Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

Cape Breton is an island of Nova Scotia but has been joined to mainland Nova Scotia by the Canso Causeway. The major industries of coal mining and steel production have now given way to tourism. The island itself is cut into multiple parts by rivers and bays. The northern part is mostly a national park. The 180 mile Cabot Trail is a rugged 2 lane highway around and through this park.

A rugged coastline with rocky cliffs. You can see the Cabot Trail hugging the coast.

Some of our fellow caravaners having fun

Be careful! It's a long way down there.

We visited a Cathedral in Cheticamp (yes, it's pronounced "shitty camp"), a fishing village along the Cabot Trail

Debbie gave us a small aria to demonstrate the perfect acoustics of this church and her beautiful voice.

This Acadian museum paid tribute to area "hookers", that is rug and tapestry makers.

First a drawing is made on the backing. The rug is made one stitch at a time. No knots are needed because the weave is so tight. The really difficult part is getting the level even.

The Crucifixion

A closeup of the above

The three flags of this area. The Nova Scotia flag to the right, Canada's flag in the center, and the unofficial but ubiquitous, Acadian flag. 

Debbie and Tanna enjoy a drink

S'mores, anyone?

We needed hard hats to visit a coal mining museum. I think everyone on the tour hit their helmets on the top of the mine numerous times. I probably would have had a concussion if I didn't have the helmet.

If you are 5' 1" tall you will just bump you head here. Further down the mine you will have to stoop like everyone else.

Interesting name for an ice cream parlor.

Not to be outdone, the chicken place across the street adopted a similar name.

Honey, I shrunk the kids

Our goodbye photo

I have two black and whites for this blog.

A church on Cape Breton

This 25+ year old self portrait was done with actual black & white film. I used Tri-X film almost exclusively.
This was done with my trusty Leica M3. This is from a scan of the negative.
Look, my hair is blowing in the wind!

Halifax Nova Scotia

Well, this is it! This was our destination to start with, the presumed place that Debbie's cousin, Gay, lived when both Debbie and Gay were in their early 20s. Debbie has had a calling to Nova Scotia ever since.

Halifax is the largest city in Maritime Canada and has the second deepest port in the world. Halifax has a connection to The Titanic. After the ship sank ships from Halifax were sent, not for rescue as they were too late, but for recovery. 190 victims were brought back to Halifax and buried there, including John Dawson, a coal stoker, whose grave stone gave James Cameron the inspiration for the name of his main character, Jack Dawson, played by Leonardo DiCaprio.

After the film came out this grave site was bestrewn with flowers, love notes, money,
pictures and offers of marriage for this fictional character.

The Citadel of Nova Scotia is an earthern fort built by the British to protect this city and harbor
from the rebels down in the 13 colonies. You can see in this photo grass growing above the stone wall.
From the ocean and the port the fort is almost invisible.

These are not military cadets. They are student actors playing a role.

Ready, aim, fire.....NO! WAIT! Out of the way, woman!

The guard stands for one hour at a time.

The buckle of the 78th Regiment

Changing of the guard

The Clock Tower

Downtown Halifax has a nice walk along the river and port.

The sign said "No Climbing"

Poutine is a delicious combination of French fries with mozzarella and brown gravy. Nothing bad for you there, right?

Hey, sailor, what do you have there?

The Black & White for this blog comes from the Blue Rocks area of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

Our Maratime trip is coming to an end but we still have 4 more days in Cape Breton, which is really an island of Nova Scotia. See you there.

Ciao, Frank