Exploring Judique and Surrounding Areas

Every year, I try to participate in as many Celtic Colours events as possible.  It's a given that I attend the finale show at Centre 200 every year but I also like to immerse in other activities hosted by the festival.  I don't buy advanced tickets to any other concerts because of my work schedule but other events, like markets and guided hikes, are easy last-minute things I can participate in.  

I love the guided hikes that are hosted by Celtic Colours because I can explore that part of the island and learn about some history and culture of the area too.  In the past, I did the Whitney Pier Historical Walk and guided hikes in Boisdale, Lennox Passage, Cheticamp and New Waterford. This year, I did a guided hike in Judique.

I've been to Judique before but usually it's just to pass through to get somewhere else. It's so far away from where I live that I just rarely make it to that area of Cape Breton.  Like Isle Madame, another area that I haven't explored enough, I've made a promise to myself to explore those regions in the south of Cape Breton more in the coming years.  

I left home at 5:30 AM the morning of the hike which was due to start at 9:30.  I wanted to give myself enough time to get through construction zones and stop somewhere to enjoy a nice breakfast.  

I grabbed something to eat in St. Peters and dined at the canal as a bald eagle soared above and the sun started to appear from behind the clouds. 

The final leg of the first leg of my journey didn't take long.  I made it just in time for the Musical Walk at the Celtic Music Interpretation Center in Judique.  A crowd had already gathered and after registering at the front desk, we split into two groups and made our way outside and onto a nearby trail that connected to the Celtic Shores Coastal Trail.  

As we walked through a section of forest amidst the beautiful fall foliage, our guide shared some of the local history with us.  As small as Cape Breton Island is, I'm always learning new things about the fascinating history and culture!  

We eventually arrived at a beautiful beach that I didn't know existed.  Yes, another beach I didn't know existed on my little island and, according to our guide, it was a safe beach to swim with some of the warmest waters in Atlantic Canada! As we stood admiring the view, a pair of musicians appeared and played a few fiddle tunes for us. 

Back on the trail, we took a different route and ended up in a very old cemetery with headstones so old that you couldn't even make out the inscriptions on them.  Many of them were cracked and crumbling from age and the adverse weather conditions of the area. 

Back at the interpretation center, I stayed a bit longer to explore the exhibits. Perhaps in my younger years I just didn't have the appreciation for such places or perhaps it was simply because I didn't even know the place existed.  Either way, I felt a bit embarrassed that I had never visited the Celtic Music Interpretation Center before.  After all, the exhibits related to my cultural and historical background being part Scottish!  I was amazed at the amount of items that were on display, some interactive ones too!  I was also amazed at the amount of written information there was.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to read and explore everything that day as I had other plans further up the line, but I did make a promise to myself to return and explore it some more. 

After I left Judique, I planned to stop in Mabou and rent an E-bike for several hours so I could explore some of the Celtic Shores Coastal Trail.  Unfortunately, mother nature had other plans.  The weather was decent as I drove along the Ceilidh Trail.  I stopped at Sandeannie's Bakery in Port Hood for an afternoon snack to keep me going.  This was yet another place I didn't know existed and although I only got a delicious mint Nanaimo Bar, the menu looked good enough to plan on returning in the future. 

As I drove off towards Mabou, the sky got darker and before I reached the edge of town, the rain started. My plans to rent an E-bike shattered. I kept driving to Inverness and, even though it was raining heavier by the time I arrived, I drove down to the beach just to get a look at it one last time before winter set in. 

The rain continued as I drove through Cheticamp and into the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. At the top of the first Mountain, it started to snow.  Fortunately, it turned back to rain once I was at a lower elevation. Approaching Cape North, the rain started to let up and the sun even started to appear.  This is when I came up with a last-minute plan to take an unplanned detour. 

Instead of going toward Dingwall, I turned toward Bay St. Lawrence.  My intent was to head straight to Meat Cove before the rain reached the area.  It had been a few years since I took that old backcountry road to the tip of Cape Breton Island.  I drive a small car and that road is often too rough for me to get through.  I crossed my fingers and hoped the road was in good shape that day.  In my opinion, Meat Cove has the most beautiful scenery on the whole island and I wanted to see it with the fall colours in full bloom. 

I drove along the scenic road through Cape North and made the turn to Meat Cove.  The road started out good and continued to be good and was good all the way to the end!  A few potholes and washboard sections but nothing my car couldn't manage. The sky cleared and the sun shone down on the changing leaves making for a spectacular drive through the valleys leading to the ocean. 

