Adrenelin Rush in the Tidal Bore

After Lunenberg and the "ovens," we traveled up the Acadia coast (eastern coast of Nova Scotia) to the lovely village of Digby. Here the Bells and Kings biked down an abondoned railroad track into town for dinner and a rock concert on the village green. Unfortunately the concert was quickly scuttled by a rain storm. The next day the Kings and Bells played golf at a beautful mountainous course which is part of the Digby Pines Resort. The next day we traveled on, passing through Anapolis Royal. What a beutiful village that was bustling with a farmers market, and regaled the villagers with a band concert. From Anapolis Royal we finally arrived in Brookfield near Maitland at the very eastern end of the Bay of Fundy. Along the way Mom and Dad stopped into a winery, the Muir Winery. We bought a white and a red. That night the Bells and Kings feasted on lobster and then the next day (today) we all motored over to the River Rafting adventure near Maitland.

I'll let Dad describe the tidal bore adventure:

"So we rose early to arrive at the rafting place by 8:00 AM. The tidal bore is a series of enormous rapids that result from the rushing inflow of the Bay of Fundy tide. We motor out in 16 foot Zodiacs powered by a 60 HP Mercury outboard. There were 8 rafts with six people to a raft. The Kings and Bells shared a raft with two intrepid ladies from Indiana- Linda and Anna Gale. Our raftsman was named Kurt, who was an aspiring culinary student and chef in his off months. We traveled about 6 miles up the Shubernacadie River, that runs south from the end of the Bay of Fundy. Because the river acts like a funnel the tide rips into the river like a freight train rising more than 25 feet in a matter of minutes. This produced huge rapids with waves that exceeded 12 feet at times. The raftsman steered up the river with the tide into the teeth of these huge waves. The sensation is one of a sardine in a Cuisinart. We gripped the lines along the gunwale and leaned in with terror as the tiny raft lunged up and down in the maelstrom. We entered what Kurt called the Deadly K and the Eagles Nest. These were two rapids that produced the highest and most ferocious waves. After the third terrifying run through these rapids, we agreed that enough was enough. Needless to say we were soaked, even though we wore foul weather gear and boots. Arriving back at base camp we all showered and enjoyed a cup of hot chocalate. What an adventure! Here's their web site for shots of the adventure: http://www.tidalborerafting.com

Tommorrow we're off to Louisburgh on the Southeastern coast.

Livin It Up in Ludenberg

We spent several days near Ludenberg on the Southern Coast. Ludenberg is a classic old shipping town, and designated as only one of two World Heritage sites in North America by UNESCO. The town is laid out in a classic English village configuration with neat rows of avenues and streets defining the neighborhood. The Bells and Kings toured the maritime museum which highlighted the famous fishing schooner Bluenose II. The original Bluenose won virtually all of its races against the US fishing schooner from Glouster. It was eventually sold to the East Indian trading Company and was scuttled on a reef in the Bahamas. Bluenose II is an exact replica and now is in dry dock for a two year restoration.
We stayed at a camp ground known as “the ovens.” The ovens are a series of caves along the rugged coast. Back in the 1890s, gold was discovered here, and a small town erupted over night. About 120,000 pounds of gold was extracted until the claims went dry. We bumped into a family panning for gold, and they showed us their findings, tiny specks of gold! We had a great camp site overlooking the ocean. The next day we toured Blue Rock, a tiny fishing village some ten kilos from Ludenberg. What a gem! Small, multicolored, houses encircle the tiny harbor featuring classic trawlers and sailboats at their moorings.

Earlier we stopped at Peggy’s cove which features the most famous lighthouse in Nova Scotia. Out in front of the lighthouse was a young lassie in a kilt playing a bag pipe.

On the way to Digby we stopped to check out the largest wooden church in North America. Built in the early 1800s, the church is huge rising to 60 feet inside. (see pic)

We’re now in a camp ground close to the town of Digby located at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy. The Kings and Bells biked in for dinner and then attended a rock concert in the village green. After about an hour, it began to pour, so the Bells scurried back to the camp. The kings hung in there and danced away for another hour in the rain.

The food has been spectacular. Last nigh the Bells feasted on Haddock and Salmon. The Kings enjoyed the famous scallops of Digby. We've also been pigging out on Mussels and Lobster

Today the Bells and Kings play a round of golf. Tomorrow, we’re off to Maitland at the end of the Bay of Fundy. The Kings and Bells plan a rubber raft ride in the Bay of Fundy riding the famous flood tide back into the bay. They say the ride endures fourteen foot waves. I say “good luck.”

