Introducing…

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Moran Dan

…our bloggers. I know, this is something I neglected to do at the start of this blog, but hey, ‘better late…’ you all know the rest!

Ok, so, our itinerant blogger/administrator who conceived of having this Cape Breton Blog is Zac, a ‘Caper Away’ as they dub those who were raised on the island but had to leave for one reason or another, but who still have a strong connection to the island.

Our two recent addition ‘guest bloggers’ are, respectively, Bethsheila Kent, a Cape Breton resident and naturalist who will be writing about, you guessed it, all things ‘natural’ in Cape Breton. An avid birder, botanist… you name it, she’ll keep us posted on what’s happening in the wondrous unfolding of Cape Breton’s natural history.

Then we have Jess, who was also raised in Cape Breton, and so has a head chock-full of cherished memories. She now lives but a stone’s throw away from Cape Breton, so still makes frequent visits and will keep us informed of her ‘encounters of the Cape Breton kind’ past and present. She’ll also be sharing some ‘digital delights’ both from her extensive collection and those recently ‘captured’.

We hope to have more guest bloggers joining us as we want to offer you, our readers, a varied array of Cape Breton information for your planning and dreaming pleasure!

Read on!

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The Breathtaking Eagles of Cape Breton

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Jess

There are numerous things about Cape Breton that will never get old, the gorgeous views, the sounds of the rolling waves crashing on the beaches, the peace and solitude that come with the slower, relaxed pace of life. But the one thing that stands out in my mind is the majestic eagle. They are very plentiful and you don’t have to drive very far into Cape Breton before you will see your first breathtaking eagle. From the time I was very young growing up in Cape Breton until now, I still to this day get excited and giddy when I spot an eagle perched high atop an old, crooked, dead tree. It is as if they are sitting there, watching all the newcomers arrive in Cape Breton for the first time and guarding what is theirs, knowing that they have been there for a very long time. They seem to be as old as the dinosaurs when you see one up close. You can get very close to one, but they are ever watchful, eyeing you to protect what is theirs. If you are lucky to be standing near one when it takes off from its perch, the sound of its large wingspan sends shivers up your spine. The trees that these impressive birds choose to sit atop are also very interesting. They often choose the tree with the most character. I’ve always had a fascination with old, dead trees, from photographing them to drawing them, to being drawn to sit under them in wonder. They always seem to have a story to tell, as do the large eagles that sit atop them. As I drive along the water between the Canso Causeway and Baddeck there is always a tree I watch for to see if my eagle is sitting there, hence I call it “my eagle tree.” It has got to be the most interesting tree and it is so near the road that you could almost reach out and touch it. I have seen the eagle sitting on it a few times, but unfortunately never when I’ve had my camera with me. It is my goal to photograph him while he is perched on it.

'Perched in a Birch' : photo by Jess

The eagle shown here is one I photographed yesterday through the mist and fog, it is only a short distance from where “my eagle tree” is. He actually let me get out of the car, trudge through the still crunchy grass below the tree, always watching, to make sure I wasn’t a threat. This particular bird could have used a bath before his photo shoot, as he looked pretty dirty. His head and neck, which are usually very white, were brownish with mud. I can only imagine he was fishing in the mud before I captured him in the photo. As I said before though, there is no shortage of eagles in Cape Breton, and the chances of getting your own spectacular eagle sighting is fairly good.

Posted in Bras d'Or Lakes, Cape Breton, Natural History | Leave a comment

nature notes

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Bethsheila Kent

A warm hello to anyone who may read this, my very first ever blog post. It is my intention to use this space to share what’s happening in Cape Breton’s natural world and any comments, you, the potential reader may have, will be gratefully accepted.

Coltsfoot

Spring has come onto the Island and slowly, every so slowly, things are beginning to happen. Continuing cool temps and little sunshine have hampered early bloomers such as Eipgea Repens, better known as Trailing Arbutus or Mayflower, Nova Scotia’s provincial flower, from budding but Coltsfoot, never afraid of the cool and damp, made its appearance several weeks ago in protected areas of towns and villages. it is just now appearing along roadsides and in the wilder places. Daffodils and Narcissus have begun flowering in wild and landscaped places, a lovely shot of yellow in an otherwise drab, early-spring landscape. Hardwoods are budding but it will still be some time before leaves begin to unfurl.

