We had a lovely day in Port Hood on the South Western coast of Cape Breton Island. We stayed in a campground called Sunset Sands, and based on the fantastic sunset, it's well named. I had a blast cavorting in the surf, while Mom and Dad watched the PGA tournament on Dad's computer (PGA.Com has live video feeds!) Today we wound our way down the coast toward Pictou, a medium sized town where the ferry departs for Price Edward Island. We're taking the ferry on Monday. On our way, we stopped in a small village called Arisaig; very much an old gaelic settlement. Dad struck up a conversation with a local who was just about to go out fishing for mackeral. (see photo) His name was Bill Cottie, and he said that his ancestors first arrived in North Carolina in the 1700s from England. Being loyalists to the crown, they fought against the colonialists in the Revolutionary War. Once the war ended, they migrated to Nova Scotia to escape the wrath of the liberated Americans. So Bill was a fourth or fifth generation settler in Nova Scotia.
Arisaig is another one of those magical little settlements with a tiny harbor, lighthouse, fishing boats and a few rustic looking buildings nestled around the small harbor.
We then left for Pictou, where our campground is about 5 miles east of town. We've settled in for the day. Tomorrow we visit the local Hector Heritage Quay Museum which details the early arrival of the Scottish immigrants in 1733. Apparently a boat load of Scotts including 33 families and 25 unmarried men arrived on the schooner, The Hector, in 1733. They were piped into town, and became the first scotts to arrive in Nova Scotia. Today the scots represent 60% of Nova Scoltia's population. We plan to inspect a replica of the Hector during our museum visit. We also hope to attend the Hector Festival which celebrates the arrival of the scottish immigrants with concerts , Celtic dancers, and lots of food and drink.
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