Goats Do Roam: Cape Breton

Showing posts with label Cape Breton. Show all posts

Rock the Lobster: actually a saying in Nova Scotia

Since I had already worked in Western and Central Canada, I was itching to go out East. Why? I really dont know. Probably because it was as far as I could get without crossing an international border, and because it was near the water. And, well..

why not?

The view! Minutes away from the farm.
Here is The New Minas Basin, which is opens
into the Bay of Fundy, directly connecting
to the Atlantic Ocean.

I figured, Im young, Im healthy- nothing here is holding me back. I did not hesitate at all and once I had decided that I wanted to go to Nova Scotia, (and eat all the seafood I could get my hands on, while resting on the beaches of an Atlantic Maritime province) I was determined to find work there! More money, more travel is sometimes the case, so I knew I needed to make some money while I was there to maximize my exploration while there.

I was offered work at an organic farm in Grand Pre, in Annapolis Valley along the Bay of Fundy (wine region and agriculture region of N.S.) I was hired as a Farm Hand, who would; harvest root vegetables, herbs, and thousands of pumpkins at Halloween time, as well as help make and package tofu, and run a Tofu stand at the Halifax and Wolfville farmers markets. The Halifax market was HUGE. It is at the Old Alexander Keiths brewery down by the docks. I heard its the largest market in Canada, and I believe it. Its pretty much delicious labyrinth. And the Wolfville market...Lets just say, its close to my heart!!

I highly recommend Richard Hennigars Suprima Organic Apple Juice! He minimizes gasoline dependance, and has organic Grass Benders. Thats right, grass benders! I harvested apples for Richard for the summer and the next summer I did some grass bending. But its not for the faint at heart. :)

Below is a pretty hilarious, while very informative video clip of what part of our job was while working at Suprimas Organic Apple Orchard. Here is a coworker Rick, a Nova Scotia native and Richard Hennigar, the owner of Suprima explaining what it is, and the benefits of organic grass bending. Some clips from the Wolfville market too.

Wolfville was a good biking distance from Grand Pre, about10 km, and was full of students my age since it is the Home of Acadia University. I was also able to meet some people from the Katimavik program too.They came to internship for a few weeks on the same farm I was at,and we had some good laughs!
I also worked with some foreign woofers, (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) from France, Belgium, Germany, California, and Japan. THAT was so much fun in itself.

One of my favourite memories has to be going into Wolfville on foot one time, our way lit by a full moon. We met up with some local university students our age down by the harbour, had a bon fire and ended up singing Bob Marley in unison by the end of the night. Or rolling down grassy hills after having a few drinks! haha and walking to see the full moon at the harbour..all good times.

Full moon, low tide. Wolfville Harbour Mudflats

All in all, Nova Scotia, whether youre in Annapolis Valley, or Cape Breton Island..it really is a magical place. Some say its all the amethyst there that creates this relaxed and happy energy, but who knows.
While I was there, I had some of the best seafood in the world, and met what Im sure are the friendliest, and most genuine people Ive ever met. AND the ultimate goal, I learned A LOT about all sorts of farming! From working on this organic tofu farm, to Richards organic apple orchard, to a local winery- I tried it all...and I loved it all.

The 2nd Most Beautiful Island in the World!

Welcome to

Cape Breton Island!

Rated time and time again, as one of the most beautiful travel destinations in the entire world!

And rated 2nd Most Beautiful Island in the World by National Geographic!

The island is surrounded by the

Gulf of Saint Lawrence
Northumberland Strait
Cabot Strait
Atlantic ocean

Talk about relaxing!

The interior of the island also is no stranger to large bodies of water to catch the eye and calm the mind. Dominated by one of the world’s largest salt water lake “Bras d’Or” (Arm of Gold – in English), the interior holds one of the most unique aquatic ecosystems. (1) If you are seeking a place of natural beauty, and harmonious seclusion, this is it! i did!

If you go in the Fall you can attend one of the largest Celtic Music Festivals in all of Canada!

The island is really special and unique place because all of the areas disclose different geological details, as well as a variety of heritages from Scottish, to Miq'mak, Acadian, Irish, and English.

The cultural influences permeate the language, the food, the villages and hamlets, the music, the people- as is primarily recognized for its Scottish Gaelic heritage.(6) It is not uncommon to hear Celtic music at festivals or in the bars! You definetly dont have to go far to be part of an authentic cultural experience and to see some of the most stunning and unspoiled seaside ecosystems in the world. In fact, this island was rated the 2nd most beautiful island in world by The National Geographic in 2002/03, and rated 3rd by others travel organizations(4)

Here is Baddeck, Cape Breton- at the beginning point of the Cabot Trail. It is right off of the main Lake, The Bra's D'ors.Home to a Yacht Club (with a wonderful and friendly barmaid), The Big Hill Retreat, Baddeck is the ultimate pit stop for Cape Breton villages- especially in the summer!

