Thursday, June 26, 2008

Peggys Cove Swimming Hole


Peggys Cove is 43 kilometres southwest of downtown Halifax and comprises one of the numerous small fishing communities located around the perimeter of the Chebucto Peninsula.

The community is named after the cove of the same name. Peggy is a nickname for Margaret, and the village may have taken its name from St. Margarets Bay upon which it is situated. Local folklore has several alternative origins for the name. Some people claim Peggy was an early settler. Others say she was a young survivor from a shipwreck who remembered nothing of her life before her rescue; not even her name but was given the name Peggy by the family who adopted her.

Monday, June 23, 2008

FAMILY FUN in Nova Scotia

Ann and I again experience again the joys of travellin' the backroads, staying off "the big freeways" on Saturday June 21, 2008 - the first day of Summer. We had lunch in Truro, really I think it is Lower Truro: The Pallister, great food and a great view of the Salmon River and the ( this is my name for it ) Tidal Boring Park; there was a large crowd in the park sitting along "the old Acadian dykes" waiting for the tidal bore to arrive. I felt like yelling "Run for your lives, the wall of water will get you!". In reality, the wall of water might be, and I stress might be, as high as 6 inches -- if you are lucky! Which is why, I call it Tidal Boring.

Ann gift shopped browsed, at the Pallister Gift Shop and still later at the Masstown Market near Debert. Where we acquired fresh veggies, milk, bread, bacon, eggs and pork chops BUT most importantly I bought (no Ann bought nothing, she shop-browsed) Bathroom Book of Atlantic Canada Trivia by Andrew Fleming. And he tells us:

Fly Girl
The first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic began her journey in Saint John. Famed Aviator Amelia Earhart set off from Saint John, in her single-engine Lockheed Vega on the morning of May 20, 1932, bound for Harbour Grace, Newfoundland. She intended to duplicate Charles Lindbergh's solo flight across the Atlantic and land in Paris. Instead, strong head winds and mechanical problems forced her to land in a pasture near Derry in Northern Ireland.

Currently, here in Halifax - Hilary Swank and Richard Gere are here filming a biopic about this history making flight . . . .
kinda of a strange twist to our ( Ann & I )'s backroad adventure of today.

If you've been following the bizarre news -- a group of High School teenage girls in Gloucester MA - making a "baby making pact" -- reminds me of a couple of things:
my maternal Grandmother was from Bay Bulls, Nfld (just outside of St John's) had a saying "You can't put an old head on young shoulders" while young and youth do stand for excitement, enthusiasm, energy, embracing new ideas and more --- it also stands for stupid too -- the young do dumb and stupid things -- ie old head ; young shoulders don't mix.

Speaking of babies this brings me to Ervin & Ethelda Myers and their 13 daughters whose former residence is now the Fisherman's Life Museum in Jeddore N.S. It's a very small house, just how did they raise such a large family?

BUT Andrew Fleming in his book Bathroom Book of Atlantic Canada Trivia tells us:

World Record Family
The world record for having the biggest family is held by Captain Wilson Kettle (1860- 1963) of Port Aux Basques, Nfld. When he died at age 102, the fertile fisherman left behind a family of 13 children by two wives, 65 grandchildren, 201 great-grandchildren and 305 great-great-grandchildren sprung from his loins, leaving a grand total of 582 living descendants.

Stay tuned ....... Peggy's Cove and swimming. Most will say the two don't mix. Don't believe it! Story and snapshots to come.

DIY Daytrips Halifax - Almost Free
Actually got "free-er" a friend, Michelle Sears, pointed out on the return ferry ride from Dartmouth, ask for a transfer (each person) and this will get you on the first leg of your bus tour, the # 2 - # 4 or # 1 without an additional charge. Thus your DIY Free Shore Excursion in Halifax just got even cheaper!

All the best
Bob
www.BlueDiamondTours.com

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Spring Fling ‘08: Classic New England

The Spring Fling ‘08: Classic New England trip was a huge success. Beautiful weather. Great scenery. And amazing memories.

Take a look on at the photos here: Spring Fling ‘08: Classic New England