CapeBreton-NorvellHimself-SingleMalt: August 2012

What's It All About, eh?

Cape Breton evokes deep memories and strong emotions for me as well as a deep appreciation for the beauty of my adopted island. My hopes are that you too might find the photos evocative - maybe a view you've not enjoyed before, or an 'Oh I've been there', or if from away that you may be encouraged to visit this fair isle so that you might come to love and breathe Cape Breton as I do. One word about place names that I use - some are completely local usage while others are from maps of Cape Breton that I've purchased over the years. I frequently post travel and other photos that are of interest to me - and hopefully you.

On the right hand side bar find my take on Single Malt whiskey - from how to best enjoy this noble drink to reviews (in a most non-professional manner) of ones that I have tried and liked - or not. Also musings, mine and others, on life in general.

Photographs are roughly 98%+ my own and copy-righted. For the occasional photo that is borrowed, credit is given where possible - recently I have started posting unusual net photographs that seem unique. Feel free to borrow any of my photos for non-commercial use, otherwise contact me. Starting late in 2013 I have tried to be consistent in identifying my photographs using ©smck on all out of camera photos I personally captured - (I often do minor computer changes such as 'crop' or 'shadow' etc but usually nothing major), and using ©norvellhimself on all photos that I have played around with in case it might not be obvious. Lately I have dropped the ©smck and have watermarked them with the blog name.

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Coming Soon Himself's Review of a Single Malt

Now that I am home I plan on reviewing a single malt soon - just haven't yet decided on just what yet - but whatever it may be it will certainly be less expensive here in the U.S. than in my adopted Canada.

Above, The 21st Century - Below, The Eternal Earth

Anglican Church, Flowers Cove, Newfoundland

One of my favorite communities in Newfoundland - even though we didn't see a soul this day. To my untutored eye the churches of all denominations seem very similar to the church shown here.

Boating Can Be Peaceful

Eagle Looking for Supper

Low Tide Along the Rocks

Large Atlantic Grey Seal

The gray seal's mouthful of a scientific name (Halichoerus grypus) translates to “hook-nosed pig of the sea.” They have more of a rounded, roman nose, and are a large seal that grow to 8 feet in length and weights over 600 pounds. Their coat may be dark brown or gray in males and lighter grayish-tan in females, and it may have lighter spots or patches. marinelife.about.com

The Seal of Approval for Red Cape©

Information from MARINELIFE.ABOUT.COM

Blown Away at Flowers Cove, NFL

I so love this photo from Newfoundland that it is my 'Desktop Background". When I get the opportunity I will post this again, along with other views of Flowers Cove.

Gargoyles of Grand River

© Aug '12 photo by smck

Well I guess they're actually Cormorants - but I've never seen them abutting from power poles before

Landscape on Return From Rose Blanche, NFL

White granite shore for miles

View from Grande Greve road

Dusk

River Bourgeois - Blue Heron


© Aug '12 photo by smck Driving along 'The River that wasn't' I was rewarded not only by the beautiful views but also by this exceedingly wary wader.

Rose Blanche Lighthouse - more

Lighthouse at Rose Blanche

On impulse as we left the dock we turned toward the right and a famous restored granite stone Lighthouse

We decided to walk out the return trail as shown on the Info Sign above - widdershins so to speak.

Looking back one sees the parking area with Rose Blanche across the harbour.

© July '12 photo by smck

Just a gorgeous view of the harbour and the impressive scarp of white granite and low cover.

At the top of our little climb we could espy the Lighthouse far out on the point.

Newfoundland Landfall

As the ferry approached Port aux Basque, the land of Newfoundland looming out of the water into the misty gray of the day seemed to conjure the feeling of Cabot and his crew staring at this strange new world. A world of uncharted depths and reefs, a world of dreams of gold and exotic spices, fresh food and water and a myriad of unknown thoughts of the crew. Then a glimpse of another ferry tumbled me back into the 21st century where all was structured for our comfort - port and charts, electronic wizardry like magic pin-pointing our every move. Still the closer glimpse of the barren hills of the coast to our starboard raised that ancient-of-days feeling in me once more and I knew that I was closing in on our anticipated vacation on this great island. The red buoy only some small hundred meters from the shore gave me comfort with its physical presence steering us in measured depth to the dock - although I've no doubt that its innards conceal its own electronic daemons. As we drove away from the dock toward our first ad-hoc day ashore, we said adieu to the ferry, Atlantic Vision, a beautiful well appointed ship - but one inclined to roll easily in the small light waves of our voyage from North Sydney, Nova Scotia to Port aux Basque, Newfoundland, much to my wife's discomfort. Well the return trip would be another ferry and another day.