Days 33-34, July 20-21 -- A Two Day Road Trip on the Cabot Trail -- Zero Nautical Miles

Our friend Bill, who we first met in Maine and later in the Caribbean and in North Carolina, is the person who first told me about sailing to Nova Scotia's Bras D'or Lakes. His advice is always good and his latest tip: "Don't miss the Cabot Trail. It is about 187 miles along much of the coasts of the eastern half of Cape Breton. We drove this road counterclockwise, to be one lane closer to the sea and so the passenger had the better view. There are about fifteen long road blocks caused by construction to improve the road. We stayed overnight in Dingwall at a B and B called Channel Breezes, with a full breakfast served by our hosts. Unfortunately they were booked in the house but were able to offer us accommodations in an RV parked out back.

The road signs on the first day, along the Atlantic, are in English and Gaelic, and the Scottish heritage is everywhere. The second day, along the Gulf of St. Lawrence, they are only in English and the place names are largely French.

The sight and smell of conifers was everywhere with many wild flowers including white and red clover, beach roses, red plants that looked like flocks, tiny purple flowers that hugged the ground, white Queen Anne's Lace, yellow buttercups and daises, flowers that looked like dandelion except smaller, with several blossoms on a single taller stem, and this beautiful weed that looks like a thistle (a Scottish symbol) except it is smaller and thornless!

Perhaps my college roommate, Stan, a retired geneticist whose first love is botany, can provide the answer.

The rest of this post is pictures. First at Cape Smokey, elevation 600 feet,

then at the Middle Head Trail just past the Keltic Lodge at Ingonish, looking back at Cabot Head and elsewhere

Green Cove, which is really red, looking back at both Ingonish and Cabot Head.

Our favorite, out on White Point,

seen here from Dingwall.

Our trailer home:

Pleasant Bay

Lone Sheiling, a recreated Scottish peasant's hut

and Skyline trail, where we hiked the hour out with Steven and Melanie from Halifax

and where you can see Cheticamp Island.

During the hike out to the point is was very foggy

and then it rained but it cleared when we arrived.

We showered and attended "Murder at The Baddeck Inn" a late 70's farce put on by Theater Baddeck. Two full days ashore, but with lots of looks at the sea. 

The crew welcomed us home but asked that we not leave them alone again.