Along the Cabot Trail

The church folks in St. Joseph du Moine had us up bright and early Thusday morning, so we got right out on the road to Cheticamp - this road being the Cabot Trail.

The Cabot Trail is a route that encircles a huge area of upper Cape Breton Island including the gorgeous highlands and Cape Breton National Park.

Along the way . . . 

Cheticamp is a small fishing community out near the northeastern edge of Cape Breton Island.  Quite a remote spot - and, like so much we've seen lately, very picturesque . . .

Boats at Cheticamp Harbor with Cheticamp Island beyond

Cute little neighborhood - but they do NOT hide power lines -
  they're everywhere!

From Cheticamp, moving on into Cape Breton National Park - AWESOME!!

Gypsum outcroppings here & there

And here's the road - for maybe 20 miles or so . . .

Coming out of the high country - north end of the Island

As you can see, we ran into a (big!) bit of fog!
(but no moose!!)

And here's our little spot
 at Hideaway Campground & Oyster Market, South Cove

Enjoying a little romp . . .

All the roads out here are paved with gypsum!!

AND NOW - JULY 1st - it's CANADA DAY!

Friday dawned cloudy and cool and it stayed that way! Not a great day for a scoot - but definitely good enough!!  We'd been told that Meat Cove is an out of the way destination for intrepid travelers - that it's a little tough to get to, but definitely worth the trip.  So off we scooted.

Took a little side trip on the way to explore the little community of Dingwall!  Yes, pretty remote, scenic.  We are constantly delighted by the way of life in these little bergs - very relaxed, laid back, friendly folk - and the stress factor seems pretty darn low!  

This fellow is reconstructing a lighthouse which once stood
 on St. Paul Island - about 50 miles out to sea.
At the little museum there in the old house, we heard
that this is the first and only lighthouse museum in Canada!
Can that be?

Incredible views from along the road to Meat Cove.

Okay, we're getting close - only 8km of unpaved road to go . . .

To Meat Cove on our scooters -
About 12 miles on paved road -
Then 8km (5 miles?)  - unpaved -
Destination?  Worth it!!

How did Meat Cove get its name? Long ago, sailing ships would drop anchor and send small boats ashore to lay in supplies of caribou and moose meat for their voyage across the seas. 

So now - down the primitive road we go . . .

 

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We made it!  Meat Cove is just down below . . .

Someone told us there was a restaurant out here . . .

This is it - the Chowder Hut!
We had delicious seafood chowder out there on the deck.

 

Still smiling and you can see why.  Even with the distant scenery in a haze, you can get the idea of the place!  Of course, this was before the ride back!!

NOW it's SATURDAY - I have more pictures but I'm out of time!  The sun is shining, it's a beautiful day and Harold says it's time to hit the road - leaving "civilization" (ie: the internet) to continue our adventure . . .

 . . . . . more later . .