Category: PEI2012

Day 4: Cape Breton and the Big Fiddle

August 9, 2012
PEI2012

Day 4 continued our road trip from Fredericton to Sydney, NS.

Our first stop of the day was the Nova Scotia Welcome Center on Highway 2.

Angela raising the Nova Scotia flag.

Another good day of weather, after a lunch stop in Truro, it was on to Cape Breton.

Crossing the Canso Causeway from the Nova Scotia peninsula to Cape Breton.

The word “Canso” is believed to be derived from the Mi’kmaq word kamsok, which means “opposite the lofty cliffs.” The swing bridge allows ship traffic to get through and keeps Cape Breton a true island.

It was a scenic drive along the 104 and highway 4 to Sydney.

After dinner we headed down to the waterfront to see the big fiddle. It is located at the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion.

The girls holding up The Big Céilidh Fiddle.

Next they plucked a few strings.

A close-up of the fiddle and bow.

The girls on the wharf.

Still dancing after a couple of days in the car.

Tonight was the start of the Rock the Dock 2012 festival at the Sydney Marine Terminal Grounds. Among the groups playing tonight were Signal hill, Matt Anderson and Walk off The Earth. Also playing this weekend are the Trews, April Wine, Myles Goodwin and the Privateers.

One last shot of the fiddle at night.

The girls with a memorial to immigrants to Cape Breton.

Looking back over the Cruise Pavilion.

We were able to catch a Cape Breton sunset.

When we got back to the hotel we Skyped with g-ma, g-pa and Chloe.

Our route today was 637km and took us 8 hours with stops. Tomorrow we are driving the Cabot Trail.

Day 3: Entering Atlantic Canada

August 8, 2012
PEI2012

Day 3 took us from Lévis, Quebec to Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Our first stop of the day was at the New Brunswick Visitor Centre on Highway 2. There was no sign that said New Brunswick, but there was a replica of the ship on their licence plates.

We stopped in Grand Falls, NB for lunch at the information centre in town next to the falls. Here is Angela photo bombing Claudia’s picture with the big indian.

The falls weren’t living up to their name, they had most of the water blocked off as they were working on the raised dam. It did provide a good view of the gorge below.

Along highway 2 heading towards Fredericton. Again we had another great day for driving.

After dinner we headed to the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge. The bridge consists of 9 spans crossing a distance of 581 metres (1,906 ft) over the Saint John River and was constructed in 1936. The final freight train crossed the bridge in March 1996.

It is a shared bridge, so you have to watch for bikes.

Looking towards the Princess Margaret Bridge.

The girls all standing on different levels and angles.

Looking up at one of the spans.

It was a lot busier than this photos shows.

On the way back we were able to catch the sunset over Fredericton.

Today was a 570 km drive and 7 hours with stops. We also lost an hour with the time zone change. Tomorrow it is off to Sydney, Nova Scotia on Cape Breton island. We’ll be back to explore New Brunswick on the way back.

Day 2: Quebec By Foot

August 7, 2012
PEI2012

Today we were touring old Quebec by foot. We parked the car and took the ferry from Lévis to Quebec. It is a 10 minute ferry ride. Claudia holding our tickets.

The girls up top.

Approaching Quebec City.

Chateau Frontenac.

Walking around the lower town.

Fresque des Québécois on Côte de la Montagne. This mural recounts the story of Québec City, weaving in visual allusions to its unique architecture and fortifications, and its larger-than-life personalities.

We missed the New France Festival by a couple of days, they were removing all of these little stalls that were used the week.

Angela as a mate lot (sailor).

Claudia as a garçon.

Gillian as a L’habitant.

Looking up towards Chateau Frontenac.

We were over there by 9:30 and the crowds were still pretty good.

Angela standing next to a wall that was cut away. While we were standing there, a tour group went through and the guide said it was called a “Chicken ass” because the wall was cut away for the big wheels of buggies long ago. I couldn’t find any reference to it on the internet, maybe something was lost in translation.

A fur store.

The Breakneck Stairs, except for the lone guy sitting there it was empty.

Gillian, Susan and Claudia riding up the Funiculaire. Some form of the funiculaire has been in operation for 133 years.

Angela and I walked up the Breakneck Stairs and then up a road, followed by more stairs. I was taking pictures of Angela as we walked up the stairs.

Almost at the top.

Gillian and Claudia with the Bonhomme.

Looking north.

Angela and Claudia running up a hill.

The Saint Louis Gate into the old city.

The Wolfe Monument in the Plains of Abraham battlefield.

The monument marks the spot where Wolfe died.

Near the Musée National Des Beaux-Arts du Québec.

Angela and Claudia decided they were going to roll down the hill.

The most relaxing view on the Plains of Abraham. We took a nice break from walking under the shade of a tree.

The walls of the Citadel.

There were gaps in the wall that we had to leap over.

Looking back through the Saint Louis Gate.

They were doing some work on the roof of the Chateau Frontenac, the mesh they had up had a picture of the building.

A statue of Samuel de Champlain.

When we headed back down to the Lower Town, the crowds had increased from this morning.

The Place Royale

The Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church, the oldest stone church in North America (1688).

After a long day of exploring Old Quebec, it was back on the ferry to Lévis. Tomorrow we are back on the road to Fredericton, a shorter drive, but we lose an hour when we cross timezones.

Day 1: On the road

August 6, 2012
PEI2012

After an early start to the day we arrived in Lévis, QC this afternoon. The weather was good and we managed to avoid construction until we were about an hour outside of Quebec City.

We made three stops en route, here are the girls after lunch at one of the Quebec rest stops along Highway 20.

Day One complete, 823 km, 9 hours with stops and road construction. Tomorrow we explore the old city.

PEI Road Trip: August 2012

August 5, 2012
PEI2012

Work is done, Chloe is at G-ma and G-pa’s and the car is packed. It’s been a busy couple of days packing and getting ready.  Not sure what we’re forgetting as it seems we have more room than last year.

I’ll be doing regular updates to the blog as time and internet connection permits. The updates will be posted here on Rainwater Rambling. Stay tuned.