Today was a lovely, hot summer's day.
In keeping with my resolution to paddle much more than I have in the past, I slid my new teeny, tiny kayak, paddle and life jacket into my car, slammed the hatch and set off.
In keeping with my resolution to paddle much more than I have in the past, I slid my new teeny, tiny kayak, paddle and life jacket into my car, slammed the hatch and set off.
Once upon a time there was a canal that ran across Nova Scotia linking Halifax Harbour (on the Atlantic Ocean) with the Bay of Fundy.
Begun in 1826 and completed in 1856, the Shubenacadie Canal operated for 14 years with modest commercial success. Building it had been a financial nightmare and due to lack of funds only 13 of 17 planned locks were completed. Changes were made to the canal design and to save money, inclined planes were used in place of planned locks.
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| Non-functioning lock on the Shubie Canal. |
It is ironic that by 1870 the canal was no longer usable, as the draw bridges along the route had been replaced by fixed bridges in order to accommodate the newly constructed railway. And how had that railway been built ? It had been built using iron that had been transported along the canal !
Much of the canal has vanished, but a significant section of it, called "the deep cut", a section that had taken two seasons to blast out of bare rock, still cuts through Shubie Park.
And that's where I headed today.
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| Another lock at Shubie. |
Much of the canal has vanished, but a significant section of it, called "the deep cut", a section that had taken two seasons to blast out of bare rock, still cuts through Shubie Park.
And that's where I headed today.
The water in the canal is shallow, quiet and slow. It was relaxing to drift along enjoying the play of light on the water and watching how the kayaks movement rippled the reflections of the trees and rocks.
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| Rippling reflection. |
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| This image may or may not be upside down. |
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| Stone work is still visible in some places along the "Deep Cut". |
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| Shubie Park is chock full of biking/hiking trails. |
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| Couldn't resist taking a "selfie" in my new hat. |
Why did it take me FIVE years to discover this beautiful waterway that lies within our City's limits ?
Hi Sybil.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you found a great place for a kayaking adventure on a nice summers day.
Thanks Andrew. Haven't been s'plorin' out your way in ages. What's your favourite trail in the Land of Confusion ?
DeleteI like taking the coastal hiking trail to the left side of the Polly Cove foundation that runs along the top of the cliff edge until you get to a nice lookout spot at 44° 29.355'N, 63° 52.986'W.
DeleteLooks very calm and relaxing. It has been an odd summer hasn't it? There haven't been too many of those really hot summer days.
ReplyDeleteHey Karma ! It tends to be cooler near the Atlantic Coast so actually I have found this summer to be hotter than usual in Eastern Passage. I'm not that crazy about the heat. I'm happy with a daytime high of around 20C (70F)
DeleteWell, I'll bet you'll be back often, now that you know what you've been missing. Beautiful, indeed. Including the selfie of you in your hat. Very nice!
ReplyDeleteAwww thanks. I love how the new fangled cameras have viewing screens you can flip around so you can see yourself as you're taking the photo. Am I showing my age by being so impressed by that ?
DeleteGreat selfie, Sybil! What a fascinating history of your Shubenacadie Canal. How ironic that a railway was was built using iron that was transported by way of the abandoned canal. What strange creatures we humans are. But at least some good came of it all - a great place to hike, bike and kayak!
ReplyDeleteThanks Barbara, yep, the abandoned rail lines now make up much of the "Trans Canada Trail" across Canada and this old canal provides a neat place to paddle.
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