There are so many little harbors and coves and beaches to explore. We're doing the Yarmouth and the South Shore route in only 3 days with a rental car, but if we had the motorhome with us we could easily spend two weeks exploring this area.
We started the day yesterday morning walking around Yarmouth. This fishing town with a population of 6,500 or so is the largest community in the southern part of Nova Scotia. It's been a kind of a boom or bust town and the population hasn't changed much in the last hundred years. The current situation there is a bit of a bust.
Old ferry routes between Yarmouth and Bar Harbor or Portland, Maine.
There used to be a tourist ferry between Yarmouth and points in Maine. In fact, prior to the 1950's you could regularly take a boat of some kind to Boston or even New York City. The last ferry service was between Yarmouth and Bar Harbor, Maine, but it ended in December 2009 when the provincial government decided to end subsidies to the service. This of course put a huge economic drain on the area. There is a current movement to reinstate a ferry service in May of 2014, but we'll believe it when we see it.
The entrance to the unused ferry terminal.
We had seen a fall pumpkin/Halloween display at Blaine's Produce and Pumpkin Patch with a lot of fresh produce for sale. We went down there with grandson Cameron and he sure did enjoy it!
(To view the photo full screen, right click on the photo, then click "Open link in a new window")
That's a big pumpkin Grandpa!
All the fresh apples you could want, for $0.79 a pound!
Across the shore, there's an old shipwreck!
Not much left of this old boat.
We finished in Yarmouth and decided to drive to the very southern tip of Nova Scotia at Cape Sable Island. This is where Nova Scotia's tallest lighthouse is located, a 101 foot tall structure built in 1924. Cameron was sleeping at the time, so we didn't get out and go for a walk. It would have been to far to get to the lighthouse anyhow, but the beach looked interesting.
You can just see the lighthouse in the distance.
And if you look far enough south, you might be able to see...Bermuda!
Due south of the southern tip of Nova Scotia is Bermuda!
The Hawk Beach.
Continuing around the island, we came across the beautiful white sand beach. Too bad the temperature wasn't quite warm enough to spend more time there!
Ruth and Cameron exploring the beach.
We could spend a couple of days just on this island!
But, we don't have time for that this trip. We'll come back here with the motorhome someday.
Yesterday's drive, 156 kms (97 miles).
Paul went fishing with his brothers in Nova Scotia. He said it is a beautiful place. He never says that about any place.
ReplyDeleteWe just had friends drive back from there. They loved the week they spent there.
If your friends only spent one week here then they still have lots to see. We have spent lots of time here and we are still finding new places. Paul is right when he says that it is beautiful. You will have to come to Canada's east coast and spend a summer here and see it for yourselves.
Deletegot accepted to grad school at the Univ of Nova Scotia in the 70's but couldn't go becasue Sharon wasn't allowed to get a job then due to us being US citizens... always wondered what it may have been like if we had been able to go there...
ReplyDeleteToo bad that you didn't accept it but we can totally understand with Sharon not being able to work. Have you had the chance to come here for a visit since then? If not then I think you both should make some plans too!
DeleteBut I have! And I can't wait to go back! :c)
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear that you have been here and we hope that you have plans to return soon.
DeleteDoes the ferry still run into Digby? Maybe the reason the ferry was closed, When I was up there it was known as "The Vomit Comet" I met people that rode it and said it lived up to its reputation,
ReplyDeleteThere is a ferry that goes from Saint John, New Brunswick to Digby but the one that went from Maine to Yarmouth was closed down back in 2009. We have never heard of that reputation but we are sure that wasn't the reason that the one from Maine stopped. We are hoping that the new one will have enough traffic use to keep it running.
DeleteHowdy R,K&C,
ReplyDeleteIf you were going to walk to that light-house from where you took the pic, it was a LOOOOOOOONG WAYS, ESPECIALLY FOR A 'LITTLE FELLER' !!!!
Ruth is all hunched-up into her coat like it is a wee-bit chilly !!!!
HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU MANAGE TO SCRAMBLE BACK & GET IN THE PIC, KEVIN??? Cameron is entranced with the punkins, especially the GIGANTIC one !!!! Glad y'all had such a HAPPY DAY !!!
To be honest we are not sure that you can walk to that lighthouse. Yes, you are right, it was a long way out and just a little too much for Cameron at this time.
DeleteIt was chilly, the sun was nice but the wind kept it cool.
It's interesting to see all the different kinds of beaches - we're just used to the plain, sandy ones! The look on Cameron's face as he takes in everything is precious. I think he is going to follow in grandma and grandpa's footsteps and be a world traveler!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are very observant , the beaches are so different, some sandy, some pebbly, and some very rocky. We love them all.
DeleteCameron is always looking down and around, he doesn't miss much. Things are slow going with him but it sure is fun watching all the things that catch his eye.
Didn't you guys used to travel around Mexico?
ReplyDeleteUh huh. And we'll be back in Mexico in March!
DeleteIt is on the list:)
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear it!
DeleteEastern Canada is definitely on my list - hopefully for a whole summer! I still have a few obligations on the west coast that keep me from such a big trip -yet.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, I appreciate the ideas on places to visit!
Hopefully you will be able to make that trip in the near future. Glad to hear that you are hoping to spend a whole summer on the east coast because we really feel that you need that much time to be able to see it properly.
DeleteShould you ever have any questions or require more information, just contact us, we will be more than happy to try and help you.
So many great beaches and small town along the coast there. We took the Ferry from Yarmouth to Bar Harbor about twenty years ago and really enjoyed it. Helped us see different areas on our two week vacation from Ontario.
ReplyDeleteHope it comes back.
There are so many little spots all along the coast that are great. The people are also so friendly. Two weeks wouldn't be enough time though to really see the province.
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