Seaweed and Barnacles Rainy Day Hike

I missed out on the great weather yesterday. Despite the rainy day forecast I decided to venture to Clarke Head with the outgoing tide today. I barely made it to the beach when the drizzle started but water and wind-proof clothing kept me warm and dry for the two hour excursion.

Partridge Island and Cape Sharpe (images above) moved in and out of the mist. It literally was every five to ten minutes that these two landmarks went from hidden to clearly visible.

The same held true for Cape Blomidon… it literally took only seconds to experience the two extremes.

Along my well known path I took time to explore one of the rock formations. The Old Man Seastack revealed another secret to me, can you see the tiny opening?

Hiking to Clarke Head in the rain always holds special magic for me. I don’t meet anyone on the vast stretch of beach, my thoughts roam freely and I always come home with new ideas and plans.😊 Hiking in the rain alone has proven to be my #1 contemplative practice.

Best of all, the world was definitely not a natural grey scale: I found colour everywhere!

Wishing you all a fantastic weekend! We are in for more rain… the trees have huge raindrops suspended from their branches. Stay dry, Anna

Landscape Layers

A beautiful day but no time to explore the beaches far from home…

Between crossings things off my to-do-list and facilitating my cross-Canada artists group via Zoom I took 45 minutes for a brisk walk along First and Second Beaches. I was struck by the ethereal layers the landscape presented. Such a gift!

Hope your day was fabulous! Best wishes, Anna

Wednesday Afternoon Community Hike to the Brookville Formation

The weather and tides cooperated for a fantastic afternoon hike to the Brookville Formation, a notable destination within the Cliffs of Fundy GeoPark.

Pointing the way…

I rarely meet anyone along this beach and today was another quiet day. A lone eagle circled overhead but our eyes were fixed on reaching the basalt formation that is part of the Fundy shore between Five Islands and Cape d’Or.

I am partial to this beach with its colourful pebbles and massive sea stacks.

I was looking forward to waving hello to the meditating monkey on his lofty perch… but at some time over the past six months he disappeared… I think he jumped down during one of the storms… perhaps another victim of Fiona? Can you spot him in the image on the right? Click on the images above and compare, the left image was taken today. The one on the right was pre-Fiona.

My hiking partners had never been to this beach but I am sure they will soon return!

Hiking info: Access to the beach is from Wards Brook Road across a creek. Once on the beach turn right and the Brookville Formation stands proud in the distance. The terrain is a mix of black sand and pebbles, easy to navigate.

Be mindful of the tides as this beach gets fully submerged at high tide and does not offer an escape route or an elevation where one can wait out the turning of the tide.

Enjoy today’s destination images. Happy Wednesday, Anna

Rack Cards are Here!

It’s official! I took the plunge, the business name Tide Roller & Mudlarkers was registered as a business in Nova Scotia recently and I am gearing up for a bush tourist season. My rack cards are here and will be distributed shortly.

Happy Valentine’s Day!! Bestwishes, Anna

Signs of Winter…

My friend and I took in a couple hikes today. When we reached the beach near the mouth of the Ramshead River we discovered a true winter wonderland across the river from us. There was time to stop on the other side to inspect the gigantic icicles and ice covered rocks across from Cape Split Belford the tide would cut us off.

How can one not fall in love with winter when we receive such gifts from Mother Nature?

Happy Monday from the Cliffs of Fundy Geopark, Anna

Surf’s Up!!!

Tide was nearing its high point this afternoon at West Advocate, Nova Scotia! Humbling and invigorating at the same time…

Some still images that don’t require any words. Enjoy!

Happy Sunday, friends and fellow ocean lovers. May these images provide you with energy for another work week, Anna

First Beach on a Chilly Saturday Morning…

It was quiet at First Beach… Cape Blomidon was ever so close… the Herring Gulls were huddled close to the ground trying to stay warm.
A tree-like sponge structure dusted with slow was frozen to the pebbles…

Enjoy your weekend, everyone! Happy Saturday, Anna

Winter Beach Treasures

The beach always offers up colour, even a dreary, grey winter day holds surprises under foot. Look closely and see the brightly coloured pebbles, the deep burgundy seaweed frozen in time or the soft red and cream of coral…

Wishing you all a relaxing weekend, Anna

Partridge Island Hike Impressions

One week ago tomorrow I embarked on my hazard assessment hike to inspect the Partridge Island Eco Trail. The images above will serve as a memory boost…

… the images here were from this afternoon’s hike. I had borrowed crampons from the local recreation department but they were not needed. We managed fine with hiking boots and trekking poles.

