IT AIN'T OVER 'TIL IT'S OVER!

Well, I guess that guy who's out there looking after me, was on the job again today.  Not only did I get a camping site on a long weekend but I got the one I wanted.  After passing hundreds of "Campground Full" signs, my confidence was a bit shaky, but not to worry.

I'm at Waterfalls Lodge, about an hour west of Sudbury - on the shore of Georgian Bay.  I found the place quite by accident on my way east and really liked it.  Today, I was welcomed with open arms - like the returning hero and then I remembered this was the place where all the ladies were so amazed that I was taking this trip on my own.  They are the ones that started the "Good for You oo!" They all have been here since I was through in June and wanted to hear all about what we did and where we went.  I realized how lucky I was to actually take the trip and not just envy someone else taking it.

This place is actually a resort on the lake shore.  It has only 16 RV sites and most of the people here are adults, so it's very quiet.  There is a 9 hole golf course but they specialize in hunting, fishing and lots of water sports.  You can take out a canoe, kayak, aqua-cycle or small motor boat. They have a nice sandy beach (my plan for tomorrow) and a lodge where there is a full dining room so that I can have a meal there if I don't feel like cooking.  I'm staying for a couple of days, so tomorrow I'm booked on an ATV tour through the woods to the waterfall.  Best of all there is free and good quality wifi.

In my struggle with bridges I have done pretty well, so today when I saw a sign for the French River Suspension Bridge, I thought I'd take a look.  It was pretty high (not Capilano high) but off I went and it was pretty spectacular.  The bridge is anchored into a Northern Ontario rock face and the water below bounced and bubbled over the rocky river below.  I'm glad I did it - or I would have missed another great experience.

We have been laughing about the motorhome being like a turtle, and last year, after dropping Ann off at home, I retreated back into my shell for the first few days, because nothing seemed to be as much fun with no one to share it.  This time, I've made up my mind to  STOP THAT!  Hence the bridge and the ATV ride.  True, it wasn't as much fun but I am still on vacation and as Yogi Berra said so eloquently It ain't over 'til it's over! 

To be continued........

WHERE'S MISS PATTY ANN? - DIGIT AND NOSEY

After a bittersweet farewell to Ann this morning, I am off on my own again for the first time in 6 weeks. 

It was a warm (not humid, for a change) day and I drove the byways through some lush and rolling country from Sharon to Parry Sound, stopping off at Gravenhurst to pick up some history books in my search for the Dowd relatives from which my maternal grandmother, Nana, descended.  This is such a beautiful area with lakes and rivers abounding.  There are still ponds of blooming water lilies along the way and I passed a perky little waterfall just before arriving at the campsite for the night.

Saw a "Turtle Crossing" sign by the road today and am hoping the little suckers are looking both ways - for a long way since the speed limit is 110. (Ah, it's nice to be back in the land where I can read the big numbers on the speedometer again!) 

I hope that guy who's been looking out for me all along this trip keeps it up.  Being a lady of leisure, I don't pay too much attention to dates or time and so, imagine my surprise to find out that we're heading into a long weekend.  All of a sudden the gas prices shot up 6 cents a litre, and this campground is fully booked for the next three nights.   I'm keeping my fingers crossed that as I get farther north (more than a day's drive from Toronto), the pickings won't be so slim.  Otherwise I may be boondocking it at the Walmart for the weekend.

Miss Hathaway (the GPS) was giving me grief today - probably in payback for some of the nasty things I said about her yesterday.  Somehow she got me into this very remote cottage area where the roads (so-called) were muddy, bumpy and full of twists, turns and steep hills.  It was a real maze and at one point I made a 34 point u-turn in a 27 (the motorhome is 23 feet and then has a generator hanging off the back)  foot space with a cliff in front of me and a rock wall behind.  Not only that, but once I was in there, she couldn't find our way out.  Thank goodness I finally spotted some joggers who pointed me in the right direction.  We just  can't keep arguing this way, it's hard on my nerves.


Off on a new adventure tomorrow.  To be continued......

LIFE ON THE ROAD - ANN STYLE.

I've probably mentioned it about a hundred times so far, but life on the road with a friend is the best!  Today will be the six week mark since we left Ann's home in Sharon and started our epic journey.  And believe it or not two women can live together in 200 square feet and nary a cross word spoken.  As we settled into our adventure there was always the risk of undoing a 16 year friendship with too much togetherness - but it didn't happen.  We each have complimentary skills and abilities.

