A seemingly dead tree proving nutrients!
Helping out…
Bushwhacking the Economy Trail Loop at Thomas Cove
I had not been here in a little over three months and what a surprise we had. I always considered this trail easy to navigate. Yes, there are exposed roots and a few muddy sections to consider but overall I felt it was suitable for most abilities.
My trail test subject today was Colin. We started out walking counter-clockwise through my favourite forest section. Dappled sunlight on mosscovered ground, the wind a light breeze to keep the mosquitoes away and time on our hands… what’s not to like?
The secondary mission: looking for mushrooms for the sole purpose of identifying and recording my findings with iNaturalist. I uploaded fifty entries tonight and only one that I was certain would be edible!
The trail went from decent to heavily overgrown as we proceeded. Blackberry brambles and tall goldenrod made it at times difficult to stick to the path. Once we rounded Economy Point we came upon a long stretch of mud.
We took it slow and loved it when the wind came up and scared the mosquitoes away. The views from the sandstone cliffs of the incoming tide made up for some of the struggles.
I love the views at Thomas Cove despite the state of the trail. It was quiet today, we met nobody which was a nice change from the business in the spring.
Our reward at the end was a wild apple tree whose fruit was actually quite tasty. We had worked up an appetite😊 The small rose hips are ripening and their colour was a delight!
We took advantage of the final bench and the amazing view. The afternoon sun made the Bay of Fundy glisten like silver, breathtakingly beautiful!
In closing I want to mention that Thomas Cove is a great destination. If you choose to hike the loop wear long pants and closed toe shoes to avoid the brambles and protect yourself. Carry and use insect repellant and a sun hat. And don’t forget to stay hydrated, bring water! Most of all, enjoy and have fun! Anna
The final swirl…
…or, one more “Meeting of the Waters” immersion! Today was the last day for this moon phase to experience the incoming tide. It was also the last opportunity to actually stand on the ocean floor as the waters come together and swirl around our calves. With the next full moon the Bay of Fundy waters will be significantly cooler and perhaps even downright unpleasant.
While waiting for the tide to rise we took advantage of checking out the cliffs. I was shocked by how much the sandy cliffs have suffered with all the rain this summer. There was some significant rock fall but this mudslide certainly made me pause and take note.
We enjoyed exploring the tide pools by looking for hermit crabs and other aquatic life. Before we knew it the waters began to rush around the Big Brother Island.
It was the first time for R. and M. to witness this memorable event first hand. I promised them an invigorating experience and they both agreed that they felt energized!
Happy Labour Day Monday, everyone! The mist has burned off and we are enjoying a lovely sunny afternoon.
Long Weekend Bonfire
Spending an evening together with friends around an impromptu bonfire… priceless!
Soley Cove at Early Light!
This week has been fantastic for early light tours! My clients from Michigan booked this tour after seeing the “Keep You Daydream” video feature of the tour I conducted. Who could have known that the mid-June excursion with Tricia, Marc and Caleb would generate so much interest in a short amount of time?
We arrived at the beach at 8 am and hiked all the way to the Red Head, just over 12 km.
It has been a while since I hiked to the Red Head. The beach is reversed, the rocky part has traded places with the sand. We found large specimens of agate and quartz which was a nice surprise!
Following a short break with water and snacks the hike back took little time. We stopped off and on for pictures just because the light had changed and illuminated sections that were in shadow on the way out.
I can’t imagine a better way to spend an early Saturday morning! Happy long weekend, everyone!
Can’t Get Enough: Meeting of the Waters, Take Two!
August 31st, 2023
Last night at Ottawa House Story Time I met Becky and her mom who were travelling together from south of the border. While we chatted I mentioned that they are here during the Super Moon and that the tides are very high at the moment. The Meeting of the Waters came up and we quickly planned a morning excursion.
Here are a few images and a video to demonstrate how the waters flood around Two Islands with the incoming tide.
I always love to observe the astonishment of people witnessing the Meeting of the Waters for the first time. It’s a true privilege to show the phenomenon to visitors, newcomers and friends!
Happy long weekend, everyone!
Once in a Blue Moon Low Tide Two Islands Tour
Today’s early morning, once in a lifetime tour was in the planning stages for the past six weeks. These clients contacted me after my debut on the “Keep Your Daydream” feature of Soley Cove. The request was “We are looking for an adventure!” “An adventure you shall have…” was my reply. And the suggestion of circumnavigating Two Islands and finishing by experiencing the Meeting of the Waters was met with enthusiasm. Not even the start time of 5:30 am brought any opposition.
