Canada Part 8b- Cobequid Bay North Coast

Where were we? Ah yes, driving out and about.
After leaving the rather lovely Antiquities and tat shops we pressed on. It was one of those really rather lovely days when you have no schedule and the sun is shining.

Oh and you have a big black truck to go pretty much wherever. This means that when you spot a road sign stating the road off to the left is 'Beach Point' then you can flick the indicator on and potter on down the road and see if it goes to the beach.
I will admit, I did enjoy driving down these graded roads, and wished I had the Tenere in the back to pull out and blast long on. In it's absence though, 2 tons of Hemi powered blackness sufficed.

Sometimes the roads ended up going to a smaller trail that became someone's drive. Not somewhere we'd planned on going so reversing back out was needed.

Other times we found our way to the end of the road and to a beautiful vista.

Wandering down to the shore beyond the 'Road Closed' sign and we were rewarded with lovely views across the bay.

The rocks on the left form the bank defences, and the truck was parked up on top. This is the view from up there looking out.

We had a few cautious prods with our feet along the shore to see if we could walk out to the grass sections, but the mud was way too soft so it wasn't going to happen. Still, it was lovely to just sit there and soak up the breeze.
On from that point then. I think we managed maybe 5 miles before spotting another sign that looked inviting. Another left turn, and another graded dirt road to enjoy before we came out at Thomas' Cove. We parked up, sprayed ourselves liberally with bug repellent (Ahh Deet, the scent of summer in Canada) and checked out the map. Not wanting to do a long trek we plumped for the 600m trail that finished at the beach. First attempt heading through the forest resulted in (luckily) me nearly standing on a brown snake that slithered across the trail in front of me. The reason it was lucky is that my girlfriend has an intense phobia of snakes. So much so that when she asked why I had just exclaimed I had to reply that I had almost trod on a lizard. Even this was enough to prompt an about turn and for us to try the other way.
That we did and we were shortly on the shoreline again. This time instead of rocks we found plenty of washed up trees. Long perished and now slowly being turned into firewood by enterprising campers.

Another short walk back and forth and again time to soak up the susurrus before heading back up to the truck.

Hmm getting pretty hungry so it was decided we should press on for lunch as it was now getting close to 2pm. We decided on Diane's Clam Restaurant and after a short drive we were there.

I was getting really hungry now and ordered the largest hamburger with all the toppings and fries. My girlfriend was getting tires of fries (weirdo!) so ordered a flounder burger with mash and gravy. It was good, possibly the cheapest lunch we had, and delicious. Ok, we didn't have clams.
The clock was now at 3pm and we had to press back towards Truro to the garage to pick our fixed tyre up. Pulling in to the garage and we find out that the tyre is irrepairable. Bugger. Several plugs have been tried, but the cords within the tyre are damaged and the air is just whistling past.
Bugger.
So how much for a new one?
$260.
Buggerx2
'Any part worns?' I ask hopefully, 'not here but I can call someone for you' comes Rods reply. After a short phone call we are heading out of town to a salvage yard where they have a tyre. We hand over the cash and throw the tyre back in the truck and head back to the garage. I've got to say at this point it's 5pm, and the garage closes at 5pm.
Back to the garage and the tyre is swapped over and holds air, hurrah. I back the truck up and the wheel is swapped over.

That's me being everso helpful sat on the spare.
By the time we were all wrapped up and done it was around 5:45. A massive thanks to Rod for staying open longer, finding a part worn and seeing us right.
We call by the liquor store and wander round for ages before deciding on a bottle of wine for the girlfriend and a couple of ales for me. Tonight we dine alfresco on pizza and booze sat upon our balcony.
We get the pizza from downtown Truro and in the car park is this lovely classic

I'm guessing it's a Studebaker, but could be wrong. There were no other markings for me to go from, but it was a lovely two door coupe.
So, greasy pizza and beer finish off the day.

