Happy Birthday Ann!

To celebrate Ann's birthday, July 26, I took her to dinner at the Rope Loft in Chester, N.S. Her nephew, Tom Connors is their new chef, and new is the menu too.

We drove, to and from, along Route 3, ( the old road ) that winds along Saint Margaret's Bay. It is a great scenic drive.

On a different note: ( from Andrew Fleming's - Atlantic Canada Trivia - " Songstress Rita MacNeil once had three separate albums on Australian top 40 charts at the same time. "

Nova Scotia's official berry is the blueberry ( low bush ) - Oxford, Nova Scotia says it is the Blueberry Capital of Canada.

The Halifax Public Gardens represent a long-standing horticultural tradition in the city. Even before the end of the eighteenth century, gardens formed part of the environment of the newly settled Haligonians.

Although these early gardens have not survived, the traditional British interest in horticulture was not lost during the rapid development of nineteenth century Halifax. In 1836 the newly formed Nova Scotia Horticultural Society set out to create a public garden. The Society's garden would provide a pleasant recreational area and add to the amenities of the town; the display of specimen plants would spark the intellectual interest of the citizens, and the erection of statues and monuments would engender civic and national pride.

The city of Halifax, in the 1860's acquired the Gardens, and have developed and maintained a magnificent Victorian public garden which has been preserved almost intact. The citizens of Halifax have cause to be grateful to those people whose vision and skill contributed to the creation and preservation of the Public Gardens.

This is leading up to my newest photo-essay about our magnificent Public Gardens. Today July 29, it is hot and especially it is sunny -- just right for taking snap-shots of both the Public Gardens and Victoria Park just across Spring Garden Road from "the Gardens "

And good news, for the followers of The Almost Free Family Fun in Halifax, Nova Scotia: DIY Cruise Ship Excursion the Gardens and Victoria Park are with-in walking distance of the Cruise-Ship Pavillion. Even better, both are on MetroTransit Bus # 1 route.

Just a gentle reminder, Autumn ( September & October ) will see almost 100 cruise ships visit Halifax -- tour days will become unavailable very quickly from now on . . . . . . but then The Almost Free Family Fun in Halifax, Nova Scotia DIY Cruise Ship Excursion can never be booked out!!!!

Family Fun in Halifax Continued - DIY Cruise Ship Excursion

Saturday July 5, saw Ann and I entertaining our grandson Justin, he is five years old ( six in September ). We decided on a day on the South Shore, in a way following the Old Route 3.

After getting Justin from his home we drove to Tantallon to stop at Tim Horton's to get sandwiches and drinks. Opps, not good, Tom D's Tim's outlet was very very very bizy --- too bizy for me. We did our shopping at the SuperStore nearby.
So the price of gasoline is high ? You'd never know it -- while at the SuperStore more than a dozen 45 foot motorhomes hawling cars passed by on their way to Peggy's Cove: quite a parade of wealth!

Our first stop was Cleveland's Beach where we spent about two hours, playing in the sand and surf, and where we saw the Saint Margaret's Bay Bathing Beauties (see the photo! ). I told Ann about this outing being on the web as Family Fun in Halifax ---- no way said she! This isn't Halifax (technically it is)and your friends from a cruise ship can't walk to here (Cleveland Beach) well no I guess - how about Family Fun in Nova Scotia ??

After the sandwiches, drinks, and lots of sand on Justin (oh yes! I broke his sand pail to top off this stop!!!) we headed to Graves Island Provincial Park near Chester, NS for some more R&R (see the photos). A church group plus a number of families were taking advantage of this wonderful park of the south shore.
Family Fun continued with our stop at the Chester Lido Pool. Justin and I ventured out onto the public Pier - two young gals told us the water was warm. The two sneakers floating just out from the wharf, belonged to their young male friend, and was not making any attempt to recover them -- no concern on his part about his loss!

Lunenburg was our next stop on our Family Fun in Nova Scotia - Justin's Adventure.
Ice cream was the command. The weather all day was just great, sunny, very warm. Except at the beach where the shore breezes kept a touch of or hint of cool.
After ice cream it was out on the docks to see the boats - Justin's artistic poses on the wharfs - (see photos) and then homeward bound but . . . not before a stop at McDonald's to refuel!

It was a great day and one easily duplicated or improved because you can make it your own "Family Fun Day in Halifax (Nova Scotia) ---- DIY Cruise Ship Excursion !!

Cheers
Bob