Next Up Dingwall, Nova Scotia

Wow, I can’t believe that it is already the end of August. Time does fly but it also feels like I have been on vacation forever! I have seen so much and met so many people that time has just flown by. I still have another 25 days left to go. Tired of me yet?

So here is my quaint entry of the day. You know how you come across something that doesn’t make sense but ‘hey, I don’t live here, so let the locals be locals’? Well, check this out. I keep seeing signs on my drive to Dingwall that say I have to take a ferry. I have checked the map but I don’t see any great expanse of water where a ferry should be required. I have not found anywhere to book a ferry so this is going to be interesting. I follow the Garmin (not always a good thing, but the map looks the same) until I find the ferry crossing. Now don’t laugh, I’m sure that it makes sense to someone in government (there’s your clue!). This ferry crossing is an old style cargo barge that is connected by cables under water across a river span of 125 meters (410 feet) across St. Ann’s Bay. It runs 24 hours a day with a crew of about 4 people and takes 2 minutes to cross. Now in Hamilton, Ontario we have a span of water at the entrance to Hamilton Bay that spans 1958 meters (6423 feet), we built not one but two bridges to cross over. But like I said this was a quaint entry. I did notice that they turned away a B-Class motorhome though, so I’m not sure how they get across. Check out the pictures.

The drive to Dingwall was breathtaking again. I know I say that a lot but I’m a nature nut and there is soooo much of it around me. This drive takes me through the back roads and up into the mountains. For any geologist in the group (Yeah, I didn’t think so!), I’m crossing the Aspy fault. This is route also takes me through the Cape Breton Highlands Park. The park covers 948 square kilometers (366 sq. mi) and part of the Cabot Trail winds it way through. You have to drive up mountain and then down, through a valley and then back over another set of mountains to get to the other side of the land. The roads are twisty and steep. I shudder again as I see trucks pulling travel trailers behind them. Gas is $1.70 per liter here so do the math. I however, drive my Escape up, down and over to the next place.

On the way here I take a wrong road but it is a happy accident because I find a lighthouse. This is in Neil’s Harbour. Try to find that one on the map, I double dog dare you! The lighthouse was built in 1899 and is 10.4 meters (34 feet) tall. There is also a cute little harbour with fishing boats. I know, surprise to find fishing boats on the east coast of Canada! So this is a happy accident!

On the way down to my place, I found this two mast sailboat in a little bay, I hope I get to see it in full sail while I'm here! The place I’m staying in this time is a 27’ trailer. Yep, I’m ‘trailer trash’ again. It is tucked away in a country yard surrounded by trees. I have full hookups, so nothing to worry about. The WiFi however is down. So I will write my blogs and then post them when I can get a signal.Baca lagi