Geo: 46.6921, -60.3673Day 8 –Free day at Keltic LodgeToday was a day "at leisure," which is sort of unusual following a transfer day where there were no activities.We opted for golf at our own expense. My husband is a golfer; I own golf clubs so in a very broad sense, I could be called a golfer. But not really. The golf course at Keltic Lodge, Highlands Links Golf Course, is supposedly rated in the top 50 in Canada. One review even said it was 3rd. Really? Can you say "overrated"?Pros: Magnificent views of Cape Breton and surroundings. Lovely weather -- 80°!Cons: Below average condition. And too expensive for the conditions. Cost per person in off season: C$100 for 18 holes; another C$35 for club rental. Customer service is not a priority. Young guy in clubhouse was ... read more

Geo: 46.2365, -63.1282Day 6Following breakfast (lobster benedict), Patrick and I took a stroll around Charlottetown and attended Mass at St. Dunstan's, a lovely Gothic basilica built in 1907.This afternoon we headed to Prince Edward Island National Park located on the north shore of PEI, along the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. It's the third most visited park in Canada, after Banff and Jasper.There are beautiful dunes and soft-to-the-touch, small-grained sand. We stopped at a lobster dock, where Allison spent time teaching us about lobsters and lobster fishing. Among her facts:1. Lobsters shed their shells (molt) in order to grow.2. Lobsters were once considered a poor man's seafood. 3. Fishermen throw back lobsters that are too small or too big or breeding.4. Lobsters can dine on other lobsters, which is why their claws have bands i... read more

Geo: 46.0884, -64.7783Hopewell Rocks in New BrunswickWhat a fun day at Fundy!This morning we visited Hopewell Rocks. On our way, Allison pointed out that the Petitcodiac River behind our hotel ebbs and flows with the tides of the Bay of Fundy. The water level was very high; the Bay of Fundy tide was obviously in. When we returned late afternoon, the river was almost empty. The tide was out. Thus the phenomenon of the local tides.Check out this video – a time lapse of the tidal shifts at Hopewell Rocks, Bay of Fundy.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnDJ6_XpGfoThe Hopewell Rocks, also called the Flowerpot Rocks, are formations caused by tidal erosion. They stand 40-70' tall.They are located on the shores of the Bay of Fundy. Due to the extreme tidal range of the Bay of Fundy, the base of the formations ... read more

Geo: 44.6462, -63.5739Day 2 Lunenburg and Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia We had a magnificent day for traveling. Sunny and high in the 60's (Fahrenheit). Driver Gary headed south through Halifax, past lovely two-story homes on beautiful tree-lined streets. We passed an area known as "The Oval" which serves as a running track in summer and a skating rink in winter. Very clever.As we traveled, Allison gave us some history of Nova Scotia. The Mi'kmaq are the founding people of Nova Scotia. The French, who arrived in 1605, referred to the area as Acadia. The Acadians lived here for almost 80 years, prior to the British Siege of Port Royal in 1710. The British carried out the Great Expulsion of 1755, deporting 11,500 Acadians from the maritime region. Many migrated to Spanish colonial Louisiana and became known ... read more

Geo: 44.6462, -63.5739Day 9 – Saint John, New Brunswick to Halifax, Nova ScotiaToday was not our best travel day. Several folks had suggested we check out Reversing Falls before we left Saint John. Reversing Falls are rapids where the Saint John River runs through a narrow gorge before emptying into the Bay of Fundy. The tides of the bay force the water to reverse against the prevailing current when the tide is high. Sounds interesting; sorry to have missed it. We found the reviewing platform but saw only a few swirls in the waters below. Perhaps we were viewing at the wrong time.We hit the road (NB-1) to Halifax. We exited at Sussex, home to 16 covered bridges. Checked out two and were on the road again. I like covered bridges. They remind me of that ... read more