Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America (Wolfville & Scot's Cove Nova Scotia)

June 22nd: We usually travel from one community to another, so when we are stationary for a few days, I try to take it easy and do more walking than driving. However, my co-pilot had a different plan. He kept bugging me to go exploring. I think I have created a travel monster! He loves going for car rides, anywhere! I checked my map and found Scot's Bay and Cape Split, just a short distance from Wolfville. Okay, that's the plan then.

The drive took only about an hour, enough to satisfy my travel buddy. There is a park at the end of the road and a hike to Cape Split, but I nixed that. The temperature was rising, and Sparky doesn't do well with long hikes. He was born with a heart defect, and his vets, past and present, all say to not push him into long, hot walks. His pet stroller takes up half of my trunk space, but pushing it through a rustic pathway didn't appeal to me, so we headed back to our condo unit in Wolfville.

Later in the evening, just a few short steps from my condo unit, several musicians were providing a free concert of Maritime songs. They played until sunset. It was a pleasant way to end our three-day stay in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.

Chairs overlooking Scot's Bay Nova Scotia

Remains of the wharf at Scot's Bay 

Overlooking Scot's Bay, Nova Scotia

Bought myself pewter shells made in Nova Scotia

Herbin's Jewelry Store

Acadia, old-timey theatre, Wolfville, NS

Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America (Wolfville Nova Scotia)

 June 21st - Summer Solstice! 

The sun is shining, and the weather is perfect! What a great start to summer.

Our unit is in the middle near the stairway

Yesterday, when I checked into the Micro Boutique Living condo-hotel in Wolfville, I had a few concerns about the noise level in the building, mostly the noise from the suite above ours. By five in the afternoon, the racket had dropped to a reasonable level, plus I had managed a two-hour nap, which helped calm the headache that had plagued me yesterday. Despite my misgivings, I had a great sleep and felt almost human the next morning. 

I spent the day taking it easy, walking Sparky, and exploring our cute neighbourhood. And yes, I could live in Wolfville! It is another charming university town, similar to the one in Berea, Kentucky, which I visited in May. 

"Founded in 1838, Acadia University is one of the oldest and most respected liberal arts universities in Canada. Acadia is an integral part of the quintessential college town of Wolfville, Nova Scotia, and overlooks the Annapolis Valley and the Bay of Fundy."

Main Street Wolfville 

Main Street Wolfville

Sunrise of Summer Soltice

The Church Brewing Company

Celebrating Summer Solstice

Sparky and I celebrated the beginning of summer by going to church yesterday for a late lunch; at The Church Brewing Company, across the street from our condo-hotel. 

And yes, I bought the glass. I rarely buy souvenirs, but I enjoyed the experience and wanted something to remind me of the day. The arrival of summer was something that Lawrie and I enjoyed celebrating, so besides remembering Wolfville and The Church Brewing Company, I am also remembering my honey, whom I miss every single day.

The Sparkinator and I have one more day in Wolfville, then we head to Ingomar on the south shore of Nova Scotia.

Cheers, Lynda and The Fuzz-butt

Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America (Annapolis Royal Nova Scotia)

June 20th: A clean-up and moving day. Before leaving Digby, Nova Scotia, Sparky and I had a bit of a cleanup. The first stop was the laundromat, just a block from our motel. Then, a quick stop at a self-serve car wash while my clothes were in the washing machine. Back to the laundromat to move the washing into the dryer, and then a dash to the Pet Valu to give the Fuzz-butt his bi-weekly bath. Fortunately for me, Sparky loves getting bathed. He climbs into the tub as soon as I take his leash off, and snuggles up to the sprayer when I turn it on. He's a weird little dog!

Fort Anne, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia

Then we headed north, taking the secondary roads towards the pretty community of Annapolis Royal. It's another charming Maritime community that, as soon as I saw it, I said to Sparky, "I could live here!"

