Nova Scotia Tour - Day 9 Mount Denson to the Lookoff

Nova Scotia Tour

Day 9 Mount Denson to the Lookoff

I left the campground at mount Denson and continued North towards Grand Pre. It was another perfect day. Being a Sunday, traffic was non-existent. I started to see views of the bluffs on the Cape Blomidon peninsula.

The Road to Grand Pre

I had to get on to a limited access highway for a few miles. I saw no signs prohibiting bicycles. So, I went for it.

I arrived at the National Park in Grand Pre. This park was built to commemorate the expulsion of the Acadians in 1755.

The Acadian people where French speaking settlers in what is now the Canadian Maritimes. They developed a method of farming the fertile salt marshes along the Bay of Fundy region with an elaborate system of dykes.

As Britain and France fought for control of North America, possession of Nova Scotia changed hands several times during the 17th and 18th centuries. Declaring neutrality, the Acadians refused to swear loyalty to the British Crown. Following the outbreak of the French Indian War, the British ordered the expulsion on the Acadians in 1755. British troops forcibly evicted the Acadians from their lands and herded them onto transport ships. British troops burned Acadian homes and churches. The transport ships scattered the Acadians among the various English speaking British colonies in North America. The Acadian exiles faced years of poverty and hardship. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow immortalized the plight of the Acadians in his famous poem Evangeline.

The Park consisted of a church with exhibits and murals depicting the Acadian history including an elaborate stained glass mural created by a Louisiana Cajun depicting the deportation. Outside the church is a blacksmith ship and a large statue of Evangeline (pictured at right).

The British allowed the Acadians to return to Nova Scotia starting in 1763. By this time, English speaking settlers occupied their farms. They became fishermen and settled along along St. Mary's Bay and the small area of coastline South of Yarmouth.

Evangeline

Some Acadians were absorbed into the English speaking cultures. Some settled in Quebec. Others settled in Louisiana where they became known as Cajuns.

Evangeline Beach

Low tide at Evangeline Beach

I left the Park and rode a short distance to Evangeline Beach. Here I saw an vivid demonstration of the huge Fundy Tides.

Frederick

I left the beach. I rode a short distance to Wolfville. I stopped into the Visitor's center to see if there was anything interesting to see. As I was leaving I met Frederick. He was the only other bicycle tourist, I met in Nova Scotia. We were traveling in opposite directions. We chatted for a while, trading information about the places we had visited I said goodbye to Frederick and had lunch at a Subway sandwich shop.

After lunch, I searched for groceries. Both of Wolfville's grocery stores were closed. I continued on to the Blomidon peninsula hoping to find food on the way. I started climbing North Mountain. I found an grocery store in Canning. I bought two days worth of groceries and white gas for my stove.

A view from the Lookoff

I made the final push up to the Lookoff. I had to walk a couple of short stretches. When I arrived, the view was incredible. I gazed out over the Annapolis Valley and the Minas Basin. From this Vantage point the geography of this region was very visible.

I checked into the campground across the street from the Lookoff. I took a site for two nights. After dinner I called home and also called my parents. It was nice to hear their voices.

Rain forced me into my tent early. I spent the rest of the evening in my tent reading and listening to classical music.

My total mileage for the day was 32.7

Continue to Day 10.