Days 227 of a 365-Day Portrait Of Canada: The Cabot Trail, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

Please Note – The cellphone towers aren’t so frequent in the small fishing villages along the Cabot Trail, so sorry for not being able to update the blog daily. Please check back to see more from the Cabot trail in the next 48 hours. It’s raining cats and spitting dogs, but we’ll be able to find something to photograph, providing the wind hasn’t blown it across the highway or into the sea.

Fly Fishing Near Ingonish

View From Little Smokey Mountain

No one told me the roads were so hilly and curvy on the Cabot Trail, which might have been a good thing, because it would have intimidated me knowing what hazards lay ahead. This is a good stretch of pavement, much of the Cabot Trail is just that…a trail, with potholes and pushed out sections all joining together to make one big suspension-busting experience.

A Canadian flag greets this family at the entrance way to their home. Cape Bretoner’s fly the Canadian flag everywhere.

Neil’s harbour is a classic Cape Breton fishing village along the Cabot Trail. Lobster season is set to open tomorrow and there is a buzz in the air with everyone getting their boats, fishing gear and minute by minute weather reports  for the 5 AM start. With Lobster being the main economic generator, each of the 60 days that the Lobster season is open is important. Fishermen will check the traps each day for the first couple of weeks and then every other day after that, with the lobster numbers decreasing steadily over the 60 days.

Young Ben and his father cut up mackerel for bait used in the lobster traps.

High School is out for the days leading up to the opening of the Lobster season, and everyone has to help out however they can. These boys help bait each of the 275 traps. A smelly job.

Baiting the traps which are to be set tomorrow.

Opening morning of the lobster fishing season, I arrive at the wharf at 5:08 AM to photograph the boats leaving the harbour, but I’m eight whole minutes late and the entire harbour is empty. Out at sea, around Neil’s Harbour I can see the fishing boats bobbing up and down in the four foot swells. It’s a windy morning, making it even more of a pain to set the lobster traps off the side of the boats. Each boat is loaded to capacity with lobster traps which weigh in at 100 pounds.

Hazards are around every corner, with the winds reaching 35 km/hr even the most seasoned fisherman must keep a keen eye out for rocks and other boats.

Sunrise over Neil’s Harbour

Heading out to sea with a second batch of traps. Each fishermen is allowed 275 Lobster traps.

Tying Down the Lobster Traps

Everyone gets involved on the first day of Lobster season.

High School kids throw a Grad BBQ down at Neil’s Harbour to raise funds for their Grad.

Flag Of The Day

 

Day 168 of a 365-Day Portrait of Canada: Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia

Annapolis Royal is located in the western part of Annapolis County. Known as Port-Royal to France until being renamed in 1710 by Britain, the town is located in an area that claims to have the second oldest continuous European settlement in North America. The community is situated at the western end of the fertile Annapolis Valley, nestled between the North and South mountains which define the valley. The Bay of Fundy is just over the North Mountain, 10 kilometers out of town, and the Annapolis Basin forms the waterfront for this historic town. Directly opposite Annapolis Royal on the northern bank of the river is the community of Granville Ferry. 

Buffleheads break through the still waters of the Annapolis River. 

Golden Morning Light in the Annapolis Basin

The town of Granville Ferry sits nestled in the hills across from Annapolis Royal. 

Nova Scotia Scenic Moment

The Ryan Royale 

The crew of the Ryan Royale fixes their gear and gets ready to head out for some more scallops. 

Lighthouse in Annapolis Royal

A local enjoys a stroll by the water on the wooden walkway in Annapolis Royal. 

Downtown Annapolis Royal is home to many small businesses and brightly-colored historical buildings. 

Fort Anne National Historic Site of Canada is Canada’s oldest. It is a present-day reminder of a time when conflict between Europe’s empire builders was acted out on the shores of the Annapolis River. It offers a sweeping view of the beautiful Annapolis Basin from the centre of Annapolis Royal. 

The Fort Anne Museum exhibits highlight the history of the fort.

