to eat more lobster rolls. These are by far the best lobster rolls on the East Coast. The traffic was so heavy getting into town the last 4 miles took about 45 minutes, the line at Red's was 90 minutes, and the traffic out of town was about 60 minutes. We stopped at the first parking lot out of town to eat our "catch" and celebrated the last lobster feast with a glass of wine.
Crossed the border early this morning. The border patrol consficated our lemons, limes, and avocados but otherwise was quick and uneventful. The US is definately more thorough at the border than Canada.
Today we drove 430 miles and got as far as Greenfield State Park, New Hampshire. We would have made it further today but we had to make a return trip to Red's Eats in Wicassat, Maine to eat more lobster rolls. These are by far the best lobster rolls on the East Coast. The traffic was so heavy getting into town the last 4 miles took about 45 minutes, the line at Red's was 90 minutes, and the traffic out of town was about 60 minutes. We stopped at the first parking lot out of town to eat our "catch" and celebrated the last lobster feast with a glass of wine.
Day 42, Saturday, August 4, 2007
This morning we decided to head home. A medical emergency in Ellen's family led to her feeling she should be home and not traveling so far away.
At 1:30 pm this afternoon we pulled out of the park and headed home. Drove all the way to the border and stayed at an RV park just inside of New Brunswick, about 330 miles.
This morning we decided to head home. A medical emergency in Ellen's family led to her feeling she should be home and not traveling so far away.
At 1:30 pm this afternoon we pulled out of the park and headed home. Drove all the way to the border and stayed at an RV park just inside of New Brunswick, about 330 miles.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Day 41, Friday, August 3, 2007
Really cools down here at night close to the Atlantic Ocean. It's great sleeping weather. So it was cool this morning but warmed up quickly. We tried to find a dog kennel to keep the girls for the day while we went into Halifax but were unsuccessful. We were fortunate enough, however, to have very nice neighbors here at the campground, Gail and Frank Norris, who volunteered to "dog sit" while we went to town. They are from Nova Scotia and wanted to give us some of their NS hospitality. We were so thankful to have such wonderful people looking after our girls. We were really able to enjoy our day without worry. The girls really had a good day with them. They stayed in the shade at their RV all day, between walks, and were reluctant to come home with us. We think the were really spoiled with attention.
Our day in Halifax was nice but a little overwhelming with choices. Lots to see and do but "where to begin"? We walked the harbor on a boardwalk full of restaurants, shops, boat cruises, fast food, musicians playing for "tips", and more. Today was very hot - about 92. The heat was almost too much to handle. We, of course, stopped for a very nice lunch on the harbor, outside but under an umbrella. Too hot to do much more so we shopped a little inside then opted to jump on a sailboat tour of Halifax Harbour to cool off. The day went quick and we will return tomorrow to see a little more. There is still a Marine Museum, The Citadel, a brewery tour, and more restaurants. We returned to camp via Peggy's Cove hoping to get a fog free view, but got there too late. Already "socked in" again. The good thing was it was 30 degrees cooler there than in downtown Halifax just 30 minutes away. Back at the campground we cooked fish and pizza. Ellen has a fire going outside and I'm updating the blog. Have a good night!
Halifax from the harbor
Our tour boat
EJH and Halifax skyline
Really cools down here at night close to the Atlantic Ocean. It's great sleeping weather. So it was cool this morning but warmed up quickly. We tried to find a dog kennel to keep the girls for the day while we went into Halifax but were unsuccessful. We were fortunate enough, however, to have very nice neighbors here at the campground, Gail and Frank Norris, who volunteered to "dog sit" while we went to town. They are from Nova Scotia and wanted to give us some of their NS hospitality. We were so thankful to have such wonderful people looking after our girls. We were really able to enjoy our day without worry. The girls really had a good day with them. They stayed in the shade at their RV all day, between walks, and were reluctant to come home with us. We think the were really spoiled with attention.
