Heading back to Maine

As you look at this blog, or any blogs, the first post in the list is the last entry made.  If you are reading this post first, it should be your last.  Start at the bottom of the "Blog Archive" list in the left pane; the oldest post - New Brunswick.

Carmen has never been to Houlton or even in Aroostook County, so this morning (8/29/2015) we decided that we would pass back into the United States by way of Houlton, Maine.  Here, just outside of Fredericton, we had a view of the St. John River.

All along the major highways of Canada, we have seen many signs of deer and moose, mostly moose.  Our last sign shows the moose and car, to scale, for a regular sized car, not the mostly small cars people drive now.

After we crossed into Maine and heading south on I-95 we reached an area where we were directly facing Mt. Katadin.  Carmen was able to get a quick picture before we lost sight of the mountain.

We decided to get a closer view of the highest mountain in Maine so we got off I-95 and drove into Millinocket.  From there we took the road into Baxter State Park and coming over a rise was able to see this quick view of the mountain before the road turned and we lost our view.

Along the road we came across this painted rock.  Apparently, keeping Maine beautiful does not include painting rock outcroppings on the side of the road.

The view as we drive into the park.  Just wish we would have been here when the fall foliage colors were out.

Maine Baxter State Park; we are here.

We entered the park, via Baxter Park Road, and stopped at the Ranger Station and Information building.  Since we were looking for a fairly good view of the mountain, we asked one of the Rangers where that might be.  He said that going any further into the park; the mountain is hidden by the trees.  But, right behind the station was a path and a short easy walk you could see the mountain overlooking Upper Togue Pond.  Guess what?  Nice view wouldn't you say?

Our last view of Mt. Katadin, before we leave, looking north from Upper Togue Pond. 

We left the park and made our way back to Auburn, Maine where we finished our trip to Nova Scotia, Canada.  We had a great time and would highly recommend stopping at the Hopewell Rocks and driving the Cabot Trail (counter-clockwise).  Next year we'll travel the lower sections of Nova Scotia and visiting Yarmouth and Halifax.  

Cabot Trail and Ceilidh Trail

After spending the night in Cheticamp, today (8/28/2015) we will finish driving the Cabot Trail and then switch to RT-19 in Margaree Forks and begin driving along the Ceilidh Trail. 

Leaving Cheticamp, it was sunny: we had this view of the coast. 

I was taking a picture out of the car while Carmen was driving when my hat blew off and out the window.  Going back to get the hat, and parking at a turnout, we were able to get this view of the coast (looking north).  There was also a couple having a photo shoot.

  

The view south from the turnout, after I retrieved my hat.

Several sections of the road turned inland from the coast.  Along one of those miles is this nice view of a barn with the tree covered hill in the background.

We have seen a number of the Adirondack chairs and here were more in front of a house, in four different colors. 

One of many fields we saw in our travels. 

We arrive at Port Hasting, our departure location from Cape Breton.  Once across the bridge we will be on the lower island of Nova Scotia.  Before crossing the bridge, we see a tanker ship that looks like it is loading up on dirt and stones.  You can also see the notch where it looks like they dump the scree from the top for loading.

Now we are on RT 344 and begin our drive along the east coast of the Nova Scotia.  Until we get to Saint Francis Harbour there hasn't been much to see.  Most of the roads along this section are winding and full of potholes, not a good ride and you cannot see the sea and coast without taking each side road.

We stop at a turnout along the Guysborough Bay and read about the chronicle of Prince Henry Sinclair's voyage to Nova Scotia in 1398 and spent a year exploring.

We arrive in Queensport and have a good sunny view of Queensport lighthouse. 

Carmen, standing at the viewpoint, overlooking the lighthouse.

Just a quick stop at Tor Bay, but I was able to take a quick picture of this view.

This was either New Harbour or Coddles Harbor.  Do not remember which and I did not make any notes of the location. 

On RT-316 we were traveling around Country Harbour, since that is the way the road went, and had a nice view when we reach the end and the bridge over the river.

After reaching the road that would take us back to the coast, we decided that we had enough of the rough and winding road and having to take side roads to see the coast, so we decided to head back to Maine, via Muncton.  Tonight we'll stay in Muncton and tomorrow we will decide if we go back into Maine via Calais or Houlton.

