THE PARSONS PROJECT!
... Ken & Fran's Travelogue - 2023
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September 2023 - Clickable Links
September 2023 - Clickable Links
Brackley Beach, PEI - North of Charlottetown about 30 minutes)
Brackley Beach, PEI - North of Charlottetown about 30 minutes)
1 - Driving Day from Parrsboro, NS
1 - Driving Day from Parrsboro, NS
A new province to visit. We arrived in Prince Edward Island (PEI or PE) to the sunshine and visited the capital, Charlottetown. Charlottetown's claim to fame is "The Cradle of Confederation".
After lunch and a short walk it was off to our next AirBnb on the North end of the island only a short 30 min drive away to Brackley Beach area.
We crossed from Nova Scotia through New Brunswick and then over to PEI on the Confederation Bridge. The last time we came to PEI (we think back in about 1995) they were still running the ferry so this time around there was no waiting and it was a fast trip.
The Confederation Bridge joins the eastern Canadian provinces of Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, making travel throughout the Maritimes easy and convenient. The curved, 12.9 kilometre (8 mile) long bridge is the longest in the world crossing ice-covered water, and continues to endure as one of Canada’s top engineering achievements of the 20th century. The decision to replace the existing ferry service with a fixed link followed a heated debate throughout the 1980’s. After four years of construction using crews of more than five thousand local workers, the Confederation Bridge opened to traffic on May 31, 1997. ...ConfederationBridge.com
We were able to see more of the ocean than what we thought we would be able to.
The land looks to be very fertile as crops are growing everywhere. It is quite scenic and also peaceful.
Warren & Jane
Ken & Fran
A little bit about the Confederation Birthplace back in 1864.
Our home for the next 3 nights at Shaw's Hotel & Cottages.
This "chalet" (as it has a kitchen & updated bathroom (on the main floor, not so much on the upstairs!) was an original hunting cabin and moved to the site next to the hotel. It could use a little more updating on the 2nd floor but luckily for Ken & myself we got the main floor bedroom! Heated bath towels and all!
It certainly is a pretty cottage from the outside.
2 - Anne of Green Gables & Cavendish Beach
2 - Anne of Green Gables & Cavendish Beach
This was the house that inspired the author, Lucy Maud Montgomery to tell the tale of Anne of Green Gables. Lots of wallpaper in this house...this room was pretty tame.
Anne's bedroom
And it's Anne herself and best friend Diana, along with Carol & Mike.
I think Anne called Mike "Gilbert" as he was kidding around.
A great tree along our walk in the Haunted Wood Trail near the house.
As much as I was not sure if I wanted to see the Anne of Green Gables site, I was glad I went. Maybe now I should read the series!
Here are the info panels about the author, Lucy Maud Montgomery.
And then we were off to see Cavendish Beach. Known for its signature views of rugged, red sandstone cliffs and its world-renowned for its connection to author L.M. Montgomery and her novel 'Anne of Green Gables'.
Had our first taste of Celtic Music at the end of the day at the Stanley Bridge Community Center. Warren had pre-booked tickets for us and they almost got the last name right! (it should have been W. Ottenbreit).
Something like Mr. Potato Head...really big!!
Richard Wood was the main performer (fiddle) with a couple of back up musicians and a dancer that came on a few times. This was a small venue and the entertainment was very good.
3 - Singing Sands Beach
3 - Singing Sands Beach
We took a day trip to visit Basin Head Provincial Park.
Basin Head Provincial Park is a provincial park located in Basin Head, Prince Edward Island, Canada. It is best known by its nickname "Singing Sands", in reference to the pure white sand that "sings" when stepped on, due to a high silica content. This sand is geologically unique to the area. Wikipedia
Well we tried, but the sand was not up to singing for us! The sun was not on our side so it did not heat up the sand.
There is a small bridge (on the right) that people would jump off and the water coming in through the channel was flowing very fast. We crossed that bridge and walked on the sand to the right of the grassy area. It was a very windy day and the waves were up. The beach shown in the front of this picture looks to be protected from the wind.
