Sept. 8, 2013
I’m going to start this post by relating my last 24 hours. Yesterday morning looked like an ideal time for a bike ride, so I loaded our bike onto the tender and went ashore, tying the tender up to a dock owned by a local fellow who had said we could use it anytime we wanted. I offloaded the bike and proceed up the hill to the road. As I was adjusting the seat, a car came by and stopped. The woman inside said “Hi, I’m Claire. You must be Kathy. My husband said to tell you that if you need a car, take that one over there. The keys are in it”. On further discussion I learned that Claire and David are the parents of Alan and Ann Marie, who have allowed us to use their wifi for internet connection as their house is close to the point where we are anchored. David saw me bringing the bike ashore and thought perhaps I planned to ride it to the grocery store and maybe it would be easier if I had a car. I explained that I was just going out for some exercise and sightseeing. Claire pointed out her house and I saw David waxing his car in the driveway. I stopped to say hello and 20 minutes later, finally set out on my bike ride.
My ride took me along Second Peninsula Road and is probably one of the most scenic bike rides I have ever done. I am normally not comfortable riding on roads, but this one had little traffic and seemed tailor made for biking. It did, however, have some real hills! My first stop was at a beautiful cemetery where I searched for and found a geocache. Then I continued my ride for another five miles or so, finally reaching the point of the peninsula. The last house was a beautiful white house on a hill with amazing flowers along the front. There was an older man tending to the flowers and I said hello as I went past. I soon reached the end of the road and turned around, this time stopping to comment on the amazing flowers. “Well”, he said, “the really good flowers are around back. Ride on back there and see”. So I did. What a magnificent place this was. Perfectly manicured lawn – and not a small one! Flowers everywhere, house in perfect repair. I returned to chat with the man, whose name is Wilfred, and soon learned that he and his wife grow almost all the flowers, mostly annuals, in their house and hothouse. They take care of all the landscape themselves. When I asked if he was from the area, he said he had “lived here for 91 years, except for 3 years during The War”. One of ten children, he had built the house in 1951. On a sadder note, he mentioned that his wife had taken a fall earlier in the year and was now in a rehab hospital in Halifax. I could have stayed and talked to this man all day, but wanted to get back to watch some sailboat racing.
As I wound my way back along the road, I marveled at the scenery and tried to take it all in. I stopped again to chat with David and we arranged to get together soon for drinks. I hurried back to the boat, offloaded the bike and grabbed my camera to go watch the Nonsuch races (more on that later). Following the races, I came back to the boat, downloaded the photos I had taken and made a couple CD’s ot them, showered, then headed to the Yacht Club for drinks with the Nonsuch owners, many of whom I had met yesterday. They invited me to join them for dinner and I barely made it back to the boat before dark.
So that was today – and lest you think it unusual, it seems to be quite the norm here in Nova Scotia. When we last reported in, we were in Halifax. We departed Halifax and headed south to Chester, a lovely town in a beautiful bay. We enjoyed exploring the town but I was looking forward to returning to Mahone Bay to meet our “friends” there. We had stopped briefly in Mahone Bay on our way north, anchoring for a couple nights in Mader’s Cove. As we were departing Mahone Bay, I received several emails from people who had seen the boat, googled our website, and sent emails offering dinners, rides to town, or anything else we might need. Though we had not had the chance to meet any of these people on our first trip, I had started a nice email dialogue and we had looked forward to getting together on our return. Soon we were anchored back in Mader’s Cove and we began a great chapter of our cruising adventures.
Shear Madness 
#1 by Mallory on May 27, 2022 - 9:50 am
Very nicce blog you have here
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#2 by Anonymous on September 12, 2013 - 11:48 am
KC Sounds wonderful there. I miss bike riding in the cool crisp air…and the hills of West Virginia was one of my favorite, when I had young, lean and strong on my side…even Reston Virginia in the fall the great bike paths. Sicily was another fun place to bike…Kasha Bear would follow me for an hour on our way to the long beach…where I met Nunzio on New Years Day 1988; then Kasha and I would swim and sun for a few more hours…then ride back…all the time she was running ‘ … Bradley seems to enjoy biking here in Naples Florida in the sweltering heat for hours…
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#3 by Michael cook on September 11, 2013 - 6:12 pm
Hi Kathy,
Great to hear of your Canadian cruise. I am cruising the Whitsundays once again. Planning to stop at S Mole for golf and my birthday.
