Day 19 - Annapolis Royal

 

Today we visited the historical sites of Annapolis Royal. First stop was the Port Royal Habitation, a reconstruction of a small community begun in 1605 (before the US Jamestown colony).  This sheltered harbor on the Bay of Fundy was first settled by a French group – all men- after enduring a severe winter on Saint Croix Island.

Our guide was the twin brother of our guide for the graveyard tour the night before. At this site we viewed the men’s living quarter in a huge loft where the roof looked like the inside of a ship’s hull turned upside down. We also meandered around the weathered gray buildings and saw the tanning room, kitchen, and more “comfortable” rooms of the leader, pharmacist and surgeon.

 

 

Next stop was Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens in the heart of Annapolis Royal, Here we followed the trails leading us to a bounty of beautiful flowers, trees, grasses and original dykes. 

 

We went to the German Bakery for lunch – what a spread – soup, sandwiches on homemade rolls, and creamed rhubarb pie with ice cream.  As if that were not enough, several of us purchased scrumptious pastries to take with us.

 

Following our lunch we walked across the street to Fort Anne. In 1621 Sir William Alexander received a charter for New Scotland (Nova Scotia in Latin) to establish a Scottish colony in North America. William the Younger built Charles Fort here in 1629. The area later went to the French and then the English.  Here we saw the beautiful 4-piece Fort Anne Tapestry depicting over 400 years of history in the Annapolis Royal area. We then traipsed up and down the embankments of this historical fort situated right on the bay.  (Images 1509. 1511, 1512, 1518)

 

After our 5 pm travel briefing, Rich Ramondo received a gift found in town especially for him. To his surprise and relief it was his Canadian National Park pass lost and then found on the main street of Annapolis Royal.

 

Next we settled down to a boiled lobster dinner or sauteed scallops for some. Most had a lobster weighing from 1 ½ to 3 lbs. each. (Jim had the big one!) Chief lobster chefs were Rudy and Sue, helped by Eric, Spence, Jean, Kathy, and Roger. 

 

The staff provided Caesar salad, garlic bread, coleslaw and bread pudding (compliments of Madi.)  Janet provided delicious chocolate covered cherries.

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Submitted by

#9 Jim and Linda

Day 18 - Travel Day - Annapolis Royal

Today was a travel day- a long long 311 miles. We pulled out early after Rogers expert tire inspection. He calibrates his equipment overnight so his measurements in the am are as accurate as can be.  It's a little disconcerting when he steps up to your RV, winds up his golf swing and yells "fore" and hits your tire.  Then he smiles and swings his club as he moseys along.  

 

Many of us stopped at Grand Pre to see the Evangeline memorial and learn  all about the deportation of the Acadian  people by ship.  The movie was excellent  and the site was beautiful.   

 

 

 As we met some of our  group there, there was much greeting, talk, and tales of the trip so far shared by our drivers.

 

 

 

 You would have thought that they hadn't DC current and they couldn't turn any lights on.  Being the good

guys they are, they gathered around to offer advice, or commiseration, or just have some "guy time"  having been in the company of the wives all day.  At one point there were ;9 men there, with one of them being on the pull­out drawer in the "garage"  with his miners light on his head.  Finally, the problem  was solved, everyone heaved a sigh of satisfaction and returned to their coaches.  




 A skeleton crew attended the cemetery night walk and everyone returned for a good night's sleep

 Submitted by:

#4 Janet & Joe Fishman

Day 17 - Cavendish, PEI

We didn’t get back to our RVs until late Monday evening, after having seen the musical Anne of Green Gables.  But, by 10:30 a.m. today, many of us were up  and headed out to the town of Summerside to the College of Bag Piping.   Here, students can learn Piping and Drumming, and Highland and Step Dancing.  We were treated to some of each of these.  In the photo at right, we were shown the various components of a bagpipe.  

After seeing and hearing the dancing, piping and drumming, we were given a tour of the College.  2014 marks the 25^th year of the college.  On the tour, we saw a map of the world with red marks showing the locations where their students have come from over that period of time.   The majority were from Canada and the USA, but there were also some that came from as far as India and Australia. 

 

Here, our guide and piper explained that pipers, drummers and dancers study at The College throughout the summer, in customized week-long sessions.   After the tour, many went through the gift shop and made purchases…..  no one bought one of the bagpipes though, priced at $17,950.00.

The days events ended with a travel briefing at 

5:00 p.m.  for our trip tomorrow to Annapolis-Royal, Nova Scotia.  Due to some major road constructions along the route we were to take, our Wagon Master Spence provided new trip logs. 

 

Submitted by:

 

 #14 Karen & Reid Gantt