Digby, Annapolis Royal and Yarmouth. Oct 5 - 6th

Monday morning we were up and out by 6:15 am to catch the first ferry to Digby from Saint John, I didn't sleep very well as I always worry about waking up in time to catch a ferry or plane. Of course it didn't help that Ray's having a bad dream and kicked me twice, waking me up at 1:15 am. Damn queen beds! I found it hard to get back to sleep and was checking the clock at 2:30 am still awake. Oh well I will sleep better tonight .... we have our own beds!

We expected rain and wind when we woke up as per the forecast, but were pleasantly surprised that it's dry and calm out. Arrival at the ferry by 6:30 am. Checked inside to get coffee ... no coffee!!! Ray will melt. :) The woman at the ticket counter took pity on us and made us some coffee from their staff room. Boy the people in the Maritimes are so friendly. She also told us that a lot of their upper management for their ferry came from BC. What does that tell you! BC Ferries is a lost cause! One of the officers on the ferry confirmed this when I asked.

They loaded us by 7:15 and we were underway 10 minutes early at 7:50.... never in BC has that ever happened. One of the crew told me that once all the reserved passengers have boarded and no one else is in the line they leave.

We found these seats to have our snack that the B & B had packed for us, but Ray found better seats, that were airplane seats, that recline and have a table. Ray got us a hot breakfast and we settled in for the 2 hour and 15 minute crossing. A one egg, toast and 5 strips of bacon is $10! Smooth sailing, no wind.

Once we offloaded (of course we were one of the last). First up we decided to go north to Annapolis Royal where there is Port-Royal National Historic Site.

Port-Royal National Historic Site in Nova Scotia marks the location of the Port-Royal Habitation, one of the earliest European settlements in North America, established by French explorers in 1605.

Early Settlement (1605–1613)

Founding: French explorers Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons and Samuel de Champlain built the fortified Habitation in 1605 after leaving a harsh winter at Saint Croix Island. They were aided by the local Mi'kmaw people. 
Milestones: The settlement hosted the Order of Good Cheer (Ordre de Bon Temps) to boost winter morale (1606–1607) and saw the production of Le Théâtre de Neptune, Canada's first theatrical performance, in 1606. 
Destruction: After a period of abandonment and re-establishment by Jean de Biencourt de Poutrincourt, a Virginia raiding party led by Captain Samuel Argall burned and destroyed the Habitation in 1613.

Here are our pictures.

The clouds in the background do not look too friendly!

Inside the rooms.

This was the trading room.

Stairs to the cellar.

Gentleman's Quarters.

Teepee uncovered for the winter.

Next up a short way down the road is another National Historic Site called the Melanson Settlement. Not much here just a grassy area where the archeological dig happened.

Melanson Settlement is located in Port Royal, Nova Scotia. Acadian settlers lived here on the banks of the Annapolis River in the 17th and 18th centuries with a unique system of cooperative dykeland farming. Stroll the path and take in the view over the marshlands and fields. This open archeological site with walking paths is the location of a former Acadian settlement prior to deportation.

Nothing but a grassy field and lots of small apples on the ground from the once orchard.

Next up is the small town of Annapolis Royal. On the way there we passed through Granville Ferry. Ray took a video of all the cute houses while I was driving.

Annapolis Royal, a really cute little village with a nice boardwalk. Being Monday a lot of shops and restaurants are closed.

Ray needs a haircut. I tried to talk him into going in, but he said nope. lol

It's no wonder that these fish boats don't tip over in rough seas. Half the boat is under water for ballast.

Down to the boardwalk.

Cool rock on the beach, lots of crevases in it.

Yup it's gonna rain soon!

Looking across to Granville Ferry.

Time for lunch. The brewery here didn't have a food menu so we carried on towards Digby.

On the way we decided to stop by Bear River, where there's houses on stilts. Most are small shops for a few shots. On the way there there's Bear River Vineyards, so Ray took a picture.

Finally we reached Bear Creek Stilt Village.

As we were leaving it started to sprinkle, then rain, then pour. We were so lucky we got our stops in for pictures before this.

Finally lunch at The Wheelhouse on the water in Digby which serves legendary Digby Scallops 3 ways. It's today's special so a little cheaper (not much), but we had to try it out. Delicous. Too wet out to take an outside picture. They do have a great view with a lovely patio .... just not today!

Ray also had their coconut cream pie. I had a couple bites and it's delicious.

