Cabot Trail

Baddeck lighthouse & Amoeba

We're spending a week in mid Cape Breton, near the town of Baddeck. This was the summer home of Alexander Graham Bell and is the largest town around.  We took a drive all around the Bras d'Or lake on Sat. The day was nice and sunny, the lake sparkled and the small towns along the lake were neat and tidy. The Acadian influence is sprinkled around, along with the Scottish. There is no major development on the waterfront, plenty of large lots and properties, quiet and peaceful. There isn't any overcrowding on the lake either. That weekend though there were plenty of events going on. Being a holiday on Mon, there was a bike fest ( mostly Harleys) up at Sydney, a week long regatta on the lake at Baddeck, and lots of vacationeers.

Yesterday, Mon., we drove the "world famous Cabot trail". This is a 195 mile drive around the top end of the island, part of the Highlands Natl park, and a must see and do. The east coast was rugged, wild and quite scenic. A lot like the west coast of the U.S. too. At the top is a small village, pretty isolated, and they make their living on lobstering. Along the road to the top is a small picnic park. This is the site of explorer John Cabot's landing. There are questions as to the exact spot or exact date and the signs claim him to be the first to land on North America continent. It was a very nice beach park, scenic coast and great spot for lunch.

Town of Bay St. Lawrence

West coast of Cape Breton

The west side of the Cape is the more popular side but different. Most of the trail drive is very wooded and suddenly we were in a town that was practically bare of trees. This was an Acadian village and I guess they cleared all the trees and vegetation away, built their town and didn't replant any trees in town or around houses. It was rather stark looking. Neat and trim but bare and stark. The drive through the Natl park seemed very wild. Hiking was available and camping in the wilderness. We paused for the overlooks and the highlight of the drive was seeing 3 moose, one just off the side of the road.