Touring Nova Scotia

I've now reached the end of my seven weeks of WWOOFing at 'Horse and Garden' in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada, and am looking forward to the next highlight in my summer of 2009 - a 9 week training voyage on the barque 'Picton Castle'. But before I move on, I wanted to share a few of my more recent images.

Looking across the Meadow

This is another of my HDR (High Dynamic Range) images, and captures very well the type of views that there are across the 'Horse and Garden' farm. I've enjoyed my WWOOFing time here, and have been able to contribute quite a bit to the farm, buildings and garden. I'm also feeling a lot fitter than when I got here, so hopefully will be ready to tackle some of the tasks on the 'Picton Castle' in the weeks to come. I'd recommend the WWOOFing experience to anyone - its a lot more fun than being a hamster on a treadmill in the Gym.

Horse and Garden - main house

Around the Bonfire - Visiting Friends

I've met quite a few of Charlotte's friends and relations, and have been made to feel very welcome by everyone I've encountered. Canadians are noted for their friendliness and hospitality - this has certainly turned out to be true for me.

Travelling Tim with a Nova Scotia tan

Daisies in the Meadow

Without transport, Nova Scotia is very difficult for the visitor to get around, so most of the time here was spent on the farm. I've taken quite a few images in the area, including this photo of daisies in the meadow behind our mini-home. Occasionally we would visit the local town of Windsor, where there is a small but useful range of shops and services, including an excellent second-hand bookstore. In the centre of town is an interesting wooden statue, commemorating the world's largest pumpkin variety: 'Dills Atlantic Giant', and its originator/creator, Howard Dill, of Windsor, Nova Scotia.

Dills Atlantic Giant and its creator Howard Dill of Windsor N.S.

Map of our road trip around central Nova Scotia

On Wednesday last, we all took a day off from the farm-work, and set off, with sandwiches, for a road trip around central Nova Scotia. You can see a map of our route above, which was plotted from data captured on my GPS receiver. I also use this to geo-reference the photos I took that day. You can see the location of most of the photos on this page by clicking on them - a new browser will open, showing the route superimposed on a Google satellite map. Isn't technology wonderful !!

Mahone Bay - Ladies in the Information Office

Picton Castle - Port Side View

Heading south-west from Windsor, we visited first the small and exclusive town of Chester, where the rich folks live. It was raining at the time, so no photos to share with you here. On to Mahone Bay, and a chat with the friendly ladies of the Mahone Bay Tourist Information Office. We left with armfulls (not really!) of maps, guides, and useful leaflets that would help our exploration of the area. Still raining there, but it stopped by the time we got to the coastal town of Lunenberg, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and very picturesque.

Picton Castle - Crew working on Deck

Picton Castle - Rigging

The main reason for coming here was not to see the town however, but to get my first sight of the 'Picton Castle', the 3-masted barque that I am due to join next Saturday. There she was, moored to a private wharf near to the schooner 'Bluenose II'. Some work was going on board, so I didn't like to bother the crew just then, but spent a while looking over the ship I had come so far to sail on.

Rommy and Tom on the schooner Bluenose II

Captain of the schooner Bluenose II

The Picton Castle moored at the Lunenberg wharf

What a lot of ropes - will I ever memorise the names and uses of them all? I've been working on the sail plan recently, trying to learn them at least, and practising the knots required of all trainees: bowline, reef knot, sheet bend, round turn and two half hitches, clove hitch, and the figure of eight knot. We had sandwiches on the dock at Lunenberg, then walked around the town looking at all of the fine and interesting buildings. A little shopping too, for some last minutes items needed on board.

Bladderwrack Seaweed - isn't it beautiful

Cyril and Tom waiting for the West Lahave Ferry

The Horse and Garden Team - Tom, Charlotte, Rommy, Cyril

Bottles in Lahave antique shop window

Leaving Lunenberg (for a few days, at least), we drove south to see more of the coastline, taking the ferry at Lahave, with its lovely artisan-bakery and a most interesting and cared for antique shop. Turning inland to Bridgewater, we stopped for coffee and cake, and a wander through the town and along the riverside, with its small but pleasant park.

Birch Trees in Bridgewater Park

Vehicles on Nova Scotia Highway 103

Back on the road again, and a major highway this time, the I103 which passes through forest and lakeland to take us to St Margaret's Bay. At the head of this inlet is the famous 'Peggy's Cove' lighthouse, so being tourists for the day, we felt we ought to go and see it. Rather dilapidated at the moment, the lighthouse has been in the news recently as needing a coat of paint which the local authorities decided they couldn't afford this year. A public outcry helped them change their minds, so these photos may be some of the last before it gets spruced up.

Peggys Cove Lighthouse and Visitors

Peggys Cove Lighthouse

Peggys Cove - Wildlife Photography

Peggys Cove - Taking a Photograph

Sea and Rocks at Peggys Cove

Rommy and Tom at Peggys Cove Lighthouse

Not far from the lighthouse is the farm of Charlotte's friends, Jean and Alan Frederick, and a more friendly couple you couldn't hope to meet. We chatted over tea and freshly made bread, inspected the wood saw and garden, then walked down to the shoreline to see a last view of the ocean before returning back to Windsor, at the end of a grand day out.

Face on a Barn Shingle Wall

Jean and Alan Frederick

Thunderhead Sunset

Another HDR photo, of the sunset seen from just next to our Mini-Home. Please note that all images, and many more like them, are available for commercial licensing in a range of sizes - contact me with your detailed requirements for further details.

Sunset at the Mini-Home