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Day 66 – Taking the ferry in style

I had booked a ferry a few days earlier and upon waking up I decided to head straight there. The drive was about an hour and a half out but I made good time, making it to the dock a few hours before the check in deadline. It was a nice feeling getting in the lineup and relaxing for a bit.


The ferry finally began its loading and I soon found myself driving up the ramp, getting myself parked and situated. I had two options for Winnie, crate or car, and I decided I’d go with the crate since I’d be able to visit her and wouldn’t have to worry about her doing her business in my vehicle.


About an hour or so after loading, the ferry took to the sea with surprising speed as it glided across the deep waters. A brisk and chilly ocean air blew with unrelenting force causing me to spend less time on the deck than I’d thought I would, venturing inside to the lounge instead. As I entered the room in I saw an arrangement of oddly colored seats spreading themselves out among the floor space. I found the perfect spot right beside one of the windows where I could stare out across ocean and watch the sun slowly go down.


The boat had a buffet restaurant and being quite hungry I decided to see if I could get my moneys worth. I tested the button on my pants that night, to my amazement it didn’t pop right off!
With a live band playing back in the lounge, I decided to return there to relax. The singing duo was actually pretty good, playing a solid blend of different tunes for their onlookers.


With a movie playing on the deck below me I took a trip down the stairs to continue exploring the boat. I believe the movie they were showing was Amazing Grace, regardless it was quite good and I watched it until the end before heading back to the lounge.
When I returned back up the stairs I noticed most of the people had fallen asleep on the chairs. The last remnants of folks still awake were frequenting the bar, trying to get the last couple drinks in before the gate closed. I sprawled out on one of the sofas, pulling out my book and reading for a while before I finally dozed off with the rest of the sleepy folk.

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Day 67 – The captivating Cabot Trail

The morning light shining through the ferry windows woke me up. A scattered group of people with groggy faces clutched their morning coffee with comical desperation. The ship was just coming into the harbor, a rocky land appearing in greater detail as we drew closer.


Soon we’d arrived and I made my exit into a new land, I’d arrived in Nova Scotia. Having entered the province quite early I had a full day ahead of me to decide what I wanted to do. I made a stop at good ol Tim Hortons to grab some food and set about finding a campground with wifi to catch up on the blog. It wasn’t long until I was setting up my tent, weighting my options for what to do next.


With blue skies and perfect weather I simply had to explore somewhere. I finally decided I’d drive the Cabot Trail, a famous scenic drive I’d read about. It wasn’t long until I stood there looking at the sign that began the lengthy winding road.


In elated excitement I took to the trail, eager to see what it had to offer me. Like a serpent weaving through the grass, the roads zigzagged themselves across the land, sharp turns appearing everywhere. Oh, what a view though! I found myself stopping constantly to take in the picturesque landscape before me.


Eventually the Cabot Trail entered Cape Breton National Park, adding even more stunning views to a day already overflowing with beauty. Tall cliffs and a sparkling ocean continued to reveal themselves in abundance, now with vast forests that covered the mountains like a garment adding to the composition.


I made sure to take a few detours off the Cabot Trail every now and then for a closer peek at a village or lookout. One of those stops being White Point, a place recommended to me by the locals.


The sun had begun to set, the blue skies now adding a fiery touch to their palette. I continued driving along until I found the perfect perch on a cliff to watch the flaming sphere dip below the watery horizon.

With the sun having taken its daily rest, I continued pressing on beside an array of warm colors glowing in the distance. With the ocean so close I simply had to take a walk on the rocky shores. Finding a nearby beach, Winnie and I exited the vehicle to get a closer look at the waves as they crashed against the plentiful pebbles. For quite some time we stood there, appreciating nature in it’s ferocious beauty.


Night was drawing close so I returned to my car and pressed on down the road. I found a nice little restaurant to ease my hunger along the way. With a full belly I continued back to the campground I’d pitched my tent in that morning. Soon the days exhaustion finally brought my face to the pillow like a magnet. A day of incredible adventuring came to its close.

