Nova Scotia

Never fear, readers... we're back in blogging business!

Yesterday we left PEI and headed to Halifax. A city!! Had a little trouble parking The Beast but we ended up backing the thing into a spot (with Gail's expert navigating) right in the main section of the harbor. Halifax was a sight for sore eyes with buildings and coffee houses and crowds and pubs... oh yeah, and a pretty impressive Citadel. It was great. We took a Harbour Hopper (like a Duck Tour) and learned all about Halifax - the Halifax Explosion and lots of other interesting historic facts that are escaping me right now. Lots of colleges in Halifax and seems like a real fun place to spend some time. Sir Paul McCartney was playing an outdoor concert the next night. So we got out of there (kidding... what's with us and the incoming concerts?) We ate at the Economy Shoe Shop - really cool pub, filled our bellies and headed back to The Beast.




We continued driving to right outside of Lunenburg to a campsite called The Ovens, a natural park and RV/Camp site that is owned by the Chapin Family. Steve Chapin (Harry's brother) runs it: he is the nightly music entertainment, the breakfast maker and overall friendly boss. We arrived just in time for music and wine at the ol' miner diner (the restaurant on the property) and met some of the greatest characters on earth. Even some Brooklyn transplants! After the music and drinks the most amazing orange moon rose over the water. Our camera didn't do it justice so you will have to take our word for it.

The site itself could use a little updating - first time this trip that our RV shower is the better pick. The salt water pool left a little to be desired and we actually had to weed and form our own fire pit. Also had trouble getting the RV level but hey..

Today we ate a hearty breakfast and explored The Ovens. Really cool trail of cliffs and caves that gold diggers used in the 1800's. After the hike (yes another hike) we bought some pans and dug for gold (seriously). The kids were really excited about it and we are not sure how much real gold they found but we did have fun trying.



We then headed to LeHave (via a 3 minute ferry ride) to the artsy LeHave community where we went to a well known bakery and had the best lunch. There was a cool (but a little unfriendly) skateboard shop above it (Home Grown) Had a Half pipe on the third floor of this historic building...

Afterward we got back in the Beast and visited Hirdles Beach (thanks Jonathan Chapin for the great insiders tip). A stretch of sand bridged the ocean and a fresh water pond that the kids (including Izzy)swam in. Absolutely beautiful.


After we (tried to) remove every grain of sand off Izzy, we left and headed to Lunenburg for dinner where we now sit blogging this. On the way, we passed an alpaca farm (llama-type animal)that Evan seems to think his friend's mother owns. Only Evan!


And to the Anonymous posting about the mussels in Mamaroneck... Enjoy those, we hear they are plentiful in the L.I.Sound....( kidding.. Tell us when you want to meet us there...)