Day 14 - August 27th - Boothbay ME

Quiet day in Boothbay area.  Strolled downtown for a couple of hours,  took a look at the local aquarium and lunched later at the Shipyard restaurant.  

We cancelled a sailboat rental as thunderstorms were predicted when we woke this morning.  Prudent but in hindsight an unlucky decision.  Beautiful all day!

Gordon took a what was supposed to be a three mile walk that turned into 4+ when his GPS died and he dead reckoned a wrong turn.  Oops.

Light activity day in preparation for a long driving day back to Cape Cod tomorrow.

The "Nellie G".  Gordon used to take this boat to Squirrel Island in '62

View from Shipyard restaurant deck

What do you mean fish and chips?

Just love swimming endlessly in two foot diameter circles !

Day 13- August 26th - Belfast to Boothbay

Gourmet breakfast at Tracy's in Belfast.  Hope cheese omelets every day don't kill us.

Then a ride southwest to Boothbay passing through Camden and Rockland on the way.   Stopped at the Maine Lighthouse Museum and learned more of Maine lighthouses and the individuals who oversaw there operation.  A great profession for introverts and those who like time alone.

Drove the back roads around Boothbay Harbor and stumbled on the Ocean Point Inn where we decided to settle for a day or two.  Lovely setting and just across the water from Squirrel Island where Gordon spent several summer weeks with childhood friends.

Just hung around the inn for the remainder of the day.  Nice bar and restaurant is part of the operation so found no reason to leave and it is a great spot to just hang out.

Belfast anchorage early morning

Maine Lighthouse Museum

Sitting in front of Ocean Point Inn

Camden anchorage

Near Ocean Point Inn

Day 12 - August 25 - A driving slog - PEI to Bangor Maine

Starbucks in Charlottetown PEI at 6:30am.   After a bacon and egg sandwich and a latte we hit the road for the US border five hours away and then, assuming we are not held, points beyond. 

No photos today.  Just the drive. Ended up back in Belfast Maine for the night.

Had an early dinner and retreated to our rooms for the night.  Each our own tonight....a real treat.

We think we'll spend another two days on the Maine coast visiting spots we missed on the way up.  Then a return to Cape Cod to rest, repack and prepare for our flight to Portland Oregon on Labor Day.

The photos below are from previous days; hopefully not repeats of things previously posted.

Day 11 - August 24 - Economy NS to Prince Edward Island

Decided last evening to skip the long drive to Quebec City and instead run up to Prince Edward Island for the day before heading back to the Maine Coast on Monday.   A new road trip in the future to see more of Canada is being discussed.

Made the 9:30 ferry from Pictou NS to Wood Island on PEI.  A sunny 75 minute ride on a big ferry that was only about half full. Very pleasant.  Charles fell in love with a beagle and took about 1000 picture of same.

We concentrated on the eastern end of PEI and Charlottetown.  Looks much like the NS coast i.e. pretty, not crowed at all and very rural.  Harbours nice but not quaint like Maine's.  After exploring in the morning we stopped for lunch at a German (?) spot up the eastern shore and G enjoyed some soup and haddock while C a cold meat plate....a cold meat plate! Really?.....Next ventured into Charlottetown, the main town on PEI and walked the downtown and harbour areas finally stopping for an early dinner at the Merchantman restaurant just above the harbour.  Best meal of our trip to date.

Then back to our motel for a cigar in the setting sun.  Charles watched a Croquet 

field being installed on the hotel grounds, seemed to be far too many wickets.  The hotel manager obviously feeling if he builds it they will come.  Gordon meanwhile worked on the blog capitalizing on a fairly fast (by comparison) internet connection.

Ps. Charles finally was able to wash his laundry so tomorrow he will be both clean and sartorially splendid !!!  This pleases Gordon too!

PEI Ferry

Yes....more lighthouses 

I think Charles wanted to bring this guy home.

The only beach where we saw a human put a foot in saltwater

Charles LOVES to photograph trees

Charlottetown home

Gordon in blog composing position

Fundy light

Captain Lookout

Charles asks " are these depth charges?"  Once he understands they are inflatable life rafts he surveys their preparedness carefully; not knowing if course what to look for to make this determination.

Charles' infatuation begins......

Day 10 - August 23 - Cape d'Or & Parrsboro beach

Up early and off to breakfast at a small place on the Parrsboro beach inlet on the north side of the Bay of Fundy.  We came for food but serendipitously stumbled on a great place to watch the huge tidal range.  Massive basin at the beach was empty at breakfast time and all the boats grounded, 7am.   One of the high points was meeting another local out on the beach.  A near 70-year-old who fishes constantly, seems to be a bachelor and a para sailer.  He's a big mackeral fisherman.  He explained how he cooks them by opening them up filling them with goodies wrapping them in tinfoil and throwing them on an open fire for 15 minutes! Succulents he reports.  Interestingly we never saw a mackeral on any menu.

After breakfast off to Cape d'Or, the western most point on the north shore of Fundy.  Steep walk down to the lighthouse and what felt like a steeper walk back up.  Nice light in a great setting.

With limited eating spots we returned to our breakfast spot for lunch.  And as luck wold have it the tide was quite literally rolling in.  Nowhere have we seen water move with such intention, moment to moment like here.

In the afternoon Charles napped:  the hill took a toll.   Gordon when off for a long walk.  Later cigars and G&T on the retreat grounds again watching the huge Bay of Fundy basin empty once again.

We bailed on dinner.  Just had a snack.  Early to bed!

Ps- we're finding it challanging to keep the blog timely as wireless service is often non existent and when it is available it's very very slow, like rev 1 speeds.

Cape d'Or hike

Cliffs at Cape d'Or

Charles in Heaven 

Day 9 - August 22 - Digby to Economy NS

After our surprisingly good breakfast at the Irving gas station we headed east to Annapolis Royal and visited their Historic Gardens; reputed to be one of the five best in North America.  We can't speak to the reputation but the gardens were beautiful.  Most impressive were the numbers of quietly present gardeners tending to their charges.  Everything appeared meticulously maintained.  The pathways raked to perfection daily.  Expired blossoms not present anywhere!  Pruning also looked perfect as did the health of the entire varied collection. Great find.

Further east we visited the Margaretsville Lighthouse.  Nothing too special;  after Nubble Light in Maine and Peggy's Cove light and Cape Forchu in Nova Scotia our standards have become pretty high.

It was a pretty spot however and we were glad we stopped.

Next on our way to Truro we diverted to the Adventura Winery.  Had no idea they did wine in Nova Scotia but apparently it's a new endeavor that has received some world recognition.  All the varieties grown tend to be a bit acidic due apparently to the cold climate. The two we tasted were definitely too acid tasting for our palates.

Decided to find a place for the night on the north side of the Bay of Fundy.  Found Four Seasons Retreat and after seeing the accommodations decided to stay for two nights.  Mere feet from the bay's edge and 43' vertical tides to wonder at who could resist.  The whole property is very special.

Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens

Margaretsville Light

At Four Seasons Retreat Bay of Fundy - low tide - 6 hours later water 43' higher!