Sunday, July 28, 2019

Canada

July 27, 2019
We are heading to Cape Breton Nova Scotia for our annual trip. We left this morning at 6:00, pretty light traffic and excited to spend time with our grandchildren and see one of our favorite places in the world. Beautiful morning and so thankful for our great Subaru and little pop up to be able to make this trip.
We are about 5 1/2 hours into the trip, stopped for coffee and will stop at Medway Maine rest stop for lunch before heading to Woodstock NB Canada, about another hour drive. We are staying at Crossing Path (Airbnb) for a night. 
We arrived at Woodstock around 2:30 (time change) and no one was there, so I called the owner who told us where the room was. Very old inn but cute. The inside was quaint and our room is so pleasant. About 6 we walked down the road to an Irish Pub (River Restaurant). I had a salmon burger that was delicious. When we got back to the inn, we met Shaun, the owner and another couple staying here who were touring on a motorcycle. Really nice people. We sat, drank wine and talked for a few hours before heading to bed. 





July 28
We were up, had coffee and headed out by 6:30. Pretty uneventful ride, not much traffic and long drive. Stopping for gas, drinks and stretching our legs. It took about 8 hours to get to Cape Breton
campground. We set up the camper and took it easy for the rest of the day. April and Lexie stopped by with Magnolia and Rose on the way to the Broad Cove Concert but we told them we were too tired this year to go. Made supper and in bed by 8😊

July 29
Beautiful morning, made coffee, took a ride to Donna and Mike’s cottage to see April and the girls.
Stayed a few minutes and then headed back to go to the beach. We had such a relaxing day, napping
off and on most of the day. Water was refreshing and crazy waves.


July 30
Tom and I went to town for breakfast at Westside Cookhouse. After that we went to Mermaid Beach to meet up with the girls and April. They had their yearly lobster to release❤️  Went swimming, water is so warm. 

July 31
April dropped the girls off for breakfast. I made breakfast burritos and then headed down to the beach. We met up with Ann and the girls and April joined us a little later. Tom and I stayed on the beach and we both fell asleep. Needless to say we got a little burned. April invited us to a party at her cousins house but we were both too burned and tired to do anything. 

Aug 1
We woke up to no electricity. Most of the area lost it because of a storm. We headed down to the beach and around 2 the electricity came back on. We walked up the hill to the path that takes to to the top for a beautiful view. We have been so blessed with awesome weather. 
That night we went to Mermaid beach for a family campfire and marshmallows. It was a beautiful 
night.



Aug 2
Tommy came today around 8pm. We spent day at beach and watched a beautiful sunset. 













Aug 3
We stopped over Donna and Mikes to see Tommy, then headed back to campground. I went down to beach and read for awhile. 

Aug 4
We headed over to the Mabou farmers market, met everyone there and then went to Coal Mine Beach. The water was too rocky so it wasn’t much fun swimming. After we went back to campground for supper.
 


Aug 5
Our last day in Cape Breton. We went to beach and then to Red Shoe for supper. 

Aug 6
We packed up and headed out around 9 am. Stopped for coffee on the way. It’s about 6 hour drive and went over the bridge to get there. Pretty cool drive. We stayed at the Prince Edward Island National Campground in Stanhope. The campground was very nice and lovely restrooms. We could walk across the street to the ocean, which was very nice. Everything here is tinted red because of the iron in the land. 

Aug 7
We took off to ride over to Anne of Green Gables in Cavendish and walked around the property along a beautiful path. Then a drive around the island and stopped at a cute restaurant for lunch and off to Basin Head Provincial Park in Souris which is famous for Singing Sands and the bridge everyone jumps off. The beach was very nice but also crowded. We stayed awhile then headed back to campsite. 




Aug 8
We got up and headed over to Cape Enrage, Barn Marsh Beach where we could view the tide, which at the time was low tide. We took a ride down the road to the cute light house and visited the area for a while. We than went to Hopewell Rocks because at low tide you can walk on the ocean floor. This was so amazing to walk among the vertical rock formations that are over 50 feet high.  The tide can rise over 33 feet a minute.  Later in the day we tried to drive back to Barn Marsh Beach to see the high tide but the fog was so bad we had to turn back.  