A group of six friends who travel together for four weeks each summer greeted me with big smiles and an air of anticipation. I led the way to the trailhead. The moon set and the sun rose while we negotiated the rocky beach with headlamps. I am glad I remembered that helpful piece of equipment from my night sky photography sessions! While we briefly stopped and changed into our water shoes we heard a loud rumble echoing off the mainland cliffs. When I looked across to Big Brother I saw the massive fresh rock slide illuminated by the rising sun. This was a good reminder to talk about the “stay one school bus length away from the cliffs at all times” rule. My group was very compliant!
What makes this tour a true adventure, you might ask? Circumnavigating Two Islands has to be carefully timed with the tides. This week we only have five days to take advantage of the special opportunity. After braving the dark beach, crossing the channel littered with barnacle encrusted rocks and chilly water sloshing about your ankles and calves in the early morning breeze is not for everyone. And once you have reached the steep slope of Big Brother Island you carefully watch every step to avoid tripping over large chunks of columnar basalt or slip on the wet, algae and seaweed covered rocks. There is no reprieve! Remember, we also need to stay away from the steep cliffs threatening rock fall. Slow and steady makes for a safe excursion!
The destination is the beach on the opposite side of Little Brother, a place not many have the privilege of ever experiencing. There, the “Hershey Kiss” Key Hole awaits!
Once through the massive natural opening a short section of algae covered basalt rocks has to be carefully stepped over and around before an easier gravel path leads back to the land bridge connecting both islands.
We headed back to our water shoes and crossed to the mainland as the water started to slowly fill in sections of the channels. I had just enough time to get water for tea and coffee boiling before the waters met!
This tour was timed carefully to avoid a long wait at the end. The short rest did us all good and tea and coffee hit the spot. Rejuvenated, with the sun brightly shining, we set out on our hike back to the vehicles.
Thank you Fran and friends, for putting your trust in me to provide you with a holiday adventure to remember! It was a perfect Blue Moon Excursion.
Deja vu…
To describe our trip to Halifax today as “wet” would be an understatement! The fallout from Hurricane Frederick made itself known and made for a very damp day. We had no choice, cancelling a medical appointment with a specialist is not an option. We left Parrsboro early in pouring rain, by the time we reached Truro it nearly stopped but our time in Halifax was definitely dominated by regular heavy downpours.
On our drive home we had a sense of deja vu. On September 26th, 2018 we drove the stretch from Five Islands Provincial Park to Parrsboro experiencing the same conditions. I didn’t take pictures then but I distinctly remember verbally expressing how welcoming the small villages appeared. Today I remembered the trip that determined where we would put down roots in 2020. And I captured some images to share.
And, I can’t help myself: the highlight of the day was our short visit with Tillie. She is happy! She is a spit-fire! And she showered us with kisses! Ash and Teak, her parents, were aloof and not impressed🤣.
Custom Tour: Parrsboro to Eatonville and back!
We started out in Parrsboro with a quick stop at the Bubbling Tides near Partridge Island, a sight to behold!
Our destination was the Eatonville Day-use Area where we explored the Three Sisters Loop. Views of rugged cliffs, Anderson Cove, Sea Pillars, the site of the old Eatonville settlement and harbour and finally the Three Sisters all in splendid sunshine made for a fantastic first leg of the personalized tour for my client from Toronto!
A prolonged stop at Spicer’s Cove has been on my agenda for ever! What a fabulous beach to spend time at!
Edgett’s Beach was next! It’s always a treat at low tide!
Backtracking to Parrsboro we stopped at Spencer’s Island Beach, Phinney Green and Cochrane Road Beach for the best view of Cape Split!
Not bad for seven hours of exploring the shore! Thanks Kathleen for being such a great sport! I am sure you are sleeping well tonight!
Hope everyone else enjoyed the recap!
Three Trail Safety Checks
Glorious sunshine with mid-day high tides point to time in the forest! Hidden Falls had been calling me for months. The trailhead is located on Hwy 2 just past Prospect Road with a small parking area to safely pull your vehicle off the road while you enjoy time in the forest.
Thanks to the wet summer we have enjoyed the trail was muddy in places and the mosquitoes were ferocious. I persevered as far as I could but the water was to deep to safely cross and pick up the trail on the opposite side. I will returned better prepared next time.
My recommendation to all: bring your trekking poles for balance and support on the rocky sections interspersed with exposed roots, too many tripping hazards to mention. Also, pack your water shoes if you intend to make the falls your final destination. The trail is estimated to be a ten minute walk. Allow for extra time with the river crossing and rough terrain.