And then we were off to the most easterly point of PEI, East Point Lighthouse.
Warren just had to capture his picture on the other side of the fenced off area!
After the lighthouse we found the Boat House Harbour Eatery in North Lake for a not so quick lunch, but delicious nonetheless.
The restaurant is right beside a working fish harbour...very picturesque!
Fishful Thinking...great name!
Absolutely "Money Maid"...
Carol took this opportunity to kick her heels in the sand to hopefully get it to sing...not so much!
Ended off our day on an energetic note!
We had dinner & a musical show at the Shaw's Hotel & Cottages (ie. no driving!) in the Penzie's Restaurant, music by local musicians, Gordie Mackeeman & His Rhythm Boys.
From their website...Led by fiddling wiz Gordie “Crazylegs” MacKeeman, the roots quartet features all-star pickers and singers, with everything from down-home country to reckless rockabilly to intricate bluegrass.
The band was having fun and it came through in the high energy performance that was enjoyed by all of us.
In this pic, Gordie is in the green.
Here are a couple of snippets from the evening. Gordie is quite the clogger/tap dancer.
Sydney, NS - Cape Breton Island - Southside - Mira Bradan North Waterfront Retreat
Sydney, NS - Cape Breton Island - Southside - Mira Bradan North Waterfront Retreat
4 - Driving Day
4 - Driving Day
And it was a long one.
Left by 8am and arrived at our AirBnb just south of Sydney by 4:30pm. A few stops along the way to take a few pics and enjoy an early dinner but we were all glad to get out of the van at the end of the day.
Finally got a pic with the Nova Scotia sign as we came back from PEI through New Brunswick.
And then later in the day drove across the Causeway from mainland Nova Scotia to Cape Breton Island.
Just a pretty scene once arriving on the island
5 - Sydney, NS
5 - Sydney, NS
It was a rainy day for what was supposed to be a day of lounging at the dock after getting groceries in Sydney. Our current AirBnb has fishing tackle, kayaks and even a canoe for Ken! But alas it was not meant to be. So we drove to North Sydney to pick up some scallops and fish cakes at Gillis Seafood (a great place!!) and then to Sydney to see the Big Fiddle. The rain held off long enough for us to snap a few pics.
We also went to the casino for a few of the group to enjoy a really expensive beer...not mentioning any names Mike!
Just off the boardwalk with fisherman Ken!
And yes, there is a brewery in Sydney...Breton Brewing Co.
6 - Glace Bay Mine Tour & Fortress of Louisbourg
6 - Glace Bay Mine Tour & Fortress of Louisbourg
It was a busy day as we hit 2 major touristy attractions while in the area.
Our first stop of the day was to Miners Museum in Glace Bay, NS and the second was to the Fortress of Louisbourg.
Miners had a dangerous job right from the start but even to the end when the mines were shut down in Cape Breton in 2001.
Some of the machinery used in the mines, now stored on the grounds of the museum overlooking the North Atlantic Ocean.
Replicas of the some of the buildings that would have been in the mining towns.
The Company House
The Company Store
Pit Pony Stable for when the ponies came out of the mines once per year.
This letter speaks for itself. What a difficult time the miners had... we are so fortunate today.
After taking some time to view the museum exhibits it was time for our 1.5 hour tour with a retired miner.
We had a short video (quite well done) and then it was time to don the hardhats and head into the mine. Turns out this was never a working mine, but was recreated for the museum.
The ceilings were low, so most of the tour we had to crouch down.
Warren & Ken crouching down while listening. Luckily at only being 5'4", I was able to almost stand up in some of the areas.
The stables for the Pit Ponies who hauled the iron ore out of the mines.
Our tour guide, Sheldon fit the tunnels perfectly...he had to be all of 5'2"!
Representation of a garden that was grown in one of the tunnels.
Storytime and time to sit down and relax from the crouching.
The mine tour ended at 1:00pm and then it was time to drive to the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site getting there about 2pm.
Not much time to tour the entire site but enough time to get an idea what it is all about.
