We have decided we really do like Nova Scotia, well, the Maritimes is pretty special, but Nova Scotia especially. Now what do we do? Well, it will be a while before we decide so who really knows. Those of you who know us well, know how easily we can change our minds! Today, Thursday, we say good-bye to the warm and comfortable home of the Hunstons’ and get back on the road west. We decide on Shediac, New Brunswick and the Parlee Beach Provincial Park for the night. Shediac is a nice smallish tourist town that we stayed in last trip. We easily identify the B&B we stayed at and also the Inn where we had a deluxe dinner. It is nice when some things don’t change. Friday we are on the road to Pokiok, home of my former boss at Parks Canada. Al and Lorraine have lived here since Al retired from Parks. Pokiok is quite close to Mactaquac so we decide that park is as good as anything and will enable us to stay for free at the Provincial Park near Edmonston. Quite funny that this is our third stay at Mactaquac and we finally get assigned a really nice campsite. Go figure! We have a wonderful visit, get some really good advice about retirement and then I conveniently leave my handbag behind so we can visit again the next day. I jest, but in fact visit number two is as enjoyable and if they weren’t about to embark on a painting ceiling project we may well have stayed longer. I can’t stay around open paint cans for too long or I have to start swinging a brush.

Al and Lorraine

And of course this is a holiday, so we need to get on the road to Edmonston. The weather is beautiful for I don’t know how many days in a row again. We really have had good weather! I hope for one rainy day a week so we can get the laundry done … and it usually works well. About lunch time we stop at Grand Falls. I’m a sucker for water falls and so here we are again. Who can disagree with my fascination? They are really very interesting to look at I think.

Grand Falls

Grand Falls

Grand Falls Gorge

The Blockhouse at Edmonston

Paper Mill at Edmonston

University of Moncton

Does this sound like a lawyers’ firm? I kind of thought so! But it isn’t, it is the place, the people and the big attraction of the these three or four days. I thought we could give you a bit of an overview instead of lots of details. Sunday we spent sleeping late, getting emails sorted out and this blog updated from the last week in Newfoundland and doing lots of nothing much. I of course didn’t take a single picture and you will be saying ‘She’s doing too much of this lately, smarten up!’ But you know I’ll take pictures given half an opportunity and so, there wasn’t and I didn’t! Monday we went to our friends from Dawson City days, the Hunstons. They live in Sydney now and have done so for about seven years. We soon had Clancy, the Hunstons’ mini schnauzer out for a walk with Oscar and Oreo. It was a good way to introduce them, off anyone’s home territory. By the time we arrived back at the house all three dogs were almost best buddies. Lawrie found the sofa and the Olympics, Joanne and I found her garden. Too bad Fletcher was working! We had a great day. Tuesday, Lawrie and I trundled off to the Fortress of Louisbourg. This is an amazing reconstruction of one fifth of what was originally there. The time period is 1744 and Louisbourg, a thriving seaport and capital of Ile Royale (Cape Breton Island) was one of the busiest harbours in North America and one of France’s key economic and military centres in the New World. Today, it stands as North America’s largest historical reconstruction. You will see from a small selection of the 268 photos I took that it is like being somewhere else in the world.

Le Lawrie en Francais

The fisher folk live outside the Fortress

Challenged at the gate

Inside the Fortress of Louisbourg

Those French, it’s all about the details

Protecting the harbour

The blacksmith at work

Ox cart

Peek-a-boo

Financial Administrator at leisure

It is easy to imagine 1744

Typical street scene in 1744

My other sisters broom!

Cannons just fired

King’s Residence

Looking towards the harbour

Street scene

Dauphin Gate leads to the harbour

Wednesday Oscar and Oreo went to get a trim and Joanne and I went on a lovely drive around a loop towards the highlands to visit some artisans that live out that way. We visited the Gaelic College, a glass gallery, a pottery, a woodworking shop, a leather worker, and a basket maker. We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly and even went on a little ferry. My ninth ferry inside four months. The sofa and Olympics found Lawrie again. This evening Joanne, Fletcher, Lawrie and I went to dinner and then to see a first cd release event for Rob MacLean. The O2s and Clancy all look pretty spiffy!

Clancy, Oscar & Oreo

Fletcher, Joanne & Whitney (missing Alister)

Joanne at the lookoff

Lynn on the ninth ferry of the trip

Bagpipers at Gaelic College