Our day in Halifax was nice but a little overwhelming with choices. Lots to see and do but "where to begin"? We walked the harbor on a boardwalk full of restaurants, shops, boat cruises, fast food, musicians playing for "tips", and more. Today was very hot - about 92. The heat was almost too much to handle. We, of course, stopped for a very nice lunch on the harbor, outside but under an umbrella. Too hot to do much more so we shopped a little inside then opted to jump on a sailboat tour of Halifax Harbour to cool off. The day went quick and we will return tomorrow to see a little more. There is still a Marine Museum, The Citadel, a brewery tour, and more restaurants. We returned to camp via Peggy's Cove hoping to get a fog free view, but got there too late. Already "socked in" again. The good thing was it was 30 degrees cooler there than in downtown Halifax just 30 minutes away. Back at the campground we cooked fish and pizza. Ellen has a fire going outside and I'm updating the blog. Have a good night!
Halifax from the harbor
Our tour boat
Patti, this is one more for you!
Just us (and a fellow passenger)
Jpl looking across the harbor at Darmouth
EJH and Halifax skyline
Our friends Gail and Frank Issy took to Aunt Gail and Gracie to Uncle Frank
Frank with his hands full
Patty, this is a "Hali-Butt" just for you!
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Day 40, Thursday, August 2, 2007
$764.00 lighter in the pocket I got out of the Honda dealer at 3:15 and we were back on the road by 3:30 yesterday afternoon. We stopped for the night in Antigonish which was about one half the drive to Halifax. Nice town but nothing to stay for or do there. Halifax is a big city, about 400,000, and campgrounds don't usually exist in big cities. So we are in a campground about 30 minutes north of the city. It's hard to choose the perfect place to camp while traveling and is always a "why didn't we do better". We choose this campground because it got a good Trailer Life rating and was close to Halifax. But it's not on the water. We set up our site then drove to "Peggy's Cove" because it is a "must see" while in this area. It was beautiful! The most photographed light house in maybe the world. Perfect views just before we got there, but within just seconds, the fog rolled in and we could see nothing.
Before we got there we found a campground right on the ocean that had room for us, and no further from Halifax than where we are currently booked for three nights. Kicking ourselves for not looking further into other camping options, but this campground got low scores from Trailer Life campground guide and we did not even consider it. Bad move! Lot's to do in Halifax and not sure what we will do tomorrow and Saturday. We'll let you know what happens. Tonight is the first time I got a full DirecTv signal in over three weeks. I'm a happy camper!
Peggy's Cove Welcome - population 40
View of Peggy's Cove just minutes before fog rolled in. Light house is on the far right and the town itself is following it out to the point
Slightly clearer view of Peggy's Cove with just a hint of fog comming
Peggy's Cove Light House, but in the fog. Unbelievable ocean waves and view from up close but can't get a picture due to the weather
$764.00 lighter in the pocket I got out of the Honda dealer at 3:15 and we were back on the road by 3:30 yesterday afternoon. We stopped for the night in Antigonish which was about one half the drive to Halifax. Nice town but nothing to stay for or do there. Halifax is a big city, about 400,000, and campgrounds don't usually exist in big cities. So we are in a campground about 30 minutes north of the city. It's hard to choose the perfect place to camp while traveling and is always a "why didn't we do better". We choose this campground because it got a good Trailer Life rating and was close to Halifax. But it's not on the water. We set up our site then drove to "Peggy's Cove" because it is a "must see" while in this area. It was beautiful! The most photographed light house in maybe the world. Perfect views just before we got there, but within just seconds, the fog rolled in and we could see nothing.
Before we got there we found a campground right on the ocean that had room for us, and no further from Halifax than where we are currently booked for three nights. Kicking ourselves for not looking further into other camping options, but this campground got low scores from Trailer Life campground guide and we did not even consider it. Bad move! Lot's to do in Halifax and not sure what we will do tomorrow and Saturday. We'll let you know what happens. Tonight is the first time I got a full DirecTv signal in over three weeks. I'm a happy camper!