Above is a great map of Cape Breton Island, actually one of the same maps I had with my while working and travelling there. The yellow line shows the Cabot Trail, and the French flags show where the Acadian communities still exist, even after their expulsion by the English over 200 years ago. Many of the places mentioned in this blog can be seen here.

Some great spots I stopped a long the way:

Myself with Terry-owner at Big Hill Retreat, and 2 woofers from France, Vincent and Vivien.
Usiban Ban Falls, Fall 2009.

Usiban Falls( pronounced Ush-ka-ban): A beautiful waterfall to see, great hike in the Fall! There are 2 trails provided, one a bit longer than the other. This is close to Baddeck, at the beginning and end of the Cabot Trail- Very nice for a day trip and close to Big Hill Retreat.

Check out this video I foundon youtube of a hike to this waterfall!

Meat Cove: If youre looking for an adventure, try going off the beaten path a few kilometers north of Lone Shieling. To get there we found our GPS telling us we were on "Unnamed Road"! which then went from paved.. to gravel.. to dirt... to potholes in dirt.. to..well, a huge rocky cliff in the most Northern community of Nova Scotia overlooking NOTHING but the Atlantic Ocean!

Apparently the road used to be used for moose hunting, and you will see this by all the moose antlers along the roadside. I guess it has lost it's popularity and when the road deteriorated about 50 years ago, noone replaced it! Makes it feel really rustic, and raw. And you can see that mother nature is reclaiming the land. VICTORY! But, you have to be a particular kind of person to enjoy your stay there. Don't expect a tropical beach with fry carts and motels. This is off the beaten path completely. I have to say, I quite enjoyed myself- but be careful! The roads are high on the mountains and close to the water. It can be very dangerous- and stunning!

If you want to see what I mean about this road along the coast, up to Meat Cove,

check out this video!

St. Anns Bay: The East Coast of the East Coast! Great for fishing.
Ingonish: My favourite beach on the island!! Absolutely beautiful, Big round pink rocks, turn to the softest sand youve ever touched with bare feet! <3 I LOVE THIS PLACE!
Lone Shieling: A great place for a long interwoven hike through a 400 year old forest. Be prepared to possibly encounter mountain lions, and coyotes, and from what Ive heard from the locals - Black Pathers! Apparently years ago Cape Breton had a really high population of coyotes, so two black panthers were set free to..."hunt them out"..Years later, rumour has it that the locals have spotted pathers on the island still! Also, I should mention there is a definite lack of people in this area after the peak season, so its not a good place to lock your keys in the car!(I learned this the hard way!) Don't get me wrong- I would still highly recommend and urge you to visit this spectacular place, as long as you are responsible and prepared.
Pleasant Bay: Yet another breathtaking beach, the difference? A small harbour is nestled onto Pleasant Bay where you will see whales spouting water off the shore! You will also find 3 huge concrete cubes, which have been creatively spray painted to resemble 3 matching dice. We had our fun taking pictures with these dice- the simple pleasures of life! The island life!

Sources

(1)http://www.worldinterestingfacts.com/nature/top-5-most-beautiful-islands-in-the-world.html

(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canso_Causeway

(3) http://transcanadahighway.com/novascotia/CansoCauseway.htm

(4)Cape Breton Highlands National Park

(5)(http://www.capebretoncottages.info/)

(6) http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Cape_Breton_Island

(7) http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Cape_Breton_Island

(and we can't forget the Cape Breton Locals!)

The Skunks Are Really Missin Out!

Cape Breton Island is technically part of the province Nova Scotia, but lies North-east of the mainland and is separated by the Canso Strait. (1) To artificially connect Nova Scotia to the island, the Canso Causeway was built, and completed in 1955. (7)The origin of the word "Canso" is thought to come from the Nova Scotian Native Tribe,'Miqmak' word kamsok, meaning "opposite the lofty cliffs." (2)

It is the deepest causeway in the world! 65 metres deep, and more than 1,000 metres long! The causeway not only connects road and rail traffic to the island, but also allows marine traffic to pass.

The Causeway prevents ice from entering the strait, making year-round navigation possible for even the largest ships(7) It seems only the skunks couldn't make it over the causeway! Although skunks populate Nova Scotias mainland, there are NO skunks on the island!....no complaints here!

John Cabot (his real name was Giovanni Caboto) reportedly visited the island in 1497. This would make him the first Renaissance European explorer to visit present-day Canada. However, historians are unclear as to whether Cabot first visited Newfoundland or Cape Breton Island. (7) This alleged discovery is commemorated by Cape Breton's Cabot Trail!

I have had the pleasure or touring this trail, and I can say-it really speaks for itself! It's really something else. I think anyone who goes there will have a great time, and leave with a feeling of renewal. Being in a place such as this rekindles the connection you feel to all around you, and will remind you of life, and living.

