The Last Leg of my Journey

I leave PEI Thursday morning, destination Bangor, Maine. Another long haul, plus re-entry customs. Going to be a long day and drive. I will do as much as possible down ME Tpk. (95) as the speed limits are higher and I can fly. If I was a whiskey drinker, I'd take Peter's advice that night! Alas I am not, and have one more destination on Friday.

Indian Island, or rather, Penobscot Indian Island Reservation, about 20 minutes outside Bangor.

Some of my family's ancestors were Native American. Wabanaki of the Penobscot Tribe. My brother and one of my older cousins know a whole lot more about this than I do. It was buried as many family secrets are, and never spoken of while the children were being raised; brushed under the table. Especially in the '50's and '60's.

My mother finally started to tell about it when I was in my early 20's (the Native American is on the maternal side). I did visit Indian Island a few years later on a trip through the wilds of Maine, but I did not appreciate it as much as I will this time.

Or with as much respect. There is a graveyard there I would like to visit.

And from there I head home. To my kitties and my own bed. :)

I leave in 5 days, and there is much to be done between now and then.

Stay tuned, those of you who are following!

 

The Maritime Provinces of Canada - Part 3 (Finis)

I am calling it 7 days until my trip :)This week is very busy, and the few days I have next week as well. I will take a bit of a breather over the weekend, but alas some shopping remains.I have never left my cats for this long before. Worries me a bit.

Once I leave Nova Scotia I head for Cabot Bay Island and will drive the Cabot Bay loop. I know I will not get the true, entire experience of CBI, but time is unfortunately a premium on this trip. Here are a few pix of Cabot Bay, from the web site.



I also fully realize I will not be at the very edges of North America to get THAT GRAND view of the Atlantic (which would be in Newfoundland), I will be close enough where I can get my fill :)

From CBI, on to Prince Edward Island. There are several things I want to do while there - take in one of the Anne of Green Gables museums, of course. Something called the "bottle houses" - sounds very quirky and I cannot resist quirky! And of course some choice lighthouses. Like the mammoth bones, I also have a thing about lighthouses. They absolutely fascinate me to no end. Here is a picture of Point Prim Lighthouse, the oldest one on PEI. It is not far from where I am staying, and I will see it for sure!

PEI is a lot larger, and has a lot more going on, than one would think to look at it on a map. The southern portion of Nova Scotia has a lot of wilderness and a big national park.
I am spending equal amounts of time on both. It will not be enough, but it has to be.

My agenda on PEI is a lot looser, and more "I think I'll just see what happens". Yes, my sister will be horrified!

One thing definitely on my to-see list in PEI is to attend a ceilidh. Some of my ancestors may have been Irish (the ones who shipwrecked on the wrong coast of Canada), but more were Scottish :) They had a much better sense of direction, as the Scots settled quite a bit  of the Maritimes.

From PEI I drive to Bangor - another really long haul. Hot cup of tea, a few slices of pizza, and a nice hot bath should cure that! At least I will be back in my own time zone.

Then on to my next-to-last adventure on this trip. I will tell you about it next time.

The Maritime Provinces of Canada - Part 2

This blog has given me more than a few moments of pulling out my hair. Seems to have a mind of its own at times, so please bear with it and me. (Whadda ya expect for free?!) Check back if the pix or posts do not seem to run correctly; I am getting there!

Back to the trip. Just a basic outline, which is what I have (my sister will be horrified - she plans everything down to the half hour!). Plant myself in Nova Scotia for 3 days, then head to over to Cape Breton and drive the Cabot Trail Loop. My AAA guidebook tells me this will take about 4 hours.

Then another 3 1/2 hour drive to Charlottown, Prince Edward Island, for a few days. Figure a nice soak in the tub and a good glass of wine will work out the kinks from the drive :)

I am well aware this is the obvious tourist trip geographically for the Maritimes. However, I have studied the maps and guidebooks (thank you AAA!) for some time, and determined this is what I want (not really interested in Newfoundland; too remote and no time).

So much to see and do, so little time! My extravagant funds allow me to stay in upscale hotels (which I booked last December!). Comfort Inn, Super 8, etc. Hey - they are places to sleep, and I will be busy during the day :)

Besides the Bay of Fundy, and spending almost a good part of the day in Halifax in Nova Scotia (of course!), there is one obscure place on my "must see" list: Smileys Provincial Park, which is smack dab in the middle of Nova Scotia. Conveniently halfway between my hotel and Halifax.

Many years ago some of my ancestors sailed across the ocean from Ireland, their destination being Vancouver, Canada. What were they thinking?? Perhaps geography lessons were not a big part of the curriculum at that time. They ended up shipwrecked in Nova Scotia. Found their way inland and settled; thus the park is still to this day named after them. I am charged with visiting it and taking pictures for my siblings and cousins. Curious myself.... it even has a website: http://www.novascotia.com/places-to-stay/campgrounds/smileys-provincial-park/147

True story.

I am not relying on GPS (do not own one). I have maps (thank you again, AAA!!), some printed notes, and an excellent magnetic sense of direction. Which some of my ancestors obviously did not posess! And one of my siblings also does not :) No worries here. Besides, if one is listening to a GPS barking out directions and being otherwise annoying/distracting, how can one enjoy the journey and the scenery?

No pix this time. Next week. Enjoy the holiday!