Peggy's Cove Welcome - population 40
View of Peggy's Cove just minutes before fog rolled in. Light house is on the far right and the town itself is following it out to the point
Scenic view outside of Peggy's Cove
Slightly clearer view of Peggy's Cove with just a hint of fog comming
Typical scene around Peggy's Cove
Bras d' Or Lakes View on the way to Halifax
Peggy's Cove Light House, but in the fog. Unbelievable ocean waves and view from up close but can't get a picture due to the weather
JPL on the point
Another ocean view with waves crashing on rocks just before Peggy's Cove
Bras d' Or Lake
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Day 39, Wednesday, August 1, 2007
It is a beautiful blue-sky morning and we can finally see the entire harbor and the Fortress across the water. Didn't want to leave, but we left Louisbourg late this morning and went to Sydney for CR-V brake repairs at the local Honda dealer.
I'm currently sitting in the waiting room while the work is being done because they have a high-speed internet connection available for customer use. Blueboy, Ellen, and the girls are in a parking lot about a 1/2 mile away because there was no space for the motor home on the dealers lot - it's right down town Sydney.
All four brake pads are "fried" and the rear brake discs are too bad to be repaired so they have to replaced along with all the pads. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
Seems the Brake Buddy supplemental braking system for the Honda was not positioned properly ( or got bumped out of position on a stretch of bad road) one day last week and caused pressure to be applied on the brake pedal for the entire day's drive!
I guess we will have to cut our trip by about two weeks to pay for the repairs.
So, it's 2:00 now and hopefully only about one more hour to go. We will drive towards Halifax when finished here. Won't get there tonight. But not knowing when the repairs will be done I have no clue where we will end up.
That's it for today. Tomorrow we will be camping in or close to Halifax for a day or two so Ellen can check out the bars.
It is a beautiful blue-sky morning and we can finally see the entire harbor and the Fortress across the water. Didn't want to leave, but we left Louisbourg late this morning and went to Sydney for CR-V brake repairs at the local Honda dealer.
I'm currently sitting in the waiting room while the work is being done because they have a high-speed internet connection available for customer use. Blueboy, Ellen, and the girls are in a parking lot about a 1/2 mile away because there was no space for the motor home on the dealers lot - it's right down town Sydney.
All four brake pads are "fried" and the rear brake discs are too bad to be repaired so they have to replaced along with all the pads. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
Seems the Brake Buddy supplemental braking system for the Honda was not positioned properly ( or got bumped out of position on a stretch of bad road) one day last week and caused pressure to be applied on the brake pedal for the entire day's drive!
I guess we will have to cut our trip by about two weeks to pay for the repairs.
So, it's 2:00 now and hopefully only about one more hour to go. We will drive towards Halifax when finished here. Won't get there tonight. But not knowing when the repairs will be done I have no clue where we will end up.
That's it for today. Tomorrow we will be camping in or close to Halifax for a day or two so Ellen can check out the bars.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Day 38, Tuesday, July 31, 2007
To the fort this morning.
You too can visit by clicking on http://www.louisbourg.com/history.html
From the brochure - "The Fortress of Louisbourg was once a busy fortified seaport. From it's founding by the French in 1713 to its abandonment by the British in 1768, Louisbourg was a place of profound significance in the Franco-British struggle for empire. Each summer the Fortress springs to life as dozens of costumed animators become the town's residents of the summer of 1744. Men, women, and children enact the range of society from the leisurely activities of the rich to the hard physical labor of the poor. You'll see engineers, musicians, soldiers, merchants, street vendors, bakers, servents, and fishermen. Watch demonstratiosn of dance, music, cooking, gardening, musketry, and more."
Only 25% of the fortress has been restored so it was much bigger "in it's day". About 3200 people lived here at it's peak.
After the Fortress tour we drove to the opposit side of the harbor for an upclose look at the lighthouse ruins dating back almost 300 years which was the first one in North America. Only the foundation of it and its replacement remain today. A new (80 year old) lighthouse stands nearby today.
Several new videos available today and all pictures uploaded. Very good high speed internet at this park.
Ellen trying to convince the guard to let us in.
Main gate
The engineer's kitchen. The engineer was the third highest ranking position in the fort and was quite well off. A cook, servents, and slaves.
Main "drag"
Current lighthouse on site of original
To the fort this morning.
