Me in the Maritimes

These sites, viewpoint.ca and realtor.ca show most of the properties. Viewpoint has an advantage where it comes to the info provided, especially financial, with the history. But they are both rather interesting.

Actually I do not need to write as pictures will do the talking for me, but it was such an incredible day I need to put something to it.

I left Cheticamp after a good not so healthy breakfast, but was great food and also very nice coffee, the waitress didn’t do any damage either :-).

Entrance to the park was just a few Km away and I got me some info from the info station. The important part “take a stick to use when you come across bear or moose”. Ok, I am not in the Netherlands, I get it :-).

Great scenery driving up.

I stopped at one of the main attractions and that is the Skyline walk, it goes directly to a viewing platform near the sea, an hour walk though. I caught up with 2 Americans, two psychologists from Atlanta, Frank and Gloria, very nice couple.

During the walk it got very misty, but at the viewing point we said we should wait 10-15 minutes and …. completely clear …. and what was even better, sighting of a black bear.

We hoped for some moose on the way back, regretfully none.

They asked me to join for a whale watching tour in Pleasant Bay, and although I had some doubts as I already did one at Iceland I went to the port. I was not able to join them on their Zodiac, but went on the other and what a day it was, check for yourself.

From Pleasant Bay I went east to end up in Louisbourg. I have never seen such great scenery during a ride before.

Early start, had breakfast, the healthy one, just fruit and went to the Pro Shop. The guy behind the counter excused himself for not finding me a partner, but told me to catch up with the 3 in front of me, as they would not mind me joining them. It took some time, at hole 3 I was able to chat with them. They did not mind, actually they liked it (I think ..). All just retired, teachers and a sales guy, playing many rounds of golf. In the whole of Cape Breton, but mostly here at their home course at Dundee Resort. It is actually a great course, very scenic, great views but also extremely windy, making it even more difficult to hit good shots. I lost only one ball and got a par on one of the most difficult holes. Regretfully I have to write I had a nine at one of the easiest holes … but overall very satisfying to play with such a nice threesome. Great start of the day. 

After the Golf I drove along the westcoast to Chéticamp, this is in Acadian country, so have to talk French now.

Chéticamp is a fishing community on the Cabot Trail on the west coast of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia at the western entrance to Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The downtown area overlooks a large bay, into which the Chéticamp River flows, that is protected from the Gulf of Saint Lawrence by Chéticamp Island. Having a number of public facilities it performs a service function for the northernmost part of Inverness County. The community has almost 4,000 residents, a large number of whom are Acadians and speak French natively, as well as English. Together with its smaller neighbour, Saint-Joseph-du-Moine, Chéticamp makes up the largest Francophone enclave on Cape Breton Island. The 2001 population was 3,145 people.

Tomorrow will do part of the Cabot Trail and most probably will go for a walk in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

As I already was awake at 03.00, having breakfast at 08.00 was perfect. There were two other guests, a retired couple from Ontario, 400 Km north from Toronto. As always a breakfast in a B&B is interesting, food (as very often) is good, but especially the conversations are. That is why I like to stay in B&B’s. It starts most of the time with where “do you go” and “where are you from”, but often escalates in bigger issues, like financial crisis, attacks in Libia etc.

After the pleasant breakfast I called Bob Harris, owner and broker at Coastal Winds Realty with an office on Mosquodoboit Harbour, near the B&B.

I had a long meeting with Bob, very nice guy and understood exactly what I want, not in a hurry though. Most of the houses he showed me on the PC I already had seen, but some where new and interesting. It is good to be back in Nova Scotia to exactly see some of the properties listed on the web.

Bob told me a guy who bought one I really liked is now adding a second one, great new house, as the older one.

After I checked those I went up north to Sawmilllanding, from there to Sherbrook and Antigonisch and finally entering Cape Breton, to find me the way to Dundee Resorts. Took some while to there along the scenic route and I arrived at 19.00 just in time for dinner, again a good one.

Great room, 7 x 7 meters and an ensuite bathroom and together with a round of Golf 88.87€C (80 euros), I would say that is cheap.

The view from my room, The Bras Do’r Lake.

I already checked the Pro shop as, as written I am going to Golf tomorrow, seems to be very nice. Let’s see if I can join a group. 

Where to tee off tomorrow at 09.00:

Where to end and the 18th hole: