Waiting two weeks for a walk ...

In most places on this planet going for a walk along the shore does not require one to wait two weeks before setting out; but that is not the case if you are planning on walking along the shore of the magnificent Bay of Fundy.

I wanted to go  walking along the shore at Blomidon Provincial Park.

Blomidon in sight.

Given Fundy's 35 ft. (11 m.) tides that required some planning.    I needed to find a day when low tide was just after mid-day; then to allow for the maximum walking time I would arrive two hours BEFORE low tide.  I had waited two weeks for the tide times to be right. Yesterday low tide was at 1:30; so friend Mickie and I got to Blomidon at 11 am.

Once at the park we decided to check out a trail to Borden Brook Falls.   Sadly the only ice around was on the trail which made for some perilous walking but the dodgy walk was well worth the effort.  The slope was slippery and you can see that even Sooki didn't like the unsure footing.  But oh my gosh the water fall was beautiful.

We couldn't make it up to the top of the falls.  I had a few false starts of trying to scramble across the greasy slope, clinging onto trees to keep from slip sliding down to the rocks and river below.  It was quite an adventure but aside from a muddy bottom I got out relatively unscathed.

The one route to the beach was via a closed staircase that was signed: "Unsafe structure.  Keep off".

Well ... since it was the only way down, we took it.  It was only when we were coming back up after our walk that we saw the reason for the sign.  The support poles under the steps were pretty much floating in air as the earth around them had been washed away !

Walking on the ocean floor and avoiding the very mucky bits.

Mucky bits.

The eroded cliffs are quite spectacular.  I think that all those Birch trees were once growing at the top of the cliff and came down with a landslide but since enough earth came down with them, they have been able to survive in their new location.

Walking closer to the cliffs we were able to see roots and trees hanging over the lip of the cliff.

These blue and red chunks have fallen down from above.  They look solid but crumble easily.   

The sun came and went but the winds were constant as you can see by Wendy and Sooki's blowing ears and Remi's furry face.   We walked outbound with the wind at our backs which meant that when we turned back we were facing into the wind.

At one point I leaned against the cliff and was surprised by the constant plinking of what I thought were ice crystals around and upon my head. I was startled to realize that they were tiny pebbles.  Notice the piles of sand and stone to the right in the picture above.  At one point the pebble fall grew a bit more forceful and Mickie and I comically dashed away from the cliff bottom thinking the whole thing was coming down !   In truth the odds of being in a car accident on the way to these cliffs are far greater than the chances of having the cliff come down on our heads.

I am certainly more than willing to take that chance in exchange for the experience of just being here.

Snippets from Darrell's visit.

   

This is my third, and final, post about Darrell's visit.
What am I to do with the 200 photos that remain ?
I'm pretty sure I've shown you the view from Blomidon Lookoff before, but just in case ...

Darrell at the scenic Blomidon look off.

I think back in Ontario, we called scenic views, "look outs" and not "look offs".  What are they called in your area ?  Whatever they're called,  Blomidon, which is a pleasant one-hour drive from Halifax, merits adding to your "must see" list.  You are keeping a list, aren't you ?  Try to arrive when the tide is out, if you can.  The tidal basin is much more impressive when the mud flats are exposed..  Clearly, those are not mud flats in the above photo.  The tide was in, and it was hazy, so I pointed the camera the other direction. 

In Digby, we stayed at  "Holdsworth House", a circa 1784 historical home, which is now a B&B.  They owners have restored and furnished the home in period furniture.

The historical kitchen in the Holdsworth House
Bed & Breakfast in Digby, complete with dog curled in
front of the hearth..

Church and maple tree in Digby.

A nearby cemetery.

We did a fair bit of driving, but never felt rushed.  If something caught our eye, we'd stop to check it out.

We discovered this scenic spot at an unmarked lay-by.

Same spot.

Are you like me, when you travel ?   Do you snap photos, only to realize later, that you don't remember where they were taken ?

You'll have to ask Darrell where this lighthouse is, as I've forgotten.

The sound of rushing water drew us once more to a stop.

The water before us, was like silk as it cascaded over the lip of the low dam.  That smoothness, belied the treacherous water below.  

Prior to his return to Ontario, I wanted Darrell to meet my friends.  It's a testament to the kind of guy Darrell is, that HE prepared the meal that was s'pozed to be in his honour !  I'm not a great cook and he was teaching me how to properly make a stir fry.  The key was to have ALL the vegetables cut in advance and to cook on a very high heat.

We had a wonderful visit together.

I miss him already.

'splorin' ...

One of the marvellous things about having visitors, is exploring Nova Scotia with them. 

Some of my best discoveries have been after saying to an unsuspecting guest,  "Let's see where this road goes.". 

Recently the road lead my friend Sandy and me, to a lovely, scenic lookoff  near the Bay of Fundy.

From there the road lead us downward to a lovely provincial park with a cliff-rimmed beach.  That it was low tide, was a bonus.

Some young people were digging clams on the beach.  They happily showed us how it is done.  Clams create small holes in the beach sand near the water line.  They have a snout that sticks out of their shell and they use it to clear their breathing hole. After locating a clam hole simply dig down 6-8 inches to reach the clam.

You can see the "snout" in the shot above.  Good grief, it's as long as its body!   BTW I'm very proud of myself for not making a crude joke about the clam and its... ummmm .... errrr ... snout !

  The clams are put into a container of sea water to keep them hydrated while further digging goes on.  When digging is finished, the clams are moved into a container with water with some corn meal mixed in.  The corn meal causes the clams to spit out the sand that is in their shells. 

The final step is to  go to the kid's grandmother's house to have the clams cooked.   Sadly, I neglected to get the grandmother's address.  

We wandered up the beach admiring the cliff's colourful strata layers which became even more beautiful where water dripped down the rock face.
 

You'll notice I use words like, "wandered", "sauntered", and "strolled".  Seldom are beach walks really walks at any kind of a pace.  There's too much to see to be walking quickly.

So wherever you are, don't forget to slow up, or down, when you go for a walk.  

Unless of course ...

 
 the tide is coming in.  In that case, rapid walking is encouraged.