I, for instance, am a bit of a control freak, so I drove and pushed all the shopping carts.  Ann did most of the cooking and dishes and organizing of our limited storage space.  I was the teckie when it came to all our electronic gear and did much of the navigating.  Ann was the manager of backing into campsites and making u-turns.  I looked after turning on the propane while Ann plugged in the power each day.  I fixed stuff - WD40, my multi-tool and double sided tape were my favorite tools.  Ann managed the finances and the todo lists while I was the barbequer.  Ann was the ironer, however we tried to avoid clothes that needed ironing as much as possible.  I swore at Miss Hathaway while Ánn swore at her Mah Jong game.  I watched the gas gauge and Ann did most of the gas pumping.  It was the perfect match. 

To say she has been a trouper, is putting it mildly.  Having put up with snarly cats, the litter box, a dripping roof, dumping the sewer tanks, an overly sensitive smoke detector, she has been game for any adventure and always ready for a good belly laugh when things struck us funny.  It's not often, two people have this chance to get away, have so much fun, see so much of the country and remain the best of friends. I am truly grateful!

To say that someone up there is looking after us, is an understatement.  Yesterday in Lake Placid we encountered the remnants of the Lake Placid Iron Man competition that had taken place the previous day.  Thousands of people in Iron Man 2010 T-Shirts were limping around town and the traffic was almost gridlocked.  As we were driving along the main street, we suddenly hit something and then we realized that we had forgotten to put our steps up and they were sticking out about a foot.  We had hit a car, right in front of a gas station, so we pulled in to check out the damage.  Brian, the service station guy tried to fix the step which was bent out of shape and he also went next door to find the car's owner.  While fixing the step, he managed to gouge his finger (a cut that would require a couple of stitches).  The car's owner, a young guy with neon yellow hair, came along to see what had happened.  Fortunately, for us, he had been hit the day before and after taking a look, concluded that we had done no further damage to the vehicle.  Whew!  Thanks - whoever you are for watching over us.

Today, we're heading back to Canada through Kingston and then tomorrow we deliver Ann back home.  This leg of the journey will end, but we have soooo many great memories to enjoy and a whole new set of jokes that no one else will get - or even think is funny.  How lucky are we?

To be continued.....

THERE'S A MOOSE BEHIND EVERY TREE!

You have to love a police department with a sense of humour.  This is the scene outside the police office in Carroll, New Hampshire.  Obviously, we were in the mountains where every store is stuffed with moose - everything.  We thought this was the best!

We started out in New Hampshire this morning and drove all the way through Vermont and are now in New York. - back at Lake Placid.  To get here, we drove through the beautiful mountain area of both states, crossed Lake Champlain on the ferry and then through the very picturesque upstate New York.  The Black-eyed Susans have replaced the Lupins along the highways but the ferns are still as thick and lush as on the way through in June.  We were imagining what this area would look like in the fall.

Back to the ferry, though!  We have become quite adept at getting on and off the ferries we've encountered along the way.  The first picture is of the sister ferry to the one we were travelling on.  The second picture is our view off the front of the ferry, because, as usual, we were loaded first.  Some ferries are free and some cost a bit.  This one, however was nearly $20.00, but the ride was almost half an hour so I guess it was worth it.

Von Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe, VT

This afternoon we visited the Trapp Family Lodge at Stowe, VT.  It is in the most beautiful setting you can imagine and as we drank coffee on the deck we enjoyed the view of the Appalachian Mountains around us.

The Lodge is set up very high so you can see for miles and it was a cloudy/sunny day so the sunlight hit some places of our vista, but not all.  Lodge is big and imposing and sits at the top of a very narrow, windy road, but was busy  with sightseers like us and Lodge guests.

When we were in Bar Harbor, Ann went into a store that sells all kinds of products that change colour in the sun.  One of the things she bought, which was pretty neat, was a set of nail polishes.  I tried the pink polish that was supposed to change to purple in the sun and Ann tried the blue that turns to green.  That was two nights ago, and because of the overcast weather and rain we've been experiencing, it wasn't until this afternoon that we could really see them change.  As they say here, "Wicked cool!"

To be continued......

