…Home to Custom Guided Upper Bay of Fundy Ocean-floor Tours Tours .
Once a week I lead a walking group right here in Parrsboro. Anyone is welcome to join! Membership is free.
During July and August we meet up and walk Monday evenings to escape the daytime heat. Tonight we circumnavigated the Parrsboro Lighthouse, a nice change of scenery and pace.
Each walk is unique and these days we are taking advantage of low tide times to check out beaches in and around Parrsboro. This never gets old…
Good Monday night, everyone. Best wishes for a fabulous week, Anna
At the end of day
Flowers and weeds shine brightly –
Illuminated!
It’s a glorious summer day here in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia. Time for a short excursion close to home. I decided to get out to the lighthouse as the tide was going out. I have been here once before. That experience was vastly different… it was early January and the wind was howling.
Today’s excursion was beautiful! There were flowers, a warm breeze that made the heat bearable and best of all, not a soul in sight. I didn’t hurry at all and my hour spent in solitude kicked the weekend off in style.
It’s hard to envision that the waves lap at the foundation of the lighthouse during high tide.
The view from the lighthouse peninsula is stunning and provides another impression of the pier.
On the way back to the car I was reminded of my visit to Cape Cod a few years ago. I loved Cape Cod, the sandy beaches, refreshing breezes, quaint cottages… after living here for nearly two years I feel the same about Parrsboro and the shore lining the Minas Basin.
Wishing you all a beautiful weekend, Anna
I haven’t had a lot of beach time lately but there is always something to appreciate! I call these raindrops “jewels” as they sparkle and glisten on the clump of grass…
But then there is the evening sky tonight: emulating a water colour painting. So soothing and calm.
May your Friday evening be blessed with time to reflect and relax! Best wishes, Anna
The view from Ottawa House-by-the-Sea tonight. Pure magic!
Good night, Anna
Observing beaches
Where water flows in and out –
Tides govern my life.
My days are filled with amazing sights. Sometimes my attention span feels challenged with so many note-worthy impressions. For today I just want to share some random images. Hope you enjoy the offering, Anna
Please click on individual images to fully appreciate the subject matter.
…or more appropriately: Poppy Love!
I have always delighted in growing poppies. During our last years in Calgary we had a poppy bed in the front yard people would drive to and take photographs of. We took some of the seeds with us when we moved to Saskatchewan. But, no matter how hard we tried, year after year, a big fat NOTHING! I gave up. Then, last year I spotted the most beautiful pink poppies in my friend’s garden here in Parrsboro. She generously shared seeds with me. We planted them anticipating first blooms in 2023.
Imagine our surprise when the first poppy flower burst open in all is splendour on June 30th. These poppies are just stunning and I can’t get enough. Each day I visit the flower bed looking for changes, more buds, new blooms and any tiny changes nature cares to share with me.
All the images are straight out of my iPhone 13 – no filters, no cropping, no sharpening – captured as these details presented themselves.
I hope you enjoy these intimate images and that they will set the tone for a fantastic week! To all my friends and followers: Happy 4th of July. Best wishes, Anna
These upside down trees
Red and green leaves unfolding –
Flash of perception…
I am always up for an adventure and exploring areas I have not visited before. I was invited to join friends and their German visitors to explore the other side of Partridge Island. This has been on my bucket list ever since I enjoyed the view from the look off from the top. As with anything: looking up from the sea stack admired from afar was so different and well worth the slippery scramble across seaweed covered rocks recently exposed by the receding tide.
I approached from the East Bay beach side. I even stopped and took a couple of images of the beach flowers…
Taking it slow across the slippery basalt rocks past the weir was the key. We were soon welcomed by stunning views toward Cape Spear and Cape Split.
But best of all was the scenery on hand! Rugged sea stacks and rock deposits made for some wonderful rock hounding.
It’s a place where not many will venture making it even more special and worthwhile.
I could have spent hours just sitting and appreciating the hidden cove… But, keeping an eye on the tide is imperative. We turned around in good time to avoid unexpected water. The weir was emptied of the last fish harvest and ready to receive new bounty with the incoming tide.
Time to head home for my first coffee of the day! Hope you are enjoying a second cup as you are scrolling through today’s offering. Saturday blessings to all, Anna
I can hardly believe it: this is our second Canada Day living in Nova Scotia. Time seemed to just fly!
The day promises to be filled with great activities. Our choir will be performing at Ottawa House by the Sea. I snapped the picture above during our dress rehearsal last night. There is also a cake auction fundraiser to support the venue! I delivered several baked items to contribute to the cause.
Canada Day has a distinct red and white theme. As I dropped by First Beach on my way home last night I noticed the red and white theme continue with the lighthouse.
What really grabbed my attention was the sky overhead!
Wishing you all a fabulous Canada Day, Anna. Hope you get some cake…😄
Last week I upgraded my blog to include video clips. It’s only fitting that I start sharing some moving pictures. I have chosen two clips: the top video was captured from the look off at Five Island Lighthouse Park on Saturday, June 25th around low tide. The video below was captured from approximately the same spot on Sunday, June 26th two hours after high tide.
