The Accidental RVers Take in the Fall Colours at Ski Wentworth

Weather-wise it has been one of those fall weekends you dream of. Cool nights and warm sunny days. A great weekend to go outside and have fun. So we sandwiched Thanksgiving dinner between two great hikes. One planned, one not so much.

When we left the farmers' market on Saturday we headed out to the Wentworth ski area to take the cable car to the top of the ski mountain to see the fall colours. Sounded like a great idea and it was.

At 815 vertical feet high it is not really a very high mountain in Colorado/Alberta terms, but it is high enough to provide a great view of the surrounding area from the chair lift. Especially on the return ride to the bottom.

So we purchased a ticket and off we went.

You can see the trails on the map beside us. The trail on your left that swings way out around the mountain is called the Chickadee. This info will have significance later in this story.

We got on the chair and up we went. We noticed a few people walking down the mountain. What a good idea, we should do that sometime.

About halfway up the ride we noticed something

"Oh! Oh! Look Arch. There is no one coming down on the chair lift." Then it dawned on us - you are supposed to walk down.

We got off at the top and followed  the other folks heading off to walk down the mountain. You will notice behind me that we have a choice of two trails.

 The one on your left is called Explosion and is labeled as a double black diamond. Those among you who ski will know that this is the most difficult rating for a ski trail and is usually very steep. We chose the trail on your right.

The Chickadee trail I mentioned earlier. It is rated as easy and it was. But long. Halfway down we crossed Explosion.

The people you see near the top were on their hands and knees (or hands and bums) crawling down the hill. It was very steep. As for us we really enjoyed our 1 hour hike to the bottom of the mountain. An unplanned but very enjoyable walk.

Then a small reward for a job well done.

And off home, with a brief stop at the Masstown Market to pick up some goodies for our planned Thanksgiving Day hike/picnic and a bottle of good Nova Scotia wine for Thanksgiving dinner. What a crowded spot that was - I think half of Nova Scotia had the same idea.

Next post: Thanksgiving dinner and our picnic at Polly Cove.

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The Accidental RVers visit the Hubbards, Nova Scotia, Farmers' Market

Ten years ago, when we moved from London, Ontario to Nova Scotia to "retire", we needed to find a way to meet new people and become a part of the community where we were living.

One visit to the Hubbards Farmer's Market provided a solution. I booked a stall, baked my "famous shotbread cookies" and sold them at the market. And Arch made outdoor furniture from local maple and poplar to sell at an outdoor stall. We had a lot of fun and met a lot of people.

Eventually I expanded my line to sell breakfast wraps and focaccia and my sister-in-law, Lesley, joined me with beer breads. We then developed a catering business that morphed into Lesley's Pantry - a small food emphorium in Chester, Nova Scotia. Now closed when Lesley decided to retire this year. And Arch moved on to The Bay Hammock Company, now sold :).

The Hubbards Farmer's Market has been the centre of our spring, summer and fall Saturday mornings ever since as our family gathers to do our weekly shopping and catch up with family, friends and neighbours.

This past Saturday was the start of Canada's Thanksgiving Weekend and our first Saturday off together since Arch started Bay Hammocks 7 years ago. Or, as Arch says "the first day of the rest of our life". So we started the day with a visit to the market. It was great to catch up with neighbours and old friends.

It was a beautiful day and the fall colours were spectacular on our drive over:

As was the selection of fall veggies for sale at the market:

This Swiss chard makes a yummy tart or a beautiful centerpeice for a fall table (or both)

I've noticed a lot of recipes for delicata squash lately but have never prepared it. So I purchased one to try.Think I will simply cut it in wedges, sprinkle with a mixture of brown sugar, butter, flour and walnuts and bake.

Delicata Squash

Did you know that the McIntoch apple originated in Dundas County, Ontario, Canada? 