You too can visit by clicking on http://www.louisbourg.com/history.html
From the brochure - "The Fortress of Louisbourg was once a busy fortified seaport. From it's founding by the French in 1713 to its abandonment by the British in 1768, Louisbourg was a place of profound significance in the Franco-British struggle for empire. Each summer the Fortress springs to life as dozens of costumed animators become the town's residents of the summer of 1744. Men, women, and children enact the range of society from the leisurely activities of the rich to the hard physical labor of the poor. You'll see engineers, musicians, soldiers, merchants, street vendors, bakers, servents, and fishermen. Watch demonstratiosn of dance, music, cooking, gardening, musketry, and more."
Only 25% of the fortress has been restored so it was much bigger "in it's day". About 3200 people lived here at it's peak.
After the Fortress tour we drove to the opposit side of the harbor for an upclose look at the lighthouse ruins dating back almost 300 years which was the first one in North America. Only the foundation of it and its replacement remain today. A new (80 year old) lighthouse stands nearby today.
Several new videos available today and all pictures uploaded. Very good high speed internet at this park.
Ellen trying to convince the guard to let us in.
Main gate
Out of place picture from Louisbourg campground, but this is an example of "rig envy". All four are lined up against the rear sidewalk so the perspective sizes are correct. Little, bigger, big (Blueboy), and BEAST.
Ellen pointing out an incorrect table setting to the Fort Engineer's cook. Notice the look on her face!
The engineer's kitchen. The engineer was the third highest ranking position in the fort and was quite well off. A cook, servents, and slaves.
Side street view
Main "drag"
A front gate guard trying to bribe visitors for rum or money in exchange for entrance.
The villager with the sign hanging on his neck is being paraded in public as punishment for stealing a bottle of rum. Ellen is pointing at him and calling him out saying she knew he was the thief.
A little "cutie".
We ate lunch here at communal tables. We got just what people in the day got - a spoon for everything, small portions of mostly bread and vegetables, and flat beer.
The King's Bastion where the governor lived
The Fortress from across the harbor. Again, this represents only 25% of what it was in the 1700's.
Current lighthouse on site of original
"The British Are Coming". When the British invaded and captured the Fortress they came in from the direction Ellen is looking
Kids dancing and having fun
The thief chained to the public humiliation post
Day 37, Monday, July 30, 2007
Short drive today in rain and fog to Louisbourg on the Eastern coast of Nova Scotia. We are staying at a community run RV park right in the center of town on the harbor. It's not a big town but it is a big harbor of great historical significance. Too much for me to put in the blog but if anyone is interested in the history just Google it.
We came here because of the national historical site "Fortress of Louisbourg". More on the Fortress and pictures in tomorrow's page after we do the tour.
Tonight we walked next door to the Louisbourg Playhouse for a three hour "Ceilidh" (pronounced kay-lee), a Celtic word for party or gathering. It was great! What talent these young performers have. I took some video of it and will try to put it on YouTube. Look for it on the Blog home page in a day or two.
Short drive today in rain and fog to Louisbourg on the Eastern coast of Nova Scotia. We are staying at a community run RV park right in the center of town on the harbor. It's not a big town but it is a big harbor of great historical significance. Too much for me to put in the blog but if anyone is interested in the history just Google it.
We came here because of the national historical site "Fortress of Louisbourg". More on the Fortress and pictures in tomorrow's page after we do the tour.
Tonight we walked next door to the Louisbourg Playhouse for a three hour "Ceilidh" (pronounced kay-lee), a Celtic word for party or gathering. It was great! What talent these young performers have. I took some video of it and will try to put it on YouTube. Look for it on the Blog home page in a day or two.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Day 36, Sunday, July 29, 2007
Rain overnight and this morning but some sun this afternoon with occasional dark clouds spitting rain. Still very warm, about 80, but a great relief from the 90’s of yesterday.
We drove to Sydney this afternoon for lunch, to find a Honda dealer, to see if there was an interesting harbor, and to grocery shop. Found all but the interesting harbor. Sydney is a decent sized city but not much happening.
The restaurant we ate lunch at has a high-speed internet connection so I was able to upload some pictures to several older posts that were without them. The Meat Cove pictures were not yet on the computer so those will be posted next time.