Here's a bit of history about Annapolis Royal copied from the internet: "French colonists first began to cultivate Annapolis Royal Historic District, then known as Port-Royal, in 1605, but in 1613 the colony was seized by the British. In 1632, Acadia was restored to France by treaty, after which the site was fortified and became the principal settlement of Acadian colonists. In 1643, a four-bastioned earthwork was constructed at Fort Anne, and by 1650, the beginnings of a town site existed. St. George Street, a main road of the district, was well developed by 1686. Acadia was ceded to Britain in 1713, and Port Royal was renamed Annapolis Royal. It served as the centre of military and administrative operations for the new British colony of Nova Scotia until 1749, when Halifax became the provincial capital. By virtue of its waterfront location, Annapolis Royal was well-established in shipbuilding, brick manufacturing, and lumber milling, which expanded and diversified the local economy."

By the time I had driven to Kentville, I had a raging headache and decided to take the faster road to Wolfville. About 14 kilometers! As I said, I had a raging headache and didn't realize that we were that close to our destination.

I used our secret door code to enter our studio suite at the Micro Boutique Living on Main Street. It's a quite new, tiny one-bed unit that works just fine for the Fuzz-butt and me. We are close to a park with walking pathways, several restaurants, and a cool craft brewery across the street, The Church Brewing Company. 

German bakery Annapolis Royal

Dog-friendly Annapolis Royal NS

At Annapolis Royal

Red Onion Annapolis Royal

George Street Annapolis Royal

I still have a headache, but it's not quite as bad as yesterday. Hopefully, I will be able to shake it off with more sleep and eating better. Too many scallops and fries in the last three days!

Cheers, 

Lynda and Sir Fuzz-butt  (aka The Sparkinator)

Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America (hanging out in the Digby NS area)

June 19th: I check my computer every single day to see what the actual date is... I lost track a few weeks ago. And today is Monday? Right?

We have one more night at the Seawinds Motel and Cabins on the waterfront of Digby, Nova Scotia, before turning back towards Wolfville. When I tweaked my reservations because of the enormous wildfire in the Shelburne area, I ended up backtracking for a bit before we continued on to the south shore later in the week.

And then my travel partner made this face when I was catching up on emails this morning.

Bored. Bored. Bored. Soooo bored. 

Shortly after his eleventeenth massive sigh, I gave in, "Do you want to go on an adventure?" I asked him.

Judging by his happy dance and perky ears, "Yes!" was the answer.  

I pulled out my old-school paper map (Rob Goth, you'd appreciate that) and checked for nearby communities. The long spit of land, or Digby Neck, looked interesting. We gave Miss Google the day off and headed out in a south-westerly direction and found the road leading to the Digby Neck. It is a long, narrow peninsula running parallel to the southwest shore of mainland Nova Scotia. It measures roughly 40 km long and 5 km wide. With Saint Mary's Bay on one side and the Bay of Fundy on the other, Digby Neck is nearly surrounded by water. 

At the Petite Passage, between East Ferry and Tiverton, a free ferry between the two communities allows travelers to continue on to the second ferry running between Freeport and Westport. The total distance from Digby to Brier Island is about 70 kilometers. I stopped our journey at East Ferry. My travel partner isn't thrilled with ferries after his ordeal traveling to and from Grand Manan a few days ago. He was stressed by the loud and incessant foghorn.

We arrived at the East Ferry crossing close to lunchtime. While I watched the car ferry loading, I ordered scallops on a roll from Robyn and Barb at the Petite Passage Cafe and Whale Tours. The scallops were fresh and yummy! The ladies were welcoming and friendly. 

Then Sparky and I turned back, heading north towards Digby. Small communities with names like Gulliver's Cove, Sandy Cove, and Mink Cove dot the shorelines. In every cove, there are historic homes, a dozen fishing boats tied up to sturdy wharves, usually a church or two, and sometimes a restaurant.

It's a pretty area. I'm happy my travel partner was bored, so bored, this morning.