Canada Part 8a- Cobequid Bay North Coast

Monday dawns bright and clear and looks like it's going to be a hot one. Far different to the day before's rain and fog.
Hurrah!
We enjoy a great breakfast; scrambled eggs, Canadian ham and tomato for me, fruit, cereal and toast and jam for my girlfriend. I snaffle some of the delicious home baked cakes as well. After speaking to our hosts about places to go we are provided with a map and Larry highlights the way we should head out. Remember the punctured tyre from yesterday? Well Larry also gives us a recommended garage to go to.
So the first order of the day is to the garage. Rod Lynk's Auto Clinic to be precise. We leave the wheel and tyre with them as they are busy and head off.
It's one of those days where the sun is shining bright, the sky is a lovely blue and we've got no real place to be. We cruise along the road and upon seeing Masstown Market we stop in to try and get some Maple Syrup for our friends back home. Success!
I then find the ice cream bar, which has the most variety of ice cream I have ever seen. They also have hand made waffle cones, about the size of a pint glass.
I have to have one.
I think I chose a scoop of something like 'Moosey chocolate awesome' and another of 'butter, maple pecan yum'. I can't remember. Either way the serving lady, Patty, was taken by my British accent and I came out almost needing two hands to hold the ice cream!

It was delicious.
That lighthouse behind me is the fish market, and had I not eaten my own head-weight in ice cream I would have been tempted by the fish n chips there. I've got to say, there was some really good haddock and chips in most places along the East coast.
Ok, so on from food. The next roadside attraction to drag us away from our trip was an Antiquities store. There were three to be precise and I couldn't work out whether they were all owned by the same person or not. Either way I love to have a browse!

In the other one there was all manner of nick nacks and memorabilia. This advert reminded me of the piggums back home on Cinderhill Farm!

Oh to be a merry war lye hog!
And an exterior shot of the other shop with the truck wearing it's space saver spare wheel with pride!

Right, so that's brought us up to lunchtime. More tomorrow.

Canada part 4- Halifax to Saint John

After a nice evening in Halifax with beer and burger the massive bed welcomed us. Next morning we headed out to find breakfast and found Steve-O-Reno's Cappuccino where a good breakfast of egg and cheese muffin was consumed by yours truly, along with a very tasty espresso. Take out snacks of cranberry scone and oatmeal and raisin cookie were also bought. I have to say that the scone was bloody amazing.
So, after a phonecall to Enterprise we were picked up and taken to the depot/location where we could pick our hire car up from. The reason we had to be picked up is that the airport had no cars suitable, and this location did.
What was so special about our hire car?

TaaDaa!

Ah I could feel my neck reddening already; 5.7l Hemi crew cab, rolling on 20s (more on them later), in black. It was great.
So off we drove North-Westerly in the sunshine. The scenery around the roads was lovely, rolling pine forests and long vistas.
We arrived in Saint John and found the hotel car park, but then struggled to find the hotel reception. After taking stairs and lifts we found ourselves someone to ask, who then directed us to a different set of lifts and eventually we found reception.
Who told us that we needed to use the two different lifts to gain access to our room, but that we were best to drive up to the 6th floor to get our luggage out and into our room.
So we found our way back down to our truck and proceeded to drive up. I wish I had filmed the drive through the car park. There are signs on the entrance indicating maximum clearance is 6'6". Well I knew the truck was less than that because I had seen my 6'4" girlfriend standing next to it. The thing is you never know if there are parts of the roof that will hang down a bit lower, like the lights for example. It was a bit sketchy driving up there, that's all I am saying. I kept feeling like I should duck for the ceiling.
So there we were, in Saint John.
We had gone over for a friend's wedding; Jen, whom my girlfriend befriended and studied with at UNB, and Jason whom we had not yet met. It was nice then to be invited to the post-rehearsal bbq down at an old farmhouse that the family owned and maintained.

It was lovely. Truly old, 1850 was the build date if I remember correctly. There were other parts of it that had been extended and built in more recent times; the kitchen for example in 1915. Inside it was bustling with artefacts that had accumulated over time. It was fascinating to read journals of the people that had lived there in 1923, just there on the shelves.
There were many things dotted around and all had a story behind them.

 Some of the rooms didn't have matching level floors, ceilings, doors or windows, but everything worked as it should, it just threw my balance completely out. I really liked this ageing carpet that was still grasping onto it's pattern.

Outside was one of three lakes dotted around the property on land that totalled 750 acres.

There is no sound, but if there was you'd be able to hear nothing other than the bullfrogs crooning and the mosquitos preparing to eat you.
A great spread of food was put on by Sheri, the groom's mother, and the groom (complete with broken leg) and his father took care of the bbq. The bride's father let off some fireworks towards the end of the night and it was a good way to see the Solstice.