The Cabot Trail and Other French Stuff

We spent the day driving the Cabot Trail in the northwest part of Cape Breton. We read that it is one of the most scenic drives in all of Canada and we would definitely have to agree.

We stopped and went on a hike to a scenic lookout point. The trail description said we had a good chance of seeing Moose and some hikers we met on the way in had walked right by some and got some great pictures. We weren't so lucky and I was a little disappointed but the hike still had a beautiful view at the end of it

There were a lot of stairs to climb at the very end to get to the lookout point. When we were ready to leave Kate and I decided to race to the top. We made it a few steps from the top before we realized that B had kicked off one of her shoes and I had to run all the way to the bottom to get it.

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Riding in the pack really tuckered Bridget out and she feel asleep on the way out

Our next stop was at a waterfall where Bridget couldn't resist getting in the water. The pictures don't really do justice to how red the water was (stained with tannins from decaying vegetation up stream).

Anne impressed all of the spectators by jumping off the rocks into the pool.

Pinchy the lobster

In morning when Bridget would wake up I would take her out of the hotel room and find something to do while Kate and Anne slept longer. When we were in hotels that had a breakfasts we would go and have first breakfast together (second breakfast was later when we would go with Kate and Anne). On Cape Breton we stayed in a lot of smaller hotels or cabins that meant Bridget and I had to find other things to do. We went on walks, most of the time down to the ocean.

We spent a day at the Fortress of Louisbourg. Back in the day this was a big French fort giving them access to fishing in the Grand Banks. The English took it over once only to give it back to the French later. After realizing that was a bad idea, the English took it over again and then proceeded to destroy the whole thing. In the 60's the Canadian government reconstructed what is there today.

B's favourite part was obviously the pens where all the animals are kept

Bridget sharing some of her Jersey street knowledge
about how to discharge 18th century firearms

We had meat pies for lunch and all they gave us to eat with was a giant spoon and a giant napkin that they told us to tie around our necks. It was delicious!

We loved Cape Breton and could have stayed even longer but Kate was really excited about getting to PEI and of course Green Gables so we decided to move on...