CAPE BRETON HIGHLANDS TO ANTIGONISH NOVA SCOTIA:: WE SURE DID MISS OUR JEEP TODAY

I THINK KELLY’S GETTING PRETTY DARN HANDY WITH THAT BLACKBERRY SMART PHONE OF HERS

Stepping out with Pheebs in morning’s darkness I saw she immediately went over to an object lying on the ground about 30 feet behind our Motorhome.  Shining my flashlight over that way I right away saw it was a body.  I also saw a bicycle and back pack leaning against a wooden bench beside what appeared to be someone sleeping in a cocoon type sleeping bag.  Of course Pheebs was walking around the motionless person wagging her tail.  I quietly called her back to the Motorhome before the poor sole thought he was about to be mauled by a Grizzly Bear.

THIS IS THE OVERLOOK WHERE WE SPENT THE NIGHT AND BELOW IS THE FELLOW WHO PHEEBS FOUND SLEEPING ON THE GROUND BEHIND OUR MOTORHOME

SO IT WAS OFF WE WENT ON OUR ADVENTURE

Our day dawned sunny and clear and that was a definite boost to our morale as we pulled back onto the Highland’s Cabot Trail and headed North.  Decided while we had one sure day of sunshine upon us we had better do the whole circle loop.  And we did but oh boy what a stressful time we had with a narrow poorly maintained  highway going up the west side.  And the long steep grades, twists, turns, and forever winding roads.  We were sure missing our Jeep today big time.

WE REACHED A LITTLE PLACE CALLED CHETICAMP

WE DROVE OUT ONTO A CEMENT WHARF BESIDE THOSE FISHING BOATS

A COUPLE OF THESE BOATS WERE SHORT AND WIDE WITH LARGE OPEN STERN SECTIONS FOR MAYBE FISHING NETS OR SOMETHING

 

IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY AT THIS PHOTO YOU CAN SEE OUR MOTORHOME WHERE KELLY IS INSIDE WHIPPING UP SOME SCRAMBLED EGGS

THE LITTLE SEASIDE TOWN OF CHETICAMP

It’s not that the Cabot Trail can’t be done with a large RV because it can but I would not ever recommend taking a large Motorhome around.  Best way to do the trail is leave your RV at a secure place somewhere then take your tow vehicle and away you comfortably go.  As I said the highway is narrow so if you miss something there is no turning around.  The narrow highway in places has basically no shoulders so pulling over to the side is not always an option either with a big rig.  We have driven a lot of mountain grades up and down out in the Southwest and I’m here to tell you we drove sections of highway north of Cheticamp today that made the Yarnell Hill near Congress Arizona and Montezuma’s Grade in Borrego Springs look like a stroll in the Park.  And it goes on for miles and miles.  I didn’t get the scenic photos I wanted at the overlooks because too often we were past the overlooks before we saw them.  You can’t stop a 37 foot Motorhome’s momentum on a dime like a car and just wheel yourself into the overlook spot.  Another problem for the driver is his attention has to be totally focused on the driving and the bigger you drive the bigger your stress.  Oh how we missed our Jeep today but I must say our Chevy 8.1 engine with it’s Workhorse chassis never faltered one bit.  It worked hard on those grades and powered us through them whether we were going up or down…….or around and around. 

HEADING NORTH FROM CHETICAMP WE SOON REACHED THE THE HIGHLANDS THEMSELVES

IT’S AFTER WE REACHED CAPE BRETON HIGHLANDS PARK THAT WE GOT INTO THE REALLY STEEP WINDING GRADES

A LOT OF MAJOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION GOING ON

HAD TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET INTO THIS FRESH OILY ROAD TAR

CAPE NORTH IS THE FARTHEST POINT FROM BAYFIELD WE WILL BE SO SOON AS WE TURNED HERE TO SLIDE DOWN THE ATLANTIC SIDE OF THE TRAIL WE BEGAN OUR HOMEWARD JOURNEY

The Cape Breton Highlands have a a truly spectacular and uniquely remote rugged beauty all their own.  In just a few short weeks that beauty will be magnified a dozen times when the Highlands burst forth with it’s finest Autumn colors.  For anyone in these parts do not miss driving the Cabot Trail……but don’t do it in a big honkin Motorhome Okay………………

OUR FIRST TRUE SIGHTING OF THE UNOBSTRUCTED ATLANTIC OCEAN AS IT SWEEPS ASHORE AT GREEN COVE

THE STRONG ATLANTIC WINDS WERE ALMOST BLOWING MY HAIR OFF HERE

I’m writing this tonight from Antigonish Nova Scotia.  We came off Cape Breton Island about 5:15 this afternoon and kept on going until we reached the first reasonably sized town on our way.  By chance we happened upon a Walmart and again it was like finding an Oasis in the desert.  Needed a few groceries anyway so it was a doubly fine find.  Five other rigs in the lot tonight.

LOTS OF CONSTRUCTION SITES TODAY

We have decided to cut a few corners on our trip and shorten it up a bit so as soon as I post this tonight I’ll be back on my Google Maps figuring out a few new routes for the coming days.

COMING DOWN THE ATLANTIC SIDE OF THE CABOT TRAIL

CROSSING THE CANSO CAUSEWAY BACK TO THE MAINLAND

Again I took way too many pictures today to even remotely think about editing them all tonight.  It’s near 8 o’clock and I haven’t even got them out of the camera yet. 

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Employee Evaluations...The following were taken from actual employee evaluations:*

- Since my last report, this employee has reached rock bottom and shows signs of starting to dig.*

- His men would follow him anywhere, but only out of morbid curiosity.*

- This associate is really not so much of a has-been, but more of a definitely won't be.*

- Works well when under constant supervision and cornered like a rat in a trap.*

- When he opens his mouth, it seems that this is only to change whichever foot was previously in there.*

- He would be out of his depth in a parking lot puddle.*

- This man has delusions of adequacy.* He sets low personal standards and consistently fails to achieve them.*

- This employee should go far -- the sooner he starts, the better.*

- This employee is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot.*

- Got into the gene pool while the lifeguard wasn't looking.* Got a full six-pack, but is missing the plastic thingy that holds it together.*

- A photographic memory but with the lens cover glued on.*

- Bright as Alaska in December.*

- Donated his brain to science before he was quite finished using it.*

- Fell out of his family tree.*

- The gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn’t coming.*

- This man has two brains; one is lost and the other is out looking for it.*

- If brains were taxed, he would get a rebate.*

- Any dumber and he would have to be watered twice a week.*

- If you gave him a penny for his thoughts, you would get change back.*

- If you stand close enough to him, you can hear the ocean.* Some drink from the fountain of knowledge, he gargled. 

- I think he was left on the Tilt-A-Whirl a bit too long as a baby.

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