GOOD GRIEF! - ANOTHER CEMETERY

As we drove through the northern forests of Maine and into New Hampshire, we were struck by the size of the cemeteries here.  Either they really look after their ancestors over the centuries, or a lot of people come here to die.  The cemeteries in Nova Scotia are cozy little places about the size of someones back yard and generally hold the remains of one or two families.  They are definitely more difficult to find but I discovered a website that listed their GPS coordinates so that helped a lot.

Glad I wasn't looking for all my relatives in any of these 100 acre woods.



10 uses for a Multi-tool - on a road trip:

1. Use the small pointy knife for cutting hose washers from their neat little pack - to stop the outside hose from dripping down the side of the motorhome.
2. Use the hacksaw to cut off the top of the silicone caulking tube the place inside the motorhome where the aforementioned drips were getting inside and onto the bathroom floor.
3. Use the philips screw driver head for fixing the lifters on the cupboard doors which saves you from being bonked on the head every time you try to put something away.
4. Use the large knife for cutting rope to make a clothes line - to save on the laundromat bills or when you just run out of quarters.
5. Use the pliers to loosen the hose connection - Have I mentioned, we've had just a bit of a water leaking problem?
6. Use the bottle opener to open the blueberry ale, I'm enjoying right now - weak American style ale - but good on a hot day all the same.
7. Use the flat screwdriver to keep the table from rattling - unfortunately - a loose screw was not the problem.  WD40 to the rescue.
8. Use the multi-tool in its pouch to hold down one corner of the tablecloth on a windy day. - 'splains itself.
9. The hacksaw is very useful for opening that insufferable plastic packaging the cannot be opened any other day.
10. The scissors work well on the cat's claws.

Thanks for the gift Bill, when all else fails - turn to the multi tool.

I have to say a word about the highway construction areas we've come across on our travels.  Since my plumbing incident last year (my plumbing fell out) on a bumpy road, I'm a little sensitive to the smootherity of the roads.  When you enter a construction zone, you drive through potholes big enough to swallow a volkswagon, and then they have a BUMP sign at that gentle rise from grade to new road.  I don't know - what gives?


New Hampshire is really lovely.  Close your eyes and imagine a place where there is blue sky, cascading waterfalls, vast mountain views and this is it!  We're staying on Mount Jefferson tonight which is part of the White Mountain range. Every mountain here is named after an American President.  The air is fresh and piney, the water sparkling and clear and there are thousands of hiking trails for people of every ability.  AND - we have a swimming pool not 20 feet from our campsite.  Off for a dip!

To be continued.....

CHARLOTTE - HAVE WE LEFT ANY LOBSTER UNEATEN? NO!

After overnighting in Sussex, New Brunswick, we crossed the border into Maine and ended up back in our favorite campground in Bar Harbor to visit our friend, the Lobster Man.  We feasted on lucious, crimson, sea water steamed lobsters, corn on the cob and cole slaw last night and went to bed very content.  Our trip took us through the piney forests of the upper part of the state and then back down to the ....WHAT???  ... Bay of Fundy?  That's right!  After visiting Digby Neck last Sunday on our whale watching adventure, we drove the Annapolis Royal to camp; then to Truro; on to Sussex and now to Bar Harbor and we are now 20km across the channel from Digby Neck.  Someone should run a ferry!  Oh, wait, they did but it was closed down this season for lack of governmental support.

As we finished our magnificent meal last night we could hear the pitter patter of a lovely soft rain on the roof.  Over the next hour the storm intensified into the most amazing light and sound show.  The rain pelted down and the sky turned white with lightening flashing out over the bay.  Thunder cracked and popped and rumbled slowly off into the mist.  It was nature at its most majestic self.

Today we hit the LL Bean factory outlet store again and I scored some great bargains!  We stopped and had some breakfast mid afternoon and then got caught in a downpour, however the sky has cleared and it promises to be a lovely evening.

We have discovered the cat naps are addictive.  A quick snooze after a day on the road is just the thing to put us back on track until at least 9:00.  It is suggested, however, that these cat naps not be taken while driving - especially in Maine where the roads tend to be a bit twisty and turny.

Travelling in the motor home requires some skill in order to prevent the rattles and squeeks as you roll down the road.  One particular rattle has been really bothering me - and I have rearranged things 50 different ways to try and stop it.  Today we finally got it fixed with a piece of rubber drawer liner, some double sided tape and WD40.  Quiet as a Mercedes now.