By the time I made it back to the main road, the sky had darkened again and soon, the rain returned.  I took a quick drive down to Bay St. Lawrence and headed back to the Cabot Trail and onto Ingonish. By the time I left Ingonish, it was dark and rainy for the long drive home. But, despite the weather, it was a fabulous day.  Over 600 kilometers almost completely around Cape Breton Island!   

 

 

A Day in Nature in Framboise Followed by outings to Baddeck and St. Peters...Vacation is off to a Great Start!

I wasn't going to take a fall vacation.  Well actually, I was but I wasn't planning on spending it at home in Cape Breton.  I originally planned to go on a trip to Iceland but decided that It's best to wait until spring to do some international traveling with everything that is currently going on in the world. And besides, but better place is there to spend this time of year.  I started vacation on October 9th which coincided with the start of the International Celtic Colours Festival and the spectacular fall foliage my island is known for. This is my favourite time of year in Cape Breton - tied with summer, of course.  Why would I want to leave now when I can go elsewhere anytime!

My vacation started with a father-daughter trip to Frambosie to do some hiking and exploring on the remote beaches of the south coast of the island.  And it wasn't a bad day.  Just a few short rain showers that ended with a beautiful double rainbow!  

After hiking along some beaches and forest trails, we headed to St. Peters to have lunch at the canal before returning to the Framboise area to drive the backroads searching for deer and other critters.  One very large and, by the looks of it, very well-fed coyote, was all we saw.  The only deer we saw were the three that were grazing on the side of the highway that morning outside of Sydney. 

The next day, I woke up early and headed to Sydney to pick up my friend for a day of shopping and eating in Baddeck.  The main shop I wanted to visit was Isle of Fog Thrift and I wasn't disappointed.  I only found a pair of jeans (7 bucks and in great shape!) but there was tons of nice items that were just not the right size for me. And the items are quality unlike other thrift stores that just put out whatever they receive without picking out the quality items. Did I mention the jeans were just the right length for me too?  I'm 5'1 and can never find jeans that don't need to be hemmed or rolled up so finding a pair that actually fit was like finding treasure!  The store also had a wide variety of books, music, ornaments and other household goods.  

We went in all the stores on the main street but I didn't buy anything else.  Not that there wasn't anything I would love to buy but I got lots of ideas for when I have my own house sometime in hopefully not the not-too-distant future!  At the moment, I just don't have the extra space for any more household items that I don't absolutely need.

In between browsing the lovely shops, we stopped at the Highwheeler Cafe to grab a snack to hold us over until supper.  I don't know what I had but it was some sort of chocolate pumpkin spice square or brownie.  I do know that it was absolutely delicious!  After a nice conversation with a couple visiting from Ontario to take in some of the Celtic Colours events, we headed back out onto the main street to continue browsing.   

By 5 O'clock, we were quite hungry and ready to sit down and have a meal.  One of the restaurants we had shortlisted was closed and the other one looked pretty crowded.  The Freight Shed had been recommended to me in the past but I always assumed it was well out of my budget or only served seafood dishes.  We walked down to the wharf and had a look and it looked cozy and uncrowded.  I googled the menu just to see for myself what the prices were like and, lo and behold, they didn't look so bad.  The menu didn't look so bad either.  We went for it. 

Long story short, I ordered the gourmet grilled cheese and Roasted Butternut Squash Soup and my friend ordered spaghetti and meat balls and both were expertly-prepared and delicious.  The portions were quite generous, too! 

To keep up with the theme of filling every moment of my precious vacation with road trips and experiences, the next day I drove to St. Peters to meet a friend for coffee, do some early Christmas shopping at Glad Tidings and check out the Salty Waters Wellness Market. I took the scenic route along the Bras d'Or Lakes and arrived in town just in time to do a little bit of shopping and eat my lunch before meeting my friend at the canal. 

We chatted over coffee and sweets and wondered who on earth could be onboard the gigantic yacht that was parked in the canal.  When we parted ways, I went for a walk around Battery Provincial Park and the campground.  It was typical fall day and a perfect one for a scenic walk with the leaves changing. 

Some Fall Hiking in Sterling and Framboise

I never know where I'll end up when I go to Framboise with Dad.  There's always a new place to hike, a new beach or lake to see or a road I've never been down before.  

Last week, the weather called for a nice day on one of my days off and with winter approaching, I wanted to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.  That's why I said "yes" when Dad asked me to join him for a day of hiking in Framboise.

I love these little day trips with Dad.  We leave early, grab some breakfast and coffees somewhere along the way and make the long drive to this remote part of the island where it's just coastline and forest as far as you can see.

It was a little windy and cool that day so Dad suggested we do a hike in the Sterling which is away from the coast.  I haven't done a whole lot of hiking in that area and a walk in the woods with the leaves changing color sounded good to me!