Halifax is Hopping

We spent two days near Halifax and toured all the sites. On Sunday we checked out the famous Citidel on top of a hill overlooking Halifax Harbor. This is huge eight sided fortress that has been rebuilt four times since the late 1600s. The walls are so formidable and the moats and gun placements so daunting that the fort never succombed to an attack. Mom and dad watched troops in fine highlander uniforms do close order drill and rifle firings (very loud!) Next, Mom and Dad along with Dick and Linda King checked out the board walk along Halifax harbor. There were several Canadian ships moored along the quay that were interesting.

Yesterday, Mom and Dad toured the cemetary where several hundred victims of the Titanic were buried. Halifax was the entry point for Titanic victims, many of which were unidentified, and buried in an unmarked grave. The survivors were taken directly to New York on the steam liner Capathia. All very sad.

Mom and Dad also toured the maritime museum which told the horrific story of the great explsion of the late 1800s. A British frigate loaded with explosives was rammed by another ship. It then caught on fire. The fire raged for hours which attracted a crowd along the quay. Suddenly a huge explosion ripped across the harbor. Over two thousand were killed and thousands more were injured. It was the largest single explosion in the world up to that point, only exceeded by the nuclear detonations in Japan. A 1000 pound anchor was found three miles away. It took years for Halifax to recover. Another interesting fact about Nova Scotia are the ship wrecks. It is estimated that between 10,000 and 25,000 ship wrecks have occured along the coast. The most recent was a provate yacht that crashed into Sable island in 2003.

Mom and Dad also toured the public botanical gardens modeled after the Victorian gardens in London. Mom and Linda were particularly impressed with the enormous pair of geese, which must have been thirty pounds in weight!

Today, we all depart for our next port of call...Ludenberg with several stops along the way. Can't wait!

We've arrived in Nova Scotia

We've had a great trip up from Camden. On Wednesday we visited the Gardners (Trish and Lou) in Belfast. The Gardners are Dataw neighbors, but like so many Datawinians, they move north for the summer. The Gardners have been restoring a turn of the century sea captain's house overlooking the harbor. Trish is having a new studio built out which will provide commanding views of the town and harbor. After cocktails Mom, Dad, the Kings and Gardners dined at the local Lobster Pound. Dad said the lobsters were to die for! On Friday we drove up to a camp site outside of Bar Harbor. The highlight of the day for Mom and Dad was a two hour tour on Captain John's lobster boat-"Lulu." Captain John is an expert on all things lobster and we learned about lobster anatomy (did you know that a lobster has three pairs of claws), lobster fishing, and lobster moulting. Captain John hauled up some lobsters from his traps to demonstrate various aspects of the yummy crustacean. The world record lobster...40 pounds, probably 120 years old! Who knew?

On Friday, the Kings and Bells toured Acadia national forest, including a view from the top of Cadillac Mountain; the highest spot on the east coast at 1530 feet. Last night Dad cooked up some barbecue chicken and then today we took off for Nova Scotia. We arrived about 2:00 PM this PM.It was actually 3:00 PM since we lose an hour this far east.

The weather has been absolutely spectacular. Imagine 55 degrees at night; and today the temp hovered in the mid sixties. Tonight it's going to drop back into the fifties, so we all plan to suit up in our woolies.

Tomorrow, it's off to Halifax (two nights)

Lots to Report

We've had a fantastic five days in New England. We're now in Camden, Maine after a great weekend with friends in Hummarock, Mass south of Boston. First, let me report that the temperature has been in the 60s at night and the 70s during the day here in Maine. What a relief.

Our stay with the Doyles in Hummarock was highlighted by great runs on the beach. Mom and Dad partied like crazy Friday and Saturday night with the Corrys, Doyles, and Kammermans, all old friends from our Norwalk days. Sunday night Mom and Dad feasted at the Bridgewaye Inn near the Doyles, Dad said the lobster was "spectacular."

On Monday we left for Portland, Maine and had a nice lunch with Dad's niece, Maggie Jackson, their kids Alexander and Acy, and hubby, Chris.

Next stop was Freeport, Maine, where we shopped at the flagship retail complex of L.L. Bean. This place is amazing...five different mega-stores featuring the full line of Bean sportswear, camping gear, canoe and other water gear. Mom bought me a snazzy new Bean dog collar, with the black lab profile, I believe the artist's name is Steve Hunek; he does all the dog graphics. We "boondocked" in the Bean parking lot that night after a great Italian dinner. Boondocking is where you're on your own, with no power or water hook-up. I stayed home with Becky and Enzo, the Kings' two dogs. Oh yes, we're now hooked up with Linda and Dick King (Dataw buddies) on our trek to Nova Scotia.