Having decided to stay here a couple of days, we plan to spend tomorrow in the town of Bar Harbor and the Chamber of Commerce generously provide free shuttle buses from all the major sites on the island to all the others, so we will be travelling that way in the morning and the cats can stay home and mind the motor home.

Going through New Brunswick was an interesting trip.  After my time in Nova Scotia, I discovered that a whole new branch of my family came from just west of Moncton, so we drove through the area to see the place.  Lots more genealogical research to be done there.

Time for my nap.

To be continued.........

FAREWELL TO NOVA SCOTIA - AGAIN!

On the 29th of June Ann and I along with the two cats crossed the border from New Brunswick to Nova Scotia.  Since then we have seen almost every little nook and cranny of the province, including places most people don't get to see.

Today, as we rolled up the highway from Hilden and passed the turn off to some of those places, my thoughts again returned to my family roots.  In Truro and Stewiacke, there were the Johnsons. In Bass River, Economy, Portaupique and Londonderry, there were the Gambles, the Beatties, the Cookes and the Campbells.  In Pugwash, Wallace and Wentworth, there were the Swallows, the Teeds, the Peers, the Purdys and the Treens.  In Oxford and Collingwood, there were the Braggs, the Thompsons, the Rogers and the Carters.  During our trip, we explored all these places and found out so much more about our early kin.  Our roots are strong and solid thanks to their descendants who still live there and to those who wish they did.

Nova Scotia was a different experience for me this time.  Much richer and fuller and I quite frankly have run out of adjectives to describe it all.  It was a sensual experience with the soft smell of the salt air, fresh cut clover, pine woods; with the sight of a breaching whale, miraculous sunsets over the ocean, guardian lighthouses on wave lapped beaches, pretty and fragrant gardens and picturesque homes, the muddy red flats of the Bay of  Fundy when the tide is out, cattle peacefully grazing in kelly green fields.  It was the sound of a fog horn on a cool morning and Rita McNeil singing "She's called Nova Scotia" on the stereo.  It was a carriage ride through old Lunenburg and another type of ride in the Lexus convertible through the Cumberland countryside.  It was the food, the wonderful lobsters, clams, oysters and scallops,the chowders, cucumber sandwiches and a cold beer on a hot day.  It was sharing it with a best friend who enjoyed it just as much as I did.

To say I have partaken in a feast and enjoyed every morsel would be just about accurate. And I WILL be back!!!

Tonight we're in Sussex, New Brunswick and tomorrow, he head back to Maine for one last shopping trip to Target, a final lobster dinner and a chance to get rid of our American money.

To be continued.......

THE FRONT FELL OFF!

As things go, I figure I've done pretty well on this trip facing my fears and then going for it.  Not only have I crossed several enormous international bridges, I did the 13k trip across the Confed to PEI.  During the time away, we have now crossed 6 bodies of water by ferry and that again was a challenge to be faced and conquered.  Yesterday on our way whale watching we had to cross this little channel - a trip of about 5 minutes. Remember it was a foggy morning and as luck would have it, I was first in line. And when we were loaded the guy who was directing us kept waving me forward, forward, forward.  As my front wheels crossed the hinge between the boat and the front ramp (which was up) all I could think of is "What if the front fell off?" For those who haven't it, this little video is the inspiration for that question.

http://www.break.com/index/the-front-fell-off.html

This morning, we drove from Annapolis Royal  along the Evangeline Trail.  We stopped and had a lovely lunch at Wolfeville.  As we drove through the town we came across the Blomidin Inn, a lovely old hotel and restaurant.  It was once co-owned by a cousin of mine and we had to stop in and take a peek.  What a grand old lady she is!  The gardens are a feast for the eyes with masses of old shrub roses and splashing fountains.  It was a hot afternoon and the little seating areas among the trees looked very inviting.  We had a good look around the gift shop and found some unique and fanciful items on sale.  Much more of a boutique than the typical tourist and souvenir shops we've come across.  Wolfeville is one of those picture postcard Victorian towns with gingerbread and turrets and stained glass and wonderful cool porches and massive gardens and every house a unique colour combination such as grey with navy trim or burgundy with cream trim.  Breathtaking!!!

