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Day 92 – Westward Bound

I left Springhill this morning after saying my goodbyes to my sister, and her kids and Leon (and becky), my sister’s boyfriend and daughter who just arrived the morning before after a long road-trip of their own from Falher Alberta to be with my sis.

I made my way up out of Nova Scotia through Moncton and into New Brunswick. Followed the 106 around and down to Dorchester, Hillsborough and made a stop at the Hopewell Rocks again. After hiking through the deep snow to the stairs to the beach and the flowerpot rocks I was greeted with high tide so there was no exploring the rocks from the beach today. The water of the Bay of Fundy was really red and muddy so I snapped a couple of shots and decided that the Hopewell Rocks will have to wait until I return again, hopefully during great summer weather.

I continued on through the Fundy National Park and Alma, where I got a few more shots at dusk. From there I hit the Number one highway to Fredericton for the night.

I’ve been in much better moods since reading what I have of this Stuart Wilde book. My outlook is positive and I “feel” like I can conquer any obstacles I might encounter and move into a whole new life during this coming year.

Anyway, I’m a little tired, was up late chatting and trudging through the knee deep snow takes it out of me. Mental note to get snowshoes for my next winter excursion.

Days 89, 90, 91 – Spending Time with My Sister

As a pass through Springhill I’ve stopped in to spend a few days with my little sister before moving on. It’s going to be a long time before I see her and the kids again so a little time spent here to recharge and connect.

So come Thursday morning I will be back in the truck and on my way. The weather is also looking to be a bit better then too so that makes me happy.

I’ve been doing a little bit of editing on the 300GB of raw photos I’ve acquired so far on this trip. Good thing I bit the bullet and got a 1TB hard drive to store everything on.

So until Thursday night, keep warm friends.

Penny Lane II

Penny Lane II

Day 88 – Halifax and Peggy’s Cove

So I drove around Halifax a bit but didn’t stay long. It’s not that I have anything against cities and in different circumstances I’d love to hang out and learn more about the vibe of each metropolis but this trip it just doesn’t fit. See, I left Vancouver because the city was stressing me out. I was tired of traffic, the busy pace and simply wanted a break.

On this adventure, because I’m living on the cheap and low I don’t have extra money for museums, attractions, halls of fame, nice restaurants, hotels, pubs, clubs or nightclubs etc. To add to that I’m usually in my boots, unshowered and feeling a little less than “fresh”. So I usually end up just strolling through the cities. Cities that this time of year aren’t exactly photo friendly anyway, even on sun filled days like today. Dirty snow lined streets, leaveless trees, brown grass etc just don’t do it for me. Cities are best shot in the warmer months.

After leaving Halifax I went into Peggy’s Cove. The light was awesome and I shot the rocks, the lighthouse and some of the village buildings and fisherman’s shanties for close to two hours. I carried on into Indian Harbor and along St. Margaret’s Bay Road.

After consulting a map I made the decision to not head all the way to Yarmouth. I wanted to go there and then to Digby but based on budget and the lay of the land I would have had to travel back to Halifax to continue on, a round trip of about 600 kilometers. That will have to wait until next time.

So as the sun started to set I made my way back to Peggy’s cover for some late sunset shots and some dusk-night shots of the lighthouse. Being as tomorrow is forecast as cloudy and snowing I figured I’d make the move North back to my sister’s place. I’m going to spend a couple more days here in Springhill, say my farewells and be on my way.

Today must have been a very good day for shots as my brain is tired and my eyes are fried. I’ll sleep well tonight in the guest bed.
Goodnight.

Tiny Red

Tiny Red

Day 87 – A Grand Day Along the Coast

After leaving Port Hawkesbury I made my way through Antigonish and down the number 7 towards the ocean. The sun was out and I was excited to get some shots. The shoreline didn’t let me down especially in the fishing village of Marie Joseph and then again in Mitchell Bay. Some of the shots I got were very unexpected, like an old faded living room chair in a yard full of weeds.

I was going to call it a night in Sheet Harbor based on it was getting late and I thought the sun was about to set. Then I realized I was still on Newfoundland time and had more than half an hour to go. I found and shot another old boat then proceeded to chase down the sunset, looking for subject matter that would work well with the golden light. Today though, it wasn’t meant to be as I just didn’t find one. Since I was getting close already I ventured into Halifax for the night. After driving around a bit I found a Walmart. It was getting late so I figured it was time to sleep. As I was getting ready to climb in the back a guy in a parka, holding a cell phone comes up to my window. I rolled down to see what he needed and he asked me if I knew the number for a taxi. I politely told him I wasn’t from Halifax and that I didn’t know the numbers. He then stood, in the cold wind two parking stalls away from me, staring at me. After about 15 mins of this discomfort I drove away and found a different spot to sleep. Talk about creepy.

Day 86 – Back on the Mainland

After an interesting ferry ride on which I came to the conclusion that a sailor I will not make. It appears my sea stomach is a little on the weak side. I didn’t “hurl” but there was a couple points on the choppy waves that I was wondering if I might. Staring at a laptop screen probably wasn’t helping either as I tried to get some work and editing done. The internet on the ship was not working, apparently hasn’t been for awhile. Seems like the ferries in Newfoundland are fixed on an “as extremely needed” basis. The ATM was down, The internet was down, some of the seats in the lounge area looked like some cats got to them and shredded them. Makes you wonder what else is in need of repair down below. Well done Marine Atlantic.

Regardless, I got back to the mainland and made my way to Port Hawkesbury where I’ve gassed up (again) and am ready for tomorrows start to my journey home. Part of me feels like simply deadheading it and getting home in 3 days. I need to mellow out again I’m afraid.