The first McIntosh orchard was started in 1811 when United Empire Loyalist John McIntosh bought the Dundela farm and discovered 20 apple trees in the woods. He transplanted them into a garden next to his log shanty, but all the trees, save one, had died by 1830. Forty years later, his son Allan used the seedlings to plant a red apple nursery where the original tree survived, bearing fruit until 1906. Today, every tree growing McIntosh apples is descended directly from John McIntosh's orchard. These will make a great apple crisp To make the simpilest apple crisp possible, butter your baking pan, add peeled and sliced apples, sprinkle with a mixture of brown sugar and butter, drizzle with maple syrup and bake at 350F until apples are soft. The gourds were beautiful. These would make a great Thanksgiving table centrepiece Or you could just buy one from Svenja: You have to get to the market early to get one of Svenja's creations. They sell out quickly. Svenja is a horticulturist who grows the florals and other materials that she then converts to beautiful bouquets and centrepieces. Such a talented woman! Danette(seen on the right) calls her business The Sea Dog Bag Company and she makes handbags, shopping bags, etc. from old boat sails: I love the idea of this traveling gift bag for wine: The idea is that you sign and date the bag when you give a gift of wine, then the next person passes it on doing the same thing. This is a prototype, she hopes to have them for sale next week. If so I will get one to give to a RV friend we meet along out route. I think I will add  a location and this blog address as well as name and date and see if we can track its travels. This is Sheila. She is the wife of a local fisherman and runs her own fish business operating fish and chip trucks and selling fresh fish to local buyers. She was our fish supplier wher we operated our catering business. Cod bits are a local delicacy. I do not know how they are used. Must learn. Julian's Pastry Shop is a favourite hangout in Chester, Nova Scotia. These folks sell Julian's breads and treats: How could we resist goodies like these: I bought the pumpkin bread in the centre for a family Thanksgiving Day hike and picnic on Monday. And of course some coffee from the Laughing Whale Coffee Roastery: We like the "Rock Your Boat" There is a fabulous picnic and gathering area at the back of the market (which is in an restored barn) but it was still early and a little chilly when we were there.

The little girl huddling in the blue jacket is our grand-niece. She lives near-by and threw her jacket on over her pyjamas to come shopping. Sure hope it warmed up as the day went on.

We left early to check out the fall colours in other parts of Nova Scotia. But that is a subject for another blog post......

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Exploring Nova Scotia - Keji

Family and friends are asking what we plan to do when we return from our "big adventure" in July 2014.To tell you the truth,we have no idea. One thought is that we might work as campground hosts for the summer. So earlier this week we decided to check out a couple of local parks.

Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site of Canada (fondly called Keji by Nova Scotians) is the only Parks Canada site designated as both a National Park and a National Historic Site. It is very popular with both visitors and locals so we decided to check it out first.

It actually is two parks offering two totally different experiences. 

The main park is in the centre of Southwestern Nova Scotia  You can experience nature at its best here by camping in a beautiful, serviced, wooded campsite or at a remote wilderness site. While here discover historic canoe routes, experience Mi’kmaw petroglyphs, and swim in the warm waters of Kejimkujik Lake. It is best explored by water so we didn't spend much time there. But it is beautiful and would be a great spot to be a camp host.

Although it is in a very rural and isolated spot, approximately 70 kms from Bridgewater and Liverpool on the south shore and 80 kms from Digby on the Fundy shore, it does have a few services near the entrance to the park. Including this cafe:

The Wildwood Cafe

The food was excellent:

Arch had this smoked salmon bagel, complete with capers, red onion and lemon

and I had asparagus quiche with a very fresh side salad

beside the patio - a great spot to enjoy a coffee

Located about 70 kms south of the main park, on the ocean, is the Kejimkujik Seaside. While the inland park is spectacular the seaside is much more what we enjoy. Great hiking and spectacular ocean views.

So we decided to hike out to the beach. 5.5 kms. Round trip. Despite the fact that the only hiking we've done all summer was on the golf course. 

Our destination was on the far side of the 2nd point of land, we think

We were greeted by this at the start of the trail:

Oh well, we'll just make a lot of noise

So off we go:

As we come out of the seaside forest and into the coastal barrens we can see the ocean in the distance - a long way to go:

the thin area of dark blue is the ocean

Then a fork in the road - we chose the trail on the left, Harbour Rocks

Harbour Rocks in the distance

Getting Closer

Finally

Cannot really see the seals from here

So across the point we go to another beach and a seal viewing area

With an information panel

And there are the seals, basking in the sun

We loved the Keji Seaside but unfortunately there is no camping there. After leaving the park we stopped at Thomas Raddall Provincial Park, which is close by, for a look. It was very nice with large sites, lots of trees, etc, but no services - not even for the campground host. There is water and a dump station available but I cannot imagine going for a month without electricity. So much for campground hosting here! 

2013/14 Travel Plans

We are finding it a little difficult to believe, but our 50th wedding anniversary is coming up in April, 2014. Also, Bay Hammocks is sold so we are footloose and fancy free!

Taking a super RV trip across North America seems a good way to celebrate - it will be like a 9 month party :).

So here is our travel schedule for the coming year:

October: Visit family and friends in Eastern Canada

Nov. 1 to 15 - Cross the US border and go directly to Roanoke, Virginia where we will take the Blue Ridge Parkway across to Kentucky and Tennessee.