Sources

(1)http://www.worldinterestingfacts.com/nature/top-5-most-beautiful-islands-in-the-world.html

(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canso_Causeway

(7) http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Cape_Breton_Island

(and we can't forget the Cape Breton Locals!)

Big Hill Retreat & Shambala Meditation

Through learning about things outside of ourselves, we learn about things inside of ourselves.

A few years ago I became more familiar with the practice of yoga- which means "Union". Yoga is definitely that- a union of body and mind. As I read different books on this art I also came across books about meditation as well as Buddha and his teachings. What I find most interesting about the Buddhism belief, is that it urges you to question things, and it does not condemn doubt. Buddhism does not right or wrong any emotion, but only encourages you to accept what is and to use emotions as tools to discover your path to enlightenment.

Working at Big Hill Retreat

The main cabin at Big Hill Retreat, tucked away, just off the Cabot Trail a few km from Baddeck. This cabin is gorgeous and hand-crafted by Terry himself, just like the other 3 cabins which are available for meditation and vacations! The Pottery Barn to the right is where Linda, a very talented and long-time potter makes her creations and holds seminars!

http://bighillpottery.wordpress.com/
www.bighillretreat.com

Working at Big Hill Retreat

The first time I went to Nova Scotia, in the Fall of 2009, I had the privelage of working at this beautiful getaway on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.

I spent my time there:

Enjoying the island life! Hiking, fishing
Listening to Michael Gabriel (a beautiful singer) for the first time, and hours spent listening to Sting!
Learning more about meditation, and meditating
Learning some Indian and Indonesian cooking, including Gado Gado! Yum.
Harvesting, preserving and packaging vegetables
Winterizing the organic garden
Maitaining the meditation/vacation cabins
Stacking wood
Digging a loooooong trench with 2 workers from France who were part of the wwoofing network. (Willing working on organic farms). This turned out to be a lot of fun! Jokes in broken english can be a riot. I have remained friends with the boys from France and I think overall it was a great experience in life. Together, we managed to dig a 60 ft. long (or so) trench which would eventually connect the electrical wire from the main cabin to the new pottery barn which was previously an old goat barn!

For some photos on that, check out Lindas photo "blip" blog at:
http://www.blipfoto.com/view.php?id=389746&month=10&year=2009

Photo by: Jamie Boland. From the driveway at the retreat, you have I great views of the vast landscapes and the Bra-D'ors Lakes (which are very cool because the lake is part salt water and part fresh, creating a unique eco-system. The salt water comes in the inlet from the North of the island from the Atlantic!)

Shambala Meditation with Monks
Big Hill Retreat was named after the large hill the settlement it sits on- it's a 3km walk just up the driveway to the cabins! It is the perfect place to relax away from the noise of the city and your mind. Previous to visiting the retreat, I had attempted meditation but found it very, very hard, and I had no idea how to begin. At Big Hill Retreat, I was in a positive and calming atmosphere where I could learn about Buddhas teachings and get tips for meditation from Terry and Linda. They also asked me to join them in a Shambala Meditation Workshop in Margaree Harbour, another beautiful place with stunning landscapes.

The drive there in the morning was gorgeous, I was in my element! The winding roads led us past lakes and rivers and streams, and through the gorgeous fall colors up to the coast. The experience I had that day I can never forget, because I learned how to meditate from very experienced people- who better but Buddhist monks themselves?! The monks came from The Gampo Abbey Monastery, in Pleasant Bay, Cape Breton, now the home of famous Buddhist teacher and author, Pema Chodron. I was really honored to speak with monks who were mentored by Pema Chodron, who is very "interested in helping to establish Tibetan Buddhist monasticism in the West" You can read more about Pema Chodron at this link(www.gampoabbey.org/home/index.htmlhome/index.html )

This is Gampo Abbey Monastery in Pleasant Bay, N.S, A breath-taking coastal region.

I had been reading a lot of Pema Chodrons work during my stay at the retreat so I thought this was an exciting opportunity. The monks were completely open, answering any and all of my questions, and they were exceptionally accepting of every individuals journey, regardless of differences- a key part of Buddhism. It was a long day, because meditation can be very draining in the beginning, since our minds have been conditioned by society to go, go, go! But when you leave, after meditating (essentially the skill of being aware) for the first time virtually ever you literally have had life breathed back inside of you and you have a clear state of mind. Now I have the tools and understanding to continue meditation on my own.

Thank you monks from Gampo Abbey Monastery for welcoming me and treating me sokindly. Thank you for helping me better understand Buddhism, and the art of meditation.

I would like to give a special thanks to Terry and Linda who welcomed me into their home and offered me opportunities for learning and enlightenment. I can never forget the experiences I had during those few weeks. THANK YOU!