Canada: The 7th Wonder of the Natural World

September 6, 2011
Adventure, Canada
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A true New Brunswick “Provincial Top Attraction”, the Bay of Fundy is in the running to be one of the New7Wonders of Nature (according to my whale watching captain, it is already an honorary 8th). Why all the hubbub? Over 1 billion tons of water move in and out of the Bay between tides, and at some points in the bay, the differential between high and low tide is 40-50 feet. That makes a common 3 foot tide look quite unexceptional!

We visited at low tide when you can walk on the “sea floor” and watch the tide come in at a rate of 6-8 vertical feet per hour. The rocks you see in the above picture were 4 hours away from being surrounded by kayaks instead of pedestrians.

A Favorite Find: Poffertjes in P.E.I.

September 4, 2011
Adventure, Canada, Favorite Finds, Food
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I came across these Dutch delights not in Amsterdam but in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Located on Victoria Row in downtown Charlottetown, this cute little cafe’s yellow and black umbrellas are inviting on their own. But look closer and you will notice the owner, Lucy, dressed in a darling European ensemble, dropping dollops of dough into the cafe’s only window adornment – a special griddle just for poffertjes.

“But what are poffertjes?” you may ask. Imagine a ball of perfectly cooked sweet dough swimming in butter and covered in sugar. It is as if heaven were on the end of a little wooden fork.

Only offering their signature poffertjes and a house blend coffee, Poffertjes Dutch Mini Pancake Company’s business plan seems simple — Do one thing and do it well. Mission accomplished.

Canada: Louisburg Fortress, Nova Scotia

September 3, 2011
Adventure, Canada
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If you were ever looking for a place that spends more time in the fog than the sunshine, Louisburg, Nova Scotia is the place to be. On the North East coast of the island, the current town and the reconstruction of the fortress that stood there under the French during the 18th century, seem to be veiled under a constant curtain of clouds. It was a little disconcerting at first.  We arrived right at sunset to a cranberry colored B&B with a mist that seemed to only be hanging over the few square blocks we’d call home for the next two days. By the time we left, my favorite thing about the fog was how much it made you appreciate how lit up the city would become in the few sunny hours you might get in the middle of the day.

The town was quaint, but the Louisburg Fortress itself is amazing. It is the largest reconstructed historic site in North America and a great example of what meticulous research and dedication to detail can accomplish. Only 1/5th of the fortress is reconstructed, but standing amongst the buildings you can imagine how life would have felt on this stretch of land in 1744. The buildings are beautifully constructed and they even have geese and lambs roaming the streets with flocks of kids following behind.

A Favorite Find: La Have Bakery

September 2, 2011
Adventure, Favorite Finds, Food
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La Have Bakery, Nova Scotia

My new addiction in Canada became berries (blue, ras, and black), so you can imagine my excitement when we stopped at La Have Bakery in La Have, Nova Scotia and discovered that they had delicious homemade blueberry muffins. Cute, quaint, and quirky this place had great food, a craft co-op downstairs, and a gallery and custom skateboard store upstairs. Everything you could need!

Being “Wanderfull”

September 1, 2011
Adventure
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The verb “to wander” can be synonymous with misdirection and idle movement, but my favorite definition is – to follow a winding course. Wandering does not have to mean lost. There have been many times in my past that I have wandered into a place unknown, a relationship, or a new challenge full of intent and with a clear goal to allow the journey to be part of my destination.

So, here we go! Wanderfull and off on a new adventure to find something that we didn’t quite know we were missing (and maybe a few obvious things too, like a new job and home). We are in Canada now, enjoying the end of the summer before taking off across the country and then across the Atlantic. 365 days to see what we find and where we’ll end up on Sept 1, 2012.

Fittingly, this post is coming from Cape Breton Island on the northern tip of Nova Scotia; an island settled in the 18th century by the French and then the British. Both wanderers and adventure seekers looking to find new opportunities in a beautiful but unforgiving environment. Driving through the countryside you can see how the Cape Brettoners live from season to season, relying on the land and the sea to provide them with what they need to get through the year. It makes me realize how easy it was to be disconnected living in NY, and it makes me even more excited to get on to what comes next.