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Day 68 – Pressing onward

While I loved being able to shower and access wifi at the campground, the only place to set up my tent was an open field, which I knew would haunt me in the morning. Sure enough, as the sun rose I was cooked out of my tent. Being up early did have its perks and I started my day catching up on the blog. I’d though about staying another night but decided I’d head south to Halifax instead.


I took to the roads just before noon, making a short stop at a restaurant where an incredibly friendly waitress served me up some breakfast. It was a welcomed start to the afternoon and I returned to the roads again feeling cheerful.


Much of the drive took me alongside sparkling lakes that spread themselves out across the land. With the sun shining brightly above most of the day, the nature that surrounded me brought forth it’s color in vibrant beauty.


I tried to keep my stopping to a minimum, admiring the majority of the scenery as I drove by it.


As dusk was arriving I entered the city. I parked for a bit and sat there relaxing, the long drive had definitely taken its toll on my stamina. My goal of making it to the city was accomplished and I could do my exploring the following day. I found a campground just outside of Halifax. With wifi available, I was able to catch up on my blog at last before heading to bed.

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Day 69 – Hunting down attractions in Halifax

I was awoken throughout the night by a torrential downpour falling rapidly on my tent. Despite the heavy droplets making their noisy arrival, I managed to fall asleep once more, waking to a damp yet much calmer morning. It was time to pack my things and head into Halifax, a city I was eager to explore.
Having camped only 25 minutes outside the city, I soon arrived and began my exploring. As I drove throughout the area I came to a what looked like an old military post high up on a hill. Figuring it might be worth taking a closer look at, I quickly found a place to park and took to the path leading in.


As I arrived at the entrance I was pleasantly surprised to find out my parks Canada pass allowed me inside for free. I entered through an archway and into an open area. Guards in old uniforms stood at attention clutching their guns. The old military base had been turned into a museum of sorts, with most of the rooms now available to the public. A guided tour was being offered and I joined, eagerly listening to stories of a time passed when the base was busy and brimming with war activity.


With my parking about to expire, I returned to my car and continued exploring the city. This led me down to the busy but beautiful docks. I was soon walking beside a collection of shops that lined the waters edge. Strange and captivating art adorned the wooden path, bringing a greater blend of uniqueness to the impressive boardwalk.


My final destination for the day was Cape Breton Lighthouse. Being close to an hour away, I hurried on down to catch a glimpse of the site before the sun went down. I arrived and took to the rocky shores. As I stood there I was quite surprised at the deception of the waves. Often a powerful thrust of water would come along and sweep over the rocks that seemed to be safe from the roaring sea.


The sun began to set, granting a fiery glimmer to the crashing waves. I sat there and watched with excitement. Eventually the glowing fireball finally disappeared and all that was left was a crimson red illuminating the horizon.


With the last bits of light finally gone, I returned to my car and set off to find a campsite. It wasn’t long until I’d found a nearby campground nearby where a friendly owner greeted me with kindness. He led me to a spot right under a canopy of trees to help with the rain. I finally pitched my tent and called it a day, what an adventure it’d been.

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Day 70 – The tidal bore

It was a slow crawl out of bed in the morning. Having finally got my things packed back into the car along with getting in a quick shower in, I took to the highway at last. I had one main goal, drive to Prince Edward Island to meet my significant other who was flying down to meet me.
On the way north I discovered I was passing the Bay of Fundy and decided to take a little detour the see the tidal bore. Now what exactly is a tidal bore? When the tide comes in from the ocean it works itself inland, pushing forward with such force that it temporarily reverses the flow of the river. I chose to watch this phenomena in the town of Truro, where I set up my chair right beside the water in eager anticipation.


At last it began! In the distance a small wave pushed forward with such a strong force that it swallowed the river. The rising waters formed all sorts of waves and bumps as the currents clashed with one another.


