On the Road again... heading home!

We home!  After many, many hours in the car we made it home. Finally!

We left Cape Breton yesterday.  It looked like the sky could open up at any moment, and it sure did along the way!  Again, we traveled in the rain, and not just a little!  When we left Baddeck, it was cloudy and the more we were heading West the cloudier it got.

Cape Breton and its people were nice.  Would I want to go back?  Not really.  Been there, done that, wouldn't really want to do it again...  It was nice, but I think we've seen nicer on our way back home...  Halifax was nice and there I wouldn't mind going back.  Don't think I will anytime soon, but still, it is a nice little city.

Heading home, we took a different path, and basically went around the other way in New Brunswick, going through different towns, and along the coast.  It wasn't as woodsy as on the way to Nova Scotia.  It might have been nicer if it didn't rain so darn much!

We crossed to Québec, using an inter-provincial bridge (between New Brunswick/Québec) not too far from Matapédia.  To my surprise they had this cute covered bridge, so we had to take a picture.  There were a few of those along the way, and not everyone was this cute and well maintained... some I would not have wanted to cross!

Since they had decided to break their ride home rather than doing it in one day like we did on the way there, they had reserved a little motel in Pointe-au-Père where Stinkypaw had stayed a few years back, when she attended a meet-up there (that is in Rimouski).  The location of that place is right on the water, by the lighthouse.  Yet another!

This morning when we were getting ready to hit the road again, you could barely see the lighthouse from the motel - and it is about a five minutes walk, at most!  There was this think fog, making the waterfront really eerie...

After seeing the place in this thick fog, we all wondered how ships did it on the sea with fog like this... no wonder they hit things!

We also hit some rain, but on and off, and the closer we got to home, the clearer it was getting... the sky that is, not the road!  There was quite a bit of traffic, people heading off for the long weekend most likely.  Many caravans, cars and trucks loaded, trailers, etc.  I guess vacation time started for many.  Here we're crossing the Pierre-Laporte Bridge in Québec...

We did well on time, and despite a few rocks being kicked up from other cards - all in Québec by the way, nothing like that while visiting "Canada"... I guess the road conditions have a lot to do with this.

Also, the closer we got to Montréal, the more expensive the price of gas was. Interesting things you notice when paying attention to not only the scenery!

Anyway, we are now home.  Everything is unpacked and put away and at this very moment, I'm just happy to be out of the car!

Cabot Trail - Check!

Our road trip continues!  The day started out nicely, with a nice sun and a good breakfast at the lodge.  You must admit, it is hard to have a bad day when it starts off with such a view! 

Today, since it was on Stinkypaw's list we had to make it to Cabot Trail.  She had been told by many that it was a beautiful sight and a must if in Nova Scotia / Cape Breton, so after Hubby looked it up, they decided that they would do it in one day, the full loop.  He had read that it was better to do it counter clockwise, only because the passenger (in this case Stinkypaw) was on the outside of the path, and would be able to see and snap pictures. So, we left right after breakfast and headed North.

We made a few stops here and there, along the Trail, to get some postcards (duh!).  Stinkypaw also wanted to make it to a beach, so we made it to Ingonish Beach.  We had a little pause there, time enough to hear the waves, for her to touch the sea - which was cold - it wasn't a lay on type of beach as such, but it was nice nonetheless.

We stopped a few places, some view points, some sights were pretty and impressive, and others were just meh... I guess that having been in places like Norway and having driven along fjords and glacier made us a little unimpressed.  It was pretty but much of it remind us of sights we have in Québec, so pretty but not really breathtaking.

There was road construction along the way, in and out of Parks Canada.  It cost $16 for the day pass to access the Cape Breton park.  We figured since they do maintain the roads, etc. it wasn't a bad thing as such, but there was a lot of construction.  Some parts we had to follow a pick-up, very slowly, other parts we had to wait until the opposite had made it through the zone.  It added to the joy of it all!

We had lunch at the Rusty Anchor in Pleasant Bay.  Everything was about anchors and marine things in there.  It even had candle holders shaped like lighthouses.  Just my size, check it out!

After lunch we kept going, heading North and the sights did get somewhat better.  We drove along the coast, not as much in the woods as the other side.  It was neat to see the road winding through the mountain and along the ocean. Also noticed that side being more French with their names.  When we started the drive the names were in Gaelic and as we were doing the loop the names (of places, lakes, streets, etc.) were French and there were more Acadian flags.

It was about a seven hours tour; a fun way to spend a day in Cape Breton.  I will say this in closing, Canada is a nice and BIG place!

Tomorrow we will be heading home, and decided to go a different way than the one we used coming... should be interesting!

Another Day in Picturesque Canada

What a day this was!  Not only was it our National Day - St-Jean Baptiste - which is just a regular day for the rest of Canada, it was a day of touring Nova Scotia!  Our day started with a bite to eat and good coffee at Starbucks.

