Good bye Cape Breton, Lost in Halifax
It was a long day in the van yesterday and we will revise a future travel plan to shorten the drives. We knew it would be a bit longer drive today and we also knew we would be adding more time by taking the coastal road in Nova Scotia.
The day started well, we first stopped at Big Pond to visit the Rita MacNeil Tea House.
This home was owned by Rita. This lady was always welcoming and inviting friends to come over for a cup of tea so after her passing in 2013, the tea house was set up in one of her many homes in Big Pond. It is filled with memorabilia and her many awards. While we didn't stay for tea, it was well worth the visit.
While on the roads through Cape Breton we came across 4 construction zones. They all reduced the 2 lane road down to only a single lane for both directions, so we waited at some points for 15 minutes for the flagman to allow us to proceed.
When leaving Cape Breton along the causeway there is a swing bridge, which of course was swung around to allow a sailboat to pass through the channel. Add on another 15+ minutes for this delay.
Next, now in Nova Scotia on the highway again, there were more traffic stops due to construction. We sat for over 20 minutes here, and did not see any traffic moving in our direction, but continuous traffic coming from the other direction. THAT'S IT, (Dave loses his mind now). I turn on my GPS, take a side road and try to head to the coastal road. The GPS seems to be working, and while it is a bit longer route, at least we are moving.
Oh yes, we were moving, turn left on Farm Road, which is a dirt road!! Only 4 kilometers, so we carry on. The dirt road gets narrower, now down to a single lane, but we are turning right just ahead, so we carry on. The right turn is in the middle of a farmers field!! No road, but a tractor path.
NOPE, back we go to the highway which is now open and moving through the construction.
We then finally take the coastal highway as planned, there were many beautiful coves but after about 90 minutes, we were both getting tired of the winding roads and just wanted to get to Halifax.
Finally we arrive in Dartmouth and head to our hotel in Halifax, over the bridge. Toll Bridge, hopefully not another $46.50 (see our PEI dinner night). Only $1.00 for this one so we again turn on our GPS to figure out how to get through the city and to our hotel. It was very confusing, I miss a turn and next thing we know the GPS is rerouting us to get us back on the correct road. We follow the directions, and guess what, we are now heading back across the bridge for another $1.00.
Yes, now we have to come back over the bridge for a third time. We now get sent all over hell's half acres to finally arrive at our hotel. To add insult to injury, I thought I booked the inn overlooking the water. We are nowhere near the water. The inn on the waterfront is in Dartmouth not Halifax.
Not a really big deal, we are comfortable, in a nice room and are resting before we head to the Halifax waterfront for some Friday evening fun. We'll tell you all about more later today..
The day started well, we first stopped at Big Pond to visit the Rita MacNeil Tea House.
This home was owned by Rita. This lady was always welcoming and inviting friends to come over for a cup of tea so after her passing in 2013, the tea house was set up in one of her many homes in Big Pond. It is filled with memorabilia and her many awards. While we didn't stay for tea, it was well worth the visit.
While on the roads through Cape Breton we came across 4 construction zones. They all reduced the 2 lane road down to only a single lane for both directions, so we waited at some points for 15 minutes for the flagman to allow us to proceed.
When leaving Cape Breton along the causeway there is a swing bridge, which of course was swung around to allow a sailboat to pass through the channel. Add on another 15+ minutes for this delay.
Next, now in Nova Scotia on the highway again, there were more traffic stops due to construction. We sat for over 20 minutes here, and did not see any traffic moving in our direction, but continuous traffic coming from the other direction. THAT'S IT, (Dave loses his mind now). I turn on my GPS, take a side road and try to head to the coastal road. The GPS seems to be working, and while it is a bit longer route, at least we are moving.
Oh yes, we were moving, turn left on Farm Road, which is a dirt road!! Only 4 kilometers, so we carry on. The dirt road gets narrower, now down to a single lane, but we are turning right just ahead, so we carry on. The right turn is in the middle of a farmers field!! No road, but a tractor path.
NOPE, back we go to the highway which is now open and moving through the construction.
We then finally take the coastal highway as planned, there were many beautiful coves but after about 90 minutes, we were both getting tired of the winding roads and just wanted to get to Halifax.
Finally we arrive in Dartmouth and head to our hotel in Halifax, over the bridge. Toll Bridge, hopefully not another $46.50 (see our PEI dinner night). Only $1.00 for this one so we again turn on our GPS to figure out how to get through the city and to our hotel. It was very confusing, I miss a turn and next thing we know the GPS is rerouting us to get us back on the correct road. We follow the directions, and guess what, we are now heading back across the bridge for another $1.00.
Yes, now we have to come back over the bridge for a third time. We now get sent all over hell's half acres to finally arrive at our hotel. To add insult to injury, I thought I booked the inn overlooking the water. We are nowhere near the water. The inn on the waterfront is in Dartmouth not Halifax.
Not a really big deal, we are comfortable, in a nice room and are resting before we head to the Halifax waterfront for some Friday evening fun. We'll tell you all about more later today..
They do things different down east!!! We once went around and around in circles in PEI and couldn't figure out what we were doing wrong!! And construction....welcome to Summer!!!
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