Snapshots of Our Trip to Canada (So long ago)

This week, my Canadian friend Jessica wrote a post: "The real truth behind 15 Canadian stereotypes".

I have been meaning to share with her our family trip to Canada...this is my 2005 journal of our trip.

How exciting to get up at 4:00 a.m. on August 2, 2005. The time had finally arrived for us to leave for Prince Edward Island, Canada! I never thought I would be going to PEI.

Woke children at 4:30 - Out by 5:15...off to airport... very busy place. All aboard plane by 7:30 am -
Finally able to RELAX!

Wonderful flight to New Hampshire - arrived at hotel 8:30 pm.

After a good night's sleep, drove 12 hours up through Maine into Canada ... made it a 2-day drive. Did not see much of Maine due to tree lined freeway. Not much traffic as we journeyed nearer the Canadian border.

Endless trees as far as we could see. Continuous road behind and before us. It felt so vast. Stopped the first night in St John. Good stop. Beautiful room overlooking the lighted city.

Borden-Carelton, PEI and Marine Rail Park near the Confederation Bridge

Crossed over the Northumberland Strait on the Confederation Bridge from New Brunswick to PEI - 8 miles - longest bridge in the world over ice-covered water....$35 toll when leaving PEI (Took the Wood Island Ferry to Nova Scotia instead - $55.)

Cottages down the lane from Grandma's place - this one was ours.

Arrived Grandmas and Grandpa's summer home ... Port Hill, PEI. Pleasant little cottage on the bay. The boys couldn't wait to go fishing! Children, after thorough covering with insect repellent, ran down to the water's edge - to be seen no more until darkness fell.

5 nights & 4 days in a lovely cottage within walking distance of the Grandma and Grandpa’s cottage.

Wonderful family visit. Good to see my husband's family...handsome group.

August 5th, huge lobster feast for Grandpa's 80th birthday. All the lobster everyone could eat (75 lobsters!)…plenty left over. I had my fill...me thinks I'm done with lobsters for life!

~~~♥~~~

August 9th, out by 5:00 am. Quite dark roads, no traffic, watched sunrise. Arrived in time (nearly first in line) to catch 8:00 Wood Island Ferry to Caribou, Nova 5cotia...1 hr. 30 min. duration. Not too crowded - shared ferry with busload of touring Japanese. Hot coffee. Breakfast from backpack.

Docks in Chéticamp on Cabot Trail

Pilot Whale Chalets

Chéticamp: Pilot Whale Chalets

Traveled 1,055 miles over next 6 days. Drove along Cabot Trail, up the coast of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, then on to Louisbourg and down to Halifax and Peggy's Cove...before driving back to Manchester, New Hampshire, through New Brunswick and down through Maine.

~ Along Cabot Trail~

The Cabot Trail near Grande Falaise, Gulf of St Lawrence, 

Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada.

North Bay Wharf - Ingonish, Nova Scotia

Keltic Lodge: Keltic Lodge Resort Hotel in the village of Ingonish, Nova Scotia in Canada,
on the northeastern coast of Cape Breton Island.

Leaving Cabot Trail, Ferry river crossing  -  HWY 312 toward Englishtown, Nova Scotia

A View of the Fortress Louisbourg from our suite

 Louisbourg: Point of View Suites

"Point of View Suites offers the only waterfront accommodation in Louisbourg. Treasure the splendour of our sunrise from your own private terrace, take some time to catch up on your reading or beach-comb for lost treasure from the 18th century."

Point of View in Louisbourg was like an apartment. Wonderful seaside-blue rooms, overlooking the ocean, a pebbly beach spread-out below. Clean all-white bedding...white lace-covered bedspread over equally white comforter. So relaxing

Up early the next morning, greeted by fog and seagulls...off to do laundry (Point of View has a very nice laundry room)  - hardly a soul awake! Sleeping...what a waste of such a marvelous morning! A peaceful time for washing laundry. Wash-load: one toon - Dry-load: one loon.

Off to tour the Fortress of Louisbourg – 18th century French fort.

• Captured in 1745 by New England troops, dragging their heavy artillery on large sledges across swamps - Something the French thought no one would ever attempt - with support from the sea by the British navy.
• Later returned to the French in 1749 to the dismay of American colonists.
• Recaptured by the British in 1758 - the largest battle in North America until the Civil War. The greatest sea borne invasion in North American history
• 1759-1760 the British Army destroyed the fort with explosives.
• 1961 Fortress Louisbourg rebuilding began – the largest restoration in North America.
The fortress today looks as if it were the original. Very exciting experience.

{Source}

Stopped in Baddeck to visit: Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site

Baddeck, Cape Brenton Island

Sherbrooke Village Inn. Stayed in their little guest house in the "woods" behind main motel. As seen through the little children's eyes...the best spot! How exciting to have their own little house! And rabbits in the yard, too! Upstairs loft - one large bedroom - 2 queen beds. Bill called it a hunting/fishing cabin - quite accurate. Very simple. 2 bedrooms downstairs, one very small - My son loved having his own little room...so happy. Our mattress gave way to every restless toss as if it were a waterbed!

When WOULD morning Come!

At 6:00 a.m. out of bed. So glad night's over! Why won't those sleepy people awake! I want to GO!
In the bathroom, all alone… NOT so. What's this? Hop, hop - Jump, jump...squeals escape from both me and MOUSE. I hopped upon the toilet. Mouse scurrying about, trying to leave - he finally exiting - squeezing plump body under closed door - he's gone!

 One the road again.

Spent the afternoon walking around Halifax and visiting the

 Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

Halifax Citadel National Historic Site

Peggy’s Cove - rocky shoreline, untamed waves, fog and screeching seagulls - Picturesque.

Beautiful drive along the coast. 

Peggy's Cove reminded my of the quaint, colorful fishing towns of New England.

Headed back to New Brunswick. Stayed in Fredericton

Bush Compound

Stopped in Kennebunkport, Maine to let the children experience a wee bit of Maine.

On to Manchester. Rested up. August 16th, caught 6:30 a.m. Flight home.

World War II Fighter Plane hanging from ceiling at Chicago Midway Airport

SO DELIGHTFUL TO TAKE A TRIP!

~~~♥~~~

SO DELIGHTFUL TO RETURN HOME!