We actually had to go back to the hotel room because Stinkypaw couldn't drink properly and had to change her top.  And all those talks I've heard about opposable thumbs and stuff they have, making them more evolved than animals, yeah right!

Anyway.  We met up with her Postcrossing friend and her husband and headed for a little road trip.  Despite Stinkypaw's hubby lack of interest in seeing Peggy's Cove (just a lighthouse, according to him), I'm happy we went.  It was quite the sight!

I guess we were lucky enough that there was wind and the waves were crashing, showing and reminding us of what a force of nature the sea is. Look at this nice picture of us three.

Don't we just look like the puuuurrrfect little family?  Can you believe some people were taking pictures of me, as I sat there posing for Stinkypaw?  Some were even being nosy enough and asking if I'd traveled anywhere else in the world.  I tell you some people, as if they'd never seen a trimmed beaver before!

We walked around some, took some pictures, that place was quite scenic to say the least.  Stinkypaw even got her passport stamped by the lady at the postal counter (just like she did when we went to the Arctic Circle Center a few years ago)...

We continued our drive by heading to Lunenberg, also a picturesque, quaint little town.  They had lunch on a terrace on the waterfront, quite the view and then walked around some.  One thing we've noticed since we've been visiting Canada, it closes early.  By 5 p.m. the little shops were closing.  This morning we've noticed that most restaurants were not opening before 10 am, thus making them go to Starbucks! Those Canadians, I tell you, they almost have union hours!

On our drive back to Halifax, we spotted ring-a-dings as Stinkypaw calls them (they're actually lupins) and she managed to catch a picture of them, love those weeds!

You must admit they're not bad, right? Right! Glad you agree!

We were almost at Mahone Bay - here's the proof that I've been there! |Also quaint and picturesque.

From there it was cruising along the highway, Nova Scotia style.  I must say, despite being all relaxed and stress free, it was a long day.  Stinkypaw had not really realized how far of a drive it was from Halifax.  She was happy to spend that time with her friends exploring that part of Canada.  She believes, as I do, it was worth every moments, and we're all thankful to our local "guides".  I guess it is true what is said about those Canadians folks being nice and all...

Road Trip to Canada

Well hello there!  It's been a while since I traveled anywhere, but this time it's a doozy as we went for a road trip, not a little one, but one that took over thirteen hours of driving!  Stinkypaw wanted to attend yet another meet-up and this one was taking place in Halifax, Nova Scotia - two provinces over heading East.  She managed to convince her better half to accompany us and off we were!

As we drove through New Brunswick, there were many patches of wild daisies, and since it's always been a dream of mine to lay in a field of wild flowers, Stinkypaw pulled over, during the little stretch of road she drove, since Hubby drove most of the way, and indulged my fantasy...

Don't I look like the cutest thing among these flowers?  I sure think so...  Good thing she stopped when she did, because an hour or so after, it started to rain and it poured for the rest of the way, really crappy drive, if you ask me, and I wasn't the one driving!  By the time we arrived in Halifax, the rain calmed down some, so that was nice.  I was happy to get out of the car and welcome the nice bed after that long and exhausting day.

Saturday the weather was trying to clear up some, so they decided to walk around some and explore while slowly making their way towards the café where the meet-up was being held.  Along the way we passed this big city sign and just had to take that tourist shot...

Can you see me among the flowers, bottom right?  I know I`m small, but I'm all there!  Not long after that, we stopped at a local whole in the wall type of place, very bohemian, which turned out to be a café but also a youth hostel.  The had good breakfast burritos and Hubby had his first local beer, which according to Stinkypaw fitted him perfectly since an old friend of his used to call him ''Propeller Head" turned out to be a nice IPA, according to him...

After the pit stop we kept walking, heading towards the meet-up place.  Ten ladies were partaking in this one, four locals, two from Ontario and four from Québec.  It was quite the Hen Party, lol and many postcards were signed.  Don't know the total tally since the organizer had made an official card, and two others also did their own cards, so there were lots of cards!

After the meet, some were heading home, others went out for dinner and we followed one of the locals.  Turned out we made our way to a restaurant where a bunch was supposed to be, but we did not see any of them there, so after waiting for a while, we decided to go some other place along the water front.  We had a great dinner, great company - nice to put a face (and more!) to a Bacefook and Postcrossing profile and actually get to know them.  After dinner Hubby and Stinkypaw kept on walking along the water front, even if all the shops were closed by that time, but they spotted a few places to come back to for Stinkypaw to get some postcards.  Along the way I actually ran into a public figure in Canada, so I had to take a picture with this old Prime Minister of Canada...

He's never been a good looking man, but he always wore his red rose on his lapel, such a sharp dresser!

After a good night sleep, we started our day by walking downtown.  We walked through the Halifax Public Gardens, beautiful place, full of trees and so many flowers, I was so happy...