I hope you enjoy these videos. Best wishes for a great Thursday, Anna
The term “ocean floor” regularly draws attention. It is my favourite place to explore once the tide moves out. The mighty Bay of Fundy waters move “treasures” about, deposit sea glass and rocks while continually eroding geological formations.
Enjoy today’s offering! Best wishes for a fabulous day, Anna
Rain, rain, go away
Children sang the chant today –
Then the sun appeared!
A vacationing couple from Halifax contacted me Saturday morning. Heidi from the Pleasant Street Inn suggested had passed on my information and we connected in person just as they were finishing one of the Pleasant Street Inn’s epic breakfasts.
We met up Sunday afternoon and ventured out onto the mudflats together for a two hour excursion in bright sunshine and summer heat.
I am happy I suggested Soley’s Cove, another unique Jurassic period immersion opportunity. My tour participants loved the other-worldly experience. They promised to be back very soon.
Happy Monday. Best wishes, Anna
It is no secret that the Bay of Fundy holds a great many treasures and ancient information. Five Islands Provincial Park provides us with a “measure in time” where we can examine a fault line that intersects the Jurassic and the Triassic time periods reaching back 200 million years.
Guiding a group of friends from the day use area to the Old Wife Formation at low tide yesterday was a memorable experience. Here are just a few images captured along the way.
We arrived approximately two hours before the tide was at its lowest point. Witnessing the disappearing Bay of Fundy waters and experiencing a walk on the ocean floor was what my group was hoping for.
This was a leisurely walk, running shoes or light hiking boots are recommended. We spent approximately three hours walking and exploring the shoreline
I hope you enjoy the short recap of yesterday’s adventure. Happy Sunday, Anna
I love an extended hike! The weather predictions were favourable for last Thursday, June 23rd. I signed up to participate and my worries about the 20 km distance were completely unfounded.
It’s always great to join an experienced group when exploring a new route. I am not sure I would have followed through on my own when I arrived at the trailhead with its narrow path, tall grass and branches filling in less travelled terrain.
The first leg through the woods leads to Polly’s Flats beach across from the Apple River Sandbank. I always breathe easier when I am near the water.
We discovered several million year old peat moss deposits as we made our way to the trail leading to the Apple River lighthouse. The rich natural history keeps my interest on high alert.
Cape Cappston is the point the lighthouse is situated on. I carefully made my way to the edge of the cliff to look beyond. The rocky shore is another testament to the forces of nature. Looking across to the New Brunswick coast one can just make out Cape Enrage.
After a break for lunch we backtracked through the woods and took the turn leading toward Carrying Cove.
What a sight! Weathered trees, huge rock formations and in the distant water seals barking… it truly is out of this world.
Several miles of steep cliffs, climbing over seaweed covered rocks and bright sunshine kept us moving forward.
We navigated our way past Birch Cove Head into Birch Cove, our final destination before walking another 4.5 km back to our vehicles. I have great difficulty describing the impressive vistas and cliffs with words…
Make sure to enlarge images 4 and 6 in the gallery above and will be able to identify several circular openings in the rock face. These were left by the fossilized trees that have separated from the rock through constant exposure to the elements.
A brief rest in the shade of the mighty cliffs prepared us for the 4.5 km hike back to our starting point. I will leave you with the image of a fossil and Sheep’s Laurel that fought my eye on the hot, bug-infested hike out.
Happy Saturday, everyone! Off to lead a tour on the ocean floor during low tide! Best wishes, Anna
The morning walk definitely called for raincoats and despite the jewel-like raindrops on leaves and flowers it was a very short excursion through the neighbourhood.
Eventually the clouds cleared and Ottawa House beach beckoned. I was pleased to see three Plein Air participants capturing the impressive vistas.
Parrsboro Creative is currently hosting the International Plein Air Painting Festival (PIPAF) with 30 juried artists from across Canada and the USA. The weather has been favourable and I love meeting the artists in all settings.
I had the pups with me and decided on an impromptu photoshoot on the beach. It was a bit like herding chickens. Suddenly neither of them remembered the “sit and stay” command. This was the only image I managed to capture that was worthwhile sharing.😁
It’s definitely summer, the tides leave beautiful messes behind!
Before I saw them I smelled them… the much anticipated wild roses on the beach! They are much different than those we find in the prairies… these permeate the air with their sweet perfume to attract insects and humans alike.
I could not resist and picked a handful of blossoms…
Happy Friday, everyone! Best wishes, Anna
Sky, clouds and forest
An upside down rainy day –
Impressionism.
A half hour just before the tide rolled in last Sunday yielded some nice crystal finds at Partridge Island beach.
Our area is a rock hound’s paradise and multiple-guided tours stop at this beach regularly. Parrsboro is uniquely situated on the Minas Basin and as such has had an important place in how the planet evolved. Google “Pangea” or “ super continent” and fill your mind with amazing facts!
Here is an image from the Fundy Geological Museum with examples of the provincial mineral and its diverse appearance.
It’s fantastic to have such a great resource right here in town. The Fundy Geological Museum is open from Wednesday through Monday. Make sure to drop by and explore the natural history of the area with amazing interactive displays.
Happy Wednesday, Anna
Tide Rollers & Mudlarkers...