Site of the French occupied Fort in 1713 before being destroyed by the English in 1760's and then it was reconstructed (1/5 of it that is) in the 1960's.
A view of the Fortress as we drove from the townsite.
As we drove towards the fortress, the waves were crashing into the shoreline...pretty impressive.
We did not have time to tour most of the sites, but we did manage to see the Kings Bastion, the Engineers Residence, a few other homes and we ended up at the Storehouse Tavern...what a surprise!
There were 5 of these bastions that protected the townsite back in the 1700's. They have reconstructed only the one of them. Luckily there were plans back in France so they were able to reconstruct almost exactly as they were back in the 1700's.
The "Shaming" of one of the ships hands that was caught stealing and for desertion. As part of his punishment he was to be shamed by the townspeople. Here they are marching him out of the bastion to the townsite.
They had people in period costume telling us about their role in the 1700's. Here a soldier had many stories!
I think you could easily spend a whole day onsite talking to the interpreters.
A view of the village from the bastion.
The church where at least 2 governor's are buried beneath it.
The Superior Council room in the Governor's house where all the important decisions were made!
The governor's bedroom.
The black sheep of the family!
They have just recently opened up an area for antiques to be displayed once again as they have not been for a number of years.
Pleasant Bay, NS - Cape Breton Island - Northside - The Old Salt Cottage
Pleasant Bay, NS - Cape Breton Island - Northside - The Old Salt Cottage
7 - Driving Day along the Cabot Trail
7 - Driving Day along the Cabot Trail
We did not have the best weather for seeing the first part of the Cabot Trail. The day was supposed to burn off the fog around noon but it hung around for the entire day.
Enjoyed the drive anyways and stopped for a coffee and breakfast treat at the Clucking Hen Cafe & Bakery. I am just loving the names that the businesses have come up with.
Just a cool bridge that we crossed...it seems I have a thing for bridges!
I guess our day was Raining...well light mist that is.
The start of our day views...
I was so enthralled by the fog that obscured the road that I did not get the video at it's thickest but this will give you some idea as to what we were driving through.
Stopped at Ingonish Beach...not the best day for swimming!
Ingonish Beach
Ingonish Beach...Listen for the sound of the rocks being washed back into the water after the wave crashes ashore about the 50 sec mark.
After Ingonish Beach we hiked Middle Head Trail which was just past the Keltic Lodge (looked to be a little run down). It was a trail covered by tree roots and was a little longer than I thought it would be (I was expecting only a mile or so, but it was actually closer to 2.5 miles). As we went to the end of the land the views got more spectacular as the fog was not as thick.
Some of the views along our hike...
Heading back...
Some of the views that we experienced after the fog started to lift.
Can you imagine how wonderful this view would be if the Fall colors were out and the day was sunny!
I see the color...do you?
The leaves are just starting to change
Our final stop of the day before arriving at our Airbnb was to visit John Cabot's Landfall site from when he discovered North America in June of 1497.
8 - Relaxation Day
8 - Relaxation Day
Warren, Jane, Mike & Carol went off to "Hike", (aka "Find a Bar") while they waited for the fog to clear. Ken & I stayed back at the cottage getting caught up on banking stuff and I got a short walk in down to the beach that is close to the cottage.
Here they are "hiking"! Well they are on their way...something about almost running out of gas as they headed out for the day and were told it was only 5-10 min. away in either direction to fill up. Turns out it more like 30-45 min and they were pretty much on fumes when they got to Cheticamp, so they needed a little pick me up juice to calm their nerves after filling the tank. They did get in 3 hikes after that and good timing as well as the fog lifted.
Just down from the church on the main road I walked along this beach.
Lots of wave action today.
It was a little sunnier when I started but the fog rolled on back in.
View from the top at the church before going down the ATV road to reach the beach. A little distorted from the panorama view
I just love the sound of the waves...during the daytime that is, not at night when I am trying to sleep!
Found a really red tree on my walk back to the cottage. I can only imagine how beautiful this area will be in a few weeks.