Soon the rising tide had completely covered the lake bed, the water having risen dramatically in a very short time. I’d sat there admiring the phenomena for quite a while before returning to the road at last, venturing north.


I was making good time, passing by fields of windmills as I drove through the gusty region. Soon I’d made it to Prince Edward Island, where I immediately found a place to pitch my tent. Jenn’s flight was having constant delays so I had a little time to work on the blog before her arrival. It was getting quite late in the night by the time I finally drove to the airport to greet her.


There she was, sitting on one of the chairs waiting for me. She ran up and greeted me with an enormous hug, one of those things I’d been missing in my life on the road. We grabbed her luggage and walked to the car. Jenn had mentioned that she felt the dog might forget her, a statement that made me chuckle as I knew Winnie would never forget her. As soon as we got to the car, Jenn opened the door and Winnie went completely bonkers with excitement, hopping all over the place licking her face with boundless joy.


With an happy girlfriend and an overjoyed pup I returned to the campground where we all crawled in the tent together and called it a night.

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Day 71 – Jenn joins the party

The rain beat down on the roof of my tent all night. Having got to bed so late, with checkout being at 11am, both Jenn and I found ourselves sleep deprived in the morning. Despite the groggy start we soon found ourselves on the road where we arrived at a nearby restaurant.


With our appetites sated we took to the road once more, heading to Prince Edward Island Nation Park. As we arrived we were greeted by pristine sandy beaches alongside endless waves working their way to the shoreline. With a cool sea breeze and blue skies above, it was the perfect weather for an afternoon stroll. Winnie was overjoyed, she immediately took to the sandy shore with us, bouncing and running laps with seemingly endless energy. Sand dunes rose up along the oceans edge, often garnished with patches of healthy tall grass.


What was originally planned as a short jaunt turned into hours as we soaked in the scenery surrounding us. Eventually we made our way back to the car. We drove to a shaded area to relax and figure out our next stop. Fatigue was setting in, the lack on sleep from the night before starting to catch up with us. We figured it best to find a campground close by and rest up.


The drive took us 45 minutes east where we camped close to our destination for the next day. With an abundance of amenities I was able to get some laundry done while Jenn caught some z’s. Night time had arrived at last. We made a campfire and huddled close for its warmth before retiring to the tent. A wonderful start to our first day in Prince Edward Island came to a sleepy finish.

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Day 72 – Drawn to the sandy shores

The nights have been growing noticeably colder as autumn draws near. Upon exiting my tent, a brisk morning air greeted me with a chilly embrace as blue skies above beckoned me forward to explore the land.
It wasn’t long until Jenn and I were on the road, venturing out to Greenwich, a part of Prince Edward Island National Park. We found a place to park and began walking along a short trail that took us to a nice little picnic table where we snacked on some cheese and crackers. With a sparkling lake beside us, the scenery stayed nothing less than stunning. Having chowed down, we returned to the trail and finished the short little hike.


We found ourselves craving the ocean so we ventured to one of the nearby beaches. A weaving wooden boardwalk guided us to the pristine sands we’d been craving so deeply. Refreshing and cool, the ocean breeze swept through the area as Atlantic waves steadily crashed into the shore.


With eager excitement we walked along the beach until we found the perfect place to settle and soak in the sun. Occasionally we’d dip our feet in the chilly water before returning once more to our comfy perch. Having spent the afternoon there, we slowly packed our things and returned to the car.


Only a few hours remained before the sun went down so we took a coastal drive to the most eastern part of the island. We arrived just in time, with the sky bringing forth a dazzling array of warm colors to illuminate the horizon.


It was time to find a place to rest. We drove an hour and a half west to a campground that was close to the Anne of Green Gables museum we’d planned to explore in the morning. With Hurricane Dorian arriving tomorrow afternoon, it should be an interesting day to say least!

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Day 73 – Green Gables and a looming Hurricane Dorian

We awoke to an eerie and empty campground. With hurricane Dorian looming on the forecast, it felt like there had been an evacuation and they forgot to wake us up. The storm wasn’t due to begin until noon so we packed our things and set off to Green Gables National Historic Site.