After a long drive we are now back at Truro in the same little campground where I spent 5 weeks last summer.  I have a bit more genealogy work to do tomorrow and then we're heading on to New Brunswick.  So far we've had an amazing trip with incredible high points, but as in all good things, it's time to start thinking of turning west.

Having Ann along to share this adventure - whale watching, Ann of Green Gables, a ride in the Lexus convertible, a million photographs, almost as many tombstones - has been such a treat!  This has been such a special time for us and we will have lots to look back on and laugh about for years to come.  Ann's husband, Clark, has been our big supporter in this trek.  Everyday, he wants to hear what we've been up to and where we've gone.  He really doesn't know what a gift he's given us both.

To be continued.........

HIGH SEAS ADVENTURE

Every time we think we have had the ultimate in adventures something more wonderful happens, as was the case yesterday.  And YES it was the Whale Watching cruise we took at Pirate's Cove near Tiverton on the Digby Neck.

It was a very foggy morning and we had had an early thunder storm that woke us and got us going.  The drive had us going into and out of little fog banks and at times we couldn't see more than 10 feet in front of the motorhome.  However, with perseverance, we finally arrived at the East Ferry and boarded for the 5 minute trip to the island.

They held the boat for us, so after leaving the ferry, we quickly grabbed our stuff and went on board the Fundy Whaler.  Our guides were the two aunts of the skipper and were more than entertaining and knowledgeable. 

After about an hour, heading out to sea - still in the fog, we spotted some porpoises swimming nearby and were repeatedly followed by a flock of Great Shearwater birds.  They look like gulls, but are brown and white.  They flew along side us hoping to grab any sea life we stirred up as we went along.

Because we were in the fog, and couldn't see much, we had a chance to get to know the other cruisers.  The world was pretty much represented - England, Australia, South Africa and a guy with a big drawl from Johnsonville, Tennessee.

Finally, after stopping and listening on the hydrophone, someone shouted "Whale!" And there he was about 100 feet in front of us.  A magnificent 30 foot Humpback Whale in all his glory.  He came head first out of the water, rising and then rolling backward so we could see the white underside of his fins.  He proceeded to frolic and play - breaching and rolling through the waves as if he wanted to give us a really good show.  Finally, he dived and we thought we had seen the end of him, but as we turned to head back to land, our friend swam lazily along side for quite a distance, moving with all the grace and majesty you can imagine.

The crew were so excited since this was their first Humpback of the season and we felt privileged to have seen him up so close.

After an afternoon on the sea, we enjoyed a wonderful supper of the famous Digby scallops and then slept like logs.

What a day!

To be continued.....

SIGNS OF THE TIME

We've seen some very interesting signs along the way.  For instance, here's a great selling feature for a cemetery. It's called Lake View.  Who enjoys the view?  And then there are the restaurant names:  The Old Fish Factory.  Is it the fish that are old or the factory?  How about Good Luck Chinese Take Out. Or the best one yet, a Maritime franchise called Lick a Chick.  Ugh!

Yesterday we visited Mahone Bay and would have loved to stop and browse through the shops.  Unfortunately, we were out and on pretty early and nothing but Tim Horton's was open at 7:30 am.  It is such a pretty place - quaint in the very best sense and maybe we'll have a chance to pass through that way again as we leave the Annapolis Valley.  We've certainly travelled through church country the last couple of days.  At every turn and sometimes even side by side there are little white churches - most with black trim - and a historical plaque by the front door.

We also went to Peggy's Cove where Ann got drenched by climbing down the rocks to the water.  The waves can sneak up on you when you're not looking.  It is a stark and beautiful place.  Just after this photo was taken, a lady came along and sat right by the lighthouse door and began to sing and play her accordion.  I'll never think of Red River Valley in the same light again.

We visited the spot where the Swissair Flight 111 memorial stands - remembering the more than 300 people who went down very near by.  Later, by coincidence, we listened to a radio documentary about the same accident, suggesting it was a deliberate act, not an aircraft failure that caused the crash.

Today we're in Annapolis Royal, right on the shores of the Bay of Fundy and spent a great day touring Port Royal.  It is a recreation of the original Champlain settlement from 1605 and has been accurately copied from books and drawings of the time.  It was inhabited until 1613, when it was burned to the ground by the British from Jamestown.  Each room is complete with furnishings, tools, clothing and utensils and each tells a very vivid story of life 400 years ago.