Fair winds
Michael
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#4 by anthony almonte on September 11, 2013 - 2:57 pm
i got to take a tour of an amazing yacht docked on block island this past week
lady Janet — look it up se is beautiful
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#5 by Dannie on September 11, 2013 - 8:25 am
I know it was beautiful!!! Can you send pictures of the scenic bike ride and the beautiful home with the garden? Thanks
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#6 by ctaylor1655 on September 11, 2013 - 8:25 am
Great post!
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#7 by Susan Soza on September 11, 2013 - 7:49 am
I love hearing about your adventures. What a fun life! Enjoy! Susan
Sent from my iPad
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#8 by Renate on September 11, 2013 - 7:34 am
What an exciting experience Kathy! Glad you are having fun and enjoying the fruit of you labour. Love Renate xoxooxoxo
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#9 by David Venning on September 11, 2013 - 7:25 am
Hi there folks…
It’s great to read of your latest wanderings.. Cruising in that part of North America/Canada is truly wonderful. everywhere & in so many ways!
Meanwhile here in OZ..
Last weekend we had a general election AND a change of Gument ! We know your thoughts on OZ and the welfare state but you must be larfing y’heads off at the way we’ve bin handling the arrival of Boat People. now the incoming PM has a plan to buy-up all the FBI (fishing boats – Indonesian) to stem the flow of asylum seekers. I’m thinking of lodging an application with Julie B (Foreign Minister designate) for to be an FBI spotter for Tony ABBOTT. After all is said and done. I have 15 years experience in identifying vessels suitable for the transport of people who would spend 6 days in a leaking boat.. but my offer would be subject to a suitable fee, hehe !!
Here in down-town Werribee. our Nectarine tree is in full bloom. I’ve pruned it heavily this year to try and avoid losing any more large branches. The bed of Iris that we refurbished last year is looking pretty good . Kathy, hope I can catch your eye with a few fabulous blooms when I reach the age of 90+
,,,,, and the Cliveas are also blooming beautifully. We’re really making a big effort to keep slug/snails at bay and prevent fungal infection of roses & strawberry plants this Summer.. fingers XXd. Last Friday night The Austin LTU’s Anniversary Ball[1] was held in the ballroom at The Grand Hyatt[1] and Marly was looking her v-best for the occasion. . a good time was had by all .. and lotsa $$ were raised for further research & development. She reckons she’s good to go.. trip the light-fantastic for another 20years !! The following day she worked at a local Polling Both. it was a v-long day. Otherwise. we’ve both survived another Winter in the South.. but did really miss the climatic conditions we’d become accustom to in The Whitsundays.
That must be all for now.. Cheers from DV and Marly B
PS : On the news tonight the incoming Gument has announced a $300m reduction in spending for their “Direct Action Plan”; as if we needed further proof of their intent! The target of reducing carbon emissions by 5% within 7 years here in OZ is looking more laughable by the minute. Tony ABBOTT really thinks global warming is a myth !!
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From: mvSHEAR MADNESS comment-reply@wordpress.com Sent: Wednesday, 11 September 2013 9:19pm To: imipl@bigpond.net.au Subject: [New post] 2013-09 Princes Inlet
Kathy Clark posted: “Sept. 8, 2013 I’m going to start this post by relating my last 24 hours. Yesterday morning looked like an ideal time for a bike ride, so I loaded our bike onto the tender and went ashore, tying the tender up to a dock owned by a local fellow who had said “
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#10 by Anonymous on September 11, 2013 - 7:07 am
Kathy, always enjoy your blog like all. Thanks for the update! Was going to recommend the book, Escape Camp 14, but I see from your book list that you have already read it. Although troubling, the book certainly shines the light on N. Korea tyranny and abuse. It also reflects on human behavior when starved of not only food but love. It is difficult to say which is worst. Please be safe! OX Sandy B.
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#11 by Pam Valente on September 11, 2013 - 6:49 am
Where are the photos of the beautiful landscape and flowers? Darn! I rest my case – cruising is all about the people. Enjoyed reading your blog this morning over a cuppa. Have fun.
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