We parked the car a little ways up a dirt road and started walking from there.  It was a nice, easy walk through some thick forest and at one point, we crossed a stream lined with colorful trees.  There wasn't a whole lot of water as we are going through a drought but it still made for a nice picture.   I stopped for a few minutes and took in the picturesque scene before me.  

About twenty minutes into the hike, we reached an old, abandoned farmhouse.  I love coming upon these sites and exploring the grounds while I imagine what it must have been like so many years ago when a young family thrived here.  It's sad to think that they are all gone and this is the legacy they left behind.  Somewhere, there are descendants of those people still living who likely don't even know that their distant relative's old homestead still stands.

The trail kept going a little ways beyond the homestead and when the brush became too thick to keep going, we turned around and headed back to the car.  

It was still early enough to do another hike so we went down the road to one that we had attempted a few years ago.  The last time we did this hike, the bridge was washed out.  This time, it was rebuilt and intact so we were able to cross and keep going much further than we did before.  In fact, we went so far that it was almost dark when we decided that we should turn around before we got caught hiking at night without flashlights.  

We were going to head home the way we came but I convinced Dad to go to St. Peter's and take the long way home via Route 4 along the Bras d'Or Lakes.  We grabbed some coffee for the road and made the long drive home.   

An Early Fall Camping Trip in Cheticamp

It's not very often that I get a camping trip in after mid-September but the weather has been so nice this fall, I planned a last-minute camping trip to Cheticamp.

I was originally just going to go there to visit some friends but when I saw the forecast, I thought "what the heck" and booked a site for one night in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.  It's a good thing I always leave my camping gear in the car until the end of fall, just in case. 

I left super early in the morning and grabbed myself a pumpkin spice latte for the road and took my time on the long drive to my campsite.  I did many of the shops on the other side of the Cabot Trail earlier in the week so I made a point to stop at a few on this side too.  

The Red Barn has always been a stop on family outings and now, as an adult, I always stop there too.  I found some good sales and bought a few Christmas gifts and gifts for myself before heading through the Margaree Valley and onto Chetimcamp. 

I made it to the campground mid-afternoon and started setting up the tent right away.  Better to get set up and out of the way before it gets cold and the flies come out. I got it put up in no time.  For a tent that was almost impossible to set up earlier in the summer when I first started using it, I've certainly gotten used to setting it up with no issues!

After everything was in the tent and ready for the night, I sat in my beach chair with a book and some snacks and relaxed for a bit.  Later that afternoon, I went for a drive through the town of Cheticamp and stopped at the beach on Cheticamp Island to watch the sunset.  On the way back, I took the Cheticamp Back Road and kept going past the campground into the Cape Breton Highlands National Park to see I could spot some wildlife.  

When I got back to camp, it was dark and a little chilly.  I changed into some warmer clothes and sat outside watching the clear night sky for a while.  When it became too cold and damp to sit out anymore, I got ready for bed and hopped into my thermal sleeping bag for the long, chilly night ahead. 

I admit, I didn't have the best sleep.  It was a little cold and uncomfortable but I made it.  Mornings are the worst after a cold night in a tent.  Everything was wet and the air was cold and damp.  I got dressed and hopped in the car with the heat up as high as it could go and drove into town for a hot coffee and a little drive along the shore. 

When I got back to my site, the sun was out and things had dried off a bit.  I started taking everything down.  After it was all packed up in the car, I headed back towards Cheticamp Island to meet my friend. 

The weather had forecast it to be warmer than it was so we thought we were going to go swimming.  Well, that didn't happen.  We went to Chimney Corner Beach and Whale Cove Beach but instead of swimsuits, we were wearing hoodies.  We walked both beaches, caught up on some gossip, cooked up some hotdogs and went our separate ways just at sunset.  

 

 

A Fall Trip Around the Cabot Trail

When the Celtic Colours Festival schedule was released, I immediately looked at it to seeif there were any community events I could attend on my days off.  Specifically, I was searching for guided hikes.  Two stuck out but I ultimately chose the Aspy Bay Trail because it was longer and in an area of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park that I hadn't done a lot of hiking in. 

The hike started at 10:00 AM and since it was an almost three-hour drive, I left before 7 that morning.  I didn't take into account traffic delays with the Newfoundland ferry traffic at that hour of the day and construction work.  I knew by the time I reached Ingonish that I would be late and there was no point in rushing because I was never going to make it in time.  I was ok with that since the wind came up and it started to rain. Four hours in the highlands trudging over rough terrain didn't sound all that appealing in the rain. 

