Gentle Beach Hike at Spencer’s Island

With a chance of rain in the forecast we decided to defy the weather man and head to Spencer’s Island as the tide was on the way out.

This beach is the most colourful beach in the area. The closer we got to the “point” and the island the more colourful the rocks seemed to become! Our pockets were bulging… red and yellow Jasper, Agate, Quarz, it was hard to resist not bending down to get just one more.

Spencer’s Island Beach is a personal favourite. It’s magical in any weather and season. We set out about 2 hours after high tide and had no delays. This beach can be challenging to navigate if you have knee or ankle weakness. Trekking poles are a great way to make the terrain easier to navigate.

Park right at the beach near the lighthouse and walk as far as you choose. The waves will soothe a troubled mind and a gentle breeze will blow away the cobwebs. Bring a backpack… you will need it😆

Happy Wednesday, Anna

Forceful…

Walking across Two Islands Bridge today as the water rushed from the Aboiteau into the inner harbour… make sure you turn up your volume!

Love the foamed surface and blue sky overhead.

Check back tomorrow when I post images of another beach excursion. Heading to Spencer’s Island tomorrow afternoon as the tide goes out.

See you then, Anna

Red Sandstone Allure…

A gray Sunday afternoon… little wind and time to explore! We ventured into uncharted territory, the “other side” of Soley Cove Beach. I will let the ancient Jurassic sandstone formations speak for themselves…

Hope your Sunday was restorative. Best wishes for a fabulous week, Anna

Soley Cove: Even More Amazing…

…without the stiff breeze and rolling waves from two days ago! Just look at the perfect reflections as the tide slowly receded.

We headed out thinking we were two lonely beach explorers… until a large group of hikers (I counted 20 individuals) appeared from nowhere noisily shouting, their voices echoing from the aolian sandstone cliffs. It does take away from the awe inspiring experience for the more introspective explorer.

My friend and I managed to separate from the crowd near Redhead Formation. Our hike back to our starting point was pleasant and quiet.

The tide was out further than I have ever experienced it on this beach. At one point we ventured out on an exposed sandbar and felt far removed from the cliffs.

The landscape, the elements, our appreciation for the incredible beauty, this unique stretch of the Minas Basin has to offer shall not be underestimated! Thank you so much for following along as I explore the ocean floor when the world’s highest tides recede. Enjoy your weekend, Anna

Canine Companion Hike in Wentworth Station

I ventured a little further afield today. My friend and hiking buddy is house and pet sitting in Wentworth Station, a 1hr15min drive from Parrsboro. We decided to keep it simple and explore the forest trail to the look-off near her home away from home.

It was a great excursion through the woods. Snow was quickly melting and we even found some delicate crocus.

I have included the trail map from my app today. I am still learning how to use it but I find it helpful to gain additional information such as elevation, distance and time travelled. We spent about 20 minutes enjoying the view across Wentworth Valley from the look-off.

Happy weekend, everyone! Hope the sun shines where you are, Anna

Last Day of Touring with my Guest from Montreal…

Soley’s Cove was the destination of choice. No, it’s not first on the list for rock picking but my client had seen a recent blog post about a Soley Cove excursion and put in a special request.

The weather and tides were in our favour and the opportunities to explore were unlimited!

Everyone delighted in the sparkling waterfalls along the cliffs.

And we had several lengthy stops to the destination where we waited for the tide to recede.

Our destination was Redhead Formation, the magnificent Jurassic Aolian cliff near the Old Wife Rock and Moose Island.

No matter how often I explore this particular beach discoveries are limitless! With each high tide changes take place… We even found a piece of agate and a crystal the size of a baby’s fist near the Redhead!

The tide was just coming back in when we arrived at the starting point. Here is an image to compare to the very first one I posted at the beginning of the post:

This beach can be tricky to access if one is unfamiliar with the Bay of Fundy tides. Need a competent guide? Reach out and book your Soley Cove excursion!

Hope you enjoyed today’s hike! Round trip is 10km on easy to navigate terrain. Exploring each unique cove adds distance, we managed to rack up 12.8kms today.

Enjoy the rest of your Thursday, Anna

Spring “Breezes” won’t hold us back!!

