Oct 28, 2018 | Adventures 2018
Haul-out 2018.
It’s usually a very sad time of year, putting our dear R.E.D. to bed for the long winter months but this year we are at least a month later than usual to pull her from the water and it felt right…and kind of fun..with an energy we haven’t found in past years.
Hooking Up HIS Trailer
Maybe it’s because we had a much longer season, or maybe it could be that we now have a special place right in our own yard and the process is so much easier. There was no going back and forth through all of that depressing congested Montreal traffic.
Fall Colours
She spent her summer here, just six kilometres from our home, at a small co-op-type club. It meant just one trip too. Trailer hooked up to the tow beast and within a few minutes we were ready for our annual ritual.
Ballast Empty
First, a chilly outing on the bay to empty her belly of salt water.
Winterizing MY Engine
Next, Francois put the motor through it’s winterizing paces.
Installing Mast Extension
The mast extension makes for a much better shape when tarping.
Waiting
R.E.D. waited patiently at the service dock while the trailer was brought to the loading ramp
Haul-out
Then came the offical haul-out. So easy for two of us to handle, all completed with no incident.
Power Wash
Power wash came next before all the accumulated ‘yuck’ from a summer in the water had dried. Demasting with all of the lines secured and we were ready to head for home.
The Skeleton
This year’s tarp skeleton is Francois’ best creation to date. It makes the job so much easier too when there is a small hardware store down at the corner to buy extra tie wraps and PVC piping.
Winter Tarp
Even covering and threading the lines under R.E.D.’s belly seemed less of a chore this year.
The Igloo
All liquids and other essentials removed from the cabin and lines flushed through with anti-freeze, she will rest all cozy and ready for whatever winter storms will throw our way.
For those who prefer to read our story in a language other than English, please forgive the automatic translation.
Oct 20, 2018 | Adventures 2018
You know you are living in paradise when you struggle with the idea of going away on vacation….but we did….for five days!
In our past life we would have thought five days was not nearly enough….one week either….two weeks minimum would have been needed to re-balance and re-set our stress levels. Now five days seemed like too much…but we did it.
Fall in Nova Scotia is really the best season. The air is fresher with a slight chill and the changing colours bring ‘leaf peepers’ by the bus load.
We had a couple of reasons to take a break from R.E.D. by the Sea. Francois had never travelled the Cabot Trail and neither of us had visited Fort Louisbourg. Next year the plan is to trailer R.E.D. to sail the Bras d’Or Lakes so we wanted to scope out marina locations in advance. And what better time to visit than Nova Scotia’s best season.
Cape Breton
We were not disappointed!
Peace by Chocolate
I had made a wish list of things to see, one of which was a stop in Antigonish to visit Peace by Chocolate. You can read all about this heart-warming success story here. What better way to support a local business than to purchase their delicious chocolates for gifting.
On the Road
It was difficult not to stop at every fence post to take pictures of the stunning colours but we resisted. There would be many more ahead of us.
Bilingualism in the Highlands
Many of the signs in Cape Breton are bilingual. English/Gaelic, because of a large Celtic population and English/French because of many French speaking communities as well.
#32
Free range critters were abundant along the way, both wild and domestic.
Iron Art and Photography
Cape Breton is also rich with artisans and very talented unique crafters. We stopped at a few looking for that perfect souvenir.
Room with a View
I had just one criterion for choosing our accomodations while away: a room with a view. Each one a vista of colour and salt water.
The route was a series of nail biting curves ( at least for me the acrophobically challenged) with hair pin turns that wound through the highlands.
From time to time we would encounter those less fearful. Sitings of extreme sports enthusiasts on road skiis and bicycles careening down the steep inclines were frequent.
Fog on the Water
When visiting the Cabot Trail, viewing in perfect weather is 50/50….a toss of the dice. Sometimes you could be socked in with fog, sometimes clear blue skies all the way. Throughout our five days we were lucky to have a mixture of sun, rain and fog which made for some interesting photography.
Vibrant Colours
I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a variety of colours. So many shades of reds, oranges and yellows intermingled with the eternal greens.
Colours Everywhere
The hills were definitely alive with the energy of the season.
Never Far
No matter where you are in Nova Scotia you are never more than sixty-seven kilometres from the ocean and because it draws us like a magnet, we always seem to gravitate toward the shore.
Keltic Lodge
Ingonish Beach was a must see stopping point with waves crashing the shore.
Look Off
Side trips of hiking trails were the perfect way to stop, take a break, breathe in the salt air and get a little exercise. Some of the trails were closed though because, as the agent at the park entrance said, some tourists had upset the wildlife and the moose were retaliating.