I took my time going over the Cabot Trail admiring the beautiful fall colours. I have to say that this year is the best I've seen the fall colours in a long time and when the sun peaked out every now and again, it made those sprawling vistas even more beautiful!

It was 11:00 when I passed the trailhead to Aspy Bay.  Before I reached it, I took a little detour and stopped at Cabot's Landing Beach in Cape North.  I was only out of the car five minutes when the weather took a turn for the worse so I turned back to the Cabot Trail and kept going over the mountains.

The Lone Sheiling is one of my favourite stops along The Trail so I stopped there and got at least a little hike in since I missed the one I came for.  It rained there too but at least I had that thick canopy to shelter me.  I contemplated hiking the Skyline Trail as I hadn't done it yet this year but it was way too windy to enjoy it. 

I intended to eat my lunch in Cheticamp but hunger struck about a half hour from the village.  I stopped at La Grand Falaise and faced my car toward the ocean so I had a view while I ate in the warmth of the car. 

At Cheticamp Island I attempted to walk the beach but, once again, the weather took a turn for the worse.  This time it was high wind, heavy rain and hail!  

I left the island and drove straight through Margaree, Lake O'Law and Middle River where the fall colours were even more spectacular!  Even with the poor weather conditions, it was an amazing day and I got to do a trip around the trail while the leaves were still on the trees and turning those vibrant colours.  This time next week, they won't be nearly as nice. 

Another Family-Favourite Fall Tradition

I love fall adventures.  The flies are gone and the weather is cooled down enough to make hiking tolerable.  This is my favourite time of year to be in the forest and one of my favourite places to hike in the fall is at Uisge Bàn Falls in Big Baddeck.  Since I moved back home, it's been a family favourite.  I usually suggest it and whoever wants to come with me tags along.  Sometimes it's dad.  Sometimes it's my sister.  Sometimes it's both sisters if they are both home from away at the time.  Sometimes it's all four of us and sometimes friends and partners tag along. This year, everyone was either sick or busy with other things so I called a friend and we did the hike alone. 

I was supposed to meet my friend at her trailer at the Joyful Journeys Campground in Jersey Cove but the lineup at the Englishtown Ferry was very long!  I would have been there for close to an hour.  Instead, I had her get the ferry on her side because it looked like there were no cars there.  Within ten minutes she arrived at my car and hopped out of hers and into mine and off we went to Baddeck. 

As we drove, we contemplated not doing the hike because it kept raining.  A shower would arrive and we'd decide to go for a drive instead.  The shower would stop and we would decide to go on the hike instead.  This happened several times before we arrived at the Uisge Bàn Falls Provincial Park.  

We got out of the car and got ready for the hike.  We got that far so there was no turning back.  We could still see the parking lot when the skies opened up again.  We kept going.  It didn't stop raining the entire hike but fortunately, the thick canopy provided some shelter from the heaviest rains. 

I was surprised to see so much water in the river as we didn't get a whole lot of rain all summer.  The fall colours were spectacular as they always are along this hike and the rustling leaves made for a relaxing afternoon in the great outdoors.  There were a few people on the trail but we mostly had it all to ourselves. At the falls, we stopped for a rest and some photos and I was surprised to see so much water there too!  

The rain didn't put too much of a damper on our hike and back at the car, neither one of us was ready to call it a day yet.  We took a drive to the Red Barn and turned off on the road to Middle River.  The fall colours are always nice on this stretch and that day was no exception.  Stunning as always!  

A Fall Hike in Ben Eoin

It's fall and that means I've traded my swimsuit and flip flops for long sleeves and hiking boots. It's the time of year when it's still warm enough to be outdoors enjoying the fresh air. It's the time of year when I head to the trails and enjoy time in the forests, mountains and rugged coastlines of Cape Breton Island.

My first real hike of the season was a fairly short one.  I didn't plan to hike that day.  I was out for a drive on a nice Saturday afternoon when I spotted a picnic park in Ben Eoin.  I pulled in to have my lunch and noticed a sign for a hiking trail.  It looked quite steep.  I was tired.  I pondered the idea of hiking up a mountain.  On one hand I didn't really feel like tackling such an exhaustive-looking feat.  On the other hand, it was nice out, the views were amazing, the fall colors were out and I had never hiked this trail before.  There were way more reasons to push myself than to just drive away having turned down an opportunity to spend some time in the forest.  So I went for it. 

It was warm enough to wear just a t-shirt and although it looked like it might rain, I didn't care.  It was warm enough that I risked it so I didn't have to carry a heavy rain jacket up the mountain and back. 

