More of the Cabot Trail - Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

The beauty of these hidden places along the Cabot Trail is truly haunting
300 year old trees, ancient waters of far-away mountain streams...

This is one of my favorite pictures (click on any to enlarge) as I
can vividly remember how I felt sitting there listening to nothing
but water hitting rocks and seeing the first blush of color on the trees.
Land, ocean and sky...

There is nothing urban or trendy about Cape Breton Island,

which is what I loved about it.

Fishing is obviously a common maritime activity

Pictures do little to capture the majestic hardwood, virgin
forests that flourishes along the Alantic coastline.

The locals talk about visitors
getting the maritime fever - once the landscape is in your blood
you are forever bound and will return again and again.

Weirdness on the Cabot Trail

No real idea as to what this place is all about, other than it's some kind of fund raiser. The money box is just sitting on the table with a request for donations.

These guys are familiar (click to enlarge)

You probably recognize these two fellows as well...
Strange wedding party

In the distance you can see how close we are to the ocean.

The children play a never ending game of musical chairs - kinda creepy.

Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

The only thing I could think of while walking through this 300 year old hardwood forest was the Hobbits and Bilbo Baggins.


It seemed if one were to look real close you might get a glimpse into the tiny world of Hobbits hidden away in the rocks and moss underneath the sugar maple trees.



It's cool and shady back in the woods - a great little hike just off the Cape Breton Trail

The Lone Shieling (click on picture to read) replica of Scottish sheep-crofter's hut on trail.

Sailing on the Bras d'Or - Cape Breton Island

Was a clear, brisk day with rain coming down in little pods all around us. The captain managed to steer around most of them as our tour went from sunny and warm to wet and cold minute by minute.
I went on the sailboat alone and sat with a group from Germany who didn't speak English. We managed to communicate anyway and they took me in as one of their own when I told them my last name.



We were able to get a great view of the Alexander Graham Bell estate from the boat. Alec and Mable Bell were colorful figures in this area. He was beloved by the locals, but thought to be a bit of a kook as he was always building big kites and doing experiments on the hillside.
The 67 foot shooner was built by the current owners father...inspirational story about making your dreams come true at the following link:
http://www.amoebasailingtours.com/roysdream.html