9 - Cabot Trail - Skyline Trail Hike - Cheticamp, NS
9 - Cabot Trail - Skyline Trail Hike - Cheticamp, NS
Yeah, the fog lifted and we were able to see the Cabot Trail for what it is known for! We drove to and then hiked the Skyline Trail and we had some beautiful views along the way. Both Ken & I were not expecting the stairs at the end of the trail.
Warren, "Eagle Eyes" Ottenbreit, spotted a Spruce Grouse in the trees just before our first taste of the boardwalk that was protecting the marsh.
A great viewing spot of the Cabot Trail road.
With...?
Without...?
Just some of the pretty flowers along the way
Red berries anyone?
Viewpoint of the Cabot Trail from the Skyline...as viewed to the right.
...as viewed to the left.
Mike is still on the way. We'll give him a break as his knee is causing him trouble.
A man deep in thought!!
Well, maybe not so much!
Just some of the 275 stairs...one way.
Made it to the end of the stairway.
View of the Cabot Trail from the end...as viewed down the road.
View of the Cabot Trail...as viewed up the road.
Heading back...
Mike made it!!
Zoomed out...
Zoomed in...
A fitting memorial!
Trying to capture a pic of the pilot whales that Ken & Warren believe they saw at one of our stops.
After the hike, it was time to grab a bite to eat and when we saw Richard Wood in PEI, he recommended coming to the Doryman in Cheticamp. The town was only another 25ish minutes down the road so off we went to eat and hear the Saturday Afternoon Fiddle Matinee.
The highlight (as least for the dancing gals), was for the ladies to dance to the music. They were enjoying themselves.
In the town of Cheticamp is a wonderful and grand church, Saint Pierre. The Acadian culture is strong in this area.
We took the stairs to the 2nd level and had a wonderful view of the entire church.
Nice organ!
From the upper story window.
Just never know what you will find in a church... who knew we would find the burial site of the founder of this church., Pierre Fiset
After our knowledgeable and informative tour guides for the day (ie. Mike & Carol), took us for a grand tour of Cheticamp and ice cream at Mr. Chicken, it was time to head home. Ended off our day with a sunset walk on the beach that I had gone to yesterday.
Wild flowers on the way home.
New Glasgow, NS
New Glasgow, NS
10 - Driving Day & Alexander Graham Bell Museum & End of Vacation
10 - Driving Day & Alexander Graham Bell Museum & End of Vacation
Started out the day in fog...who knew that could happen?! Just kidding, seems to be a standard for the area.
Some of our last views of The Cabot Trail, that is after the fog lifted.
We were headed to the Glenora Distillery to hopefully have breakfast as it is also an Inn. However the restaurant did not open until noon, so we continued on down the road and finally found breakfast at the Red Barn just before Baddeck.
Entry gates to the distillery.
Beautiful grounds, but the Single Malt Whiskey was pretty expensive so we passed. No miss for me as I am not a whiskey fan.
In Baddeck is the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site which we took a moment to explore.
From NovaScotia.com
More than the telephone!
Did you know that Bell’s career began as a teacher of deaf and hearing impaired people? His curiosity and determination would lead to Canada’s first powered flight, the world’s fastest watercraft, advanced recording technology, giant tetrahedral kites and, of course, the telephone. Many of these remarkable inventions first took flight (literally!) in the scenic community of Baddeck, with the support of his wife Mabel Hubbard Bell and a group of innovators they inspired around them.
I was most surprised at how much Alexander's wife Mabel played in the
The invention of the telephone.
Alexander Graham Bell married Mabel Hubbard and she was a great influence and inspiration for her husband. She sounds like she was quite a lady who had a lot of influence in the community.
The Alexander estate near Baddeck. Still held by family members today.
The Aerial Experiment Association (AEA) responsible for the first powered flight in Canada on Feb 23, 1909.
Members of the AEA
The Silver Dart history
Replica of the Silver Dart.
And the Big Spruce Brewing Co was a short distance away from the museum when we were done.
Ken was our driver for the day, so no beer for him....ahhhh!
