Day 17 – Travel to Charlottetown, PEI

Today we bid farewell to Nova Scotia.  After a rainy start the weather quickly turned sunny for our journey to Pictu, NS where we took a large ferry 14 miles across the Northumberland Strait to Prince Edward Island.  This was the largest ferry we ever took.  There were multiple levels for vehicle loading.  We ended up in the lower level which held approximately 50 vehicles.  After disembarking at the PEI ferry landing we drove to Charlottetown.  The hilly and heavily wooded terrain we had become accustomed to viewing in Nova Scotia turned into gently rolling landscapes of farmland with fields separated by narrow rows of evergreen trees.  We could now see for miles when looking out of our vehicle’s side windows.  The soil here is a reddish-brown like you would see when traveling through Virginia.  We will be spending the next 4 nights at Number One Grafton Street, a historic B & B. 

The Confederation

Farewell to Nova Scotia

Welcome to Prince Edward Island

Our Ferry Deck

Day 16 – Baddeck, A Visit with Alexander and Mabel

Today we took a drive to the quiet village of Baddeck on an inner shore of the great Bras d’Or Lake.  A well known landmark is the picturesque lighthouse on Kidston Island.  

We visited the Alexander Graham Bell Museum which exhibits the many scientific contributions invented by Bell.  Although he is best known for his invention of the telephone, his genius carried him much further into scientific research than most people realize.  He made important contributions to the fields of medicine, aeronautics, marine engineering and genetics.  He also carried out extensive research in the areas of electricity, sound, and speech.  Of all his interests the one that Bell himself identified as being closest to his heart was his interest in improving the teaching of the deaf.

Baddeck Lighthouse

Alexander Graham Bell Museum

Bell's hydrofoil

A view of Baddeck Bay

 

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Day 15 – Louisbourg

After a delicious Bananas Foster french toast and bacon breakfast and good conversation with our hosts we set out from our B&B to the town of Louisbourg to visit the lighthouse and Fortress Louisbourg.  Our first stop was Lighthouse Point which was the location of the first lighthouse in Canada.  Although long gone (the first two burned down), the foundations of the original lighthouses are still there.  The current lighthouse was built in 1923, one year after the second burned.

Welcome to Louisbourg

Louisbourg Lighthouse

View from Lighthouse Point

We then visited the Fortress of Louisbourg which is North America’s largest historical reconstruction.  It was reconstructed to represent the lifestyle of the 18^th century.  It is a self-contained city within fortified barriers.  Homes, small farms, a chapel, military barracks, stores, blacksmith shops and warehouse facilities are all located within the fortress walls.  This is a very expansive construction.  Walking through the various buildings gives you an appreciation for how large it really is.

Fortress of Louisbourg

Dauphin Gate

walking to the Fortress

Frederic Gate

pasture within the Fortress

Fortress homes

vegetable garden

Chapel, barracks and governor's apartments

Storehouses & Icehouse

Day 14 Around the Cabot Trail to Bras d'Or Lake

We left Cheticamp on another bright and sunny day and traveled around the Cabot Trail stopping at many of the scenic overlooks.  It was a beautiful September day.  Temperatures in the mid 70's.

Black Brook Cove

Tom at Neil's Harbour

Green Cove

Green Cove

Cape Smokey

After leaving the Cabot Trail we took the Englishtown Ferry on our journey to Sydney.

Englishtown Ferry Crossing

St. Ann's Lookout

Bridge over St. Patrick's Channel

We'll be spending the next 3 nights at Bryden Manor B&B overlooking Bras d'Or Lake.  Bryden Manor is a large private home with 2 guest suites.  We have the entire downstairs to ourselves.

Bryden Manor B&B

View of Bras d'Or Lake from B&B

Day 13 – Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Skyline Trail

We were fortunate to have beautiful weather for today’s driving and hiking expedition into Cape Breton Highlands National Park.  We drove straight to the Skyline Trail entrance and started the day with a 4 mile hike.  We saw a bald eagle soaring overhead and a quail hiding from a fox that was stalking it.  Fortunately for the quail we scared the fox away when it saw us taking a picture.  The trail is a relatively easy hike through mostly wooded areas.  There is a boardwalk along the trail head section which all hikers are required to stay on.  The views from the trail headland were breathtaking.  Everyone said that we would see moose but all we saw were moose signs (hoof prints and poop)!    

Skyline Trail

Quail along the trail

Cabot Trail from Skyline Trail

View from the trail

Boardwalk at end of trail

We then drove further along the Cabot Trail to Pleasant Bay where we had a seafood wrap for lunch (very good).  Cabot trail has many convenient pull-offs where you can stop and take great photos. 

The only moose we saw!

Fishing Cove

Highlands Plateau

View from one of the pull-offs

Pillar Rock

We returned to our beautiful B&B for a cat nap.

Maison Fiset House

View of Cheticamp Island from our balcony