Force of Nature
Reconnecting
Neils Harbour
North Shore Lobster Season
The Shed
Mira River
Our route took us along the Mira River and Marion Bridge bringing back memories Anne Murray and her “Song for the Mira”.
Out on the Mira
Red Chair Initiative
Our final stop was Fort Louisbourg, a Parks Canada site. Along the road toward the entrance were the two iconic red chairs placed in so many Parks Canada locations across the country.
“Whether it’s a place to rest after a leisurely stroll or to cheer your successful completion of a strenuous hike, the red chairs offer a place to slow down, to relax and to truly discover the best that Parks Canada has to offer.”
Harbour Lighhouse
Louisbourg Harbour was once a lake but with the rising waters it is now officially the entrance into the town of Louisbourg.
Prelude to Peace
I won’t go into details here but if interested you can read more about the very interesting history of the fort here
We pretty much had the place to ourselves. One of the guides gave us a personal tour with tons of information about the fort’s history and their plans for future changes. He was also an exceptional photographer proudly showing us images he had taken during special events at the fort.
Taking Flight
There were moments of silliness with Francois chanelling his inner Harry Potter…muggle!
Outside
Inside
Details
French Kitchen Garden
Beach Combing
We couldn’t leave without walking along the rocky shore past the fort to search for bits of unique driftwood.
The Entertainer
Our last supper and last night in Cape Breton was spent with Brenden and Nathan, owner and chef of a charming restaurant in Louisbourg. Actually it was the only restaurant open, as being a mainly tourist town, many businesses had closed for the season. Even if there had been other dining options it would have been sad to miss this experience.
The decor was quirky with old doors fronting the bar, rough barn board cladding the walls, interesting local art lining the walls and Brenden was so entertaining. We sank into comfy leather chairs in what Brenden called his living room and sipped a glass of chilled local wine while Nathan threw together for us the most delicious fish stew with homemade biscuits.
Melmerby Beach
Final on my must visit list was a stop at the much photographed beach, Melmerby, then we headed back to our dear R.E.D. by the Sea, loaded with treasures and so many great memories.
Our Souvenirs
So there you have it, another adventure completed for the crew of three: Captain Francois, Communication Officer and Galley Kat, and First Mate Major Pig.
We weren’t totally distracted by the Cape Breton beauty and hospitality though and did find the perfect location to launch R.E.D. into the waters of the Bras d’Or Lakes next year.
Bras d’Or Lake
For those who prefer to read our story in French, please forgive the automatic translation
Oct 10, 2018 | Adventures 2018
”Wine improves with age.
The older I get, the better I like it”.
Country Roads
A short while ago we signed up for a wine tour to the Annapolis Valley. Five wineries for a day-long journey of fun and sipping.
Pastoral Scenes
An added bonus was the drive through the beautiful country side.
The Aging
Each place offered explanations of their processes. Individually different in method.
The tasting at L’Acadie was a unique one in that they are designated 100% organic. No herbicides are used to control the vegetation around the vines so they invite sheep from a nearby farm to graze, then they use sheep manure to fertilize the earth. Very healthy grapes indeed!
Gaspereau Tasting
We were offered two samplings of each vineyard’s specialties.
Luckets was very ‘showy’…and very busy…, obviously a popular stop for tourists, but the amusing animator with his charming cockney accent, who poured our samples more than made up for the wait.
Domain de Grand Pré supplied us with a sample of their dangerously delicious Pomme d’Or Apple Cream Liquor served in a dark chocolate cup
Choices
More Choices
The Extras
Honeys, jellys and other local delicacies rounded out our selection choices
Tipping with Humour
This cashier was quite proud of her comical tip jar.
Time to Harvest
Let’s Make a Call
At Luckets we found an old British phone box amongst the vines where anyone could make a free call to anywhere in North America.
Stopping to Dine
If we planned on visiting all five vineyards we had a generous one hour at each, including an extra hour at one of our choosing for dining.
Tasty Local Treats
Our easy pick was Domain de Grand Pré. Patés, rillettes, jams, jellies and cheeses all, either produced on site or supplied from local sources. Served with a glass of crisp surprisingly dry Reisling of course. DELICIOUS!
Colourful Gardens
A Bagful of Local
Our Picks
Like Herding Kat
Our tour animator, Michael, kept us laughing till we cried the entire time. On the final stop he gathered us together for the bus ride home saying it was like herding cats.
Jacques our chauffeur and ‘Magic’ Mike our guide
We cannot wait to share another excursion on the Magic Winery Bus with our next guests.