Ring-neck Duck

Not really a negative for me as I am an avid birder and this is the very best time of year for observations of inbound migrants. Indeed, a recent field trip out here in Victoria county, south of Smokey, provided some excellent sightings of returning bay ducks including Green-winged Teal and Ring-necked Duck. The mating American Kestrel were a treat, to be sure, as were the 4 Common Snipe wheeling above the calm waters of the Bras d’Or. The family of American Bald Eagle provided an excellent photo op for, not only the field trippers, but interested island-visitors who stopped on the roadside to find out what it was we were all focusing on with binocs and scopes. The best sighting, personally, was all-too brief – a Chimney Swift spotted by a member of our group and quickly identified by its unique flight pattern. A lifer for me! Our group observed or heard a total of 37 species on a route that took us from Nyanza to Big Harbour then on to South Gut St. Ann’s and included the season’s first Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Tree Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Swamp Sparrow (heard but not seen). Not bad for the end of April!

White-tail Deer

Other nature notes: 4 White-tailed Deer crossing the highway a few weeks back. I am relieved to report they were a little thin from the hard winter but their coats were thick and glossy which means they were able to cope with the incredible snow-load experienced in this end of the country. Spring peepers have begun to sing and a few Wood Duck and n. Leopard Frog were also heard while combing the country-side for our feathered friends.

Until next time – B. Kent

Posted in Cabot Trail, Cape Breton, Cape Breton Highlands, Natural History | 1 Comment

My 5 Favorite Places You Must Visit in Baddeck

Posted on April 25, 2011 by Zac

Baddeck is one of the most beautiful places on Cape Breton Island, and there are many places I enjoy visiting. Some are once a week or more, others are to do at least once in your life.

1. The Bell Mansion from the Bras d’Or Lakes

You can’t actually enter the Bell estate, but you can take a schooner that passes Alexander Graham Bell’s mansion. Not only is the tour fantastic just as a schooner voyage what with the billowing sails and the waves breaking against the hull, but the view as you sail close to the cliffs under the Bell mansion is spectacular. This is the same trip I proposed to my wife on, so the possibilities with this tour are obvious! The main wharf in Baddeck is where the ‘Amoeba’ is docked, just walk to the end of the wharf  and you will see a black schooner tied up. Starting this May 30th they have tours leaving at:

11:00 AM
2:00 PM
4:30 PM

2. Delicious Food at the Yellow Cello Cafe

Wow, just the name makes me start salivating. I practically grew up on Yellow Cello pizza for supper and meatball subs for lunch. What I mean is, whenever we wanted to eat out as a family, we went to Yellow Cello, and when we needed take-out we ordered pizza from the Yellow Cello. If you are looking for a good meal this is where I would turn first.
They open May 7th from:

3. Uisge Ban Falls

I pronounce it ISH-ka-ban, but it can also be pronounced OOSH-ka-ban…it’s Gaelic for ‘white water’. The falls have 2 loops (Falls Trail: 3 Km or 1.8 miles; River Trail: 4 Km or 2.4 miles) that you can walk which a friend and I did all the time (we also biked them but I would check before you go that signs allow it). The falls themselves aren’t the most spectacular in the world at 16 metres (50 feet) but the drive to the park is gorgeous and the trails themselves are well kept, easy to hike and take you through sweet-smelling hardwood forests and over loud rivers, it’s just a captivating walk really.
Directions
Travel the Trans-Canada Highway (route 105), take Exit 9, and turn towards Baddeck-Forks (a right turn at the top of the exit ramp). After 10.3km (and crossing ONE single lane bridge) you should come to North Branch road on your left. Take North Branch ~4km to the park’s parking lot (Occasional signs may direct you from the Highway)

4. Biggest Sandwiches at Highwheeler

I love the thickness of Highwheeler sandwiches. My friends and I would use the place as a coffee shop/hang-out, usually during a day of fun we’d stop at the Highwheeler for a drink and a sandwich, or a freshly-baked bun. Great for lunch or a pick-me-up.
Hours:
May to October (6:00am to 10:00pm)

5. Bell Bay Golfing

Now I never actually played a round at this course, but I did help with the beautiful birdseye maple bar you can see in the lounge designed by Bob Lambie from the Dovetail Shop. http://capebretonisland.com/dovetail/bar.html So why is it a favourite place? I loved walking and biking the trails around the holes (again check before biking that could be frowned upon, remember I am a local!) But if you love golfing you probably already know about this world class 18-hole course. They have a Ladies Invitational coming up July 13, 2011 open to the public.