We spent much of the afternoon exploring the town of Annapolis Royal.  It, too has a very old feel to it, with a touch of the hippy and I can imagine that 40 years ago, every would be potter, artist and artisan set up shop here looking for the simple life.

Tomorrow, we head up the coast to Digby where, come hell or high water, we're going whale watching.

To be continued.....

THE LUNENBURG BUMP

Today we stepped back into the 18th Century with a visit to Lunenburg, home of the famous schooners, Bluenose and Bluenose II.  This village of 2300 souls and about 10 times the number of tourists has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site and that means that all the old homes in the central part of town must maintain their original character - some dating back to the 1760s.  All the houses are painted vivid colours and the funny gable at the front of the house is called a Lunenburg bump.  It was where the wives of the fishermen watched for their men to return from the sea.  In this climate, it was considered more practical than the "Widow's Walk".

To fully appreciate the ambiance, we took the tour in a horse drawn carriage with full commentary from our hilarious driver and a few tricks from our horse, Ricky.  He stops at all stop signs and then looks both ways before proceeding through the intersection.

Afterwards we had a seafood dinner at an outdoor cafe, right on the harbour. We watched the sea birds swoop over the bay, diving into the water after their prey.

We're staying in the Board of Trade campground right in the centre of town and just a couple of blocks from great shopping, restaurants and yes, finally - the Whale Watching Tour.

It was a long drive today and a busy day planned for tomorrow so I'll leave it there for now.

To be continued........

HIGH (TEA) and LOW (TIDE)

I'm going to start with the high today - High Tea, that is.  We stopped in Big Pond for tea at Rita McNeil's Tea Room and found it a warm and gentle respite from the weather.  We had homemade everything - tea biscuits, Cinnamon rolls and matrimonial cake with Devonshire Cream and freshly made strawberry jam.  The restaurant itself is decorated in chintz, with custom "Rita" china and a lovely view of Bras d Ór Lake.  It is set in the trees and the outside veranda would be a great place to lunch on a nice day. 

We continued on through Port Hawkesbury and are staying at a lovely waterfront campground just a few clicks down the road. 

The low today is that we had been planning to head up to Pleasant Bay at the far tip of Cape Breton to go whale watching, but found ourselves in a typhoon - or as close as you can come to one in these parts.  Unfortunately our much anticipated visit to the Cape was marred by heavy rain and wild winds and so our touring was a bit limited - Sobey's and Shoppers.  We did, however, get the motor home ship shape to the point where NOTHING was rattling as we rolled down the road today.


This evening the sun is trying to shine and forecast promises better weather to come.

Campgrounds tend to be a microcosm of society and so you meet all kinds.  Last night some poor soul from Alabama got cornered by the guy beside us who was travelling in a little grey trailer that looked a little like a large dog carrier.  It was called the Hobby Hobbit and the windows were held open with bunjy cords.  This guy could talk your ear off - and he did to this poor guy from down south.  Eventually, we could just imagine everyone in the place cowering behind their closed doors while Mr. Hobbit (in shorts, suspenders and the obligatory black sox) roamed the park looking for someone to talk to.

Tomorrow, we're off to Lunenburg and then the Annapolis Valley (and hopefully more beach weather)  before finally bidding a sad farewell to Nova Scotia.

To be continued.......

BRAGGS - THE BEGINNING!

On Thursday we met John Bragg, my second cousin and spent the day with him touring the seat of the Bragg Family History.  We had a look inside the old Anglican Church at Oxford Junction where all the Braggs were christened, married and buried from.  The church is in remarkable condition with the old organ still in place.  Using your imagination, you can picture them sitting in the wooden pews and see the children running around the beautiful grounds.  You want to whisper for fear of disturbing their prayers.  The church yard is the resting place of 5 generations of Braggs and is a wonderfully spiritual place with it's magnificent view down the River Philip.

We visited Windham Hill where John Bragg, a young blacksmith and seaman from the Taunton area in Somerset, England arrived in the early 1800s.  Having worked his way across the ocean, he left his ship at Pugwash and followed the River Philip up to the settlement.  With his only possession, his axe, he climbed Windham Hill and built a life.  John became a leader in the community, serving as magistrate and he provided education for his own children and those of his neighbours.  It is said that the character Sam Slick the Clock Maker from the Thomas Chandler Haliburton book was based on John Bragg.