It was a little breezy today… check out the second image above. In fact it was so windy that no matter how we leaned into the wind we remained upright! 😊

Our destination this afternoon was the back beach of Partridge Island. But my suspicion came true: the low tide level was just not low enough to easily walk around the seaweed covered basalt boulders. We carefully explored an alternative access but soon abandoned the idea. The tide was rolling in, and we had no safe escape route. We headed back toward the fishing weir. On the way we made some interesting discoveries:

We found a fair amount of Stilbite, the provincial mineral. Despite the strong wind we persevered. This stretch of beach turned out to be a real treasure trove!

We headed back to the car and decided to check out the far side of Partridge Island in search of amethyst. I had found a small geode there last year.

The treasures on this side weren’t as exciting. I picked up some agate and some isolated crystals from between the chunky rocks. The wind played us a constant tune… and, once the tide rose to the point where we could no longer ignore it, we ventured home.

Satisfied with today’s finds we soon began to sort through our treasures! We were glad we persevered!

Happy Wednesday, reader! Cheers, Anna

Rock Hound Excursion: Day 2

What’s great about a return client is that she let me know which beaches she wanted to revisit. We started the day off with Horseshoe Cove, a favourite for collectors of Jasper.

On the way home we stopped off at Wards Brook Beach. We timed it perfectly with the tide rolling in. Our brisk walk close to the shoreline with waves crashing was just what we needed.

Wards Brook Beach

Glooscap Campground Beach called after dinner. We made it all the way to the Keyhole and back before the sun set.

With pockets full of treasure, hearts full of gratitude and our step weary we are calling for an early night. More adventure awaits tomorrow…

Good night, Anna

First Client of the Season: Mission “Rockhound“

We met via Facebook last year: a prospective visitor the Parrsboro Shore looking for a guide to navigate the highest tides in the world! The official listed businesses she contacted didn’t respond, some FB comments suggested she better not plan on coming if she didn’t understand the tides… I sent a private Message and offered my help. Fast forward to this year: my friend is back and we hit the ground running with a morning beach excursion to Wasson’s Bluff.

We are off to a great start!

Interested in a rock hounding excursion? Contact me <annahergert@me.com> and we can set up a time for your very own “hunt”.

Hope your week is promising to be as special as mine! Anna

Easter Sunday Morning Hike to Clarke Head with Friends

It’s been a fabulous day here! One highlight was our personal “dance” lesson with “The Mistress of the Bay”, the mighty Bay of Fundy Tide.

We set out about 45 minutes after low tide and experienced this beach a little different. None of us are slow walkers but we witnessed the water getting close to the keyhole rock pinch point when we returned 1 hour 45 minutes later. We still had lots of time to make it back to our starting point at Glooscap Campground. But it was a reminder to stay aware of tide times no matter how well prepared you think you may be.

We were spoiled with a turkey dinner. It was great to be invited for a holiday meal. Easter Blessings to all! Anna

Thomas Cove, Part Three

All good things come in threes… at least that’s what my grandmother used to say. The sun beckoned today and I could not stay inside. So, back to Thomas Cove, I went with my friend Robyn. It was time for checking trails for the third time this week😃

The tide was rolling in, the wind was strong and the sun illuminated the marshland, red cliffs and mossy woodland terrain.

We navigated the Headlands Trail Loop first. It clocked in at 4.16 km which we completed in 1hr5min. The map on the interpretive sign is definitely correct. Our hiking pace was steady but we stopped to chat and admire the view regularly.

With time to spare we decided to tackle the Economy Trail Loop as well. We started out along the path overlooking the cliffs. Once we reached the rope (check Wednesday’s post here) we carried on along the cliffside trail. The views toward Economy and Five Islands Provincial Park are spectacular. Eventually, the loop leads back to the parking lot through the woods. Cushy sun-dappled moss and countless downed trees caused by Hurricane Fiona had us marvelling at nature’s force, both positive and humbling!

This looped trail also came in at around 4 km. We took a little more time examining animal tracks, testing the pillowy quality of the moss around us and locating the markers to keep us on the path.

My personal preference was the Economy Trail Loop. It offers diverse opportunities, breathtaking views, and the option to scramble down to the sandstone rocks, tree-lined paths and mossy terrain. I will definitely return for another excursion soon. A Saturday in the sun well spent!

