First Cabot Trail Road Trip of the Season

I was late going around the Cabot Trail this year but, like they say, better late than never!  It's been hard planning anything this summer because of work commitments and a forecast with more rain than usual.  One weekend in late August predicted sun and warm temperatures so I planned a day trip.

I left early so I could stop in Jersey Cove and have a visit with my friend who has her trailer there during the summers.  I didn't plan on staying there long but the sparkling waters of the nearby beach called my name and soon after arriving, I had already changed into my swimsuit and was enjoying a refreshing dip in the Atlantic Ocean under a clear blue sky. 

I never swam at that beach before so it was nice to discover a new place to take a dip.  I knew the beach was there but always overlooked it because it was rocky.  And while yes, it is rocky, you only have to walk a few feet before reaching a soft, sandy bottom.  The water was so warm and clear, I could have stayed there all day, but I had to get going if I was going to make it around the trail before dark.

I left Jersey Cove in the early afternoon and headed for Ingonish where I got a coffee and something sweet at a little cafe and enjoyed it while I walked along North Bay Beach. 

I didn't make too many stops on the way to Cheticamp.  I just enjoyed the drive and the spectacular scenery that I never get sick of. In Cheticamp, I stopped for something to eat and grabbed a coffee to enjoy while I sat by the ocean on Cheticamp Island.  I headed home not long after as it was getting dark.  I used to not mind driving at all hours of the night but, as I get older, I don't like taking a chance driving on those dark, lonely country roads after dark.  Or maybe it's just that the world doesn't seem as safe as it was when I first started driving 30 years ago.  

Last-minute Fall Road Trip...complete with shopping, beaches and ice cream!

Well, I was thinking about traveling to Iceland this October but instead, I procrastinated and didn't jump on those seat sales I was seeing.  By the time I decided that I would definitely like to go, flights were priced way too high out of my budget. Oh well.  I took vacation time anyway.  Really, I can't think of a better place to spend early fall than on Cape Breton Island!  Iceland or some other Exotic destination can wait until spring.

One day early into my two-week vacation, I took a last-minute road trip to visit a friend at her camper trailer in Jersey Cove.  I decided to take this trip while I was browsing local shops for a Halloween costume.  Now that my nephew is three years old, I figure it's time I start dressing up so he isn't the only one looking like a fool!  A combination of the pumpkin spice latte I was sipping on and the colourful leaves rustling in the cool breeze had me feeling very fall-ish and there are few things in life I love more than a long drive on a sunny, fall day. 

I arrived after a relatively peaceful morning drive.  We took a little walk around the grounds and down to the water.  The sound of leaves rustling in the trees and the water gently rolling over the rocks on the beach was so peaceful.  

In late summer, I heard we wouldn't have very nice fall colours this year due to the drought we had experienced but I thought they looked just as pretty as any other year.  They weren't as bright and there seemed to be fewer leaves than usual but still so pretty nonetheless. 

It was too cold to go swimming and I wasn't really in the mood for a hike that day so I thought it would be a perfect day to go for a scenic drive to Ingonish while stopping at all the gift shops along the way.  This time of year, there are discounts on items that need to be gotten rid of before the end of the season.  And yes, we did indeed find some good deals!

Our first stop was Cabotto Chocolates.  Being the chocolate lover that I am and the number of times I've driven by this place, I never stopped there until this day.  I think it's because I'm always focused on just passing through and getting to Ingonish to hit the beach as early as possible. Or maybe it's because I know I have no self-control when it comes to chocolate!

 

I was surprised at how many different chocolate items there were in this place!  They had a variety of flavors, shapes, sizes..and yes, what I tried, was delicious!  There were also sea glass candy, souvenirs and local books.  I bought a little treat for myself and made a mental note to come back before Christmas for some last-minute gifts some chocolate lovers I know. 

