Blogs from Baddeck, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, North America

Saturday, September 6 When we started out on Saturday morning, everything was wet from showers in the night - the first bands of rain going out ahead of tropical storm Hannah. We ate breakfast at a Perkins just across the line into New Jersey. In New York, we drove through the Bear Mountain State Park. The clouds were sitting on top of the mountain, so the road to the lookout was closed. We took the Bear Mountain bridge across the Hudson River. For a while we drove through the countryside - with forest and large lakes. In Carmel, NY, we stopped for lunch and ran our errands - an optician to put the lens back into Mother’s glasses, a Radio Shack for an electrical adapter, and an A&P for Mother’s grocery store fix. Most of the ... read more

Alice and I are in Baddeck right now waiting until 5 or so to head back onto the road towards our campgrounds. She says if you check in after 6pm, you don't have to pay for the day's fees so we figure we'll laze around Baddeck for the time being. One of the gift shops have the cutest mugs! They are 'Buddha' mugs that are easy to cradle. I like!... read more

Now that we have internet access again I feel like I need to use it so a short odds and ends message. We have had clam chowder, fish chowder and seafood chowder in several places along the way from Maine on into Canada. All have been delicious and fun to taste different ones. All of the chowders we have had have been of a broth soup consistency, much thinner than traditional New England chowder, but very good. We both feel we have had a 2 year supply of coleslaw and french fries. It seems like most fish meals you order come with those 2 items. You know you have had too many fries when you start comparing them among restaurants as you would with steak or a glass of wine. We have been expecting more "traditional" ... read more

Our day started by taking a sailing tour on the Bras d'Or Lakes around the Baddeck shoreline. We were able to see Alexander Graham Bell's home which is on a secluded and gated island just off shore from Baddeck. The grand home is currently occupied by The Bells' grand-daughter, Mabel (named after his wife) who is 101 years old. This is the closest view anyone can get to the home. Our captain stated that he had the privilege of touring the home once. We sailed around for about two hours taking in the scenery and enjoying Baddeck from a different point of view. While we were on the boat, two bald eagles began circling the boat. The captain said that they do this quite often and so he threw them some fish. It was quite amazing ... read more

We woke this morning to very cool weather. There has been some rain off and on but not enough to interfere with our plans. We spent part of the day at Highland Village in Iona. http://museum.gov.ns.ca/hv We had a lovely drive over via the small car ferry at Little Narrows and then afterwards drove around St. Andrews Channel up to Sydney. It’s a beautiful area. The leaves are really starting to change now; lots of gold and red. The colors are such a nice contrast against the evergreens. Around lunchtime we spotted Fitzgerald’s along Highway 105 in Southaven. It was a great little restaurant with the nicest lady waiting on tables. She seemed to really enjoy what she was doing; we thought at first that she must own the restaurant but found out later that she ... read more