Cheers 

Lynda and The Sparkinator 

Lake Midland

The downside of a fishing industry

Sandy Cove, Digby Neck, Nova Scotia

Little River, Digby Neck, Nova Scotia

Quite a few homes in this location at Little River

Free ferry, Petite Passage, Digby Neck NS

Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America (Maitland to Digby Nova Scotia)

June 18th: As is typical of my road trips, I stuck to the secondary roads, which meant that the normal 237-kilometer drive from Maitland (about 150 miles) took Sparky and me over six hours to explore. 

We visited several lighthouses and several small hamlets, and then I asked Miss Google to find me a grocery store near Digby, NS. She happily routed us along a windy adventure to the sweet little hamlet of Bear River. (Another delightful place where I could live if it weren't for the cold winters.) 

Miss Google's route took us to a basic and not-well-stocked corner store. I decided to buy eggs, cheese, and bread because I had no idea what Digby had to offer. When we were on our way to our seaside accommodation, we passed both the Atlantic Superstore and Sotheby's. Miss Google was having a laugh at me!

Our waterfront efficiency cabin at Seawinds Motel and Cottages is cute and comfortable, and only a five-minute walk to the wharf-side restaurants with a view of the fishing fleet. When we arrived yesterday, Father's Day, the majority of the boats were docked, but this morning the boats were out again by 6:00 a.m. Digby has a sign in the town square, 'The Scallops Capital of the World'. Have a look at the CBC video link. Digby Sea Scallops

Today's sole task is to find a delicious Digby Sea Scallops dinner. After all, we are in the Scallops Capital of the World.

Cheers

Lynda and The Sparkinator 

Oldest continuously operated general store, Maitland

The lighthouse park at Burntcoat Head, Nova Scotia

 Burntcoat Head Park, Nova Scotia

 

Lighthouse at Walton, Nova Scotia

Great bakery somewhere on the side roads

Bear River, Nova Scotia - a tidal village

Bear River, Nova Scotia - a tidal village

Bear River, Nova Scotia - a tidal village

Seawinds Motel Digby, Nova Scotia

Digby, Nova Scotia

Father's Day, the fleet is docked at Digby, NS

Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America (Saint Johns NB to Maitland Nova Scotia)

June 17th: Sparky and I stayed overnight in an okay Holiday Inn Express in Saint Johns. Not bad. Not great. Just a place to sleep, then we hit the road early in the morning, traveling towards Nova Scotia. It's been nearly 37 years since Lawrie and I were in Nova Scotia. I'm happy to be back here again. 

My dad's Irish ancestors immigrated to Canada in the 1720s and landed in Nova Scotia. They were farmers, and eventually my great-grandfather, Joseph Lyons, became a shipbuilder and a shipowner in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, on the Bay of Fundy. My dad's French ancestors immigrated first to Illinois in the 1820s and then moved to Canada in the 1860s.

In 1986, I found the Lyons family home in Parrsboro, and Lawrie took a photo of me standing on the front steps. However, that photo was a casualty of moving to Mexico in 2008.  I tried to find the house again this time, but wasn't sure if  I was really looking at Captain Lyons' house. So, in the end, no photo.

At the Harbourview Restaurant in Parrsboro, I had the BEST OMG scallops and fresh fish. The Harbourview is a funky little place that looks as if it has been there since the 1930s with the same clientele. The ceiling is low. Additions have been made over the years. The prices are affordable. The food is fabulous! Basic and so good.

We arrive at Cresthaven by the Sea, in Maitland, around 3:00 in the afternoon. It's situated on the Bay of Fundy, home of the world's largest tides. Our home for the evening was pleasant and comfortable, with the additional entertainment of a thunder and lightning storm starting at midnight and ending around 2:00 in the morning. Sparky slept through the entire performance.

Cheers

Lynda and The Sparkinator

My dad with a ship model built by his granddad Parrsboro, NS

My dad again visited Parrsboro later in 1920s

Parrsboro, Nova Scotia

Parrsboro, Nova Scotia

Parrsboro, Nova Scotia

Best OMG scallops, ever!

Mazda and the big chairs at Parrsboro, NS