Tuesday (8-30-16) would be our longest driving day of many lengthy legs during this trip. From Cape St. Mary’s to Pictou Harbour we’d cover 268 miles. Of course we had lots of cool stops to make along the way.
We were up for the sunrise at The House of Friendship B&B and it was a beauty. Carol prepared a scrumptious breakfast featuring French toast with a drop-dead view of the ocean from atop the cliffs.
We passed several massive churches, which were Acadian heritage sites, but the show stopper was not only North America’s largest wooden church, it’s one of the tallest and longest wooden structures in N.A.
Sainte-Marie Church opened in 1905, was built in the form of a cross and is 184-feet tall.
We set our sights on “The home of the world famous Digby Scallops” and followed a steady stream of motorcycles and eclectic rigs to the fishing hamlet. Digby was gearing up for the annual Wharf Rat Rally when twenty-five thousand bikers invade there quiet town for five days.
Digby is about fishing, especially scallops. Their fishermen ply the most productive scallop beds on the planet.
I have never cared for scallops, but one does not visit a place that is world famous for something and not try it out. Our first attempt was just OK.
Every restaurant in town served Digby scallops in some form, so we asked an elderly local “Born and raised in Digby” where to go. Without hesitation he pointed across the street and said, “That store with the pretend lighthouse on the front.” I was hooked forever after scarfing down two orders of Digby scallops wrapped in bacon with honey, maple, whisky sauce at the unassuming Shore Line Restaurant and Gift Shop. Heavenly!
The French and the British fought incessantly over Nova Scotia and there are a bunch of forts left to prove it. Fort Anne was built in 1702 and designed by Vauban, the guru of European fort design during his time.
Fort Anne is Canada’s oldest national historic site and is located near Annapolis Royal.
We were re-energized from our long trip when we pulled up to Pictou Lodge. It was nestled in the forest on Pictou Harbour with an unobstructed view of sunrise across the water.
Last night’s B&B was all about the sunset. Pictou Lodge promised a chance for an amazing sunrise.
The sunset at Pictou Lodge wasn’t shabby by any means. We had dinner in the lodge. Afterward at the bar I learned about electricity generated from Bay of Fundy tides from men who installed the equipment. It was a very rewarding and tiring day.