@ Inverness Campground
Day 75 August 23, 2014 Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada
Another day, another morning dog walk. It rained like cats and dogs in the middle of the night, but the morning was sunny and beautiful. Perfect celestial timing.
@ Hyclass Campground
We got an unusually early start on the drive up to Cape Breton. Good thing, ‘cause we arrived in Judique at the Celtic Music Interpretive Center just in time for the lunch time Ceilidh.
Celtic Music Interpretive Center
If you’re a fan of traditional music, this place is a “must” on your travels. We ate lunch while listening to the local, but world-class fiddle/piano duo, spent a good amount of time in the museum learning about the local music and musicians, took a mini video celtic dance lesson, bought celtic bracelets, and bought some amazing cd’s by Cape Breton musicians (world-famous Natalie MacMaster, and a group called Coig).
A typical Cape Breton combo…fiddle & piano.
Lunch. Fish tacos. Note to self…when you’re not in California, do not order fish tacos. Other folks just don’t know how to do them right.
Fun facts about Cape Breton fiddle music!
Our dance teacher. We were rockin’ it!
Post-lunch hike with the doggies
Post-lunch hike with the doggies
Post-lunch hike with the doggies
Post-lunch hike with the Mark & the doggies
On the drive north, we took a side road, which turned out to be a whole other adventure. The pavement eventually ended and we were stuck on a long, windy rough dirt and gravel road as it started to downpour. At some point, we decided we were too far in to turn back, so we just kept going.
Stuck on the long, winding, rough road
Fiona stops to pose for a portrait
The reward was beautiful views
Eventually we met up with the main paved road, and made our way to Mabou and to the famous Red Shoe Pub. We’d already eaten lunch at the Celtic Music Interpretive Center, but we ate lunch again anyway because we’d heard so much about this place. The extra calories were worth it, as we had what may have been the best meal so far on the whole trip! This place is famous for it’s live local music too, but unfortunately for us, that all takes place in the evenings. Food, beer, and ambience would have to do.
The Red Shoe Pub, in Mabou
The Red Shoe Pub, in Mabou
The Red Shoe Pub, in Mabou
Great food!
Great beer!
Now you know, we’re not afraid to eat two lunches in one day. Well, we’re also not afraid to drink at more than one sitting in a day. And so, up the road a bit, we had to make a stop at the Glenora Distillery in Glenville. Glenora Distillers is one of only two single malt Scottish-style distilleries in all of Canada. We got the tour. We got the free samples. We were happy!
Glenora Disillery
Glenora Disillery. They claim it’s that pristine water running through the property that makes their potion so magical.
Glenora Disillery
Glenora Disillery
@ Glenora Disillery. Sampling more product…priceless, but not free!
$25 CDN for this little baby
We stopped for the night up the road in Inverness, at the Inverness Campground. The campground was on the most gorgeous site, perched up on the gorgeous ocean bluffs. We hiked down to the beach with the dogs and let them have a much-needed off-leash run. OMG!! You’ve never seen such joy! Running, digging in the sand…doggie heaven! A great ending to a great day.
@ Inverness Campground
@ Inverness Campground
Trixie & Dax running wild on the beach @ Inverness Campground
The beach @ @ Inverness Campground
Trixie & Dax running faster than the speed of light!
Dax
Trixie
Airstream Moho-A-Go-Go 