Look at these purdy flowers...

Today the sun was shining at 23 degrees (not bad!), but man oh man is it windy here!  They had a bite to eat on a roof top terrace, and then made their way back to the waterfront for Stinkypaw to get some postcards.  After some shopping, they stopped for a refreshment (of course!)...

Nice spot they chose, by the water but somewhat protected from the wind.  Hubby had another local beer and I think he was afraid I'd take a sip or something...as if!

I much preferred her root beer floatie... that was quite yummy!

And this concluded the first chapter of our road trip 2019.  Stay tuned!

Local excursion up North...

Last time I reported any travel was our trip to Dominican Republic.  This time I made my way up North, about one and a half hour from home, to Hubby's cousin cottage.

Stinkypaw and Hubby were asked if they would babysit cousin's kids.  They have three of them, age eleven and eight for the twins.  They had hoped for clement weather so that we could do a snowshoe outing, but lucky as they are, it rained all week prior to our drive and with very clement weather so lots of the white stuff melted... They hoped it would not be the case up North.  No such luck.

The scheduled Saturday,  we ended up with the three kids in our car following cousin and his wife on what started as a beautiful sunny day. Within twenty minutes or so on the highway it quickly turned to foggy, gray and misty.  By the time we got to the cottage there was lightening, thunder and pouring rain.  The drive over went well, especially since the three trolls fell asleep rather fast and slept the whole way.

OK, I admit it, I slept too!

They're good kids.  They played games, with Hubby and Stinkypaw and by themselves, and they even did a talent show.  The rain turned to snow during the night, and it got cold.

As usual, being the friendly beaver that I am, I made a new friend... a little Greek sheep, she was so purdy!

The next morning it was so friggin' cold!  The car was frozen solid.  All the rain of the day before froze in the doors, and all over the car.  It took forever for it to get warm.  There's nothing worst, really than to sit in a frozen car.

 I will say this though, the view from the cottage is very nice.





 I'm sure it must be gorgeous on a nice summer day, with the lake and all, but in the dead of Winter?

 Nice and all, but man it was cold!

Fifth Trip: Drive South to the Arctic Circle

We headed South to the Arctic Circle. Yes, South. Bodø is located at 67 degrees 16 minutes and 48 seconds latitude North and the Arctic Circle is at 66 degrees 33 minutes 45.7 seconds. Did you know that its position varies? It moves by something like 49 feet per year.

Within about thirty minutes outside the city we were following the fljord. The blue of the water, the sky and the puffy clouds here and there were making this gorgeous scenery that we had to stop and capture.

It was windy but managed to stand for this shot.

Giving that the road was nice, barely any traffic, but quite winding and on the edge of the water, there wasn't many places we could stop to take pictures. The further South we were going, the higher we were climbing, and there the more snow we were seeing.

Look at those blues, beautiful!

It actually got to a point that only the road was clear of snow, everything else around us was white.  It was beautiful, and somewhat bizarre. The further South we went, the whiter it got. It looked like there was a lot of snow, not only what we were seeing on the surface. It looked deep.

After being in the car for 2.5 hours, we did get to the Arctic Circle.  There wasn't many people around, but they sure were replaced by snow!

He isn't a short man, 6' 2"

That wall of snow was on the way from the parking lot to the Center, which is in fact a big souvenir shop, they had cut through the snow to clear the path.  It wasn't pushed snow... it was very impressive!

The monument is behind where He stands, and I'm on top of the snow wall.  In the Summer months, supposedly you can walk up to it, on grass.  There were a few monuments marking the spot.

At the center, they sold postcards AND had a special cancellation stamp, which Stinkypaw had read about and wanted. They even offered to mail the cards for Christmas. They had a special box for that, for cards to be sent out for Christmas. There was also a little cafeteria. Their special of the day was Reindeer, potatoes and coffee. While our food was being prepared Stinkypaw wrote myself a special souvenir card, because after all how often can one say that they've crossed the Arctic Circle and that they had to drive South to do so! ah!

The Center as shown in the postcard

Cancellation from the Arctic Circle

On the way back we actually saw a reindeer along the road, so it was the perfect way to close that visit to the Arctic Circle!

Third Trip: Back North again

Today they drove back towards the mountains, because when the sky clears up the scenery looks so different.

Proof that things are getting warmer, slowly...

Look at this beautiful scenery, too bad it does not convey how friggin' windy it was that day!  She had put me down to take a landscape shot and I almost flew away, so she opted to take a selfie with me, since He was not getting out of the car...

Up in the mountains, they spotted one of the many, many water falls there was around there.  Granted everything was melting, but still, there were all sizes and types of water falls to be found.

By a little creek, with strong current which was also drinkable water, as many lakes, and rivers in that area...

He got out of the car on the way back, and after a walk in very damp woods managed to find these lovely flat rocks which made a nice water fall.  The sound of the rushing water was something else.