Pidgeon Hill was home to Charlie Bragg at one time and it is now a beautifully preserved park with lovely little brook that travels beside the road as you drive through.

We went to Collingwood Corner and toured Charlie Bragg's old home which sits at the hub of the community.  The graceful old house was home to generations of Braggs and sits next to the site of Charlie's General Store.  Charlie was a lumber merchant, an entrepreneur and at one time served in the 5th Cumberland Regiment - I believe during the Fenian Raids.  We saw the home of Walter Bragg, across the road.

We spent a wonderful evening with John and Judy at their summer home in Fox Harb'r, joined by cousin Charlotte and her son Graeme.  John has a passion for family history and has done an amazing job of preserving the places that are so much a part of the Bragg legacy. John passed along some very interesting documents, found in the family bible and I want to thank both him and Judy for their wonderful Bragg hospitality.  And Ann says thanks for the ride in the Lexus.


To be continued.......

HERE COME THE CEMETERIANS!

After a really full day of relaxation - i.e. at the beach I'm about as mellow as a soul can be.  PEI National Park offers many red sand beaches to enjoy.  With about 6 other people we camped out on a mile long stretch of shoreline.  The sand is red and fine like velvet.  We listened to the waves that whisper rather than roar to the tide line and we watched the sea birds busy with their daily chores.  The water was warm, but you had to walk a very long way to get to swimming depth.  On either end of the beach was a green topped cliff with red sandstone below - eroded by millions of little waves.  It's a great place for a boogie board but not so much for surfing unless you have a very teeny tiny surfboard.  There is great beachcombing there with sea glass, shells and small bits of driftwood and dried kelp.

We decadently dined on cucumber sandwiches and lemonade.  Got to love taking the motorhome to the beach - a rolling cabana!

Tomorrow we head back to Oxford for lunch and a visit with my cousin John.  He has promised us a real "Bragg" tour of Oxford and Collingwood with side trips to Windham Hill and Pidgeon Hill, so you'll see me running along behind him writing down everything he says.  And, of course, we will be back among the cemetery stones again.  I have to find one particular stone belonging to my original 7th great grandfather, Alexander Peers - and I know where it is.  Speaking of cemeteries, does anyone have the correct treatment for blackfly bites.   AAAGGGGHHHHH!

Tonight is the beginning of the Cavendish Music Festival and our campsite is just about 100 yards from the stage.  We can hear the whole thing.  We decided to stay home, and, like Anne and Diana from Green Gables, consider it scope for the imagination.

Tonight is also lobster supper night!  NOT AGAIN!

To be continued.....

KINDRED SPIRITS - ANN AT GREEN GABLES

Lucy Maud Montgomery is quoted as saying "This little island is made up of emeralds and rubies and saphires with a gentle sea breeze that caresses your cheek and kisses your soul good night".  And so we have found ourselves in a little paradise.  Amazing scenery, excellent roads, incredibly well thought out tourism information, delights for all the senses and a kindred spirit to share them with.  Could it BE any better?

It's a misty day.  Not quite raining and not really foggy but somewhere in between.  You can smell the ocean from quite a way inland.

We made out visit to Green Gables this morning and toured the old house, barn and gardens.  It is actually a National Park.  The house has more rooms that you would imagine, looking at it from the outside.  The grounds are beautifully kept and the peonies are in glorious pink and fuschia bloom right now.  There is a lovely vista from the front porch looking up over the adjoining fields and I was just about to snap a picture when two golf carts came into my viewer.  No wonder the meadow looked so green and manicured.

Once hint:  If you're driving from Nova Scotia to PEI, you have to cut through a corner of New Brunswick.  Buy your gas in NB, since it is 7 cents a litre less that in either Nova Scotia or PEI.

Folks here are just getting ready for the Cavendish Music Festival which starts tomorrow.  It's like the Craven Country Jamboree but with salt water.  Keith Urban and Taylor Swift are the headliners but we'd really like to go tomorrow when all the East Coast Music Awards winners will be playing. 

There is a cute little red trolley you can take to all of the sights here, so it makes it easy to get around and we don't have to find parking places for the RV if we don't want to.  Tomorrow, however, we're heading to the beach to do some swimming in the Atlantic.  They say the water is as warm as it is in North Carolina, so we'll see.  Hoping for a lovely sunny day.

To be continued......

