Day Twelve

Another beautiful morning, sun shining, birds singing and it's time for me to move on. After four days on the island I'm concerned that I may have lost my roving gypsy edge. As a former Boy Scout I was trained to always leave any camp site as good or better than you found it. This was not my home but I spent some time cleaning up the kitchen and bathroom, making the bed, taking out the trash and being careful not to leave anything behind. I really enjoyed staying at John Bowker's cabin but it was time to leave.
I looked at the weather forecast and Monday and Tuesday look good but Wednesday shows rain. For this reason I needed to get to Cape Breton Island by Monday night so I could cruise the famous Cabot Trail all day Tuesday and then take the ferry to Newfoundland on Wednesday.
I decided to take the Confederation bridge back to the mainland instead of the ferry because I wanted to go on my schedule and not the ferry's and I wanted to drive the Sunrise Trail along the north shore of Nova Scotia. It was a pretty rural drive but I didn't see anything that really grabbed me for a photo.
About 4:00 pm I made it to Cape Breton Island, stopped for gas and continued up to the vacation town of Baddeck. As soon as I got on the island the whole geography changed and the terrain became very hilly with deep valley's. Here is a shot from the side of the road where fisherman have an aquatic farming operation in one of the many inlets.

I started wondering what I'd make for dinner. I had spotted the campsite I planned to stay at but Baddeck was a few kilometers down the road and I figured they must have a grocery store. The town was very nice and totally set up for significant tourism with all the nice hotels, restaurants, golf and lots of shopping. Here is a view of the bay where the town is located.

I was able to find a grocery co-op with very expensive prices unless you were a member. I got a few items and for dinner, a couple of Bacon Wrapped Beef Medallions. Here they are next to my basmati rice on the stove. I was having my vodka tonic as they sizzled.

I'm sitting here in the camper and it's 10:30 pm on Monday night and on one side of me I'm privileged to have to listen to two couples chatting around their fire pit. On my other side is a young woman who is touring on bicycle and arrived after dark and produced a tent and sleeping bag which she carries on the bike of course. Pretty impressive. 

Tomorrow I will ride the length of The Cabot Trail and I am so looking forward to the incredible scenery. 

Hang with my blog because now the pics should be awesome.