Anyway, not much more to report. I’m sure the rest of my trip will prove to be interesting and fruitful as well. I just have to let it “be”. I was looking at shots of the first half and it’s odd how many I don’t even remember taking, just going, like a machine. Will make for some fun editing later on I’m sure.

Winnebago Dreams

Winnebago Dreams

Day 77 – A Warm Room and a Headache

In desperate need of a shower and knowing I have to spend up to 7 hours on a ferry tomorrow with the general public I figured a room and a hot shower was in order. (oh was it ever good). After a little bit of driving and no shots, a chat with a gent down by the water as I watched today’s ferry leave for Newfoundland I then looked for a room. I managed a cheap but quaint little room at the Highland Motel close to North Sydney where the ferries leave from.

As I got settled in I checked my email and found that a few of my web clients have been having troubles with their sites. Seems that the code has been altered against my knowledge and my wishes, hacked I guess but not the server, strictly the code has been altered to add Malware. So instead on working on a couple other things I’m trying to finish and perhaps editing a few of the last few days shots I’m troubleshooting these messed up websites thanks to some loser asshole with too much time on his hands.

Anyway, I think I may have it taken care of the problem now that it’s almost 10pm and my brain is fried. I guess the universe needed to, as they say in poker, “keep me honest” by throwing me a bit of a curve ball. Well, I may have only hit an infield grounder but come tomorrow, I’m off and running,…again!

Day 76 – Mother Nature’s Messing with Me

I woke up to more rain. Not bad but I was hoping for the weatherman to be right for once. I had just got the cobwebs out of my head as I pulled around the corner into Margaree Cove, NS. There in the harbor was an old fishing boat, half capsized, half submerged in the water. I instantly turned around, parked and despite the possibility of being shot for trespassing cut across a lawn to get to the shore. As I approached it I saw that there was a boggy creek to my right. After taking a few shots from the left of the boat I wanted to get the other angle (without the bridge). I carefully tested the stability of the grass covered lumps in which the creek water flowed around. I stepped across with no incident. Then as I was climbing up the bank I took a step and was down and knee deep in mud. Upon trying to prevent a face plant my right leg ended up in beside my left. I was schooled on the ins and outs of wet muddy creeks in Cape Breton.

As I continued around the shore in my soaking wet boots and wet muddy jeans I noticed a fellow had come down to the shore where I was previously. He watched me a bit then disappeared. He knew better than to try to come across the creek I guess. I got my misty shots and made my sloppy return to the truck. As I was changing on the side of the road he came walking up again, said hello and we chatted as I replaced soaking socks with new. He was also happy about the good weather the area is having. A snow plow driver who gets paid snow or not is a happy fellow. He was also the owner of the sad boat I was shooting. Apparently his naughty neighbor untied it during a storm and it ended up smashing the wharf and coming to rest where it sits. Out of spite the boats owner now battles requests by the government to remove it so that it sits there, for the neighbor to see every day. Interesting morning I had.

Wind Blown Resting Place

Wind Blown Resting Place


I drove on, into the Cape Breton highlands and the National Park. The park weather was mostly rain, until I got to the higher elevations, where the snow was amazing. The plowed areas where as high as the speed limit signs in some places. Unfortunately it was also very foggy. I didn’t get much for shots as the weather and visibility sucked, plus the fact that there was almost no where to pull over. It was still amazing to see and I do want to return to visit the park one day during summer as I bet it’s just magical.

Carrying on into Pleasant Bay, White Point and Neil’s Harbor where I got some shots of the huge amazing waves. While I was doing that I’m positive that good ol’ Mother Nature was still trying to get me wet. I initially waited and watched where the waves were coming up to, last thing I need is to be swept out to sea. As I made my way closer to the beach line, one wave came in hard, slamming down on the rocks and splashed me good. I actually laughed out loud. No other waves came that close for the next 15 minutes.

After a brief stop at the Wreck Cove General Store where the friendly gent sold me a tank of gas I made my way to Sydney with a couple stops for some old buildings. It was along here that I noticed I’ve broken the 10,000 mile mark on my trip odometer. It’s now started over at 1.

Here I am in Sydney in the truck, “borrowing” some wireless from the Comfort Inn that I can’t possibly afford to stay at. I did see a Walmart on my way in though.

Day 75 – Into Cape Breton

It wasn’t long after leaving Antigonish that I saw the “Welcome to Cape Breton” sign at the Canso Causeway. A little detour into Port Hawkesbury for Tim’s then on my way around the North side of the Cape. As I drove through the morning the cloudy sky started to break up and I was getting some nice pieces of sunlight. One of those came while I was shooting an old blue Chevy work/farm truck resting in a field. I continued on into Port Hood, then Mabou where I found the Mabou lighthouse. Took a few shots of it and a boat named “Sea Angel”.

As I was getting ready to leave a fellow came down and started chatting with me. In conversation he let it known that everyone is surprised that the weather, rainy and mild, was so good. I was told that usually by this time of year I wouldn’t have been able to get down the road to the marina as the snow would have been so high and the marina is usually frozen solid. He said that by now he drives his kids to school on the ice. Apparently, as mediocre as it is for photos, for traveling I’m still being blessed with great weather.

I stopped at a little cafe in Inverness for dinner called the Coal Miner Cafe. Not bad but consider this is Cape Breton Island I figured the fish and chips would have been a bit better. The waitress was awesomely friendly and it was a nice break from the road.

I pulled over into a little turn around that was surrounded by trees, across the highway from the crashing waves of the ocean. In the rain and the dark, I watched a movie on the laptop and went to sleep.

Muddy Waters

Muddy Waters