August 15, 2019 – Baddeck, NS
Today we went on a hike up to a very nice waterfall. We had hoped to walk right up to it, and possibly behind the main waterfall but the trail to that area was closed. So we walked as close as we could and took some pics. We also met a really nice couple from this area. The guy was a North Sydney native and his wife was from Cape Breton. They gave us some very good advice about the best places to go here, and also told us quite a bit about traveling in Newfoundland. I think Nova Scotia is incredible…..but they said Newfoundland was even better. Lots of spectacular natural beauty, especially on the coast.. They also raved about how nice the people are. Sounds like it would be a nice trip for the future. We thought about re-working our plans to go over for a week, but in the end, it was just too much hassle, especially the long 6+ hour ferry ride with Alice (not that she isn’t good company!). And the cost is over $300 USD each way. If/when we go, we’ll make it a little easier and fly.
During the hike, we saw a lot more examples of trees that had developed root systems on top of solid rock. There are trees that are literally growing on top of boulders! This is a big tree with a root system growing on top of a boulder and on the ground….
And this is the rest of it!
Here’s another …..
This is twilight zone stuff…..looks like Medusa’s hair.
Click below for short movie clip:
After our hike, we went to the Big Spruce Brewery a couple miles up the road from us. It’s a very nice place and we had the opportunity to meet the owner. He was a middle-aged guy from Toronto that had sailed around North and South America, and then decided to start a brewery here in Baddeck on Cape Breton Island around 15 years ago. He’s done very well. He started by buying a 100 acre farm. We really enjoyed talking with him. It seems like microbreweries are popping up on every street corner where there’s enough local population to support it…….there almost becoming like Starbucks coffee shops. According to Brewers Association.org, craft beer microbreweries now have over 13% of the US beer market, and they’re steadily gaining market share.
A little R&R at the Big Spruce Brewery. You can’t tell from this picture, but the lake if in the background. They had live music
Frisco thinks that rock is some kind of animal! She’s such a joy to have with us!
All for today…..