There were so many Bald Eagles in Cape Breton.
Northumberland Ferry
We needed to get from PEI to Nova Scotia. Backtracking over the bridge would have taken 3 extra hours of driving time, so we decided to take the ferry. Sandy passed the time coloring.
The crossing time was 75 minutes. The Northumberland Ferry upper decks have a large cafeteria, travel information center, and outdoor deck. A week prior, all the reservations for big rigs were taken. We just showed up were able to get on. In the future, if we come this way again, we will make a reservation. It rained like HELL after we got off the ferry. Scary driving but only for half an hour.
Ceilidh Trail
A beautiful coastal drive located in the southeastern area of Cape Breton.
Celtic Music Interpretive Centre
Its a museum, restaurant and music venue. We enjoyed a beer, appetizers and live Celtic music. Her fiddle cost $500, but she wants one thats $5000. Her bow is another $500! Celtic Music Center website.
Glenora Distillery
They make whiskey, but also have a restaurant, live Celtic music, and an Inn. We tried the sampler. The strongest was 70% alcohol. Honestly, we prefer wine or martinis! Glenora Distillery
Baddeck
It is a picturesque small town in the center of Cape Brenton. Baddeck is located on the shores of an inland sea called Bras d’Or lake. It is also considered the beginning and the end of the Cabot Trail since its a loop.
There are numerous Bald Eagles here. We took a ferry to Little Narrows and saw this one next to the dock during a light drizzle. Sandy saw a red fox run across the road.
Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site
He was a transportation and communication pioneer. The Bell’s summer home was here. He was born on March 3, 1847 in Edinburgh, Scotland. His father, grandfather, and brother were involved in speech (elocution). Both his mother and his wife were deaf, which profoundly influenced his work. With the help of his assistant Thomas Watson, he had the first patent for the telephone in 1876.
As a child, he invented a wheat husk remover when only 10 years old. At a young age he believed that electricity could be used to articulate speech. He studied in Edinburgh and was accepted for admission to the University College of London. His brothers died from tuberculosis. His father had a debilitating illness that improved with a convalescence in Newfoundland. Their European house was sold and they moved to Canada when he was 23. While in Canada he learned the Mohawk language and was awarded the title of Honorary Chief. His father developed the Visible Speech System. Bell taught his father’s system and opened his “School of Vocal Physiology and Mechanics of Speech” in Boston. One of his students was Helen Keller. Another one of his students was Mabel Hubbard, tens years younger, who became the object of his affection and they eventually married. Geez, she was 15, he was a teacher, he would be in jail if that happened today.
The success of Bell Telephone Company allowed him the financial freedom to indulge in his passion of discovery and invention. His interests included a photophore, metal detector, hydrofoil, aeronautics, and eugenics. Bell was the second president of the National Geographic Society. He died from complications of diabetes on August 2, 1922 in Cape Breton at the age of 75. The Alexander Graham Bell Historic Site is part of Parks Canada.
Uisge Ban Falls
It was a nice 2 hour roundtrip hike to a 50 foot waterfall. Tired Jake out which is always nice.
Donelda’s Puffin Boat Tours
We were not disappointed. There were an incredible number of eagles and puffins.
Puffins are sometimes called sea parrots, lay one egg, both sexes share in the incubation, and their wings beat at 300-400 times per minute. The tour was 2.5 hours to see the puffins and bald eagles.
Sandy captured an amazing series of a Bald Eagle catching a fish. Somewhat staged. The eagle is wild, but it knows the captain will throw a fish out for it.
There were plenty of other birds and seals.
Cabot Trail
The Cabot Trail is a 185 mile loop in the northern part of Cape Breton. The northern section passes through Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The scenery is spectacular. Stunning views of the ocean with dramatic cliffs. Kind of reminds us of parts of the California coastline, especially Big Sur.
It’s summer, so most of the roads were under construction. Although there were very good stretches, most the roads were in awful shape from either potholes or miles of dirt/gravel. Very curvy and hilly. There were actually quite a few people biking this road. No shoulder or bike path. Crazy. Thinking this is our preview to what Alaska roads will be like.
Meat Cove is the northernmost occupied area of Nova Scotia. The views were incredible.
We had a nice dinner(amazing seafood chowder), beer, walk on the beach, and got to know the locals. The rocks were flat, so people took the opportunity to stack them.
We hiked to Benjie’s Lake. It was easy, few people, no animals, which gave Jake a great chance to explore.
Cheticamp is a city on the western side. We found a seafood wholesaler that had a restaurant where we bought a couple of lobsters for dinner. We had a nice lobster roll and bacon wrapped scallops for lunch.
Bog Trail was a hike on a raised wood plank trail over a delicate ecosystem of moss and aquatic plants. There were numerous pitcher plants.
Sydney
It was founded in 1785 by the British. Gotta love Canadian humor!
Sydney is a population centre and a former city in Nova Scotia. We drove around looking for a brewery or wine bar that served food. No luck, so settled on shopping at Walmart.
World’s Largest Fiddle
The fiddle is 60 feet tall and celebrates Cape Breton’s Celtic culture.
Arm of Gold Campground in Little Bras d’ Or
It’s a campground with nice water views on top of a hill. We had 50 amp service, 50 psi water pressure, a large level pad, wifi good enough to surf the internet, and a pressure washer to wash RVs or cars. Both the jeep and the RV were filthy after the dirt roads on the Cabot Trail. They got a badly needed wash! They recycle glass, paper, plastic, and cans. There was good Dish satellite reception and a nice 0.8 mile loop trail with a huge area to let Jake run. The RV had about 20 mosquitoes in it. Sandy rapidly cleared them with the Executioner!
Even though there is no privacy between sites, it had all the amenities for a great stay. In addition to a gym, ping pong, pool table and clean showers, they had two private rooms with spa tubs for those aches and pains. Arm of Gold website.
Cape Breton is amazing. Two hearts.