As we pulled up to the museum, Jenn could hardly contain the joy that was bubbling over into a cheshire grin. A short little stroll took us to the place that Jenn had longed to visit her entire life.


We entered the house and began our exploring. All sorts of old antiques from the same time period spread themselves about. As expected, Jenn was bubbling over with happiness and she explored.


With Hurricane Dorian looming over the day, we decided we’d find a hotel early. One thing was for certain, we weren’t gonna tent it in a storm like that! We lucked out, finding a perfect little hotel right beside the water where we settled in. A friendly receptionist named Gail began a cheerful conversation with us, sharing wonderful stories of her own unique travels throughout the country.


The power went out as Hurricane Dorian arrived. Ferocious wind and torrential rain fell violently outside the building. Powerful gusts of wind grew stronger and more continuous, rattling our door as it tried to rip it open. Despite the raging storm, our bed was quite comfy and we soon dozed off despite the chaos that surrounded us.

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Day 74 – The aftermath of Hurricane Dorian

The hotel rattled all night as hurricane Dorian beat down upon it. The power was still out and there was no running water in the morning when we awoke. After heading into the dining hall for a continental breakfast we packed our things and took to the roads.


Dorian had left a path of destruction. Trees were uprooted everywhere, many of them still laying across parts of the roads despite clean up crews going around frantically trying to clean up the mess.


It was wild seeing strong trees with thick trunks snapped like they were a mere twig. The power of the raging winds truly were astounding.


With the hurricane having moved into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence by the morning, the ocean waters north of the island were wild and raging. Wanting to catch a closer look at the ferocious sea we took a coastal drive along the waters edge.


We were trying to figure out what to do with our day as many of the shops were closed. After some humming and hawing we set off to Charlottetown where we checked out a local dog park.

Having burned off some of Winnie’s energy we took to the town where we admired a variety of attractions before grabbing a poutine for dinner down by the docks.


Having inhaled the delicious meal before us, we walked our way along the harbor as the sun set in the distance. It was a nice way to end our exploring in the city.


Having found a campsite 30 minutes east, we began the annoying process of setting our tent up in the windy weather. The two of us tackled the tough process of pitching our tent and building a sort of wind protection around it together. It’s days like these I’m reminded that Jenn’s a keeper. We were successful at setting everything up and crawled inside at last. The windy evening finally came to its close.

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Day 75 – Following the taste buds

The wind stayed strong through the night, interrupting sleep as it howled throughout the tent. When we woke up, we were feeling rather groggy and exhausted. Despite the sleepy start, we were ready to embrace the day.


We soon found ourselves entering into a vineyard that appeared beaten and ravaged. Countless grapes lay scattered across the ground, broken twigs and vines adding to the mess. Hurricane Dorian had been cruel to this plot of land and the winery was closed until further notice.
The next winery on our list was close by and it wasn’t long until we’d arrived. Rossignol Estate Winery was lucky, having taken significantly less damage from the hurricane. The main building sat high on a hill looking out over the water, a scenic and beautiful location. We walked inside and did a round of samplers, tasting the various wines they offered. Having found a few we liked, we picked up a few bottles and continued on with the day.


With the sun beating down on us we simply had to get some ice cream and decided to stop at Cows Creamery for a bite to eat. They claimed they were Canada’s best ice cream but we would be the judge of such a boast. Having picked up a few cones we began chowing down. Was it the best ice cream I’d had in the country? Hard to say, it was delicious though!


The day was nearing it’s end but we took advantage of the light we had, visiting Argyle Shore Provincial Park to take a walk along the waters edge. The place offered a unique look some of the block like crumbling cliffs.


With the sun taking its final dip below the horizon we pressed on, passing Confederation Bridge on our way west. We found a nice little campground by the ocean where we settled in for the evening, a day of adventures coming to its close.