After our trip last summer we settled in our apartment and hibernated for the winter. We spent a lot of time trying to decide what to do in 2011. Not being fans of apartment living, after living in our own house for years, we decided that we would start looking for a small house somewhere in Nova Scotia. So our winter and spring months were spent house hunting. We looked at a number of places but all had issues of one kind or another. I'm at a stage where I don't want to spend a lot of time to fix up a "fixer upper". We are at the stage now where we are thinking of building a small house to our own specifications.
Spring and early summer arrived and the gypsy urge started to hit us, the apartment was closing in on us, so we just had to get back on the road in some way. In order to keep looking for that "ideal" house, or to find a piece of land to build on we decided that our travels will be restricted to the Maritimes this year. With this in mind, we packed up the rig, hooked up and set out for the area of Nova Scotia that is located between Yarmouth and Digby. This area known as "the french shore" was always of interest to us. It is the home of a large Acadian community (I have Acadian roots), quiet, relatively undeveloped and full of history and french acadian culture.
We arrived in Belle Baie on July 5th planning to stay for 2 or 3 days. We liked the place so much and our site overlooking the Bay that we decided to stay for the rest of July and into the 1st week of August. The weather is nice here. Always a breeze and the temperatures are in the constant low 20's C. If you like hot muggy temperatures, go inland!
It only took a few days for us to find a lot of interesting places and fresh foods. The local fish plant has fresh fish daily and is only 4 KM away. We have been eating a lot of haddock, pollock, scallops etc. We have also located most of the locations that sell fresh local vegetables and berries. The strawberries have been fantastic but the season is drawing to a close. However the raspberries are coming out now so all is well. We are filling up on fresh greens, beans, peas, beets, new potatoes and have found a place that sells all kinds of fresh herbs. So, food wise we are doing great.
There is also a great restaurant about 5 KM away. Chez Christophe is a small establishment set up in an old country home. Probably has a seating capacity of about 35 and a menu that is loaded with fish dishes and traditional Acadian food. We were there a couple of weeks ago and had a great meal. (we learned that you need reservations because the first night we went, we could not get in. They were full). As well, every Thursday night they have local Acadian musicians in for the evening, playing traditional Acadian jigs and reels. Thursday night is booked solid for the rest of the year, with a long waiting list. They are taking Thursday night reservations for next year now!!
Our meal at Christophe's was a simple one. I had the lobster meat from one lobster fried in butter and cream, served over crusty home made bread with a side salad. DW (dear wife) has salted pollock fish cakes, fried golden brown with a side of homemade green tomato chow and a salad. Big servings and no room for dessert. We expect to go again next week.
It is an interesting experiment for us to be sitting in one spot for as long as we have. We are enjoying it and are using this experience to determine if this could be the way for us to go. Up here for the summer, and down south for the winter. To do this we have to stay in one spot at each end. The cost of fuel is increasing and the days of traveling 25 thousand KM in four months are becoming limited, at least for this pocket book.
So, getting back to Belle Baie Park, we talked to the owners to see what their seasonal rates were, and when they might have a seasonal lot available. Lo and behold, the rates are good and they had several lots to choose from. They were very accommodating for us and said we could spend the rest of the season here for what we had already paid. Needless to say, we picked a lot that overlooks the beach and the pond behind the sand dunes and beach and are now settled in here until the end of September. We have lots of time to explore, look at houses (maybe). We'll be posting every few days from now on as we explore this area, its history and its culture
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