Monday, July 14, 2014

A New Coast - On the Bay of Fundy



A two hour drive and we're in a whole new place.  The North coast.  
Also known as the Valley, the Annapolis Valley, and the Bay of Fundy.

Our little guy was not feeling up to par.
  We think he got into some peanut butter ant poison - not
much of it - but it seemed he was trying to gas us to extinction, 
all the while looking perfectly innocent.  Some really simple food 
and a bunch of Greek yogurt and a day later he was back to normal
with all systems in tip top shape.

Leave it to Ed to find a military museum!
It's the 14th Wing Aviation Museum.
It's mostly dedicated to Naval off shore air patrol and rescue operations.

Boeing Sea Knight air sea rescue helicopter

Canadian built Argosy sea patrol

WWII British Avro Lancaster minus nose cone in restoration

Lockheed Neptune sea patrol with piston and jet engines

Radio piston engine

Canadian drone used in Afghanistan 

And now on to the wineries where we spent most of the afternoon.

Luckett is the largest and slickest.  It's only four years old.
They are growning these fig trees as well as grapes.

This is the main building which houses the retail store and a lovely
restaurant overlooking the vinyards and the valley to the sea.


There's a working English phone booth in the center of the field.

They sit at the top of the hill with magnificent views in all directions.


Next stop: L'Acadie where they produce sparkling wines.
They pride themselves that they are the only organic winery.

We visited but did not taste since we don't drink sparkling wines.

Across the road, over the hill, and down to the shore is this
charming lighthouse.  It faces the Bay of Fundy, famous for its
tides which rise and wane every  8 hours.

When we arrived the boats were sitting on the ocean floor...

and the beach was deep.

The water level at high tide is marked on the rocks and the wooden
sides of the entrance channel.  The boats that use it - fishing boats!

We returned the following day at about half tide.  The beach
was narrower....

...and the fishing boats were halfway up the dock.

There's a difference in the water level marks as well.

Our campsite in Bridgetown was right on the Annapolis River.
Camping Canada is different than in the states.  People here
find a spot and take it as a "seasonal" rental.  They are usually
less than two hours from home so they can return to do the mowing, check
the mail, see the family, etc.  They return to the same place
year after year.  
We haven't had any problems finding camping spots, but find most
campgrounds survive on their seasonal renters.


We spent this day in Annapolis Royal. 
Driving here we saw a lot of this sort of damage from Arthur.
I think we were spared a lot of damage being in Halifax on the other
side of Nova Scotia.

It was Sunday and the local farmers market and craft fair was in high swing.
Making food, selling food (I had never seen purple romaine), playing music, weaving baskets, 
showing pottery, all kinds of stuff.

This museum is the 2nd oldest wooden house in Canada.  They
have open exhibits inside showing the construction.  Very interesting.

This gentleman, a volunteer, was making new handles for old hammers.
Note his vise...foot operated.


 Across from the farmers market is the waterfront and lighthouse.

Fort Ann at the opposite end of the waterfront was named for Ann, Queen of England.

It's a 17th century fort from the days of the war between the French
and the English for control of Canada.  Today it flies the English flag.
The officers quarters are below.

The remaining fortifications can be seen in these hills. 

It was a wonderful fun day.

We said goodbye to Ken and Jean who are on their way home.
It was so nice to have them meet up with us.

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