The views from the look off and places along the way never disappoint.

The tide was nearing its highest point as we arrived back at the car.

The sun eluded us today. No matter what, the Bay of Fundy has so much else to offer! Happy Wednesday, Anna

Passing Through Lower Economy…

…on our way to Halifax today the Bay of Fundy’s Minas Basin presented a view I have never experienced before.

There were ice chunks littering the foreground. The water itself was so calm that it provided the perfect opportunity for reflections for the headlands of Economy Point and Kiln Stack Island.

Have a great start to the week, everyone! We are officially on the second half of Winter😊. Best wishes, Anna

The Other Side of the Polar Freeze…

The weather has turned! Time to head back to the beach. We checked out Ottawa House Beach where we were treated to great wave action and some fabulous ice formations!

An amazing treat to photograph with special thanks to Mother Nature!!

Happy Sunday! Stay warm, Anna

This sums it up…

I don’t think I need to add a caption to this image… the background info: Teak went outside into the freezing yard. He did his business and decided that it was time to get one of us to pick him up from the backyard. He refused to take another step! He is not leaving his cuddle space on the couch!

The weather is supposed to turn tomorrow. We are all hopeful. Happy Saturday, friends. Stay warm! Best wishes, Anna

We are tough!

We haven’t really had winter in Nova Scotia yet. This weekend it’s supposed to drop down to some Saskatchewan-like temperatures we are familiar with and everyone around us is a little flustered. Advice to prevent pipes from freezing, keeping the house warm in case of power outages due to cables snapping and the need to shut heat pumps off and rely on an alternative heat source (baseboard heaters, oil or wood) are circulating on social media.

We always have an extra sweater and are prepared. Have a great weekend, everyone! Stay warm and cozy, Anna

Partridge Island Winter Hike

The sky and my stress level were on par this afternoon😜. I just had to get out for a brisk walk. Partridge Island called: it’s often deserted and it provides some shelter from the coastal winds.

It was an eye-opener today to see so many downed trees as I ascended the snow-covered trail. I was grateful for the trekking poles I grabbed at the last minute and wish I had brought my crampons as they would have provided additional traction. Lesson learned! I navigated the trail without any slips or falls.

A couple downed trees forced me to make a detour but at no time did I find myself in a precarious situation. When the sun broke through the clouds I felt rewarded and it really helped clear the cobwebs from my mind…

Trail info: The Partridge Island Eco Trail is a 3 km rugged and narrow path which at times can be steep. Trekking poles are recommended. In winter I strongly suggest to also wear crampons. The trail is too narrow for snowshoes.

Avid hikers and cardio junkies will welcome the initial steep ascent. This trail eventually levels out and descents toward the look-off tower. I would label the Partridge Island Eco Trail Loop as moderate in difficulty. Sturdy footwear is necessary to safely navigate the uneven terrain. Due to the snow covered unbroken trail I slowed my pace, stopped for photographs along the way and allowed for one hour to complete the hike.

I sincerely hope today’s hike report is helpful to others. Wishing everyone a great Thursday. We are preparing for a deep freeze this weekend. Hopefully it levels out so we can explore the great Nova Scotia outdoors at least for a short while!

Best wishes, Anna

Sometimes you just have to escape to the beach…

My new snowshoes arrived yesterday and I was keen to try them. My scheduled hike was poorly attended but my friend decided to tag along and try snowshoeing for the first time. Fran did amazingly well!

The snow wasn’t very deep but I detected ice in regular intervals. We opted for leaving the snowshoes on for the entire trail until we emerged onto the beach. The view was spectacular! Cape Split across the water stood tall and mighty. T

he morning had started out at -15C and it warmed up to -8C by the time we started the excursion. The sun was out in full force, the sky was bright blue and there was no wind. It was an amazing afternoon overall!

Trail info: we chose snowshoes to avoid slipping on icy patches. The approximately 4km trail itself is usually rutted and uneven but easy to navigate overall. Spring, summer and fall call for rubber boots to get through and past the deep puddles and muddy spots.

The trail leading to Diligent River Beach is wooded, there were no obstructions this winter. The beach is vast and great for photographers. Alternatively: just watching the tides going out and coming in is a great backdrop for a picnic. It’s never busy and I have rarely met anyone else. if you are looking for solitude, this hike and beach destination are sure to deliver.

I hope you enjoyed this short Winter hike report from Diligent River. Happy February, Anna