August 9 
We headed over to Hopewell Rocks to walk on the ocean floor where the tides are the highest in the world. The rock formations caused by tidal erosion was simply amazing. They stand 40-70 feet tall!



August 10
We headed to Blackwoods Campground located about 5 miles from Bar Harbour ME for two nights. This is in Acadia National Park. Very pretty area which we took rides into Bar Harbour center and walked some pretty trails. 

August 11 
We took a ride to Thunder Hole in Acadia and walked along the ocean. We went into town for dinner and got a delicious lobster ❤️  We headed back to the campsite and just relaxed for our next adventure. 



August 12
We headed over to Woodland Acres Campground in Brownfield ME. A neighborhood friend owns this campground so we decided to stay here for a couple of nights. It was very nice and campsites were spacious. We arrived later in afternoon so we went out to get ice and just hung around. Took a walk behind our site down to the Sacco River. 

August 13 
We got up to head up to Mt Washington   About 2 hour drive but when we got there we took the Cog Railway up to the top. Just an amazing ride! Got real foggy as we headed to the top and when we got there it was pretty thick and chilly. Just a beautiful mountain and so glad we did this. 





August 14 
Headed home 🙁


















Tuesday, June 12, 2018

June 12

June 12
Our last day of our Cross Country Trip. I’m excited and a little sad also. We headed out from Rick and Kate’s around 7:30 and heading home! This will be our longest drive. We are on Rt 90 for 400 miles. We went over pretty Onondaga Lake in Liverpool and crossed the Hudson River in Albany.

Arrived in Massachusetts around 1:00. Oh beautiful MA!




June 10 & 11

June 10
Got up, had breakfast, said bye to Andrew and Tom, Mary and I went to Mike’s church to see him sing in his choir. Nice job! Said our goodbyes and off we go at 10:30 to Rick and Kate’s house. Our last stop before home!
We are driving Interstate 90 along Lake Erie through Ohio, northern corner of Pennsylvania and up to just before Buffalo NY. This road is the longest interstate in the country, running from Seattle WA to Boston. Riding along the Niagara River over the North Grand Island Bridge, we arrived at Rick and Kate’s in Niagara NY around 7:00. So glad to finally be here and to see my brother and sister in law. Their home is lovely and we have a nice guest room to stay in.  I love their three cats but Rupert is my favorite.


June 11
Rick made us yummy blueberry pancakes for breakfast. Kate had to go to work today so after breakfast the three of us headed over to Niagara Falls State Park and did the Cave of the Winds tour. Another breathtaking beauty. We walked up to Hurricane Deck where it was the most beautiful view and got soaked, but it was so worth it. Saw the three falls, American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Horseshoe Falls and got a free pair of sandals to keep. What a great time. Came back to the house to just hang out for a while.











Quote from my brother which perfectly describes this. “Cave of the Winds.  The stairs that the people are ascending, take you to the Hurricane Deck, where you are almost standing directly under the falls.  We went up there.  I don't even know how to accurately describe it, other than "awesome", in the literal sense.  I stood there like Tim Robbins, after he crawls to freedom in "Shawshank Redemption", with my arms outstretched, just getting pounded by wind and water.  It's spiritual, seriously.”


Saturday, June 9, 2018

June 8 & 9

June 8
Today is my mother’s birthday ❤️
Hooked up and out by 9:30 heading to Cincinnati - Mike’s house. Entered Indiana at 12:00, time changed to EST and Ohio at 3:00. Got to Mike’s house 3:30. Oh my gosh it is so great to see family! I feel like we are home. Having coffee and Mike is making sauce for pasta tonight. Yum!!
Mary and Andrew arrived around 8:00. All here now and so good to see my cousins. Just hung out and talked until bed.


June 9 Andrew made us breakfast and then we went to Jungle Jim’s, which is always an experience ☺️
Made yummy lunch with stuff we bought. Real food, yeah!
Went to local bar to watch the Belmont Stakes and watched Justify win the Triple Crown!

We had a delicious dinner of asparagus risotto and salad and then went out for ice cream. Nice end to a beautiful day.