Glad Tidings

Now that December is here, I can relax as I have just completed a month of posting for NaBloPoMo. 

I thought that I would share a recent visit to one of my favourite places, which just happens to be open throughout the year (I usually manage to sneak in a summer visit too!)

Glad Tidings is in St Peter's on Cape Breton.  This delightful shop is packed with everything related to Christmas .  Those of you who have followed my blog for a while may remember that we visited the first year that we were in Nova Scotia and were just in time for their last open house.

I thought that this lantern was very sweet ~ it's a pity that I can't add a moving picture, but the snow actually blows around inside. 

I had believed that this would be our last visit before Christmas, due to my husband's surgery, but as it has been postponed, maybe I can squeeze in an extra visit...

Cape Breton Adventure

Last week, we drove up to Cape Breton and had a little trip along the western shore.  As the photographs show, there are some beautiful sandy beaches.

It was a hot and humid day, but there was a lovely breeze coming off the water.

We drove along a route which was new to us and the shore was visible across the fields.

In places, there are farms close to the shore.

This is the view (below) from the top of the road above Port Hood.   A popular spot for photo opportunities, as although it was a dead-end, there were a few tourists driving up to admire the view.

We headed to the beach after our drive and enjoyed a walk along the sands.  Away from the area closest to the parking area, the beach was almost deserted.

It was lovely to feel the wind in our faces and the sand between our toes.

We had a cup of tea made with our portable stove and enjoyed a delicious snack before heading home.  The end of a perfect day.

White Point

Our journey around the Cabot Trail continued around the top of Cape Breton, where we followed a short alternative route to White Point.  Although we had been to the village on a previous occasion, we had never walked out along the track to the Point.

This must be about as far east as it is possible to walk in Canada (except for Newfoundland).

Below us, the waves were breaking on the shore.

We passed what looked like a graveyard, but there were no headstones: just small rocks of granite scattered about.   I later discovered that it is a graveyard for unknown sailors who have washed up on these shores and remained unidentified.  I have no idea how old this is, as I have been unable to find any further information, but there are some photographs here.

Sitting on a rock watching the waves.  It is a beautiful and remote spot with only the wildlife for company.  We had the Point to ourselves.  Staring out to sea, I thought of those waves crossing the mighty Atlantic and landing on British shores, where I shall be in a few weeks...but more of that in another post.

Cape Breton

Yesterday we went for a day out and decided to visit Cape Breton.  It is quite some time since we were there, the last time being early in the spring.  We took the less popular route around the lower part of the western side of the island.

We visited Margaree Harbour and parked adjacent to this amazing seaside garden.  The photograph does not do it justice, but these seedheads attracted my attention ~ they looked like birds' nests.  Dotted amongst the foliage were the last remaining wild roses of the year.

Much of this coastline is rugged outcrops of rocks, but here and there it has been tamed and there are sandy beaches and dunes.

The harbour is well-protected and the fishing boats just seen in this picture ~ the season is over for lobster and crab, so the boats lay idle in the water and some have already been hauled out.

We joined the famous Cabot Trail further north along the shore and this photograph is the view from MacKenzie Mountain looking at the Gulf of the St Lawrence and Pleasant Bay below.