It has been a few days since I started chronicling my adventures to Canada, and it has been a busy time. I had a full morning to spend in Saint John, New Brunswick before catching the ferry to Digby, Nova Scotia at noon. I started the day with a visit to the City Center Market with fresh fruits and veggies galore along with some crafts and collectibles for sale – a very colorful place! Afterwards I drove into town and explored the historic city streets a bit before I headed off to the waterfront where I discovered a Victoria Day celebration, with a military band playing followed by a ceremony involving costumed historical figures each taking turns addressing the troops. I watched as a senior ranking military member reviewed the troops which brought back memories of my military days and of being subjected to personal inspection of my uniform up close and personal. More ceremony but I was off to find a lighthouse at the waterfront. I did find said lighthouse, but it was inaccessible (behind chain link fence) and no so photogenic (but I do show a photo below). There was a decorative lighthouse nearby that duplicated the real item sans light, and appeared to be primarily for those photos we love to take of ourselves with a lighthouse. Saint John was a fun experience!
Following the directions provided by my hotel, I found the ferry the requisite 1 hour in advance and got my ticket. It was a bit intimidating to be parked alongside 18 wheeler trucks and even a trailer with a brand new shiny caterpillar crane on it – all this was going on the ferry with me? Would we sink? Luckily we did not sink during the 3 hour voyage under moisture laden gray skies, and I enjoyed the movie “Safe Harbor” in the lounge. After the movie I explored the ship, and was invited inside the bridge by the navigation officer. This was a real treat to be back on the bridge of a ship and to see all the controls that reminded me of my days as a Coast Guard officer-of-the-deck and in control of the CGC Morganthau. Of course, there are more modern aids to navigation these days, but I was delighted to learn about those.
Finally in Nova Scotia I felt a stab of excitement! I’ve always wanted to visit, and here I was. My B&B was close to the ferry in the small village of Digby so I checked in first, then went to explore the city. Famous for its scallop fishing fleet, I spent the majority of the day on the pier, watching (photographing) the fishing vessels arrive and unload their catch. The first boat was unloading 100 pound crates of crabs which looked good to me, but apparently they look even better to lobsters because these crabs are used to bait the lobster traps. Then I waited with a driver who was waiting for a lobster boat to arrive and was uncharacteristically late. I gave up after 40 minutes in the wind and chilly air temps and headed off to find a lighthouse. I found the lighthouse at the end of a long bumpy road (potholes are common place here) and was a bit underwhelmed. It is a small, squarish tower, and in need of paint. I tried to find an interesting perspective but found only a shot from the rocks (very impressive rocks) looking up, which made the lighthouse even smaller. I tried – results are below. So back to the docks where I watch a different lobster boat arrive in the harbour, round the pier, tie up to the dock, and unload. A fisherman held up the largest lobster I have ever seen for me to photograph, and I stood clear as the crates were loaded onto the truck. With that “documented” I headed for a scallop dinner. Digby is known as the worlds largest scallop capital and I intended to enjoy the bounty of one of my favorite foods.
Next morning I headed to Annapolis Royal, the capital of Acadia and later Nova Scotia for almost 150 years until Halifax was founded in 1749. It became home to some of North America’s earliest European settlers (1605) and is full of grand Victorian mansions, many of which now serve as B&Bs. Annapolis Royal is also located on the Annapolis Basin which feels the full effect of the Bay of Fundy tides. Typical of my journey, the morning started with light rain and overcast skies. I photographed the Queen Anne B&B and some of those grand homes in the town. I was searching for a lighthouse that the folks in the information center in Digby had recommended I visit, but had to ask for assistance in locating it. I am not sure if it is a working lighthouse – it is in the town center – and again a bit small. Most of the town shops were still closed for the season – seems they do not open until June. After exploring Fort Anne, a bastioned fort in the town center, and attempting to make photos in the overcast light, I had the best Hungarian goulash with fresh spaetzel at the German Bakery and cafe. When I came out of the bakery I discovered those overcast skies had cleared to a brilliant blue, and I rapidly retraced my steps and photographed everything again with the sunlight adding a bit of life. Then I felt a rush to get going on my journey to my destination – the Bluenose Lodge in Lunenburg.
