Jul 30, 2021 | Flotsam
So here we are on our third ‘camping’ outing of the season, but this time we left the home on wheels turtle life behind for a family weekend in a rustic cabin in the Annapolis Valley.
We have become accustomed to having everything we need close at hand in RED II, and it felt very inconvenient having to pack personal needs and food for meals in the car. To date we have lived in our camper since mid-May so we felt slightly out of our element deciding what to take and leaving her behind parked sadly in our yard.
The Athabaska
Once arriving and settling in though it had the makings of a most wonderful memorable long weekend with nothing to do but relax and enjoy the fabulous weather.
#18
And because of that fabulous weather we spent the entire time outdoors…..
Canoeing
Exploring
SUP’ing
Hockey-ing
Evening activities were centred around shared meals and catching up on family news…
Conversing
Camp fires were lit (wet wood meant toilet paper starters)…
Camp Firing
Marshmallows were toasted…
Roasting
….and eaten in great quanties…
Marshmallow Eating
Once the weekend was over my family from away came home for one more day of visiting. Papa gave a guided tour of his prized garden while providing details of our local feathered friends.
Exploring
We don’t have a lot of visitors in our little camper so it was especially nice having an enthusiastic guest.
Camper Visiting
Our next camping reservation was supposed to have been next week but for now will be staying close to home….VERY close to home. F was out on a cycling expedition with friends the other day and had a wee accident…broken clavicle, cracked ribs is all…and maybe a bruised ego. For now we are on a self-imposed holiday. Camping and so many other things will have to take a back seat while ‘we’ heal.
My French Patient
We have reservations for activities next month but that will depend on if’s, when’s and what’s. As you can see, ‘adventures’ don’t end for us just because we are no longer on the water. Back soon for an update…
…peace and love…
Jul 16, 2021 | Flotsam
Our second camping adventure was even more enjoyable that the first, if that’s possible. After seeing the amazing rock formations and sea caves of the Ovens Nature Park, F bought himself a book on local geology. As it turned out this new location at Five Islands Provincial Park had so much more to offer.
Site #25
Stories of Mi’kmaq lore , combined with the world’s highest tides and rocks formed when dinosaurs roamed the earth made this trip an adventure to remember.
Five Islands
Firstly, a little background about the legendary Wabanaki god-like figure, Glooscap, who made his home in the Minas Basin of Cobequid Bay. As the story goes, when he slept, Nova Scotia was his bed and Prince Edward Island was his pillow. He lived here, admiring the beauty of the lands, until one day he found his medicine garden destroyed. The culprit? A Canadian beaver! Glooscap was understandably upset, and threw giant clods of mud at the mischievous and disrespectful beaver. The dam was smashed, and water began to flow freely. The mud, sticks, and stones created five islands that emerged in the rapidly rising tides. As for the beaver? He was trapped on one of the islands, and turned into gold.
Next, a little about this unique area, geologically speaking. Nova Scotia was once part of northern African and northern Europe on the super-continent Pangea. If you like, here is a short but fairly complete article about the geological origins: Origins of Nova Scotia.
Walking the Ocean Floor
Impressive thirteen metre tides with up to three kilometres of retreating waters meant we could walk the ocean floor and explore the shoreline safely for several of hours.
From the Days of the Dinosaurs
Retreating Tides
Jurassic Period Formations
This imposing formation of eroded basalt lava flow caps and exposed orange-red sandstone divided by a distinct fault line is only visible by land when the tide is out. And what a great vantage spot for us…on top of that cliff was our camping spot.
The Old Wife formation
The Old Wife appears to be a mere bump in the water when tides are in but at low tide we could walk her perimeter.
Hiking
As usual we explored up and down country roads, visiting tiny villages and local attractions.
Geological Museum
Five Island Light House
Down the road from the park we found a small general store…always fun to stop at country stores isn’t it? You never know what treasures you will find. Cooked freshly caught lobster and a local award-winning cheese called Dragon’s Breath (Dutchman Cheese) created a few kilometres from here with some freshly baked bread made for the perfect supper.
Evening Feast
Another day of rock-hounding led us to Wosson Bluff, yet another geo site of the UNESCO designated Fundy Geoparks.
Wosson Bluff
At 8:21 on our last evening we toasted the summer solstice with a tot of rum for F…mine, Irish whiskey, lit a blazing camp fire, ate far too many toasted marshmallows and watched the sun set over Cobequid Bay.
Sunset on the Bay 2021.21.2021
In a short while we should be able to tell you about our next trip which may even take us to a different shore of our Nova Scotia home…another new adventure for the crew of RED II.
…Peace and love…
Jun 18, 2021 | Flotsam
Well folks, we finally extracted ourselves from our little camping at home location. Provincial and private camp grounds have been allowed to open here with some restrictions. We had booked this first place a while ago for the May long weekend and they are now accepting us with open arms. It’s great being on the front edge of the season because we had the whole place to ourselves for the first three days…literally, no other campers on site. Waaaay down that field is us.
Solitude
F’s request for this location, his first ever trailer camping experience, was ‘give me an unimpeded view of the ocean’, so I asked for site 313….and we were not disappointed.
The View
Once settled in we walked down to the ‘beach’…loosely named. It was an impressively beautiful and colourful example of Cambrian period rock formations
Rock Beach
A short hike around the camp ground brought us to yet another rocky arrangement which looked like it had been upended by some giant force
Rock Formations
At cocktail hour we sat and reminisced about the times we were anchored off shore…over there, there, and there. The comparison of the sea anchor drop versus how we anchor on land was curiously similar without the obvious storm worries…although that night we had a mighty nor’easter blow through. Our little RED II held fast throughout the night though.
Stories at Sunset
Camping meals are simple nowadays. I prepare as much as I can in advance of departure. First night is usually simple and light and the rest is barbecue grill with little additions we find from day time outings.
Evening Picnic
Our second day we walked the hiking trail to the Ovens….caves carved by waves from ancient rock along the Atlantic shore line.
History
The Hike
Down to the Sea
Cannon Cave
Into the Depths
Tucker’s Tunnel
Day three we ventured out along the back roads to explore the country side. I’m not at all comfortable biking on public roads but thankfully traffic was light.
Easy Rider
The Ride
In the afternoon we drove to find three lovely beaches.
Oxner Beach
Hirtle’s Beach
Sand Dollar Beach
Sea Treasures
I thought it would be a good idea to collect something of significance to remember each camping adventure. Since we are restricted to local travel for now, supporting local enterprises and artisans is our focus. In a small shop in Lunenburg F found this little treasure which now sits happily in our camper as a reminder of our visit to The Ovens.
Souvenir
Well, that’s all for now folks. It’s mostly a picture story this time. We’ve noticed there is so little drama when you land ‘sail’…just little wind here and there but that’s about it.
As always, we are thankful when you drop by. Please come back soon as we have another outing planned soon. Another corner of our world to explore. Another adventure for little RED II and her crew.
Peace and love…..