Back in the car I decided to visit the old Parrsboro Dam. The trailhead is adjacent to the Prospect Road intersection with Hwy 2 and on my way back to town.
The trail is overgrown but clearly marked and easy to follow. Again, sections were muddy and some required careful negotiation around the edges because the puddles were quite deep. There are two creeks to cross. I made it safely through the first by using the large rocks to get to the opposite side. The second creek is always deeper and today it was no different. The large rocks were submerged below the rushing waters and looked slippery. I might have tried to cross if I had brought my trekking poles and water shoes. Instead I opted for safety and dry feet.
I headed back to the car and drove along Prospect Road to Newville Road. There I decided to turn onto Newville Road instead of Beaverdam.
Jeffers Falls was calling. The last time I stopped here and walked the newly developed trail was November 2022. I have heard visitors asking where to park. The shoulder opposite the trailhead has been improved and is the best place to park. Traffic along Newville Road is light and any parked cars are easy to spot.
This trail is marked as “easy to moderate” and to be about 260 m in length. The “easy to moderate” classification is for hikers who hit the trail regularly. As a certified field leader I would not bring clients who have knee or hip pain. The trail is rugged and closed toe shoes with sturdy treads are a must. The rocky sections are real ankle twisters.
I persevered and made it to the end of the trail. I remembered the last section as rocky and somewhat unstable. But I walked to where the falls are visible and captured this video:
And then I turned around and realized what was overhead!
When I approached from the other side this rocky wall was hidden by tall trees. I gathered all my courage and rushed back to where I came from, heart beating and grateful for managing this section without incident.
Back at the trailhead I turned left onto the road and walked the 200 m to the gravel road leading to a woodland trail above the falls. This is the way I viewed them the first time on New Year’s Day 2021. It is still the best place to view at the falls from above. While the upper woodland trail is not the official way to access the falls I actually feel it is easier to navigate. I would definitely bring clients here instead of the official trail off the main road.
Once again, trekking poles are beneficial to aid with balance.
It was a busy afternoon checking on trails. Out of three falls I managed to reach one. Some might consider this a less than successful mission. I am grateful for the insights I gained. It enables me to provide up-to-date information on popular destinations in the Parrsboro and Cliffs of Fundy Geopark area.
Soley Cove Sunday Afternoon
Yesterday’s rain cleared and a dry, pleasant day emerged this morning. It was perfect for an ocean floor excursion with first time visitors to Nova Scotia. My clients today hailed from Georgia and North Carolina.
One client contacted me late yesterday. She had heard of me from friends I had shown the Parrsboro Shore four weeks ago. She was told “you must call this tour guide!”😊 Parrsboro was not on her original Travel agenda. The couple from Georgia were here to witness the Bay of Fundy tides, a goal since college days. Thanks to the Pleasant Street Inn for connecting us. Both parties were able to check off one bucket list item today.
We covered much ground exploring wide and narrow coves, flower pots, Jurassic Aeolian sandstone formations and cliffs so high they dwarfed people and canines. The ever-changing light illuminated Soley Cove’s breath-taking natural beauty.
A fabulous group of clients who truly appreciated the extraordinary environment presented to them made this Sunday afternoon tour extra special! Even the bald eagles made an appearance as we returned to the trailhead.
Thank you to my wonderful tour participants I had a great Sunday afternoon! How was your last August Sunday?
Tranquil Beach Moment…
All in a Day’s Hike: Red Rocks to Refugee Cove and Back
22.2 km in 9.5 hours spent with like-minded people on the trail is pretty much a perfect Friday! Brian had volunteered to pick up a tent for someone and Heather and I took up his invitation to join him. The weather was great! And the company could not have been more pleasant.
It was not my first or second time to head to Refugee Cove but it was the first time to hike in and out over Mill Creek Hill in both directions. Last time I ascended Mill Creek I carried my 36 lbs pack and it took me 40 minutes, today I carried 10 lbs and made it in 21 minutes. What an improvement, a personal best. Truth be told, this hill has been a struggle in the past, no more!
I realized that I had never explored this part of Chignecto Provincial Park in the summer. We discovered a mushroom wonderland! I even brought home some edibles to be cooked up tomorrow with dinner.
Lunch with Old Sal is always a treat! We discovered some raspberry canes along the beach looking toward Refugee Campsite. Love raspberries but not when they are surrounded by Eastern poison ivy.
And there was a lot of it!
I admit, this was my first time identifying it up close and not from a picture or a book. We made sure to avoid touching it.
After a well-deserved lunch break we soon hit the trail to get back to our cars.