Next, we stopped at the O.C. Emporium.  This is another place I always just drove by and despite my curiosity, I never had time to stop and check it out.  Again, I was surprised at how much stuff was in there!  There were local crafts, homemade soaps, essential oils, herbs, books, jewellery, gluten-free food and almost everything else under the sun!  

Next was the Wreck Cove General Store.  I always love stopping here because it brings back memories from years and years ago when my family always stopped here for treats on the way to Ingonish or on trips about the Cabot Trail.  It still looks pretty much the same as it did then and that's why I like it so much!  I found some great deals on some gifts here.  They had discounted ice cream which of course, I had to sample!  

We kept driving over Cape Smokey and onto Ingonish where we spent the rest of the day enjoying the scenery and stopping at beaches to stretch our legs.  Just before dark, we headed back over the mountain.  

 

 

 

 

Jersey Cove, Black Brook, Inverness and Everywhere in Between

It's always nice to have friends in various places around Cape Breton.  One such good friend has a seasonal home in Jersey Cove at the Joyful Journeys RV Park. I pass through there often on the way to Ingonish so I always make a point to stop in and pay a visit or, as was the case early in the summer, stop by, head out on an adventure in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park and stay the night in Jersey Cove. 

I left early that morning with the beach on my mind.  The earlier the better.  It's about an hour's drive to Jersey Cove and another hour to Black Brook Beach where I intended to spend the day swimming and soaking up the sun.  And what weather we had this summer!!  With soaring temperatures, more sunny days than not and clear night skies, you'll hear no complaints from me! 

 

Anyway, I arrived in Jersey Cove around 9:30.  My friend wasn't quite ready but once she was, we took a short walk around the grounds and down to the water before heading toward the Highlands and onto one of our favourite beaches. 

Two years ago, we went to this beach and it was beautiful but we faced disappointment last year when we went.  The beach was rough and there was hardly any sand.  It was so bad, we had to go swimming elsewhere.  I hoped and hoped we wouldn't face the same this year and fortunately, the beach was back to it's usual glory!  

 

Long story short, the water was crystal clear and warm and the beach was all soft sand.  As per usual, I didn't want to get out of the water but when hunger struck and the sun started to dip in the sky, I reluctantly found a spot on the sand to dry off.   

We hung around Ingonish for a while just enjoying the sights, walking North Bay Beach and eating French fries by the shore. It was almost dark when we headed back and we were too tired to have the bonfire and smores we planned to have that evening before bed.  

The next morning brought with it another adventure to another one of my favourite beaches on the other side of the island and this was going to be an all-day and evening event because I never drive all the way to Inverness to leave before sunset.  Sunset is the main event on the West Coast of Cape Breton Island. 

Although we arrived quite early, there were no parking spots close to the beach so we had to walk quite a ways with all our gear. When we finally reached the sand, we found a perfect spot to spend the day.  I dropped my things and stripped down to my swimsuit and went in the water right away.  I'm not one to just lie in the sun for hours and hours; being in the water is my main purpose to be at any beach, especially when its the one with the warmest and clearest waters on the island!

I spent many hours floating in those clear, warm waters that day.  I also walked the length of the beach and searched for beach glass with my friend who was more keen on lying in the sun than swimming for hours on end.  About an hour before sunset, we left the beach to get something to eat in Cheticamp and pay a quick visit to my sister who was visiting from Alberta and staying in a campervan at the local campground. We got back to the beach just in time for the evening show.

I, once again, stripped down to my bathing suit and entered those clear, warm waters.  The air was cooler by that time but the water was still warm.  The sun was quickly falling toward the horizon when I took my spot in the glowing strip that crossed from the horizon to the shore.  There's just something about being in the dark, vast ocean at sunset.  I can't think of anything more relaxing.  I floated in the calm water until that glowing red ball was no more and sky turned dark.  In the distance, I could hear the sound of bagpipes coming from somewhere above the beach. 

We made the long drive back to Jersey Cove via the Margaree Valley and Englishtown Ferry.  I dropped my friend off at her trailer and made the journey home alone.  I'm ok with that.  Late night drives with my music blaring and the sunroof open to the moon and stars above and the windows down to let in the warm night air are my kinda thing!