The trail was well-maintained and fairly easy except that there were lots of old roots that created tripping hazards and some parts were quite steep. I kept a steady pace to gain momentum going up the hills but hiked slowly enough to take in everything around me.  A woodpecker pecking at some bugs on a tree.  Two squirrels fighting over an acorn.  The trees rustling in the gentle breeze.  The sun casting it's rays through the canopy.  The smell of rotting leaves.  

It took about a half hour to reach the top of the mountain where there was a clearing overlooking the Bras d'Or Lakes.  The walk down the hill was a little difficult at the steep parts but I made it down in good time before the rain started.  

I continued on with my afternoon drive and kept going up Route 4 to St. Peter's and onto Isle Madame.  I took a wrong turn on the island and ended up in another part of Cape Breton that I had never been to before and made a mental note to return to explore it more thoroughly.  I took a drive through the Lennox Passage Provincial Park and thought it would be a nice place to stop and enjoy lunch on my future return visit to the area. 

I just can't get enough of Cape Breton and I'll never stop exploring it!  More fall adventures to come!

A Late Autumn Hike to Uisge Ban Falls

There's something about late fall hikes.  The cool air, the light snow flurries, the intermittent sun peaking behind those heavy, fluffy fall clouds and the lack of flies and other annoying insects.  I mean, yes, you have to bundle up and trek through some mud and slippery fallen leaves, but the air is crisp and light with temperatures that aren't so hot that you walk at a snail's pace and not so cold that you're too stiff to move. 

The day my friend and I took a hike to Uisge Ban Falls near Baddeck, we experienced such a day.  A perfect day we'll call it.  There was hardly anyone else hiking that day so that was an added bonus.  I like being in the woods without crowds of people to disrupt the peace and quiet so I can hear the trees rustling, the birds chirping and the raging waters of the river and waterfall. 

The trail isn't all that long but we stretched it out for two hours, stopping to take photos and admire the views along the way.  We reached those beautiful falls and just hung around there for a while taking in the sights and sounds of nature before heading back to civilization. 

Our hike was followed by a walk around of the nature campground that I never noticed was in this park before and a delicious lunch at a cafe along the highway.  Winter is approaching fast and I'm hoping to get as many days in like this as possible before we are snowed in!

A Delightful Summer-like Fall Day in Southeast Cape Breton

What a fall we are having here in Cape Breton.  A fall that seems like a late summer!  And you know it's great weather when even the southeast coast of the island is warm, sunny and without the usual fog and wind.  

I took advantage of a lovely day with temperatures predicted to reach 23 degrees with sun and light winds.  I headed to the Framboise area for some hiking and beachcombing. 

I love this area of the island because it's remote and there's never anyone around so it's the perfect place to unwind and get away from it all.  I started the day with a scenic drive all the way to Grand River and backtracked to the long, narrow gravel road that leads to Blue Lake and a pristine ocean coastline that I knew I'd have all to myself. 

I walked along the ocean in the sand until it became to hard too walk and crossed the dunes to walk along the lake.  I intended to walk as far as I could see, switching back and forth between ocean beach and lakeside beach but I found a lovely little beach along the lake where the dunes were high enough to block the wind coming off the ocean.  This is where I sat for a rest.  

Well, that rest ended up taking 3 hours!  That place was so relaxing, quiet and scenic that I couldn't get myself to leave.  I sipped on a cold beer and skipped some rocks in the lake but mostly just laid in the sand watching the eagles soar above and the white fluffy clouds go by.  

When I finally decided to get going, the sun was low in the sky and it was too late to keep hiking in the direction I had been going if I wanted to be back to my car before dark. I instead drove to St. Peter's for a coffee before heading home along the Bras d'Or lakes...grateful to have been able to enjoy another summer-like day this late in the year. 

A Day Trip to Jersey Cove with some Detours to Ingonish, Wreck Cove and Tarbotvale

It's well into October and the weather is still beautiful here in Cape Breton! I certainly picked a good week to use up some of that vacation time I have left and I've been using that time wisely.  Swimming in the ocean, enjoying sunsets and moon rises and embarking on mini road trips whenever I can.  I went on one such fall road trip the other day. 

Jersey Cove is only about an hour away from home which means I get a nice drive to the country without spending a lot of time to get there.  However, when I arrived, my friend who has her trailer set up there for the summer had other things in mind when I stopped in for a visit. "Get in my car.  We are going for a drive to Ingonish". As I'm sure you know by now if you've been reading this blog for a while, I'm not one to turn down a drive anywhere let alone one to one of my favourite places in the whole world!

We did eventually make it to Ingonish but not before making a few stops along the way.  Some coffee and delicious crepes at the Dancing Moose Cafe and a visit to a new-to-me remote beach  in Wreck Cove.  I love exploring places I've never been to and it amazes me how many places I have yet to explore on this little island!

