MaineLee Canada

Mary and Jim drove out to East Point; you guessed it the easternmost point of the Island, with a lighthouse built in the 1800's.
Along the way we stopped in St. Peter's, where the learned how mussels are cultivated and harvested. Ropes are hung from buoys where "spat" (fledging mussels) collect. After collecting, they are placed in long socks which remain in the water for about two years as the mussels mature. Then they are ready for the market. If you go to a restaurant, ask for Blue mussels. We came back to St. Peter's later in the day for a tasty mussels meal for Jim and a really good Haddock fishburger for Mary;
During the day, we stopped at the North Lake harbor where tons of Blue Fin tuna are brought in by small fishing boats. We just missed the arrival of a 600 lb. Blue Fin.
We took some photos of some boys jumping off the dock into the water. They were having fun.
In the evening, we watching the Bourne Ultimatim, a good movie with nonstop action.

In the morning, Jim switched his watch to his right wrist so he could tan on the white band on his left. But, this is not about Jim, or is it? After arriving in Charlottetown, PEI, Mary took Jim to the Claddagh Oyster House on Sidney Street and treated him to a half-dozen Colville Bay Oysters. Thanks Mary! They were terrific. Maybe, we will go back tonight. Before leaving Baddeck, we visited the Alexander Graham Bell museum there. What an interesting person. Besides his many inventions and tinkerings, he devoted his life to helping the deaf communicate. He married one of his deaf students, 10 years his junior. We could not visit his house which was on an island in the bay, now occupied by his descendants - probably awash in dividends from AT&T and variious Ma Bell stocks.
To get to PEI, we drove from Baddeck to Caribou and than took the one-hour ferry to PEI. Next, we will explore PEI, maybe to the East. Then, we will have some more oysters!

We took a beautiful drive to Cheticamp and stayed there. Then, we drove all around Cape Breton National Park on the Cabot Trail. Some of the most beautiful coastal scenery we have seen. We stopped along the way to have some fresh Aspy oysters and a delicious lobster roll. Heavy Scot influence here. We saw a Scotsman playing his pipes, walking along the shore. Later, we saw the same thing depicted on a postcard. Perfect weather and not crowded. And, here, it rains at night! Along the way, we had to take a ferry we did not know about. A short run to get to Baddeck; it held just 12 cars. Today, we hope to see Alexander Graham Bell's house. Then, it is on to Prince Edward Island by way of a 70 minute ferry.

The Harbor Hopper (Duck) amphibous vehicle was great fun; it is a great way to get a sensce of the city and the harbor. Big Jer suggested I try to drive one as he did in boston, but subject did not come up. These Ducks are from the Viet Nam area, bigger that the WWII variety.
The maritime museum was very interesting with exhibits on pirates who frequented these waters, on the explosion which flattened Halifax in 1917 and the TItanic. The explosion on December 6, 1917 was from a French munitions ship in the harbor. We visited two of the cemeteries where Titanic disaster (February 13-15, 1912) are buried. At Fairview Cemetery, we saw the grave of jack Dawson. Yes he was a real person, but not the guy depicted in the movie. The grass in front of his headstone is all worn away. Later, we walked along the waterfront which is really nice and enjoyed an ice cream cone.

After Eggs Benedict in hollandaise sauce at our bed and breakfast in Lunenburg, we continued along the South Shore viewing the pretty shoreline of Mahone Bay. We stopped at a memorial for Swiss Air flight 111 which crashed nere in in 1998. Then, we visited Peggy's Cove, part fishing village and artist colony, part tourist attraction. Photos of this striking village have appeared in many travel magazines. After reaching Halifax we checked in at the Radission Hotel then dined at Five Fisherman, known for its seafood, malt whiskey and complimentry salad bar with mussels. Jim had blackened haddock and Mary had slow-cooked halibut in lobster oil. Everything was good. We walked around the harbor and signed up for one of those amphibian Duck tours. Here, they call them Harbor Hoppers. We'll be taking one in the morning.
We notice that restaurants ask if you have any allergies when you order. Not sure why.