There is of course so much more to do in Baddeck, this is just a smattering of my personal favourites, for more go here: http://www.baddeck.com

 

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The Best Type of Bicycle for the Cabot Trail

Posted on April 18, 2011 by Zac

I know for myself cycling the Cabot Trail is in the top five reasons to visit the Island, but if you don’t have the right bike it could be much harder than you like. As an example my first tour of the Trail was on a CCM Ice. It was all steel only had 18 speeds and thick knobby tires which sounded like a horde of angry bees, not ideal in the least. The biggest problems are weight (because of the mountains) gears (again the mountains are steep) and rolling resistance. So, you throw all that into a mixing pot and you come out with a 27 speed thin aluminum framed slick-tired hybrid.

That is of course if you don’t plan on going off road. Once you are on dirt then the game changes again. If you are driving to the trail then you can pick whatever off-road knobby tired wonder that strikes your fancy. Its when you need to ride on the pavement and then take to the dirt that you run into trouble. This is where you have to make compromises in some areas to be stronger in others. For example slicks will be helpful in low rolling resistance meaning the pavement will be easy, but when you leave the road and hit dirt you will be spinning wasting energy. Knobbies are better for the trails but on pavement they are loud, heavy,  and feel like you are riding on a beach. My solution: semi-slicks. They have much lower rolling resistance but have knobby edges and slight grooves on the tread. Now be careful coming down North mountain even on semi-slicks, the corners can be…fun, yeah lets go with fun. You can hit 80 km/h so when you reach a corner you will be leaning quite heavily putting you on the knobby edges which will make you squirrel badly and if you aren’t careful, i.e. using the brakes abruptly, you could lose it! Also be careful when using extreme narrow tires as you’d see on a race bike. The Cabot Trail is not nice to those what with random sharp edged potholes and the like. Then there is the forks. Shocks or no shocks. The Cabot Trail is quite bumpy even though it is asphalt. I recommend shocks, but just low travel 2″ to 4″ max, anything more and you will be wasting a lot of energy. Stiff forks will be easier energy-wise, but be prepared for a bone-shaking journey. I would say for a regular rider, 27 speeds is a must, you could get away with 24 speeds but make sure you have a ‘cheater’ gear, which is just a tiny front cog, or an extremely large rear cog. Obviously you want the lightest frame you can afford, those mountains punish extra mass.

So to sum up, if you are doing straight pavement i.e. the Cabot Trail, then go with a hybrid, but if you are doing trail, try driving to the trail and using a dedicated off-road mountain bike, preferably with excellent shocks and disc brakes, or put semi-slicks on your ride. Either way you should have a blast. Let me know in the comments your Cape Breton biking experience, or any questions you may have.

Posted in Cabot Trail, Cabot Trail, Cape Breton, cycling, Cycling Cape Breton, Cycling Cape Breton | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Update! East Coast Music Awards Results

Posted on April 18, 2011 by Zac

Cape Bretoners might be a little disappointed waking up Monday morning, and not just because it’s Monday. The awards ceremony gave only two wins to Island acts, rock band Slowcoaster won alternative recording of the year for “The Darkest of Discos”, while Dwayne Côté won Jazz Recording of the Year. Slowcoaster had been nominated for a slew of awards including Group Recording of the Year, which went to Newfoundland based The Once, Recording of the Year, and Group Single of the Year for the song “War on War.”

I was hoping that with 3 nominations Carmel Mikol would get a nod, but Female Solo Recording of the Year went to Rose Cousins for “The Send Off” and Rising Star of the Year to The Stanfields for their debut album “Vanguard of the Young and Reckless”. I know that award ceremonies are not a reflection of the quality of a person or band, only an indicator of the overall climate of the industry, but I still can’t help feeling that some great Cape Breton talent wasn’t recognized. Well, there is always next year right? Let us know in the comments what you thought of this year’s ECMAs.

