Cape Breton Island - Whale Watching
Trip Start
Jun 01, 2009
1
51
58
Trip End
Ongoing
Baddeck, Nova Scotia, Canada
Saturday, August 28, 2010
First day we set off for Cape Breton Highlands National Park and the Cabot Trail which is one of the most scenic in North America. Coastline was lovely with complete wilderness in this part of the Island. The highlight of the trip was our 2 hour whale spotting boat trip. This time of the year we were only able to see pilot whales, although there were lots to see and we able to set up real close. On our way back we saw a bald eagle. Its a beautiful place but I have to say West Wales has just as spectacular scenery although here it was easier to drive as the road hugs the coastal line.
Next morning we set out for a Parks Canada Museum of Alexander Graham Bell. The Canadians really do these things well and the museum was excellent. He emigrated with his parents from Scotland to America when he was young as both his brothers had died of TB and so his father took him to warmer climates. He then lived in Boston then Washington but also had a summer house in Baddick, Cape Breton. Although he invented the telephone, he was a fascinating person and actually was more interested in helping the deaf (his wife was deaf) than the telephone. Not only did he invent the telephone but also but the first aeroplane in the sky in Canada and invented the first hydrofoil that held the world water speed record for 10 years. The time we spent here was well worth it.
After visiting the museum we were off to Louisbourg on the Eastern side of the Island. Louisbourg was the stronghold for the French in the 1750's as it controlled ships through the St Lawrence route to Quebec. It was a busy seaport with much wealth made from the fishing industry which sent dried cod back to Europe. The British in response founded Halifax to thwart the French. Anyway enough of history, about 25% of the fortress has been rebuilt and all staff dress up in period costume and talk about what life was like. They were extremely well informed and the afternoon was really interesting. Fortunately, the harbour and its defenses were not strategically great and the British captured it twice before blowing up the fortress. Anyway a great place to visit and (not sure about everyone else) I really enjoyed it as I had read a book about it by a friend of ours called Bill Smallwood so it was great to see what it was actually like.
Next morning we were off again to Halifax, another long drive!