Our trip to Meat Cove yesterday was the furthest North and East we could travel (short of getting on a ferry to Newfoundland for a 20 hour $1,100.00 round trip fare). We are not going to do that so everything from now on is kind of heading back West towards home. It will not be a direct route home, however. We still have to complete the loop around the rest of Nova Scotia, then all of Prince Edward Island, and finally the Eastern Coast of New Brunswick up into Quebec, and then home by way of Quebec and Ontario, entering the USA at Sault Ste. Marie. If the timing is right we will meet Brother T and Sister D at Mears SP as we travel through Michigan towards home.
Rain overnight and this morning but some sun this afternoon with occasional dark clouds spitting rain. Still very warm, about 80, but a great relief from the 90’s of yesterday.
We drove to Sydney this afternoon for lunch, to find a Honda dealer, to see if there was an interesting harbor, and to grocery shop. Found all but the interesting harbor. Sydney is a decent sized city but not much happening.
The restaurant we ate lunch at has a high-speed internet connection so I was able to upload some pictures to several older posts that were without them. The Meat Cove pictures were not yet on the computer so those will be posted next time.
Our trip to Meat Cove yesterday was the furthest North and East we could travel (short of getting on a ferry to Newfoundland for a 20 hour $1,100.00 round trip fare). We are not going to do that so everything from now on is kind of heading back West towards home. It will not be a direct route home, however. We still have to complete the loop around the rest of Nova Scotia, then all of Prince Edward Island, and finally the Eastern Coast of New Brunswick up into Quebec, and then home by way of Quebec and Ontario, entering the USA at Sault Ste. Marie. If the timing is right we will meet Brother T and Sister D at Mears SP as we travel through Michigan towards home.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Day 35, Saturday, July 28, 2007
Change of plans. We did not go to Louisbourg. While at Cheticamp we did not get to see all of the Cabot Trail (due to the brake problem), so this morning we decided to drive back through Baddeck and up the rest of the Trail all the way to Meat Cove - the very end of Nova Scotia. We parked the motorhome at a KOA near Sydney and drove the Honda all the way up and back. It was a 7 hour round trip but well worth the time. Unbelieveable scenery! There is a "Chowder Hut" there and we sat outside on the deck looking out from the edge of the continent hoping to see whales. No whales, but we had the best chowder we have ever eaten.
Very hot today - mid 90's! A lady at the last campground said she has lived here 24 years and never had this hot of weather. And that was before this scorcher today. Pictures of today will be added at the next high speed connection. I did add pictures to the last few days posts if you want to go back and look.
Meat Cove
Meat Cove - look at that campsite the red & white RV has!
Jim and kids on the beach at Cabot Landing Provincial Park - John Cabot landed here when he discovered North America
Entrance signs to Meat Cove
Meat Cove from the road going down to the cove
Ellen "taking it all in"
Meat Cove
Top of Smokey Provincial Park on way to Meat Cove
Sunset at our KOA campsite
Ellen on the beach at Cabot Landing
Cabot Landing Provincial Park
Change of plans. We did not go to Louisbourg. While at Cheticamp we did not get to see all of the Cabot Trail (due to the brake problem), so this morning we decided to drive back through Baddeck and up the rest of the Trail all the way to Meat Cove - the very end of Nova Scotia. We parked the motorhome at a KOA near Sydney and drove the Honda all the way up and back. It was a 7 hour round trip but well worth the time. Unbelieveable scenery! There is a "Chowder Hut" there and we sat outside on the deck looking out from the edge of the continent hoping to see whales. No whales, but we had the best chowder we have ever eaten.
Very hot today - mid 90's! A lady at the last campground said she has lived here 24 years and never had this hot of weather. And that was before this scorcher today. Pictures of today will be added at the next high speed connection. I did add pictures to the last few days posts if you want to go back and look.
Meat Cove
Meat Cove - look at that campsite the red & white RV has!
Jim and kids on the beach at Cabot Landing Provincial Park - John Cabot landed here when he discovered North America
Entrance signs to Meat Cove
Meat Cove from the road going down to the cove
Ellen "taking it all in"
Meat Cove
Top of Smokey Provincial Park on way to Meat Cove
Sunset at our KOA campsite
Ellen on the beach at Cabot Landing
Cabot Landing Provincial Park
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