In Ingonish, we hit all the usual stops; Ingonish Beach, The Point, Broad Cove Campground (I was interested in seeing how many tenters were still around in case I wanted to embark on one last solo camping mission before winter) and a drive around the grounds of the Keltic Lodge.  

On the way home, we made a last-minute detour before arriving back at the trailer.  Instead of going straight to the campground, we turned right towards St. Anne's and then made another right onto the gravel road to Tarbotvale.  Years ago, as I was exploring the back roads of Cape Breton, I drove up an old wood road and found some amazing scenery but was never able to find the road again.  After searching all summer for that road, I had a feeling it might be this one so we took a chance and drove up it.  I immediately recognized the views and knew that this was the road I had taken years ago.  A sense of nostalgia came over me but also relief as I had often wondered over the years if I dreamed about finding that place or if I simply couldn't remember where it was. 

It was almost dark when I headed home across the channel on the little car ferry, over Kelly's mountain, across the Seal Island Bridge and along that long stretch of highway that led me home again. 

  

A Fall Trip Around the Cabot Trail that almost didn't Happen

It almost didn't happen. That one thing that I have to do every summer or fall.  The one thing that I've done every year since I was born.  The thing I look forward to every summer.  The quintessential Cape Breton experience.  A time-honored family tradition.  I'm talking about my annual family road trip around the Cabot Trail. 

All summer, I assumed I would, at some point, go around the Cabot Trail but as summer slipped away and fall arrived, it started to look like that might not happen. A  variety of things occurred during those months that threw everything off.  I started a new job, my sister moved home from away and was due to have a baby, a category 2 hurricane struck the island and caused widespread damage and there were some car issues. By early October, it looked like we wouldn't be going around at all.

The weather was nice at the start of October.  So nice that it prompted some discussion about a potential day trip around The Trail amongst my immediate family members.  We set a date.  We would go after all!

We couldn't have picked a better day to do.  Besides the fact that it was a Saturday and I didn't have to work, it was sunny and fairly warm.  We hit all the traditional spots along the way.  Coffee at Robin's Donuts in Bras d'Or, a drive through the pretty town of Baddeck, The Red Barn so the shopaholic in our crew could get their fix and Flora's in Cheticamp, the look-offs in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park and, of course, supper at Coastal in Ingonish. 

After supper, we made the drive around the Keltic Lodge, stopped to check out the gift shop and parked for a little while at Ingonish Beach.  The latter being a request by me so I could admire that beautiful beach and the rolling waves and sip on my post-supper coffee.  I walked to Freshwater Lake, took in one of my favorite views and absorbed it all for a moment knowing that I wouldn't be back until the summer.   

The fall colors are usually at their peak that time of year but, unfortunately, the leaves had already mostly fallen from the trees in the big storm weeks earlier.  That being said, any trip around the Cabot Trail is amazing no matter the season or the conditions.  Being in good company certainly helps make it even better!

Waterfalls, Scenic Detours and a Biking Adventure

When I heard that there is a waterfall in New Harris, Cape Breton, just a few kilometres from the Trans Canada Highway, I told myself I would find it before summer's end.  When I heard that the road leading to the waterfall was a wood road leading through a forested area along the water, I decided I would ride my bike to the trail leading to the falls.  I am currently on the lookout for new places to explore with my bike since I now have a bike rack on my car.

I did end up making it to that trail  and to the waterfalls but not with my bike.  I drove to New Harris and as far as the road would go, looking for a trail that could potentially lead to a waterfall.  I heard it was on the right side near the bridge going toward Camp Carter.  I reached the bridge but saw nothing that even remotely looked like a trail so I stopped at some picnic tables near Camp Carter and ate lunch while enjoying the beautiful fall colours that surrounded me.

I continued on to the end of that road, admiring the colourful landscape.  When the road ended and my car could not continue on the narrow ATV trail ahead, I turned back and resumed my search for the trail to the waterfall.  As I drove over the bridge (which I assumed must have been in the vicinity of the waterfall as it went over a river), I noticed some flattened grass near the ditch on the other side.  I got out to investigate and discovered that it was a trail that led along the river and likely to a waterfall. An easy ten-minute hike through some trees brought me to what I was looking for.

 I don't know what the official name of these fall is, but I've heard people call them Camp Carter Falls or simply the waterfalls at Camp Carter.  The trail came out at the top of the falls where I could hear the water rushing and see the spray.  However, I couldn't get a good view of them from that angle so I made my way to the bottom.  Not as easy as it sounds.  A rope was involved.  And some mud and slippery rocks and a steep embankment.  But the view of the falls at the bottom made it worth it.  I rested for a bit and took in those natural surroundings with the changing leaves, the thunderous roar of tons of water coming down into the river below and the felling of cool water lightly spraying my face.  When it started to get dark, I went back up the rope (it was much easier going up!) and headed back to the car.

