Day 21 9-8-11 Trip North

OK--No pictues today. We are heading home with a few side dstractions. Left Belfast, Maine this am, hit Providence Rhode Island. Went into town, scouted it out and did lunch in the Little Italy section. I still like the Italian food at Mickey Gs in Floyd.

Did side trip to Newport, RI.  A little too ritzy for me. Beautiful bays and bridges, boats, yachts. Number of true mansions,  but wow, costs etc out the window. This is the GREENWICH VILLAGE of Rhode Island. Don't think I will return. For those who love upper level shops, boutiques come on. Bring lots of $$$.

Tomorrow, plan is to BYPASS New York. Way too much chaos with traffic. We will head across Connecticut to Scranton, PA and head down I-81. A little longer by about 40 miles, but roads and traffic SO much better. \

We should be in by Saturday evening. If we follow plans, this will be last blog. See you in Virginia (*__*) 

Day 20 9-7-11 Trip North

WOW--Two days to catch up. NOTE- first four pics are actually last 4-technical upscrew. NO real internet or phone service Canada. Need to set up very carefully before leaving USA. ANYHOO-- We enjoyed HALIFAX largest city in Eastern Provinces. Reall cool city with far to much to see and visit.First Pic is from out hotel room on 9-6 before our departure--note clouds. Rained all day. We drove about 150 miles to Eastern Nova Scotia to DIGBY(scallop captital of the world). Went to O'NEILS, scallops fresh off the boat. Had a few overhead friends to help. Note the tide changes(see dock and utility shed--about 4-5 hours between pics).

We spent nite in Digby, and up at 5:30 am(see pic of horizon with clouds, still drizzle rain). We then loaded ferry, paid our $174 for 2 people and car(*__*) !!!! 3 hour ride. NO amenities. Caught a farm-raised NORTH ATLANTIC salmon FARM

on the way. Landed St. John, New Brunswick. Next pic is Harbor upon arrival.

We then drove out of CANADA to USA and down to BAR HARBOR, Maine. Pics show harbor(and cruise ship)and Beth and then Pic showing clouds that hid all views from Cadillac Mountain(1500+ft). SO, we stopped at Jordan Pond restaurant and had infamous "POPOVERS". I had mine with STRAWBERRY PRESERVES--Man, good stuff.

Last pic is out over our patio here in Belfast, Maine. Great view still with clouds. Heading tomorrow to Newport, RI. May be home by middle of weekend.

Day 18 9-5-11 Trip North

Great day and weather(75,sunny). We toured Halifax and found someone to help me corral Beth. He has neat outfit This was at the CITADEL-(defensive fort built over 28 yrs-1828-56) overlooking the town, harbor and oean entrance. Picture of Beth shows view over town and harbor. The inlayed picture shows  octagonal outline.Panoramic view of Halifax and impressive defensive structure.

We stopped at gravesite of 221 of TITANIC"S unfortunate passengers. Noted the BUTT gravestone so who knows from where we come (this is inside commetary).

We stopped for lunch and guess who is now starting to grow bivalves--you got it. Another batch of mussels.

We took off in afternoon for "busy" drive. It is also Labor Day in Canada. Traveled 30 miles out of town to sea town of PEGGY'S COVE on South shore of NS. Most photographed lighthouse in Canada. Great views and very cool rocks, waves and scenic views. Well worth the traffic and holiday crowds.

Quiet delicious seafood dinner/local brew in Hotel. Out of here tomorrow for Fundy shore side of NS to twn of Digby(scallop capital of the world-now it's MY turn to grow a shell).

Day 17 9-4-11 Trip North

Hey all u USA citizens: We did early AM trip 40 miles to coast of PEI to catch ferry (not a baby ferry either) to NOVA SCOTIA. Pictures show leaving PEI and then close-in view of port at NS. Cost $70 for 75 minute ferry ride. Really beautiful crossing NORTHUMBERLAND STRAIT. Big boat with all the amenities.