Nov. 15 to 22  - Natchez Trace Parkway to the Texas border on the Gulf of Mexico

Nov. 23 to Dec. 15 or so Texas

Dec. 16 to Jan. 3 or 4 - across Arizona and California to Pasadena where we hope to attend the Rose Bowl Parade - still waiting for final bill for Adventure Bus preparations for this trip before booking.

Jan. 4 to April 1st - Explore California, Arizona and New Mexico.

April 1 to 30 - Up the US west coast to British Columbia

May 1 to May 31 - Southern BC

June 1 to 30 - Cross Canada with a stop in London, Ontario to visit old friends.

July 1 - Canada Day Celebration in Ottawa

July 7 - Home in Nova Scotia

Then??????

Peggy's Cove Area Festival of the Arts: Opening Night and Paint Peggy's Cove

Three years ago I had the great idea that we should host a small, weekend arts festival at Bay Hammocks. A few artists creating art on the lawn, some music and perhaps something for the kids.

So I phoned a couple of artist friends. "What a great idea" they said. "but there is not much to paint at Bay Hammocks. Why don't we go out and paint Peggy's Cove? We will help organize it." Good idea.

Then I phoned Sarah Irwin, a friend, an artist and the co-owner of The Finer Diner, a popular restaurant down the Peggy's Cove Road in Hackett's Cove. "I think we should have a studio tour" said Sarah, "I will help organize it. I will call my artist friends and we can meet here at the Finer Diner to make plans."

The next day I bumped into Paula Fredericks at The Bike and Bean coffee and bike shop. Another local hang-out. Paula is the owner of Cornucopia Marketing, a marketing and website design company and Acoustic Roof, a business the puts musical artists and house concert hosts in contact with each other. "I can organize a musical event and do the marketing for all the events." She said.

And then Bay Hammocks, The Finer Diner and supportive friends Geoff Le Boutillier and Jan Miller chipped in some money.

And The Peggy's Cove Festival of the Arts was born.

This year the festival opened with a great reception at Shining Waters Marine, organized by Sarah and her committee and last weekend was the third annual "Paint Peggy's Cove".  With 38 artists in the village and out on the rocks painting and chatting with visitors. Following are a few pictures:

The  crowd at the Opening Reception

Lots of art for sale at silent auction

You could fish in the Fish Tank to win the item of your choice from the auction table

Five of our member artists created "fresh fish" while guests watched and discussed the process.

And then at Paint Peggy's Cove:

A temporary art gallery was created using a rented Mongolian Yurt

Paintings the participating artists brought from their studios was displayed for sale on the walls

Pods in the centre were erected to display the fresh art created during the event

Over 40 volunteers were on hand to help the painters, bring finished art to the yurt and explain the event to visitors to Peggy's Cove

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation did a piece for the evening news

Claire served great hot dogs

Lovely music at the entrance to the Yurt

All in all a fun weekend. 

I am really looking forward to this weekend's studio tour and the musical concert featuring the Hupman Brothers and Ian Sherwood on Saturday night. You can buy tickets for the concert here. It promises to be a fun evening.

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Wild Leek - Food and Juice Bar

I apologize for no blog posts for the last month or so. Since we arrived home we have been busy - with very boring stuff - getting Bay Hammocks up and running, looking after backlogged doctor and dentist appointments, etc.  These things are nearly under control now so I will get on with telling you more about our life and friends in Nova Scotia and the neighbourhood where we live.

Kirsten Taggart was an "across the road" neighbour when we lived in our sticks and bricks house. She is a trained chef who blogs about her life and food. She is also a single mom with three beautiful daughters. And earlier this month she realized a life-long dream by opening a restaurant in a very interesting Halifax neighbourhood.

Very cute don't you think?

Wild Leek - Food and Juice Bar
 2156 Windsor St., Halifax

My sister, Mary, and I had lunch there yesterday. The menu is all natural and vegan. And changes monthly. There is also a daily special, a selection of desserts and excellent, made just for you, juices are served.

Although neither of us is vegan we really enjoyed our lunch. I had the quiche and salad and Mary had the Five'Oh BBQ Portobello sandwich. A fresh orange, grapefruit and ginger juice and chocolate cake for dessert. All very delicious and beautifully presented.

 I did not take photos of the food. Wonderful artist and blogger friend, Shelagh Duffett (also a photographer) has gorgeous photos of Wild Leek and Kirsten's food here.

So, if you are in Halifax, check it out.

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To contact me click here