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 Summer Day Trip From Jersey Cove to Ingonish

It's nice to have friends with trailers and summer homes in nice places.  It's especially nice to have a great friend who has a trailer in beautiful Jersey Cove, Cape Breton.  That's because it's the perfect place to enjoy a quick summer getaway.  It's scenic, it's quiet, it's relaxing and it's centrally located near all the places I love to visit.  Baddeck is only 20 minutes away and Ingonish is less than an hour away just to name a few of those places.  Most importantly though, this friend spends much of her summer there in her trailer and loves when company stops by.  Sometimes that company happens to be me.  One such day this summer, it was me.

 One of the best things about Jersey Cove is it's less than an hour away from my house so it's the perfect place to head to if I want a quick getaway.  I arrived at the trailer mid-morning and after we unpacked the car, we headed straight to Ingonish for the day. Our plan was to recreate the perfect day we had the year before at Black Brook Beach. It didn't quite turn out that way but it was still a great day!

We drove to Black Brook as I thought for sure the beach conditions would be perfect on such a perfect day.  As we walked down the hill to the beach area, we realized that there was no beach!  The tide was so high and it was so windy that the water was coming right up to the grass.  There was no way it was safe or ideal to swim there that day.  Off we went in search of another beach. That beach ended up being the little patch of soft sand by the wharves in Ingonish known as The Point.  The water was clear, warm and free of jellyfish and debris. It was lovely. 

Supper that evening was take-out by the ocean.  After a walk along that beautiful beach at North Bay, we headed back to the trailer at Jersey Cove. It was a clear, warm night so stargazing and sitting around the fire listening to music was in order.  The closer I am to nature, the better I sleep and that night I slept like a baby to the sounds of the trees rustling and the waves gently rolling ashore. I awoke to an adorable little hummingbird staring at me through the window right next to my bed. 

A Night in Jersey Cove, Cape Breton

Jersey Cove is a beautiful community on Cape Breton Island.  It's close to everything, it has mountains, hills, ocean, forest, hiking trails and scenic look-offs.  However, I never really spent much time there until recently.  Sure, as a child, I visited the Giant MacAskill Museum on the Englishtown side of the ferry and beachcombed along the beach near the ferry docks but on most of my visits to this pretty little community, I was just passing through to get somewhere else.  Most of my visits consisted of waiting for the car ferry to pick me up and take me across the little channel to the highway on the other side that would take me to Ingonish or around the Cabot Trail. 

I had the chance to spend a little bit of time in Englishtown this summer.  Well, it was Jersey Cove on the other side of the channel to be exact. I got on the ferry and instead of driving through  to go somewhere else, I stopped at the Joyful Journeys campground and spent an evening with a friend who recently parked her camper trailer there for the summer. 

I'd been to that campground a few times in the past to visit friends of friends on the way home from Ingonish. I admit, it didn't do much for me but to be fair, whenever I stopped there, it was dark and the visit only lasted 20 minutes at most. I didn't seem like my kind of place.  It looked small, there was no sandy beach and the trailers looked they were too close together for my liking.  I'm used to camping at Broad Cove in Ingonish where there are lots of trees, a long sandy beach and plenty of space for privacy between lots. 

The visit I enjoyed this past July was different from the past ones.  It was daytime and I had more time to explore and actually enjoy it. 

A trip to a nearby beach that I never new existed was one of the highlights of the trip!  I love finding new beaches and this was a nice one, too! A walk along the shore, a drive around the area (there's a hiking trail I never knew about  so, of course, I made a mental note to check it out next time!), watching some adorable humming birds in the bird feeders, watching eagles soar above the water, stargazing on a picnic table by the shore and relaxing around a campfire before turning in for the night were some of the other highlights.  

 Now that I know there's more to Jersey Cove than I thought, I'll stop there more often and enjoy its natural wonders!