8/6/15 Now we are here!

Escaping Halifax, we ventured out into the South Shore of Nova Scotia. Peggy's Cove gave us our first glimpse of the many inland fingers of the sea. The town sucked us in. Quaint and located picturesquely, it draws hoards of tourists from the big city. No parking, a snail of traffic in and out and not too many happy faces drove us away from a charming but tourist infested spot.

Flying free, west on the Lighthouse Route, Nova Scotia started to show us her true colors. Riding low with the sea, we watched waves crash over jagged rocks. Then we soared up into dense forest, only to descend again into one pastel painted fishing village after another. Dories, homes, lobster pots and the many lovingly tended gardens present a palette of such vibrant color that make the summer seem endless. This was why we came.

In and out of coves, some shallow, some cut so far inland that it took us hours to navigate, we  rode a 220 mile trip on what would have been a straight shot of about 70. Thinking we would make Yarmouth, the pleasure of the coast held us in bay and our stop for the night was Liverpool, in a lovely old Inn, by the water, of course.

Every turn on today's ride put us by water. Rivers, inlets, and lakes surrounded us as light houses, functional and historical, popped up. A sponge of a land mass, this Province floats on the water that provides its life. Every fishing boat in each village is someone's livelihood. These pleasant days gloss over the harsh reality of long winters, raging storms and strangling fog that are a large part of every fisherman's life here. Riding through, I caught the sense of pride in place and profession that the residents of this coast have. Now I feel that we have truly arrived.

Peggy's Cove

A paint sample of house colors!

Lunch by the water :)

South Shore sunset