Instead of taking the 125 all the way home, I made a detour I hadn't taken in many years.  I took the turn-off to Black Rock for a change of scenery and out of curiosity as I forgot what was down there.  I saw some new houses, some very nice ones too and a splendid view of the Bird Islands and then it was back to the TCH and onto the 125...the route home.

 Later that week, I embarked on another late fall adventure, one that I didn't think I would get to do once the weather turned cold.  A few days before I embarked on a bike ride to the Sand Lake/Port Morien area, I was monitoring the weather for possible warm breaks that would allow me to go on a few late-season bike adventures.  A break came on a sunny Wednesday with temperatures predicted to reach the high teens by midday.  I got my gear ready and put my bike on the car rack and off I went.

I made the 40-minute drive to Marconi Towers Rd, and parked on the gravel area near the community mailbox.  It rained periodically on the drive from New Waterford but by the time I got the bike off the rack and was ready to go, the clouds had cleared and the sun was out.

I avoided the main road at first and turned onto Marconi Towers Rd. toward the old wood road leading to Sand Lake.  The wind had died down which made the drive through that rural area that much more enjoyable.  The trees were at their autumn height; bright leaves in shades of yellow, orange and red.  And there was no one else around.  No cars, no people, not even any other bikers.  Just me...until I reached the hill approaching the lake and that is where I came across the orange"construction ahead" signs. It was too late to turn around so I waited until the flag person waved me along and I reluctantly passed dangerously close to moving machinery and endured the deafening sound of their workings until I reached the lake path on the other side.  I drove until I reached a quiet spot where I could rest and take in the views .

I only drove along this lake a few times never actually stopped and took a good look at it.  It's strange how I will travel all the way to Ingonish to enjoy Warren Lake, which is a two-and-a-half hour drive away, but this beautiful lake has always been here and it's only a half-hour drive away...and I never think of going there.

I intended to reach to turn around and head back to the car the same way but I kept going instead.  It was so warm and I was loving the fall breeze on my face as I cruised those back roads.  I eventually ended up back on the highway and turned towards Port Morien and that is where I ended up.

It was late in the afternoon and the sun was getting low in the sky when I reached the look off at Port Morien.  I got off the bike and walked down the stairs to the little beach and sat and enjoyed the view of the fishing docks and calm waters of the bay. I could have stayed there all evening but I was not equipped for safe bicycling at night.  I reluctantly headed back to the car.  I took the same way back down the highway, onto the gravel road along the lake, past the construction crew and back to my car.  The sun was starting to go down by that time but rush hour had already gone by so I was in for a relaxing evening n my drive home.

Yoga, Hikes and Bikes

I've been doing yoga for about 5 years now.  However, I can barely be considered an actual yogi and my yoga "practice" wouldn't even be considered a practice by most yogis.  Basically, I open my iPhone yoga app each morning and follow along, Mimicking poses that I have no idea how to do properly.  I've never done yoga with a group before, never taken a single course nor did I see it necessary to watch videos to learn proper technique.  I thought the app was perfectly fine at teaching me how to do yoga.  That is until I actually took the step to further my "practice" after a friend of mine, who is a yoga teacher, persuaded me to sit in on one of her classes.

I drove the hour and a half to St. Peter's to arrive for the 10:00 class.  About 15 other students were already there setting out their mats. I felt a little like a fish out of water but soon adjusted and felt comfortable once I realized no one was paying any attention to me or what I was doing or how I was doing it.

I know now that I'd been doing yoga wrong all along.  Well, not wrong.  I was told my form was good and I learned the flow pretty quick.  However, when I had been doing it at home using an app with stationary pictures showing poses, I missed out on proper breathing and transitioning techniques.  That one hour-long class changed my whole outlook on yoga.  It had always been beneficial for me (even though I was going about it all wrong - I was at least getting some stretching and relaxation benefits out of it) but now I have the courage to take some more classes and the knowledge to improve my own practice.  I understand now that yoga has multiple benefits that go beyond stretching and relaxing and I am noticing a huge difference when I do yoga now. I felt like a million bucks after that class and I was ready for a long hike along Murray's Beach just outside St. Peters.

I hiked Murray's beach before but on this day, I hiked in the opposite direction.  My friend and I parked near the beach and had our lunch before setting out along the rocky shoreline.  I didn't walk far before almost killing myself.  I wasn't paying attention to my footing on the slippery rocks and nearly fell flat on my back.  Had I not caught myself, I would have hit my head and possibly broken a bone.  I did get wet but fortunately it wasn't that cold out.