Our next stop during the day on Tuesday was Rockland, Maine, where Mom and Dad toured the Andrew Wyeth collection. All three Wyeths are featured at the museum...what a treat! Mom and Dad had lunch at a local cafe famous for their lobster club sandwich which beat Bobby Flay's version in a "throwdown." Delecious!

Then we joined the Kings outside of Camden, Maine at a state park camp ground. Then things got crazy. We first went over to Jim and Cathy Kinsella's beautiful home in Camden, where we parked the dogs. Jim and Cathy have a home on Dataw. Mom and Dad boarded their boat for a great tour around the local Camden waters. We then returned for drinks with the Hascombs (Steven and Loi), also part time Dataw residents. The Hascomb home is right on Penobscot Bay with spectacular views. Meanwhile, I had escaped the Kinsella home; desparately needing a potty break. I opened one door by pushing up on the handle, and then opened a screen door. Mom and Dad found me out in the drive way. The other dogs didn't make it out. Needless to say, Mom and Dad were relieved that I stuck around. Where's the trust? Then Mom and Dad joined the Kinsellas for dinner at a cafe overlooking Camden harbor...they say it was fantastic!

So now it's Wednesday mroning and we leave for Belfast later this morning! I just finished a long hike with Becky and Enzo; and I'm bushed...on to Belfast!

Rockin in Newburgh, NY

The Newburgh KOA camp ground is the best so far. There's a lake where I terrorized the ducks, a dog park where Mom put me through circus like frolics, and lots of wooded trails for hiking.

We traveled about 260 miles in 5 hours (lots of pit stops, you know me :)) and arrived here around 2:00 PM. Mom cooked up a lovely shrimp and sausage repast, but I stuck to my Eukaneuba (the best) Today we're off to visit our dear friends, Nancy and Richard Doyle in Hummarock, Mass. Our other long time buddies, Jim and Maureen Coory and John and Leslie Kemmerman are also up for the reunion. Mom and Dad are playing golf on Saturday, but I can't wait to romp in the Atlantic Ocean, my greatest pleasure by far. Will send in a dispatch whenever we can connect, probably not until we reach Camden, ME next week...Bye Bye

The Battle of Gettysburg

We traveled for about six hours from Max Meadows, Va to Gettysburg, PA home of the infamous Battle of Gettysburg. We’re staying in an RV Park right next to the battlefield, so it was easy to get over to the visitor’s center and museum. I hung out in the RV while Mom and Dad took the tour today. I’ll let Dad describe the tour experience.






The Gettysburg Battlefield is truly one of the most impressive national monuments in the country. Everywhere you look there is a monument to one of the many state regiments that fought in the three day battle. Here’s a quick synopsis of the “event.”
The Confederate Army moved north from Virginia and Maryland into Pennsylvania in an attempt to position for an attack on Washington or Philadelphia. General Robert E Lee picked Gettysburg because of the 11 roads that converged on the town. Roads provided support for troop movement and supplies. The Union army spotted Lee’s plan and sent several regiments to Gettysburg; the first shot of the battle occurred on July 1, 1863. For the first two days, there were several horrendous battles back and forth. At one point the confederates had the advantage, but the deciding factor was how the union army commanded the high ground on “Little Round Top,” a ridge that stretches North/South on the southern side of the town of Gettysburg. A confederate attack that was supposed to commence early on the second day didn’t actually start until 4:00 PM on July 2ndcontrary to Lee’s command. A second wave that was to start simultaneously didn’t commence until 8:00 PM that evening. The battle turned out to be a set back for the confederates. One grisely story we learned was about the Alabama regiment that marched across the Blue Ridge mountains in stifling heat with 40 pounds on their backs, wearing heavy wool uniforms and no shoes. By the time they arrived after a twenty-four mile forced march they had to immediately go into battle to confront the Union regiments amassed on the high ground along Little and Big Round Top ridges. On the third day, Lee received erroneous reports of the Union strength at the center of the union line along the ridge. Based on this false intelligence he ordered a frontal assault on the union lines. Colonel George Pickett lead the famous charge up the hill into the teeth of more than 150 artillery and 20,000 union troops. The confederates were completely exposed for over a mile in open field. The union army fired “canister” rounds, small lead balls that could penetrate four soldier bodies at a range of 500 yards.One horrific fact is that the union artillery shot their own men in the back which then mowed down the rebel soldiers in front.(Talk about "friendly fire!") Needless to say the Confedrates were obliterated, losing over 5,000 troops in a few hours. All told, the battle of Gettysburg resulted in 51,000 casualties, one of the bloodiest battles in American history. Gripping!

Tomorrow off to Newburgh, NY