Cape Breton

 After weeks of hot sunny weather, we found ourselves with clouds and the ocassional shower on Tuesday. However, this did not discourage us from taking a short road trip to the some of the small coastal villages near Sydney. We first stopped at Port Morien

and had a wonderful lunch at a seasonal restaurant and gift shop called Dock Your Dory. After a great lunch of fish chowder for the ladies and smoked meat sandwiches for the bros, we continued down the road with a diversion through an old cemetery to a very authentic non-touristy fishing village of Main a Dieu.

By this point the fog had rolled in but we still enjoyed our walk (or roll for Mora) on the board walk and the obligatory dipping of the foot in the Atlantic.

On our way back along the scenic shores of the Mira River we stopped for a short visit with an old school friend of Mora's and her husband pointed out two eagles on nearby trees and he was able to coax them to swoop down and fly past for a photo op.

On Wednesday Mora had a couple of medical appointments (which unfortunately did not result in her being released from her cast) so it was a good opportunity for Pete and I to drive down and tour the historic Fortress at Louisbourg. This Parks Canada site is an exceptional well done re-creation of one quarter of the original fortress complete with both static and live exhibits of costumed characters explaining their role in the 18th century fortress. We arrived in light fog but shortly after we passed through the gates the sun started to burn it off and the afternoon was hot and sunny. We took a guided tour for about an hour and a half which included an excellent short history of fort and the two battles in which the French Navy lost the fort to the English.

Then we spent the rest of the afternoon touring the buildings and gardens and touring the grounds

before driving back to Sydney to commiserate with Mora who faces another three weeks in her cast and after dinner we made a short visit to the Square Dancing/Concert at the Big Fiddle which was part of Sydney's Action Week.

Thursday morning was taken up with chores, but in the afternoon we set off for another road trip in the Subaru and left the animals to entertain themselves.

Today was even hotter than yesterday. Our destination today was Baddeck on the shores of the beautiful Bras D'Or, which are more like a inland sea than a lake.

They actual cover about a third of the island of Cape Breton with many islands, bays, and isthmuses. It was sailing regatta week in Baddeck so we were entertained by sail boats competing in the regatta races as our view while we enjoyed another delicious seafood lunch.

After a quick drive through the town we went up the hill to the Alexander Graham Bell Museum for a tour. Bell had had a summer home in Baddeck and it was here that he successfully collaborated in the first manned, motorized flight in Canada as well as developing the first hydrofoil. The museum included exhibits related to his interest in flight as well as those his early achievements with the invention of the telephone and aids for the deaf. And did you know he also did genetic engineering with sheep? The drive back to Sydney completed a loop around the Bras D'Or and a very brief ride on a cable ferry to Little Narrows. Then back to a warm greeting from the dogs and a wonderful dinner of enchiladas accompanied by Margaritas.

Friday was a lazy day around the house. Well not so lazy as it included a number of repairs to door and window screens due to her ladyship's escape attempts. Apparently she did not like being left in the trailer when Cleo was in the house and this was her way of showing her displeasure. At least the dogs seem to be cohabiting better including eating out of each others bowls and waiting for their masters to return together.

The day's highlight was a wonderful lobster supper, even the dogs got a little nibble although Mazy wasn't too sure about lobster.

Saturday, our last full day in Cape Breton started cloudy as we got an early start on a trip around the Cabot Trail. This is truly one of the highlights of any trip around Cape Bretion and it was great that we had such experience guides in Mora and Ross to show us lead the way. And lead the way they did as we made the trip in both vehicles so both the dogs could come along as this was a 10 hour trip. We started with a visit to the Gaellic College (couldn't talk Pete into getting a kilt) and then had several stops to visit a number of the artist studios that dot the trail. There are many opportunities for scenic viewpoints along the trail, especially in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

It was a lovely long day but I think we were all spent when we drove home in the light rain showers. We had a wonderful visit and many thanks to R & M (and Cleo and Gus) for being such obliging hosts especially given Mora`s hopeflly very temporary disability. The dogs seemed to have actually bonded a bit by the time we were packing to leave under overcast threatening skies on Sunday morning. Gus, I am sure, was happy to see the trailer (and Mazy) disappear down the driveway.