Beautiful grounds.
Hop Vines
Hops
This ended our Nova Scotia adventure with the group as we arrived at our friend Bruce & Jacqueline's to spend the night and enjoy the firepit.
The next day we took Warren, Jane, Mike & Carol back to Halifax so that they could enjoy some time together before heading back to Edmonton and their busy lives. It was a wonderful vacation, but now back to reality and enjoy sleeping in our own beds!
11 - Dartmouth, NS
11 - Dartmouth, NS
Ken grew up in Dartmouth (across the water from Halifax), so after dropping off the gang in downtown Halifax, we took a moment to snap a couple of pics from his home at 31 Mount Edward Road back in Dartmouth. The front patio is a new addition...nice!
12 - Downtime for a couple of weeks
12 - Downtime for a couple of weeks
Spending time here in the area (ie. Westville/Stellarton/New Glasgow/Antigonish) before making our way back to the states. Hopefully getting a few things done on our trailer to do list!
13 - Pictou, NS
13 - Pictou, NS
A short drive from Bruce & Jacqueline's to enjoy dinner.
Cute little "Rock Garden"
The Scottish arrived aboard the Ship Hector in 1773, making Pictou "The Birthplace of New Scotland".
A recreation of the Ship Hector, still in fabrication.
19 - New Glasgow, NS
19 - New Glasgow, NS
Finally a sunny but cool day. Got over to Backstage Brewing to enjoy some beer and cider.
20 - Berwick, NS
20 - Berwick, NS
The days have been rainy and what a better way to spend the day if not with a day trip to the Kentville Valley to visit with Ken's Aunt Dorothy (his Dad's youngest sister). Aunt Dot will soon be 90, not that you would know it as she is as sharp as a tack and still pretty agile. Instead of waiting for Ken to assist her out of the truck, she jumped down from the step as that was easier for her than stepping down! Just glad that she did not have an accident on our watch!! Had a lovely lunch at Kellock's in Berwick catching up and reminiscing. It was a perfect way to spend the day!!
I'm sure that Aunt Dot is wondering what you did with all of your hair!
Ken's Aunt Dot at her apartment in Berwick.
24 - Cottage Time & Goodbyes - Antigonish, NS
24 - Cottage Time & Goodbyes - Antigonish, NS
We had a wonderful time with Bruce & Jacqueline and the weather cleared up enough for us to enjoy a final weekend at the cottage just south of Antigonish. Their friends, Mike & Jean & their dog Luna even made it out once they were sure that they could make it onto the property. Years ago, the driveway was widened so it was not a problem. Fun was had by the firepit every night, and when we were not eating, a little Mexican Trains, Jokr Rummy and Finnish Throwing (thanks for introducing us to this Jean) kept us entertained. (Mölkky, is a Finnish throwing game invented by Lahden Paikka company in 1996. It is reminiscent of kyykkä, a centuries-old throwing game with Karelian roots. However, Mölkky does not require as much physical strength as kyykkä, and is more suitable for everyone regardless of age and condition. Wikipedia)
Mike & Jeans 5th Wheel & truck is on the right
We arrived just after Mike & Jean and were able to park just beside the cottage & beside Mike & Jean.
Ken & Fran, Bruce & Jacqueline, Joy MacKenzie (Jacqueline's Mom) & Jean & Mike.
Always on Lake Time! Titan, Tammy's dog joined in.
A little snuggling by the firepit!
Not sure if you can see the colors in the flame, thought that copper piping would do it, but it turns out that the color only came from packets of chemical. But boy, Bruce sure was excited that copper pipe could do this! More to this story...Mike & Jean are so nasty to their friend Bruce!
A little shot of something to close out the night.
Until next time...
Heading Home (United States, that is!) - Travel Days
Heading Home (United States, that is!) - Travel Days
It was time to leave Nova Scotia & find warmer weather. Out goal is to stay in 70 degree weather (or 80!) and so far we are chasing 70 degrees but missing it. So our plans our changing slightly and we will likely not see much of the northeast coastline as we make our way further south in the hopes of catching a little more sun & warmth.