Landed at PICTOU, NS and looked at landing area of original settlers to this area of Northeastern NS from Scotland (Like our Pilgrims but later in the 1770's-note ship Hector). Great Lobster sandwich and "Canadian Meat Pie"and local microbrew. Then Beth was able to visit lobster house where they farm "baby" lobsters to refurbish the oceans. She loved the cute little buggers.

We drove on into HALIFAX-another 75 miles. Countryside here with little visible beauty. Mixture of small trees. Made it to harbor area and Beth wanted to do Maritime Museum (remember-when Titantic went down, major rescue effort was out of Halifax-so large exhibit here). This was a very nice museum. Then Beth found a ship she could navigate in the harbor and had U.S. Coast Guard in support.

We did a HOT DOG on the boardwalk and ventured to Hotel with magnificent view of Halifax harbor. Tomorrow, more exploring of Halifax area.

Day 16 9-3-11 Trip North

Toured Prince Edward Island. Historical tour of Canadian history in Charlottetown this AM.Smallest province in Canada, 10th largest island in world. Miles of  hay fields, cattle,  fields of potatoes(very big crop here-numerous varieties), very pastoral and beautiful.

Beth developed passion today for the ice cream famous on the island--COW ice cream. Very good.

At almost 2100 miles now on this trip, we stopped for a lube job.Great service, less than 30 min. Got a great tip on supper. We went to the harbor area here on PEI and guess who ate mussels again tonight. Yep--not ibe.

This island is beautiful and you can drive across island north-to-south in about an hour. We have seen a lot of the island so are headed via ferry in AM to NOVA SCOTIA. Now we tackle the scallop catital of the world.

Day 15 9-2-11 Trip North

We are now solidly into Canada. We went back to the HOPEWELL ROCKS in Northeast NEW BRUNSWICK and caught the Rocks at Low tide. There is about 40 feet of water from high to low. Beth and I are standing in the opening beneath the "Flower Pot Rocks" and this was not even visible on high tide.

We moved up to Shediac at the border with PEI(Prince Edward Island). They espouse that they are now the Lobster capital of the world. Beth has found a rather large lobster. We then crossed the 8 mile Confederation Bridge over Northumberland Strait(contiguous with Gulf of St. Lawrence). Quite impressive and long.(Pictures reversed here--Too long on the bridge).
Found PEI mussels pretty fast/ Beth had them for lunch in Victoria, PEI and we have just returned from downtown Charlottetown, PEI where she had her SECOND meal of mussels. She is starting to look weird. Thank goodness she has Yellowtail to ease her pain. We plan to be bere in PEI for the next couple of days.

We can do WiFi at night in hotel but phone goes to roaming at mucho cents/min. SO, we have phones turned off. Check in with us by e-mail.

Day 14 9-1-11 Trip North

WOW--Travel day. We wanted to see the Hopewell Rocks today and from CALAIS USA to north of ALMA-CANADA- was a haul. I never new I was a celebrity in Canada until Beth started taking pictures of my name all over the place. Feels SO  G-o-o-od !!!

We stopped in St. Martin, Canada and saw, drove over, etc., several covered bridges  Background is BAY OF FUNDY between North Brunswick this side and Nova Scotia other side. Lobster traps everywhere. On way to Hopewell, had a great peanut butter and jelly sandwich by the side of the road. Countryside looks just like Virginia with hay bales, cows and mountains. Temp is 70-74 daytimer and 40-50 at night.

We got to Hopewell Rocks today one hour after high tide. High tide was 45 feet up today(highest of the year). In morning we will revisit Rocks on low tide and I will show tomorrow nite a 45 foot drop in water level. Should b impressive. Should be 9 am here, 8 where u are. Tides here rise and fall about 5 feet/hour with about 6 hours between high and low.

Alma is smaller than Dublin. We have a quaint SPARTAN room and picture with Beth is indication of her infatuation with current lodging. Tomorrow we should reach Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island(PEI). Home of mussels by same name so guess what is on menu for tomorrow nite ????