Enjoy your weekend, Anna

Yesterday…

…Mother Nature sent a message to remind us to stay humble. Snow and freezing rain created fleeting jewels on tree branches and beach treasures. The ice crust and icicles didn’t last long after I captured them in photos.

Friday blessings Anna

Thomas Cove Headlands Loop

Let’s continue where we left off yesterday. I reported on the Thomas Cove GeoSite in my previous post. Today i will provide some o sights on the Thomas Cove Headlands Trail Loop. The site map claims this loop to be 4 km in length. Our small group set a moderate pace and spent over two hours circumnavigating the headlands. I plan to return soon and use my distance tracker for more I depth info.

We took in some breathtaking views and even discovered some buds that will be bursting soon.

The terrain can be classified as “easy” with a few boggy sections, exposed roots and gentle inclines. Most of the wet sections offer planks to avoid getting feet muddy and wet. Overall the trail was well maintained with the Fiona damage well cleared and under control. Bring you trekking poles for better balance. Once the weather warms up I strongly recommend bringing and applying insect repellant. You will be happy that I included this reminder here.😊

The trail is never very busy! Come and explore soon! Happy exploring, Anna

Thomes Cove Cliffs of Fundy Geo Site Excursion

Thomas Cove in Economy, NS is located not far from the Cliffs of Fundy GeoPark Welcome Centre. The turn off along Hwy 209 is well signed. The gravel road leading to the parking lot is relatively well maintained. The parking lot is spacious and two trails lead to two different trail experiences. I will cover the woodland trail to the rope access onto the Jurassic era sandstone shelves in today’s blog post.

The trailhead is clearly marked and the terrain is easy with a few sections leading over roots and through boggy underbrush. We opted not to do the loop through the woods back to the parking lot. Instead some of us used the rope to get down to the sandstone shelf. Full disclosure: the bottom section is very soft and I ended up losing my footing sliding the last five feet to the bottom. There were no injuries, just red mud-caked hands, boots and clothing.

We timed our excursion for outgoing tide and easily navigated the sandstone terrain. The views of the eroding cliffs was impressive and there were some interesting rock finds. The final stretch takes the hiker across an expansive marsh grass covered bay that leads back to the walking path. If the ropes are too daunting the beach and sandstone coves are accessible via this marsh. Just ensure you are familiar with the tide schedule for the day you are visiting the Thomas Cove Geo Site.

Please note: It’s early spring and the biting insects are not buzzing yet. This will change once the weather warms up. I have visited this site in June and applying insect repellant is a must. Today we used tick repellent spray (Atlantick Brand) around our ankles and calves just to be on the safe side. Ticks are active year-round with temperatures +4C and above.

Happy hiking, Anna

Clarke Head Afternoon Hike

It was a quiet, contemplative excursion to Clarke Head this afternoon. We spent time examining rocks, discovering pyrite, admiring more sparkle on the water, walking among seaweed covered rocks and soaking in the spring breeze.

Happy Monday! Best wishes for a productive week, Anna

Cape d’Or Never Disappoints!

It was grey, we had some snow but the closer we got to Cape d’Or the more blue sky appeared!

We hiked in on the main road (somewhere during the planning stages I misunderstood that we would be exploring the woods…😜). Instead we had an uphill hike both ways… excellent for conditioning for more strenuous hiking soon!

Once again, the destination showed off its majestic splendour. Heading out with like-minded photographers is perfect! We all explore different vantage points and are able to put our own spin on what we find.

The highlight was a little birthday celebration for our friend Gaby. We made fresh coffee and shared some German Käse-Sahne-Torte (her favourite!) in the sun beside the lighthouse.

Hope everyone’s Sunday was as blissful as ours. Ready to face another week. Cheers, Anna

Anticipation…

It’s been a very wet and chilly day. I have a hike planned for tomorrow… my friends and are heading back to Cape d’Or. I am hopeful the weather will be as inviting as in the image above, captured on March 17th. The rain today was perfect for packing my knapsack and for creating a German cheesecake for coffee/tea by the lighthouse to honour one of my hiking friend’s special birthday.

Stay tuned for pictures late tomorrow. The weather forecast is actually promising us some sunshine! Great news! Wishing everyone a relaxing weekend, Anna