A lighthouse, several Ovens, and some surf.

Across the harbour from the Fortress at Louisbourg, lies the Louisbourg lighthouse.   Pat and I checked it out the evening before we visited the Fortress,

This is the third lighthouse on this site.  The stonework ruins of the first tower still remain.  Completed in 1734, that lighthouse was badly damaged during the final siege of the Fortress in 1758.

Nearby, a scenic trail followed the chilly Atlantic shoreline.  We both wished for warmer weather and more time to explore it, but had to settle for just standing and staring...

... and telling each other, "next time ...".

We came across this stunning piece of graffiti  depicting the Fortress across the harbour, painted on a rock cut on the lighthouse road.  

Once back in the Passage, we went to nearby Flag Pond, to explore the cobble beach and check out the surfing beach.

It was still chilly, so we had to bundle up.  As the Atlantic is never warm, the surfers did too.

We couldn't believe that in mid-June we had to open up my winter duds storage box, and find some gloves to wear !  In the photo below, you can see Pat wearing gloves, as she makes a video of the beach and wave sounds.

Happily the sun did come out, and temperatures rose as we headed to "The Ovens", toward the end of Pat's stay.  Ovens, is another word for sea caves.

A beautiful trail follows the cliff edge.  The closer we got to the sea caves, the more nervous the dogs became.

I realized that the water crashing into the caves, was creating a deep thrumming sound like thunder, sometimes right beneath our feet, and that was what was unsettling the dogs.

We took turns going down into this cave: one of us staying behind with the dogs.

I was unable to take a photo that did justice to the beauty of that cave, and I was frustrated to find that I could NOT figure out how to make my new-to-me camera, take a video.

The surf would pound into the narrowing cave and there would be a huge reverberation, as the volume of water wasn't able to get through the opening at the back of the cave, bouncing back out with a BOOM! and a cloud of mist.

What a spectacular location !    

I would definitely recommend it to any visitors to this lovely province.  Heck, I'd be happy to escort them there.

By the way,

when are you coming ?

Further explorations with Pat.

My chum, Pat, was here recently on what is turning out to be her mandatory, annual visit and I couldn't be happier.

We did a LOT of stuff on last year's visit .....

This year, we went for quality rather than quantity, and set off check out  the Fortress at Louisbourg up in Cape Breton as it celebrates its 300th anniversary.

On the way, we stopped at Rita McNeil's famous Tea Room where I purchased some delicious strawberry tea.

The drive from Eastern Passage to Louisbourg was close to 500 km (310 miles), so we stayed overnight in Louisbourg and headed to the Fortress early the next morning.   Sadly the weather was chilly and wet for much of Pat's visit but we soldiered on regardless.

The aim of the of the Fortress of Louisbourg is to portray a moment in time from the summer of 1744, when the fortress was nearly complete, and the had yet to suffer bombardment and conquest.

The attention to detail and mood is impressive.

The Fortress is staffed with folk in traditional garb of the era, who don't just dress the part, but act it too.  Pat and I were accosted by a guard who inquired regarding the whereabouts of our male escorts.  As we were two single ladies on our own, he insisted on escorting us for a while.

Should we really be having to wear ski jackets in June !?

Though there are over 50 buildings, only about ten or twelve of them were open, as June is "shoulder season" !   The place is only fully staffed and all buildings open, in July and August.  Pity.

Nevertheless, it was wonderful to explore.  As the Fortress is so large, it was easy to take photographs without any other visitors in it.  Bet that never happens in summer !

Looking outward over the Fortress wall.  

One of the gated entrances had a very oriental feel to it.
I was told that the architect had visited the Far East.

This image from the Cape Breton Post gives you a
sense of the size of the Fortress.   

The 50 buildings that make up Louisbourg, were reconstructed on the ruins of the original destroyed Fortress in the 1960's. The timing was fortuitous.  Coal mining was in decline, and it was perceived that reconstruction of Louisbourg would provide much-needed employment and attract visitors to Cape Breton.  The results are impressive, and well worth a visit.  What is more amazing, is that this recreation, is only on quarter the size of the original !

Barracks and the Powder Magazine.

The Frederick Gate.  

Through this ornate arch came most of the people, news and merchandise of the colony.  Because the water wasn't deep enough, large ships had to anchor offshore, then the crews launched boats and pushed and carried their cargo over the wharf and through the narrow gateway.  Not sure why they thought that was a good idea.  

The King's Bastion Barracks.

To be continued ...

12 months.

Those bloggers over at WordPress have all the fun.     Several of them are doing 12-month retrospectives prompted by a "Freshly Pressed" challenge.

Unfortunately WordPress allows for some nifty ways to display those photo collections  and I of course, am not using WordPress.  I'm starting to wonder why not.

How many photos do you take in a year ?  It's hard to imagine selecting 12 favourites from a year's worth of photos, and as you will see, I was not able to do that.

I picked this photo from January because I thought it was rather artsy.  The steps are up  the side of a WWII bunker at Hartlen Point, where I had gone exploring with Trey.  You're not supposed to be there.  This photograph represents my love of exploring and my disobedient tendencies.

In February, my friend Sandy from Ontario came for a visit,

Sandy at the Blomidon look off.

and I visited my brother Darrell and some family in Ottawa in time to experience the Winterlude Festival on the Rideau Canal.

Oh dear.  I picked two photos for February.

For my March birthday, friend Amy-Lynn, made me a gift of the beautiful portrait she'd made of your favourite goofball and mine -- Trey.  Didn't she just capture the soppy look of his eyes perfectly ?

The high point of April was a trip to visit family in Portland, Oregon.

The beautiful Japanese Garden.

Stacey and I.

May was marked by two wonderful events -- a solo visit from my sister-in-law Janet,

and the wedding of my good friends Amy and Mickie at Hartlen Point.

In June my friend Pat came for a visit from Ontario,

and the lupines gloriously came into bloom.

The Pride Parade was in July.  I love the pride parade more each year.

Me, Mickie and Amy.
Photo by Timothy Richards.

July, actually, June, July, August, September and any another month with a "diggable-day", is a good day for gardening.  I love moving rocks, shifting plants that have barely gotten accustomed to their current location, to a new ones, and planting trees.

In July, the Tall Ships came.

August found me travelling to Bear River, aka "The Village on stilts" and then on to Brier Island with friend from Ontario, Margie.

Friends Sue and Roger also visited in August.

In September I had a wonderful camping adventure on the Bay of Fundy.

My lovely brother, Darrell, visited in October,

and Lynne and I explored McNab's Island.

In November, I went hiking with Amy-Lynn, Lynne and "flat Kathy" in the woods near Lynne's home.   Actually I go hiking all the time but this photo represents a year full of hikes.

And this one, the almost daily walks with Wendy and Trey.

December found me showing Lynne the sights around Blomidon. 

And there you have it, a year in review.

What a marvellous exercise this has been !   I am so grateful for all the family and friends who have visited and for all those who live nearby.

Gardening, hiking, exploring.  Gosh I'm lucky.