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ECMAs this week and Cape Bretoners are strong as ever…

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Zac

This weekend is the start of the East Coast Music Awards and there are so many from Cape Breton nominated including a childhood friend of mine Carmel Mikol. She has 3 nominations for her release ‘In My Bones’ for female solo recording of the year, pop recording of the year and rising star recording of the year. If you travel to Charlottetown where the ECMAs are being held you can see her showcase on April 14th at the Delta Prince Edward and on the 16th at the Cape Breton Embassy Stage, Rodd Charlottetown at 75 Kent St.

Her album ‘In My Bones’ has ten original songs showcasing Carmel’s vocal strength of which Stephen Cooke of the Chronicle Herald says “Her folk-pop melodies are full of life and personality, while her voice is clear, expressive and direct without overselling the emotion in her soul-bearing songs.”  And Wanda Earhart of whatsgoinon.ca remarks, “From the first lyrics of the opening title track, to the very last note, these first rate original songs showcase one of the most promising Cape Breton born singer songwriters, to hit any stage in years.” Cape Breton seems to consistently grow such talent doesn’t it? But then again I am a little biased aren’t I?

I remember my first trip to the ECMAs. I was only 15 or so and since it was called ‘Awards’ I thought of something akin to the Oscars or the Emmys, you know, just a stiff who is nominated who won affair. I wasn’t expecting so many of the nominees to be playing music for days before, to be able to walk up and down a hall and hear everything from jazz and fiddle to folk and pop. It’s an experience that changes a person, never mind that the very people that grew up around me were there performing. It’s one of those events which start to define who you are, or at least makes you feel proud of where you are from.

So who are some other highlights? Well how about John Campbelljohn for blues recording of the year, Madison Violet for folk recording of the year and Scott MacMillan, who is nominated along with Brian Doyle for roots traditional group recording of the year. Also fiddler Chrissy Crowley for instrumental recording of the year for her album ‘The Departure’. Slowcoaster has the most nominations (remember for Cape Bretoners this article is all about Cape Breton!) at 4 for the album ‘The Darkest of Discos’. They are in some heavy categories – alternative recording of the year, FACTOR recording of the year and group recording of the year, and it’s song “War on War” is nominated for single of the year.

All in all 2011 is looking like a big year for Cape Breton artists! Will you be there or dreaming of going? Who are you rooting for? Any childhood friends nominated? Let us know in the comments.

Posted in Cape Breton, Celtic Colours, ECMAs, fiddle, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Did You Miss Celtic Colours?

Posted on November 3, 2010 by Zac

Celtic music, local dancing, concerts,  spectacular fall colours, road trips, good food; If any of the above appeals to you, then Celtic Colours needs to go on the calendar. This year was October 8-16 and featured all the usual assortment of concerts, workshops and changing fall greenery. If you haven’t yet been, you might wonder what all the fuss is about. The big difference with this event is its location: Other than being on Cape Breton Island there is none! The concerts, which can be up to 8 per day, are located all over the Island. The benefit is you get to experience the culture specific to its area, and as a bonus, it enables you to travel the Island discovering new places and seeing the fantastic colours of Cape Breton in the fall. As someone who grew up on the Island I can tell you first-hand that those colours are intense!

If you are young can you enjoy the music? Absolutely. Each year sees new talent come out of the Island, and from all over the world. A childhood friend of mine Carmel Mikol played at the Gaelic College from her debut album “In My Bones’ which just took First Place in the Folk Category of the Great American Song Contest. Of course there  is much more music to enjoy, you can choose whichever you like from the schedule (http://www.celtic-colours.com/artists-and-events/venue-schedule.html) which lists the venue and location. Then check the artists list and pick the event you would enjoy the most. So if you missed the fun this year the dates for 2011 are as follows:

October 7-15

And if you like to plan far in advance the 2012 dates:

October 5-13

By all means visit the Celtic Colours website and plan your next trip!