The forest was lush with ferns and the most amazing mosses! Creeks were rushing with clear water, few hikers crossed our path and we were immersed in tranquility. There were bursts of light rain showers but we were protected by the dense tree canopy.
Returning to the beach and walking that final stretch toward Red Rocks always gives us the last burst of energy needed to reach the parking lot near the park entrance. We set out at 8:30 am and returned at 5:59 pm. What a great day we had!
Hope you enjoy the images from today’s outing. Wishing you all a fantastic weekend, Anna
Forest Bathing
Tranquil moments like these – we deserve them! Enjoy and have a nice evening, Anna
Evening Walk Treasures…
…in and around Parrsboro while leading the weekly NSWalks excursion.
It was a misty Monday morning…
…when the forest floor called. Sun and rain over the weekend promised a new flush of chanterelles. Basket, paring knife and soft brush in hand I headed out the door to take advantage of a lull in the rain.
I had gathered about two pounds of chanterelles on Friday and didn’t hold out much hope for many mushrooms today. I managed to fill my basket and several more quart containers. They weighed in at just under three pounds before cleaning. Emboldened by my morning haul we headed into the forest near Amherst on our way home from errands and medical appointments.
At times I felt like I had landed in a magical fairy tale forest. I have never seen so many colourful mushrooms. I would have loved spending more time to record and collect for identification. But the mosquitoes were just too ferocious! I picked what I knew, chanterelles.
This afternoon’s harvest weighs in at close to five pounds. We may all be fed up with this wet summer but my pantry is getting stocked with dried chanterelles to liven up winter meals! No complaints from me about the rain.
Time to get busy cleaning those golden morsels of goodness! Have a nice evening everyone! Happy Monday, Anna
Quick Check in from the Nova Scotia Gem & Mineral Show and Sale
We are nearing the end of our second volunteer shift at the annual Gem & Mineral Show here in Parrsboro. Yesterday our hands were never idle collecting admissions and fastening show bracelets to countless wrists. We are spending this afternoon at the back entrance as security back up which affords me the time to add a quick entry to the blog.
It’s our first year attending as volunteers and it is definitely worth being a part. What a fantastic show our little town is putting on for the 56th time! It all started with Eldon George. He put Parrsboro on the map as a rock hounder’s paradise!
I purchased a couple of fantastic resource books to add to my growing geological library, connected with friends and made new acquaintances. Best of all, I found a beautiful ammonite! It is a replacement for the one I lost some time ago. Ammonites are nature’s spirals and I have a weakness for spirals. 😊
I encourage anyone considering visiting Nova Scotia in August to plan stopping into the Gem & Mineral Show. The dates for 2024 are set! See you at the show August 16th – 18th, 2024!
Happy Sunday, everyone!
Saturday Morning Hike: Clarke Head and Beyond
Clarke Head was calling! And after the rain stopped during the night I knew I could get a quick hike in to my favourite local destination! While I don’t mind sharing time with others heading to Clarke Head I welcomed the vast deserted beach and set out following the high tide line.
I soon spotted the arch and noticed the sun was finally coming out!
I ventured beyond the arch today. There were significant changes to observe: increased erosion along the cliffs, the dinosaur rock seemed much smaller. The wet weather has definitely left it’s mark here!
The sound of water trickling drew me closer. I had never seen this little brook in the summer before!
The tide was turning and with that I headed back to the campground where I parked the car! This solitary beach hike was just what I needed after days on the computer and watching a day of rain through the living room window.
Enjoy your weekend, everyone! Stay safe and may the weather be favourable wherever you are, Anna
Introducing the Artist: Mother Nature
Woodland floor composition
A Time-Honoured Tradition: Story Time…
…Thursday night story time at Ottawa-House-by-the-Sea! The Bay of Fundy was calm, the sky a lead grey foreshadowing tomorrow’s weather forecast of rain as we arrived and parked the car.
Story time goes from 7 – 8:30 pm each Thursday during the summer. We love this time and place for deepening our understanding of the area. Tonight’s stories were varied as always. They touched on shorebirds, migration habits, the starvation ship sailing from Ireland during the great famine, the Christie Trunk & Bag Company, attracting and raising Monarch butterflies, a personal family history and recently unearthed proof with documentation of Sir Charles Tupper’s actual birthplace. His birth place in the official record is listed as Amherst. However, anecdotal evidence, which has been substantiated from various independent sources, have confirmed that he was actually born in Crossroads on the outskirts of Parrsboro!
We always stay for the tea and social following story time because the information exchange continues. We didn’t get home till 10 pm tonight… but it was so worthwhile staying on to listen and ask questions.
Good night, everyone!
Tide Rollers & Mudlarkers... 