Nova Scotia - Cape Breton - Cabot Trail

We (8/27/2015) will drive the Cabot Trail counterclockwise around Cape Breton.  Beginning at our hotel in Baddeck on route-105 we begin to see why this is a popular road trip.  The scenery is very nice.

Getting off route-105 we begin the road marked as the Cabot Trail, passing the Gaelic College of Arts and Crafts.  (There is also a Gaelic Trail in Nova Scotia.)  Driving along the coast of Murray Bay near the town of Murray we continue with some very nice views.

From atop Smokey Mountain in Cape Smokey Provincial Park, looking south, you can see the road we have traveled so far.  A little hazy, but a good indication of the 725 foot climb in 1.3 miles we did to get here.

Looking out over the sea I continue to look for whales.  Haven't seen any yet.

We take a detour to check out the Keltic Lodge (yes, spelt that way) on Middle Head.  Here looking back on one of the many coves along this section of Middle Head.

There are a number of trails to hike on Middle Head, we hiked none of them as they were long (distance and time wise) and we did not want to take up much time.  But I did take a few minutes to sit and look out over the sea on these chairs.  Ah, relaxing to the sounds of the waves crashing on the rocks below.

More of the coastal views as we look south from the Cabot Trail.  There are some great views along the road on the Cabot Trail.

We stopped at Lakies Head for a short stop to take some pictures.  Looking south you can see how rocky the coast is along this section of Cape Breton.

Looking north we still have great views of the rocky coast.

Much of the coast line in the upper east portion of the Cabot Trail is rocky, much as I had hoped.  And, Carmen and I are suckers for taking pictures of rocky coasts where the waves crash into a high spray.  We could spend hours here, but time and distance are not on our side today.

Coming into Neils Harbour we stopped to see the rocky coast line.  While there we watched as waves broke against the 20 foot cliff walls. 

As you can see, some of the water spouts are even higher than the rock walls.

Neils Harbour lighthouse.

Neils Harbour.

I saw these lobster traps by an old barn with the grass growing out of them.  Looks like the traps have not been used for some time.

Another group of traps.

We get off the Cabot Trail in Cape North and head to Bay St Lawrence and Meat Cove, but not without first taking some pictures of flowers while we stop for a lunch break.

In Bay St. Lawrence on Deadmans Pond and the sea.  Here at the end of the wharf you can see the road traveling to Meat Cove along the cliff.

Looking east from Bay St. Lawrence and towards Money Point.

Leaving Bay St. Lawrence we turn northwest on Meat Cove Rd and head to Meat Cove.  At our destination is a camp ground, no electricity, no sewer, etc.  Mostly tent sites, but there are also some small RV sites.  Here is the view looking north from one of the Meat Cove campground sites.

Looking south from Meat Cove you can see Black Point in the distance.

Carmen and I standing at Meat Cove Campground looking out over the sea towards Black Point.

As we head back to the Cabot Trail we get our last look back towards Meat Cove; the most northern community in Nova Scotia.

Back on the Cabot Trail we drive west from the east coast of Nova Scotia across Cape Breton to the west coast.  At a high spot of the land during our drive west, we got a quick picture of the scenery.

On the west side of the Cabot Trail we see the sea and land, not as rocky as the east side and the road we just came across, the north end of Cape Breton.

Here is the Cabot Trail as seen when looking at advertisement pictures of Cape Breton.  Only our picture isn't in the best of light as it was a cloudy day.  Still pretty nice view.

Carmen and I on Cape Breton with the Cabot Trail in the background.

Looking north the Cabot Trail snakes along the coast.  This is a fairly good road to drive.  I can see why this section of the road is used in motorcycle advertisements.

On Cape Breton we have not seen many beaches but here was one that actually looked like it had sand and not stones.  

We are getting close to the end of the Cape Breton Highlands Park and we can see this view.

As we head into Cheticamp, it begins to sprinkle.  We continued past intending to get further along the drive, but it is getting late and raining so we decide to call it a night and get a room.  So, back to Cheticamp where we got a room, actually one of the last rooms, for the night.  Tomorrow we continue our drive following the Cabot Trail.