We walked for a while along the rocky beach before switching over to a path through the woods.  This made for easier walking but the flies, even at that time of year, were really bad!  I ended up with about a dozen bites on my exposed legs and arms. We reached a point where we decided to turn around as it was getting late.  But first, we sat on the beach and drank some tea and ate some snacks while watching the little ripples on the big lake gently come ashore.

We didn't go through the woods on the way back so we ended up having to maneuver around some fallen trees on the thin strip of beach that we missed when we took the shortcut through the woods.

We arrived back at the cars in the late afternoon just in time to see two deer saunter into the field for a snack.  It was almost dark when I started the long drive home but I was ok with that.  I love a night time drive along route 4, along the Bras d'Or Lakes on that windy country road through some of Cape Breton's most beautiful little communities.

Biking is another one of my summer pastimes and this summer I added a new feature to my car; a bike rack.  Normally, I just drive my bike around my neighborhood or around the nearby town but now I can go anywhere with it.  I didn't get a chance to go biking much during August because it was so hot and all I wanted to do was go to the beach.  However, once Mid-September rolled around, I wanted to be on that bike all the time.  The municipality recently completed a multi-use trail that runs from the airport in Gardiner Mines all the way to the Mayflower Mall area in Sydney - about 25 kilometres return.  I drove to the airport one fine day and parked my car near the trailhead and headed out.  It was chilly but nice and I did the entire trail and back in a little over two hours. The trail is very well-maintained, wide and safe compared to some of the roads I usually drive on.  It was nice to drive somewhere different and not have to deal with traffic.   

By this time, it was starting to get darker earlier so I switched my evening walks at Dominion Beach to late-afternoon walks.  That will continue now until spring.  October and November are what I call hiking and biking season.  However, a few road trips are usually reserved for this time of year, particularly my yearly trip around the Cabot Trail to see the spectacular fall colors.

I embarked on a trip around the trail on a fine day that was predicted to remain fairly sunny and warm until at least the evening.  I started the trail at the Red Barn just past Baddeck with the intention of going through Margaree and onto Cheticamp and finally Ingonish.  I took my time going through the Margaree Valley as this is where the fall colours are usually at their best.

I stopped at Lake O'Law first and if the success of the day was to be based on the events that transpired in that provincial park, it would not have been a good day.  I got out of the car and made my way to the women's bathroom (which was an old wooden outhouse).  Everything seemed fine.  Someone else had just exited the same bathroom a few minutes earlier and when I opened and closed the door, everything seemed fine. Until.....I tried to reopen it to exit and the lock jammed from the outside.  Because I am severely claustrophobic, I instantly panicked at the thought of being enclosed in a small space especially a smelly, remote outhouse.  First I screamed "help" over and over.  When no help came, I started punching the door and frantically tried to loosen the lock.  When that didn't work, I started kicking the door in an attempt to literally knock it down.  I think I would have succeeded if not for a distant voice yelling "hang on, I'm coming".  I froze and listened for footsteps until, finally, the door opened.  A woman stood on the other side with a worried look on her face which surely had to be a mask for the laughter she must have been stifling.

Had I been locked in an outhouse all day, I would not have been able to continue on with the wonderful day I ended up having.  Besides enjoying the spectacular fall colours of the Margaree Valley, I went on to visit many of my favourite places along the Cabot Trail and beyond.  I made a little detour off the trail to visit a few of my favourite beaches; Inverness Beach, Chimney Corner and Whale Cove.

I grabbed a coffee in Cheticamp and drove along the Cabot Trail until I reached The Lone Shieling. I love this trail.  It's only short but it's one of my favorite nature walks; tall trees, peace and quiet with a stream running through. On this day, I was the only person there and it was wonderful.  I took my time walking along that trail, taking in every sight and sound.

I drove almost straight to Ingonish after my little hike at the Lone Shieling.  I wanted to make it there before dark and before the Bean Barn, my favourite cafe, closed.  Eating a huge slice of their carrot cake and taking a small coffee with me to Ingonish Beach has become a little tradition for me over the years. After I made some quick stops at some of my favourite places along the way (Black Brook, Warren Lake, Broad Cove), I just barely made it to the Bean Barn.  The place was empty so I sat in my regular spot and ate my cake before hearing to my spot at Ingonish Beach.  I sat in the cool sand near the surf and didn't get up again until the sun disappeared into the horizon.  I took my time going home.  Knowing this was likely my last road trip of the season, I wanted to stretch it out as much as possible even if it meant driving at night in moose country and getting home close to midnight.