Back in the car heading towards Yarmouth where we stay for 2 nights. Our original plan is to go on Highway 1 right on the coast, but with the rain teaming down, visibility is nil so we stayed on the 101. Took a picture to show how foggy.

Halfway to Yarmouth the rain stopped and it started to clear. Bonus! We could still catch a lighthouse and beach that's on the list. Cape St. Mary's Lighthouse is right beside the lovely 

Mavillette Beach Provincial Park. On the other side of the bridge there are changerooms and parking lots.

No one on the beach today.

Alot of the lighthouses we see all have a memorial to all that have been lost at sea in the area.

After taking several pictures, time to head towards Yarmouth. Then I remembered there's this old Sandford Drawbridge. I don't think the boats of today could fit through the opening as they are wider and their antenas are so tall.

Located at the Sandford Wharf in Yarmouth County, discover what is believed to be the second smallest working drawbridge in the world when you visit the Sandford Drawbridge.

The wooden drawbridge, built in 1915 to allow boats to enter the inner harbour at high tide and to allow fisherman to cross from one side of the wharf to the other without having to drive back and forth around the harbour on the nearby road. Low tide in the Bay of Fundy will display fishing boats sitting on the harbour floor in the wharf.

How many lobster traps in a row???

Finally we reached our motel at 3:30 pm. Quite the busy day. We were so lucky the weather turned out quite nice. Took me an hour to sort out all our stuff. Laundry day tomorrow so all the suitcases came in and got sorted out. Soon we head home, so stuff we won't be wearing I've packed separately so we only have to pack our little suitcases for the next week. Ray ate our breakfast wraps for dinner. lol The wind came up and started howling late in the day. The door and windows were whistling. 

Tuesday morning we had breakfast at the motel, which is included with the price. Not fabulous but it's food. At 9:15 am we headed to the laundromat .... 2 hours later I'm done. Reminded me of camping in Quartzsite, AZ lol. The ladies here at The Laundry Bay were very helpful.

While I was doing that, Ray headed to the bank and the rental car needed oil and he came upon this statue.

Back at the motel to drop off the laundry then off again. This time to Cape Forchu Lighthouse. First we wandered the trails on the headland of the cape and then drove up to the lighthouse itself. 

The drive to the lighthouse.

Bunker Island Lighthouse with Yarmouth in the background.

Cape Forchu Harbour

False Harbour Beach. There were people actually walking on it with the wind. Great beach in the summer.

The float wall across from the beach.

Beach near Cape Forchu

Then onto Cape Forchu Lighthouse

It's incredibly windy today with 35 km winds gusting to 50 km. Look at the surf flying over the rocks. There was a constant mist in the air in this area.

We drove to the upper parking lot. Viewing inside the lighthouse is closed for the season. This is the old lighthouse residence. One of the signs told how huge waves and wind had blown water in upper story window and out the kitchen door. Wow.

Time to go for lunch. I'd read good things about Rudder's Seafood Restaurant & Brewery. On Google they only have a 4.0 review. Don't know why, as we had the most delicious lunch of Seafood Crepes with lobster and scallops in a Newburg sauce with veg and twice baked potato. Yum. It came with a side salad and fresh baked bread as an appetizer. A heck of a deal for $26.99. The beer and cider they brew in house is delicious as well. 5 star from me! Great food, great beer and great service. Our server is the Brewmaster himself! They've been in business for 20 years, one of the first craft breweries. He buys all his seafood from local fishers so everything is as fresh as can be.

From left to right, their brown ale, red ale, blonde ale and their cider. All delicious.

Their owner and brewmaster.

Their chef. Great cook, especially since he can't eat seafood!

After we staggered out with very full bellies (I left half for Ray's dinner lol) we walked a bit on the wharf in front of the restaurant. Rudders also has a takeout next door for beer, snacks and ice cream in the summer on the wharf.

This is "The Cat" that travels between Bar Harbour Maine and Yarmouth.

Back in the car to see the clock tower.

Back to the room. We were so sleepy we decided to have a nap.... 1.5 hours later we woke up! I think all this busyness every day is wearing on us. A lot of nights not sleeping well in different beds and a lot of walking that we don't normally do. It's good for us, but we are running out of steam. We have toured somewhere other than one day in 7 weeks. One more week to go. Today was a very blustery day but at least the sun was out.

After a covered bridge stint, I think we are onto Lighthouses!

Tomorrow we head to Lunenburg for 2 nights. Home of the Bluenose II sailing ship.