Day 38, May 23, 2022 Halifax, Nova Scotia

We drove in the rain this morning, from Amherst to Halifax, Nova Scotia. However, by the time that we arrived in Halifax, the rain had stopped and the sun was trying to work its way out.

On our way to Halifax we stopped by Oxford, the blueberry capital of Canada. This area of Canada produces more blueberries than anywhere in North America. We tried to find a blueberry dessert of any kind, yet once again, even in Oxford, we came up empty-handed. In fact, we did not see a store or a vendor selling anything blueberry related. We returned to the expressway and continued our journey. Here are some more views we glimpsed of mid-Nova Scotia and the outskirts of Halifax, as we made our way to the sea:

(Approaching the outskirts of Dartmouth, one of the three cities that now make up the Halifax Regional Municipality)

(Unknown river)

(First multistory apartment dwelling we've seen in the three Atlantic provinces. Or rather the first that is more than four or five stories high.)

(Neighborhood in Dartmouth, NS)

(Going through the toll booth)

(Early views of the downtown waterfront)

(The McDonald Bridge connecting Dartmouth to Halifax. An enormous Ukranian flag is displayed in solidarity with Ukraine in its war against Russia.)

(Another view of the waterfront and part of the skyline)

We drove down to the Visitor’s Information Center downtown at the Wharf and obtained maps of the downtown area. There were several shops and merchandise vendors in this boardwalk area and we took the time to browse and explore several shops.

(Halifax Waterfront Map)

(Halifax boardwalk display)

(Halifax downtown and waterfront visitor information center.)

(Maritime Museum of the Atlantic)

(You aren't Canadian, if you don't appreciate good poutine!)

(Patrise view the boardwalk map)

(Girl riding the surfboard. One of several pieces of public art along the Halifax boardwalk.)

We took a break and enjoyed lunch at the Waterfront Warehouse. Doug had a half dozen of local oysters -- two from PEI, two from New Brunswick, and two from Nova Scotia -- and a lobster roll with fries. Patrise had a quinoa salad that we shared and a lobster roll as well. Patrise also helped me eat my French fries. Lunch was okay, but we have been spoiled by the lobster rolls at Water & Prince in Charlottetown, PEI: so the lobster salad type roll that we had today, although tasty, was a disappointment.

(Front of the Waterfront Warehouse Restaurant)

(A list of the oysters on the menu, with a map at the bottom, showing the three provinces from which the restaurant's oysters are harvested)

(A closer look at the oyster map)

(Waterfront Warehouse luncheon selfie)

After lunch we browsed some more stores and sights along the wharf.

(High rise residential units overlooking the wharf and the downtown)

(Extended view of the wharf)

(Probably a great way to enjoy the water and scenery, when the weather is warmer)

(The provincial capitol building in the distance)

(A sculpture dedicated to Canadian seamen throughout the years)

(The inscription on the seaman dedicatory sculpture)

(This looks like it could be San Francisco or Vancouver.)

One of the stores we visited was a wonderfully unique store that had maps, charts, geographic and cartographic books and materials. One of the books we discovered in this delightful store was a history of Blacks in Nova Scotia. After the American Revolution, thousands of colonists loyal to the British Crown, voluntarily fled the new American nation and relocated to Nova Scotia. (At one point in time before and during the war, Nova Scotia was even referred to as the "14th colony.") Among those who fled were over 3,000 free blacks, who established a community in Nova Scotia. At one time it was the largest free black community in North America.

(Can't wait to read this one!)

Also, we found a place to park our RV tomorrow, during our scheduled, four-hour tour of Halifax and Peggy’s Cove. We are both looking forward to finding out more information about the town and this area.

It turns out that Halifax, Darmouth (the town across the bridge from Halifax), and Bedford another town in the area were amalgamated by the national government in the late 1990's, to form a regional municipality called the Halifax Metropolitan Area; and they now operate it as a combined city. (This was done with several metropolitan areas across Canada at the time, including Toronto and Vancouver.) What a wonderful idea! Do you think that could happen in Atlanta as a way to address our shared regional problems? (We know; we're not holding our breath either.)

After a lot of hit and misses along the way in various cities, we were finally able to find a nail salon for Patrise to get her nails done. Doug worked on things in the RV parked on the street around the corner from this small neighborhood nail salon. It wasn’t the professional job that she had been used to, but it was functional. She had two broken nails, and she needed to have them repaired. After her nails were done, we left town and headed to the KOA Halifax Campground. We are really enjoying the opportunity to stay at KOA Campgrounds, because they are always clean, neat, well managed and they have the basics of clean showers, restrooms, and a laundry. This one is on a lake (Lake Lewis) that is really nice. Here are some pictures of our camp site near Halifax.

(Patrise goes to the office, to confirm our reservation.)

(KOA Camp Office)

(First glimpse of the lake beside the KOA camp)

(Canoes on Lake Lewis)

(A goose and gander with their five goslings, slowly swimming across Lake Lewis)

(Canoes on Lake Lewis as dusk approaches)

(Our area of the KOA camp, Area E)

(Area F at dusk)

(Headed back to the RV, after collecting the last load of clothes from the dryer)

We took advantage of the fact that it does not get dark here until after 9 to wash clothes while dinner was being prepared and we dried them while we ate dinner. For dinner we had fiddlehead ferns (a local favorite), with sliced mixed mushrooms, carrots, onions and roasted Brussels sprouts. We also had corn on the cob and seared halibut. It was a world class meal that we enjoyed.

After dinner, we worked on the blog, enjoyed a cup of tea together and turned in. Tomorrow is another day in Halifax, but thankfully Patrise did not book our tour until 1:30 p.m. This way, Doug can sleep late and not have to leave the RV or the RV Campground until 12:30 or so.