YES, THEY DO! (answer to yesterday's question)

In the longest 10 minutes of my life, we managed to cross the Confederation Bridge from New Brunswick to PEI (all 13.1 K of it).  Ann sat valiantly beside me, knowing that if she uttered a word, I would fall apart.  Bless her!  Regardless, we did make it in one piece and now I have another bridge to spit at with disdain.  The funny thing is that they don't charge you for coming over this way but it's $42.50 to get back!  "You want me to pay how much?  To do what?". 

With that behind us, we were eager to begin exploring the Island and the only word that seems fitting is FEAST!  At every corner there spread out before us a feast for the eyes.  Long, rolling green valleys of smartly kept farms, broad sandy white beaches that make you feel like you can see Europe, quaint little towns with gingerbread houses of every colour combination, lobster pounds dotting the bays, laid out like some elaborate board game.  The air is rich with fresh cut hay, clover, wild roses and a million lupins, lightly salted by the sea breezes.  Right and left we saw signs for Lobster suppers, home town ceilidhs and tiny new potatoes.  The shopping looks fabulous and there are hundreds of really interesting things to do.  We'll be here a bit longer than we first thought.

New rules of the road:

1. You can cram most of your stuff in the space behind the front seats.
2. It's all about the plumbing! Whenever you get a chance, use other people's plumbing.
3. There's a laundromat in Amherst that can fill your propane tanks for you.
4. Good places to turn your motor home around - School yards (July & Aug), Churchs (any day but Sunday),
5. Most designated RV parking is at least a 20 minute walk from where you want to go.
6. It takes 4 spots to park an RV at Sobeys.
7. Essential gear to take on the road with you: computer, GPS, iPod Touch, Cell Phones, Blue Tooth, A Turbo Drive and a gigantic charging station.

To be continued.....

I DIG, THEREFORE, I CLAM!

This was our first reasonably hot day!  Humid, too.  But we drove down to Bass River and met my cousin, Charlotte at the museum there.  Our grandmother, Julia was born nearby and we were able to visit the graves of her parents, John and Flora Ann Gamble.  Since cemeteries have played a big part in our trip, so far, I thought you all might enjoy this site we passed on the road today.  The sign on the building says "Senior's Centre" and look at who their neighbours are...  We figured it was well worth stopping to grab a shot.  HOW CONVENIENT!

Heading down to Bass River, we travelled along the coast of the Bay of Fundy.  The tide was out and you could walk for miles on the wavy red sand before reaching the water.  This part of Nova Scotia is rolling, very green and there is an amazing view to be seen around every bend in the road. 

My head is just spinning, trying to keep track of all these relatives so we're going to pack up tomorrow and with no small amount of trepidation, cross the Confederation Bridge to PEI.  I hope motorhomes can float.

Supper time - got to go!

To be continued.......

PEERS AND PEERS...

Yesterday was a very productive day - genealogically speaking.  We visited the North Cumberland Historical Society and found some great photos and documents.  The staff there also gave me a data file that adds about 2500 new people to my family tree.  WOW!  What a treasure!  The Society is in the old railway station in Pugwash and they have very pretty grounds so we had a lovely picnic of Ann's famous chicken pasta salad and ice cream cones - such a beautiful day. 

We were standing in the archive room at the Society and there were five other people in the room.  Within about three minutes, we all discovered that we were somehow related.  Go figure!

After lunch we headed to the Wallace and Area Museum which specializes in the United Empire Loyalists.  There we had the opportunity to see the original Remsheg grant document that allotted 200 acres and 1 town lot to each of my 7th great grandfathers, Alexander Peers and Daniel Teel.  They arrived at Fort Cumberland in July of 1783, having remained loyal to the British Crown during the American revolution.  They were part of a brigade called Delancey's Cowboys.  Since the British government provided transport for the soldiers, many of their wives and families actually walked her from Westchester, New York.

The Wallace Bay area around Malagash is incredibly beautiful with magnificent views over the water.  The ditches are full of daisies, clover and wild lavender and is delicious to breathe in.  And while it is lovely, the signs of a slowing economy are everywhere.  It seems like every third house is for sale and it is hard to see how the rest of the people there make a living.  And the roads, most definitely could use some work.

Tomorrow we are heading down towards Londonderry and Castlereagh and then Monday we're off to PEI.

To be continued.....