Fort Anne

As the focal point for French and British settlement and as the seat of government of Acadia and then Nova Scotia, Fort Anne National Historic Site played an important role in Canadian history. The site was the scene of numerous battles as France and England fought for control of North America in the 17^th and 18^th centuries. Both imperial powers considered the conquest of this fortified site as the key to domination of the part of eastern Canada known by the French as “Acadie” and by the British as “Nova Scotia.” The site has been fortified since 1629 when the Scots who came to colonize “Nova Scotia” (New Scotland) built Charles Fort. After the colony reverted to France in the 1630s, French colonists replaced the Scots. Their leader, Charles de Menou d’Aulnay, built the first of four French forts, possibly incorporating parts of the Scots’ fort. Two make-shift forts succeeded d’Aulnay‘s fort. Then, in 1702, the French began construction of the Vauban earthwork that still stands to-day.

These hills are an example of Vauban fortifications.

Historic Fortification in Saint Anne

Once a sight of conflict, strife and war, children now run free on the battlefields. 

Dean and Tyler play frisbee on a brisk day in Annapolis Royal. 

Mirror Moment

These gentlemen acquired some vintage horse tackle to use as decorations from the auction in Lawrencetown. 

Dale and Ervin

Kathy runs the A.J. Meats and Grocery store in Lawrencetown. Not only does she sell delicious homemade pork sausages, but she also makes a mean banana bread.

This mural in Windsor sums up the flavor of the area. In 1878, Windsor was officially incorporated as a town. Its harbour made the town a centre for shipping and shipbuilding during the age of sail. As the port of registry for the massive wooden shipbuilding industry of the Minas Basin, Windsor was the homeport of one of the largest fleet of sailing ships in Canada.

Built in June 1750 by Major Charles Lawrence, Fort Edward protected the route from the new capital, Halifax, to the Annapolis Valley.  It was garrisoned by the British army until the 1820s. The blockhouse at Fort Edward is the oldest blockhouse in Canada, and one of the oldest buildings in Nova Scotia. It is a National Historic site of Canada. 

Fort Edward

Day 166 of a 365-Day Portrait of Canada: Ferry Ride From Saint John, New Brunswick to Digby, Nova Scotia Aboard the Princess Of Acadia

This way to the Ferry…

The Princess of Acadia has a Starbucks in the Rising Tide Cafe, a Little Mates Quarters for kids, the Fundy Grill restaurant if you’re hungry and the Sea Breeze lounge if you’re thirsty. You can watch a movie onboard, play in the arcade, or try your luck on the VLTs. You can even hook up your own laptop to the internet, or surf free-of-charge on the Ferry’s computers. It’s a pretty cushy three-hour trip, but it can be a bit rocky, so you may want to bring some Gravol if you get nauseous.

The Princess of Acadia leaves the Saint John Harbour at 9:00 a.m., bound for Digby.

The van is loaded, and we are ready to go!

Phyllis passes the time with a crossword puzzle.

2nd Officer Kevin Arsenault

Steward (1) Brian Cousins

QM (1) Carven Chamberlain

Captain Oral Hamilton

The captain watches the ferry pull up along the 60 foot high pier. The tide at the Bay of Fundy can rise as much as 30 feet.

Two Longshoremen wait for the ferry to dock.

Flags are stored on the bridge, and each flag has a meaning.

Tying up the ferry.

Departing the ferry from the vehicle deck.

Canadian Flag on a Fish Farm, Digby, Nova Scotia.

Day 165 of a 365-Day Portrait of Canada: Tugboats in The Historic Town of Saint John, New Brunswick

The Atlantic Beaver is the newest boat down at the pier as it is about a year old. Note the orange paint on the top of the boat to increase its visibility.

The Crew of the Atlantic Beaver

Allan has been the engineer of the Atlantic Spruce for two year, a Saint John-based tug boat. Crew members often live on board for months at a time depending where the tug boat is working.

In the quiet months the crew paints and does maintenance on the boats. The Atlantic Beech celebrated its 40th birthday this year and is still considered to be a viable work horse.

Rope Detail – This stuff is strong! 

Tim has been working on big boats for 26 years, 13 years in St John and before that 13 years in the Philipines. Tim is the engineer of the Hazelnut tug boat.

Canadian Flags adorn two of the four tug boats moored in Saint John.

Welding crew works on the Atlantic Beaver.