Posted in Cape Breton, celtic colours, Celtic Colours, fiddle, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Cape Breton. Why I Left, Why You Should Visit

Posted on October 8, 2010 by Zac

In previous posts I have gone to great lengths in explaining the beauty and splendor of Cape Breton. However, I have since moved off the Island. You might well be asking yourself, ‘Well if so many people leave, why should I want to go visit it?’. That’s a valid question, so let’s ask another. Why do people leave the Island? This generally doesn’t require a complex answer. Usually it’s simple: They need to find work. Sure there are jobs around, but in many cases a person just doesn’t find something suitable for their situation. That wasn’t however the case with me. I had work, I was happy, life was great! No for me it was a girl. Simple logistics, she was 3 Provinces away and I wanted to be closer. So I moved. Is that the end of the story? Boy meets girl, boy moves away? Not in the slightest. See once we were engaged (a whole other Cape Breton story) guess where we got married and lived? That’s right, Cape Breton, and therein lies the answer to the post title. I left because of circumstance, I went back because of our (my wife too!) love for Cape Breton life. To be honest, it was difficult at first. We didn’t move to Cape Breton to become rich, we had simple jobs, I as a window cleaner, her a care worker. We might not have had much, but we really had fun. Trips up the coast following the Cabot Trail to Ingonish, or a quick run up the Mira River (songs are sung for the beauty that is Marion Bridge!) I tell you, taking a boat out on the Mira with a group of friends, dropping anchor and swimming off a reef island is something I can never forget. That is why you should visit. No, not to live a simple life, but to experience what so many others have enthused about. Quiet days on the beach, oceanside bbq’s and luncheons at quaint local diners. All with the gorgeous backdrop of the Island’s powerful persona.
So maybe you lived here years ago, or you are considering a vacation, whatever the reason, give you and the family a treat by visiting Cape Breton Island. Just because some have to leave doesn’t mean they don’t crave going back. It’s kind of like an expensive restaurant, you love it, but can’t always afford it. But when you can, you go!

Posted in Cabot Trail, Cape Breton, Ingonish | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Fun on the Water

Posted on June 17, 2010 by Zac

As the summer months are here, people start to think about heading out to the lakes. There is so much you can do, I won’t and indeed can’t fit it all into one post. I do remember some pretty interesting times on the water however. The time I went kayaking in Dundee with a group of friends from Ontario, the day I proposed to my wife on the bowsprit of a schooner, the time I went on a catamaran around Baddeck’s Kidston Island, the time I…. the list could go on but the point remains, there is much to do.
That day I went kayaking in Dundee was unforgettable. We were all staying in Port Hawkesbury and about 7 of us drove in a minivan to Dundee where we had rented individual sea kayaks. That day was quite windy, enough to create whitecaps (wind-whipped waves that look white from the froth), and I remember some having trouble getting in the kayak. The trick is to launch from a dock or a floating walkway, with a friend steadying it. The really memorable bit was the way back, but to tell the story properly you need the start of the venture. See, the day was fairly calm at first (we launched from a bay) and even though whitecaps were appearing, it was really fun and we had no problem getting to our island destination 2 kms or so out. It wasn’t until the way back we understood why it was so easy getting there. We’d had the benefit of a tailwind, while on the return we faced a headwind. Well I would love to boast that I was unfazed and my being a Cape Bretoner made me impervious, but truth be known, I was a little rattled. Mostly because I could see my friends struggling, and in fact one couple of girls were being pushed backwards even while they were paddling their hardest. The hero of the day for sure, was my bricklaying friend from Ontario who connected the struggling pair to his kayak and towed them back to safety (there are ropes designed for that attached to most sea kayaks).
What makes kayaking so fun? People will answer many different ways, for me it’s freedom. Freedom to go anywhere you please quickly, quietly and efficiently. That sums up sailing as well, except you need a ‘boat-full’ of cash (sorry I couldn’t resist). Kayaking as a youth gives you quick access to many parts of the lake otherwise difficult or impossible to get to. For my money, it doesn’t get much better than sitting in the middle of the Bras d’Or Lakes, the sound of water lapping against the kayak, sun shimmering on the waves, and the feeling of absolute peace, as you gaze at the ‘gulls playing overhead.
So there is much fun and beauty on the water, but a handful of caution is due, as it is easy to forget the power of water. Huge waves, undertow and raw power can combine to ruin an otherwise perfect day. Take a friend, check the weather report, ask an expert, then go have fun!

Posted in Baddeck, Bras d'Or Lakes, Cape Breton, Kayaking | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment