Journal Entries

Due to hurricane Dorian a couple weeks earlier , it was slow-going on this beautiful wilderness trail: blocked by many huge timber blowdowns that we had to circumvent, then search in the underbrush for the next orange trail markers. Branches and random-sized twigs with leaves littered the forest floor. Quite an adventure - we had a paper guide but again I was thankful for having downloaded the route on my AllTrails App to help direct us back towards the trail.

Moss-covered rock face on the final descent.

In our four hours we saw two other hikers. Jamie offered to take our photo, which wasn't your typical scenario of "say cheese and shoot". Joanne and I obliged with his specific instructions for our pose: though we prefer the au natural look :-)

The previous night we'd heard sleet-ice-pellets pinging on the windows of the cottage but not enough to stay on the ground like the occasional little patch we saw in this hike's higher elevation.

Cape George on N.S. highway #337 has several heritage trails. A friend Joanne joined me on a hike: trailhead at Cape George Heritage School Museum. We walked counter-clockwise on the heavy dotted trail on the map - except sadly we somehow missed the lookoff.

Capturing this map (also posted at the trailhead) was a bonus! Gully Lake Trail (in yellow) is now calling my name.

My rain coat was most welcome in the short, heavy rain shower - although it couldn't keep my jeans dry from the knees up while walking through the ferns!

Earltown Lake.

This day had been designated a road trip: enjoying the ocean view drive on the Sunrise Trail, exploring Earltown's (mini) farmer's market and the charming general store (https://www.facebook.com/downtownearltown/). But a hiking sign on the side of the road diverted my plan. My raincoat was in the car but not my hiking shoes. Thankfully the trail's ups and downs were minimal: though I I was quick to explain 'why the Birkenstocks' when I met a hiker trail. The shoes worked fine :-) I wouldn't have wanted to miss this surprise.

Noting a vehicle parked on the shoulder of Hiway #311 near Earltown, NS I did a u-turn to discover this trailhead sign. Curious about this hike I'd heard of through Hike Nova Scotia (https:http://www.hikenovascotia.ca/?fbclid=IwAR1KLtqcwb6C3eO1ifK85W-QMASqeKabq3KrctK4tm_FuBdGYyNN21IOOqo) I parked on the shoulder, and though there wasn't cell service here to contact anyone of my whereabouts I was certain there was at least one other person to make contact with on this out and back trail.