Curtis is the Captain of the Atlantic Beaver. He uses joysticks to steer, and the boat can manoever in any direction. 

The crews have many maintenance-type tasks to keep them busy during the slower season. 

Colin works on the Atlantic Beaver. 

The escape hatch doubles as a round window in the kitchen, right above the sink. 

Day 146 of a 365-Day Portrait of Canada: St. Anne-De-Beaupre, Rural Quebec and the Edison Phonographic Museum of Canada

It was freezing and windy today when we went for a walk. The ice was built up in thin, razor-sharp layers on the shore of the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Looking out across the vast expanse of snowy land, it felt like we were someplace way in the Canadian North.

Even without leaves, these trees are elegant.

Rural Quebec

Out For an Early Evening Walk

This is one of the many stone houses that can be found in rural Quebec.

Somebody needs a haircut.

Hippie Cows

Lise with her dogs woody and Belle

Showing off his prized work horse, Bijou.

These fun-loving fellas were just hanging out in the barn, shooting the breeze.

Splitting wood is a big part of the rural Quebec lifestyle, with many of the houses heated with wood burning stoves.

Quebecois Woodsmen

The Phonograph Museum

The owner of the Phonograph Museum was extremely knowledgable about the history of the phonograph. We were even lucky enough to have our tour of the museum in English!

About 250 different phonographs at the museum made for a very striking collection!

Recording Cylinders

The Dictograph

Early recording cylinders were used in talking dolls – many of them were from France and Germany.

A Portrait of Edison Who Invented the Phonograph

This museum has been around for 38 years and it is the only phonograph museum in Canada. Many old phonographs are kept in private collections rather than being put on display.

You could pick up the receiver and listen to Pope Leo the 13th give his Benediction as it was recorded on February 5th, 1903.

Day 121 of a 365-Day Portrait of Canada: Lake Louise and the Rocky Mountains

The Continental Divide (or Great Divide) is the name given to the principal, and largely mountainous, hydrological divide of the Americas that separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean. It divides those river systems which drain into the Atlantic Ocean (including those which drain via the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea), and also along the northernmost reaches of the Divide, those river systems which drain into the Arctic Ocean (including those which drain into either the Arctic or Atlantic Oceans via Hudson Bay).

Although there are other continental divides on the North American continent, the Great Divide is by far the most prominent of these because it tends to follow a line of high peaks along the main ranges of both the American and Canadian Rocky Mountains, at a generally much higher elevation than the other divides. (taken from Wikipedia)

The valet parking team greets you with a smile at the front entrance of the Chateau Lake Louise

The “Lake of Little Fishes” (HO-RUN-NUM-NAY in Stoney) was the first name given to the lake by the natives who settled in the area. On August 21, 1882, Tom Wilson, a horse wrangler/packer for the Canadian Pacific Railway, christened the lake “Emerald Lake” due to its brilliant green colouring. “Lake Louise” was the third name given to these waters in 1884, to honour Princess Louise Caroline Alberta. She was the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria, but more importantly, married to the Marquis of Lorne, Governor General of Canada at the time.

Since its original beginnings in 1890, Chateau Lake Louise has had many facelifts. Changes have been made to establish us as a year-round international destination resort. Before the hotel became famous for its architecture, Lake Louise had already been established as one of the country’s first mountaineering centres. In 1899, the Canadian Pacific Railway imported Swiss guides to begin developing an extensive trail system that would eventually radiate into the backcountry from the shores of Lake Louise. (taken from Wikipedia)

There are miles and miles of well-groomed cross-country ski trails around Lake Louise.

It’s good to start them out young!

Three sisters enjoy toboganning while overlooking the mountains.

Triple-Decker Ride

Lake Louise has two skating rinks – one for hockey and one for family skating.

The ice castle is a yearly-treat at the foot of the Chateau Lake Louise. There is also an annual ice-carving competition.

Hundreds of tourists visit Lake Louise every day. It is incredible how many people there are from other countries who have come to admire and enjoy the scenic mountains and the natural beauty of the area.

Exquisite Ice-Sculptures

Faces Of The Day: Lake Louise

Flag Of the Day

Day 66 of a 365-Day Portrait of Canada: Santa in the window on Parc Street

17 days until Christmas everybody