Natura

Not much time to go !

I’ve got most of my items all ready to pack, but need to wrap up the clothing (most shorts, tshirts, lots of socks, undies, etc). Still might get a few more of the bike lights (spoke lights) as I have only one. Little things like various drugs (just in case) are still on the list, but we’ll be passing by Walmarts and various stores while we are collecting all the items for the trip down there.

PEANUT OIL (10 Gallons) – whats that possibly for?
Also, 100 buns, 5 6litre boxes of chillable red wine (Sangria’s I assume),
3 lbs grated parmesan cheese and some other things.
We should be fine, but the RV will be crowded as we are also getting 2 bikes down there (new) and assembling them. Maybe they will go on the roof ?

Its thursday, two days to go.  I’m just starting up the blog to set it up for blogging on a daily basis for text items, and to include photos. 
Heres a pix of my ticket that cost about $260 back in march. There are supposed to be about 65,000 people there.  Paul Mizzi and I have joined the LAMP LIGHTERS and are in the village with our 24’ RV (with air con and all the luxuries).   I’ll be drinking lots of water soon – they recommend over a gallon a day.  Lots of PC in that !

Big day..... Decided to do the trail.....and every craft store on it.

We did very well, got some Christmas prezzies etc.  Quite something to see some of those runs in the day light. I never knew MacKenzie mountain had a valley with a beautiful river at the bottom and finally saw that most famous view that you see on the post cards. It's between north and MacKenzie but it's always been too dark to see it.  

Those hills at the end of leg eleven are killers but I think I've always been asleep. And leg twelve is tougher than a level three for sure.   Once we were through Margaree forks we left the trail to follow the coast line to Invernes and Mabou.  We ate dinner in the Red Shoe pub of course but the music didn't start until ten which we couldn't stay for since we have an early start tomorrow in order to get to the Halifax market. Apparently anyone who wants to can just start playing though.  

There was a family eating dinner beside us and when they were finished the Dad went out and got a fiddle.  His son who looked to be around  nine started playing and boy was he good.  He played about three numbers, was given a round of applause and then had his dessert.  Talk about playing for you supper. There is a fairly stiff north east'r tonight which made the drive back to the inn interesting but we made it back in one piece.  

We're tucked up in bed now so I'll sign off.

Sent from my iPad

Ok .... So I'm in the Broadwater before nine in the morning and the whole crowd is playing..... Only apart from the accordion player they've all switched instruments!!!!  Glenda's finishing the hair over at the cabin.  I'll update you on the last couple of days and then send the link to the photos.   Think when I updated last we were in Chester. We had a little walk around Chester .... Which took until about ten and then took off for Peggy's Cove.  Stopped at he ONLY open antique store where there was a treasure trove of Pink Vista and G stalked up on soup bowls. Visited the Swiss Air memorial and then into Peggy's cove.  I think Glenda is struck by how small everything is....Peggy's Cove is tiny.  Also how close the towns are.....and then we drove to Cape Breton!  a very long drive indeed. Dinner with John in Baddeck at the yellow cello followed by great music in the living room at the Braodwater.....then we got thrown onto a bus...really to the Gaellic college for the after pub.  Everynight after the different concerts around the island all the performers converge at the college and play from eleven at night until three in the morning....there was group there the Cotters,.,,,,, amazing, will definitely be getting the cd. Not to be until two a.m so were were a bit slow to start Thursday.... Ok I'll give you the link now...G wants to get going so I'll let you know what we did yesterday a little later on today. Sent from my iPad

Tuesday's album

So we're back at our inn after a really busy day.  Glenda's reading Hello! And I'm doing this.  We headed out along the Evangeline trail but stopped at the Prescott House for a tour.  It was owned by a gentleman farmer who introduced all kinds of apple varieties into Nova Scotia.  The woman who gave the tour was really knowledgable and was kind enough to open parts of the house for us that are ordinarily closed the the public.....here's a photo from outside

From

After the tour we continued on to Kempteville and then headed south over the centre of the province to Lunenberg. No Bluenose!!!!! Being completely refitted but we did stop for a gorgeous fish sandwich which was absolutely yummy.  Toured the town a bit and then continued on to Mahone Bay.  Another stop and then on to Chester. We're staying at the Mecklenberg Inn which is run by and innkeeper with a sense of humor if the audible snoring stuffed sheep on our beds is any indication. It was trivia night at the local so that's where we went for dinner. Oh yeah, on the way we stopped at a pioneer farm museum.  Learned what a stave an ox and a citron was.  As it happens Glenda had citron chutney with her fish cakes at dinner.  Never would have known what that stuff was if we hadn't stopped at the farm!! Here's the photos

Test

  Sent from my iPad

Hello family,,, we're here!!!! Glenda and I are in bed now after a full day of travel. We picked up the car (ford focus) and booted up to Wolfville. Toured the Grand Pre and the Evangeline. We checked into our B&B which is very charming. The room is a bit chilly but we have a fire going. We're staying at the Inn at the Vinyard .... And we ate there too.

On the Plane!