25 - Travel Day - Lincoln Big Stop, NB
25 - Travel Day - Lincoln Big Stop, NB
Our first stop for the night was just outside of Fredericton, New Brunswick at the Lincoln Big Stop Truck Stop. Overall, we were surprised at how well we slept even though we had what we think was a liquid propane truck beside us that ran all night long.
Bangor, ME Area
Bangor, ME Area
26 - Travel Day - Pittsfield, ME - Moochdocking at Friends
26 - Travel Day - Pittsfield, ME - Moochdocking at Friends
We are fortunate to have friends from Rotary that have a home just south of Bangor in the small town of Pittsfield that are allowing us to hang out on their driveway for a few days. Thanks to Angel & Javier Aguirre for their generosity (even though they are both back in AZ) and allowing Ken & myself time to just catch up on life with one another.
A wonderful circular driveway at the entrance.
What a backyard!
27-28 - Pittsfield, ME - Chore Day & Relaxation Day
27-28 - Pittsfield, ME - Chore Day & Relaxation Day
Spent the day catching up on laundry & groceries and having the truck looked at for it's check engine light caused by a faulty catalytic convertor. And after all that there is a pretty awesome brewery here in the little town of Pittsfield just south of Bangor, ME called the Outland Farm Brewery that was calling to us late in the day.
29 - Bangor, ME Touring
29 - Bangor, ME Touring
After a relaxing day at home on the 28th, we ventured into Bangor to check out a few things. One of it's highlights is the Mount Hope Cemetery (Mount Hope Cemetery in Bangor, Maine, is the second oldest garden cemetery in the United States. It was designed by architect Charles G. Bryant in 1834 and built by the Bangor Horticultural Society soon after, the same year that Bangor was incorporated as a city. Wikipedia)
I was amazed at how beautiful a cemetery could be and we did not look at many of the gravesites but a few that we saw dated from the 1700's.
Just a few of the pics we took.
The gravesites covered the hills of the cemetery and it was neat how you could see the outline of each of the family plots. I might be a little weird but I could see making this cemetery a great exercise walking area as the roads are all paved, so easy getting around.
Our next stop was to visit the Paul Bunyan statue at Cross Center (event center). There was not much in the area other than the casino and a few hotels but we stopped nonetheless.
Our last stop after eating a late lunch/early dinner was to walk part of the Brewer Riverwalk (Brewer being the city opposite the Penobscot River).
30 - Pittsfield & Waterville Exploration
30 - Pittsfield & Waterville Exploration
More discovering of the surrounding area.
First in Pittsfield as there was a neighborhood park to be walked. It had a very old suspension bridge that we dared to walk (it wasn't so bad!)
The green tunnel after the bridge headed towards the train tracks.
We checked out a few of the RV parks in the Pittsfield area and then ventured further south (30 min.) to the town of Fairfield and Waterville.
Came across Fort Halifax Park, a national historic site for having the Oldest Blockhouse in the United States dating from 1754.
It was a beautiful park but on the day we were visiting was not well used. It seems like it would be a great park for contemplating life.
Must be a day for suspension bridges as we found another one in Waterville that crosses the Kennebec River to the city of Winslow. This bridge was well constructed but has been rebuilt since it's early beginnings in the 1820's. It is known as the Two Cent Bridge as it was originally constructed as a toll bridge for a 1 cent crossing but after being rebuilt due to flooding a few years later the toll increased to 2 pennies. It is still being used today to cross the river just not as a toll bridge. As we were crossing the bridge a young couple said hi to us and as fortune has it, we met them again (Dave & Robyn) and got to know them a bit better when we met again at The Proper Pig Restaurant.
Locks of Love?
Dave & Robyn told us about a not to be missed brewery & eatery a little further down the road in Vassalboro. Sidereal Farm Brewery was wonderful...just wished we had not had a bite to eat earlier as we would have loved to try out some of the unique food options on the menu.
From here it was back home to get ready for us to leave the next day as we are headed to West Point, NY.
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