Annual Father-Daughter Camping Trip

And yet another weekend I look forward to every summer is the camping trip I do with my Dad. Our first father-daughter camping trip was over a decade ago when I moved back home after being away for many years and we've gone every year since except during Covid lockdowns.  

We used to go to a secluded spot at the end of a very long gravel road leading to a beautiful beach.  Unfortunately, we have since learned that this spot is on private property and the owner has asked us not to camp there anymore. The past few summer's, we've been camping at Battery Provincial Park in St. Peters.  It's not secluded and certainly not wild like our old spot but the sites at this campground are so large and set back from the road that it feels sort of remote. 

We took the long way to St. Peter's through Marion Bridge, Gabarus, Forchu and Framboise stopping along the way at various points of interest.  We stopped at the beach in Gabarus and walked along the shore searching for treasure with dad's new metal detector.  We stopped in Forchu to take some pictures of the boats going out.  We stopped at our old camping spot and had a picnic.  By the time we made it to St. Peter's, we could check-in and set up camp for the night before the forecasted rain moved in.  There was some thunder in the distance and scattered rain showers throughout the day but nothing compared to the downpour that happened only minutes after I retreated to my tent for the night!

After we set up camp, we visited a couple of the museums around town and grabbed some supper at a restaurant in nearby Louisdale. When it got dark enough, we lit a fire and watched the night sky.  

In the morning, we left everything up to dry and headed to St. Peter's for breakfast.  By the time we returned, everything was ready to pack up.  Dad headed home to same way we came and I headed to Point Michaud Beach to check out the Surf Competition that is held there every year. It's a beautiful beach with clear waters and large rolling waves but I was only able to tolerate the water for about five minutes before I got pins and needles from the cold.  It was not nearly as warm as the water at many of the other beaches around Cape Breton! 

Hiking and Learning about the History of Isle Madame

I love exploring Cape Breton. I like to think I am very knowledgeable about the island and its history and that's mostly true since I've explored every corner of it for the last 40-some years...but excluding one region, which for some reason, I've never really explored much at all.  I'm talking about Isle Madame and the southernmost coast of Cape Breton Island. 

I try to go to as many of the community events hosted by the Celtic Colours International Festival each October.  It just so happens that a tour I've been wanting to do for several years was finally available on a day that I was off work. 

The tour, Guiding Lights of Isle Madame, takes guests on a driving tour (with some hiking involved) of Isle Madame and its little communities with a focus on the historic lighthouses that once guided ships through the area's waterways.  

I arrived at the meeting spot in Lennox Passage Provincial Park and embarked on a three-hour adventure to explore an area that was pretty new to me.  Along the way, I met some people from all over Canada and the United States, I learned the history of the region and its lighthouses, I saw some spectacular scenery and I got enough of a taste of Isle Madame to guide me on my future adventures of the island.  And there will be more trips to the area for sure!

 It was still early after the tour and I didn't want to go straight home after traveling all that distance.  I called my friend in St. Peters to see if she wanted to go for a coffee or a hike.  We met in Louisdale where I left my car and drove with her in hers.  Instead of staying in the area, we drove to Port Hawkesbury about 30 minutes away.  It was raining when we arrived so we grabbed a coffee and parked at the look-off looking out over the harbour and chatted for a while.

When the rain let up, we hiked several trails on the outskirts of town. I love hiking in places where I've never hiked before and I have to say, these knew-to-me hikes were very nice and well-maintained.  The fall colours were in full bloom, a gentle breeze rustled the trees and the sun peaked through the clouds before a rain shower hit again just before we got back to the car. 

I was exhausted on the drive back to Louisdale.  I stopped at Tim's in St. Peters for a caffeinated pick-me-up and made the long drive along Route 4 and the Bras d'Or Lakes.  Another day of exploring my beautiful island done until next time!