From the back door we were told to follow the lanterns which took us along the rows of vines and led to the winery where there is a wine store and restaurant. We started with lobster and scallop chowder and the line caught halibut on hodge podge (which is a local way to prepare seasonal vegetables). Finished off with Eton mess for dinner. Yum!!!!!!! Walking back to the inn the stars were spectacular.. Couldn't get Glen to go back out the the night sky app but we'll do that later. It's a bit cold tonight. Should be a very fine day tomorrow based upon the gorgeous sunset. I'm having a bit of trouble getting my photos uploaded using the 3G network... I'll keep trying and then update with a link so check back again. Night night.

Morning all.  Another glorious Cape Breton morning.  This place reminds me of Ireland. Supposedly rainy - "we didn't have two sunny days together all summer, blah blah blah" ....... so why is the sky always blue, the sun always warm  ..... but the grass is VERY green.

Yesterday was terrific. We've never stayed to kick back an extra day before and Baddeck quiets right down.  Quite noticable in a town of 900 when 2000 people leave.  John, our innkeeper, lent us his zodiak and we took off on the Bras d'Ors toodling in the coves, around Bein Breah (the Bell estate) and over to the back side of the swim island off Baddeck. We tied up at BYC and spent an hour or so watching OMEBA, a cement boat (yes) go in for the season.  It looks like a traditional wooden boat but she's cement and it takes quite the crane to put her in. Apparently $4,000 each to put her in and take her out.  She's a tour boat here in the summer and has spent time in the carribean booked as a charter boat. When they finally got her up off the cradle and over above the water, the wind caught and pushed her out a foot or so. When she swung back the guys were pushing for dear might because she was down enough to hit the foundation dock wall but not down far enough for the fenders to protect her. It was pretty close. After that we could see some weather coming over the lake so we hopped back in took off back to John's house to tie up and finish off the day with glass of wine and left over chicken pot pie. Nice Did I say finish off the day? Rose, the other half of the inn keeping duo and who runs the awesome Outdoor Store in Beddeck, organizes a group of women to work out twice a week.  I was invited but didn't know what time.  As soon as I'd finished the strawberry/rhubarb pie (after the chiken pie) she arrived to collect me!  Quick change and we were off. Dinner was a little bouncy in the tummy but I was determined to hold up the Ontario end. Those Cape Breton women have some abs! We have an early flight today so we were in bed early last night.  We're just going to have coffee with John and a couple Dale and Mary form Iowa, settle up and go to Sydney to catch our flight.  See you at home soon

Hi everyone.  Just sitting at the Broadwater Inn, enjoying the view and I'll upload tons of photos.  The race is over, everyone was a little stiff and sore after but in great spirits non-the less. I'll give you the low by blow for the race. Dave started us off on the leg one.... great run and he's such an old pro he had no nerves at all.  He just rolled in, pulled off a great run and cruised around the rest of the race with the team.

Judith  then headed out to leg 2..... awesome run,,, got a bit hot but cruised in nicely I (Dale) had leg 3..... very pretty leg up and and down the whole time which is perfect for my short attention span. Peter English took on leg 4 - Cape Smokey.... more fool he, but he is seriously strong and performed so well he moved our team out the the basement - standings-wise. Ed Heakes - leg five found it very hot and that big hill out the blocks took the woof out of him.  Finished smartly though and and enjoyed it none the less. Mitch - our ringer from Calgary ran leg 6 - the sneaky relentless leg.  Really demonstrated the advantage to training at 3,000 feet, placed way up there. Jim - had a great run on 7, steady up and finished strongly to maintain our new ranking - great pace. Lisa - had that horible hill right at the beginning - then had a faster second half than first.... some guy tried to pass her at the end - lip readers detected a NFW!!!!! and she mowed him down Chili for supper. Terry - leg 10, kicked it enduring much pain in the final 6k - toughest run he'd ever done - NO KIDDING! Peter B - leg 10 - MacKenzie - 14.5 uphill Klicks.... what a gluton for punishment - pitch black - freezing cold - what a nut-case Delilah - the darling that stepped in Thursday when we lost a runner.... what a sport!  Had a great run and is hooked - she wants more next year. Chris - leg 12 had his usual solid run --- starts steady and keeps increasing his speed (I'm the opposite) Sonja - another newbie on leg 13 - flew up from Philly- what a gazelle - could have been a little warmer for her - well below zero at 2 am. Bev - leg 14 - 20 k starting in the dark and right through sunrise absolutely kicked it..... collected several male egos as she passed them by. Me - leg 15 ---- nervous but started well..... lead legs at 8 k which didn't go away until 13 - finshed but only just. Jan - leg 16 - much happier this year, well trained and had a beautiful early morning leg - did a little recruiting during the run - what some people won't do to write off a holiday! Gord - took on the glory leg after running Smokey last year - needed a little re-hydration at the end but got up the "soul-destroying" hill they don't mention in the broshure. That's the story - followed by the yacht club - beer on the lawn - the Highwheeler's amazing dinner - wine - stories, another great year!

Ok,  so we're here.....Just found out that the car rental isn't at the airport but the do come and get you so we're waiting for the van.... nce flight to Sydney.  Its COLD........it was 29 in Toronto yesterday, can\t be more than 10 here..... but its not raining.  Very few leaves on the trees yet.....

Never saw anything like this befor!