Balancing Rock

The Balancing Rock was prettyyyy cool. Geologists claim it has been there for hundreds of millions of years... can't wait to push that old ass rock over (mmjk). The hike is just a short way past Sandy Cove (half hourish). In order to get to this spectacle you need to cross the high seas (on the East Ferry).  

 There is the the majestic sea princess now, look at her go. (The ferry runs on the half hours, costs $5.50 to cross (including return), cash only. it actually takes maybe five mins, but bad ass none the less.)

funny story about this ferry ride. Tara and I were bumpin toons (Tragically Hip Live Album) way too hard anddddd yeah. killed the battery... so yeah that was kinda awkward. The Tracker decided it liked the sea voyage so much it wanted to stay aboard and become first mate. Lucky for us the ferry operators were prepared for such situation and had a handy jump kit to get us going again (FIND A BLOG THAT HAS THAT USEFUL INFORMATION ON IT! JUST TRY! I DARE YOU! cuz you wont, find it)

 Anyways onto the trail. The trail has a parking lot off the main road once you hit land again (go left off the ferry) travel 5-7 mins and you'll see the parking lot on your left, ya cant miss it. The trail is maintained by volunteers and they have a donation box in the parking lot (its a nice trail, lets keep it that way). In the parking lot they have some of the nicest/ cleanest outhouses I have ever seen, so that is where we had our picnic. The hike is 2.5km and will take you about an hour. It is extremely easy terrain, I wore my flip flops and Tara wore her heels (jk, but it is pretty easy). My handy guide book explained how popular this trail was and to never expect to be alone, man was he wrong. (I would say we were alone thanks to the rainfall warning, or maybe magic, either way no one else was on the trail).

 The trail has a lot of cool signs with information about the plants and trees around you. For example I learned that this skunk weed can help with diabetes. (it didn't say how though, so now I just have a truck full of smelly plants and no use for them.)

Much of the flat trail area is over a bog so it has a couple stretches of board walk. 

It also has some lil jimmy jobs like this, and also just random 2x4s laying over puddles (surprisingly well placed/ useful)

 I think this was the only trail marker. (don't worry, if you can walk a straight line you wont get lost)

 but seriously the stairs down to the rock were slippery 

As you can see, very well built and safe. (everyone and their grandmother can enjoy this hike, unless you have health concerns, or are a smoker, its a lot of stairs. I forgot to count them. The sign says 235, other sources say 169, why it wasn't 170 we'll never know)

 The last set of stairs before we hit rock city.

(The following images are not recommended to be duplicated, some serious climbing down was involved. Do not try this at home. HA! like you have a rock like this at your home.) 

Josh to Rock, "so what time you off work?" Rock: "...."  J: I know a place near by, we could grab a drink, or coffee, do you drink coffee? R: "........." J: "fine! whatever! no wonder you've been alone for millions of years!"

Tara had more success than I.

Last shot looking from Tiverton(the island) across Petite Passage, back over to Digby. 

(Taken in Tiverton NS, near Digby)

Sandy Cove

In case you land on the beach and don't know where you are (Like Jerome)

Baie Sainte-Marie (very pretty spot, even in the rain)

Rainfall warning in effect, but we were ready...

They were not ready. 

 It's a cove with lots of sand! it makes sense! (http://www.canadianmysteries.ca/sites/jerome/suites/souvenir/3614en.html this is the cool story about a guy named Jerome, who was found on this beach with no legs...(sorry about the website not knowing about proof reading, typo city on there.)

 lil off axis panoram, heading up the beach.

(photos taken in Sandy Cove, Digby, Nova Scotia)
(thanks to Ila for the accommodations! :) )

The Bluff (round 2)

 above is a pic from the same spot as last time, little more green, but not a lot yet. Summer is comin' I promise. 

Bluff round 2. Dr.Zukes and I went for the 23km loop, the actual "Bluff Loop". What a beauty! let me tell you. The temp was about 14 degrees which was perfect for our walking pace, our total time was about 5.5 hours with a 15-20 min lunch break and a couple short water breaks included. We went on Blue Nose marathon day, so the trails were wide open. A lot of quiet and nature, (and I didn't get heart to hearted once).

Pot lake trail (yellow) turns into Indian Hill loop (blue)

 

As I mentioned in the last post the trails are very well maintained and marked, either by signs or friendly hikers. Also if you don't like rocks don't go here.

Lots of rocks...

 Giant Rocks, its a Geologist dream come true. If you ever doubted that Nova Scotia was covered in a giant glacier look no further, either that or aliens.

Climbing rocks...

 houses made of rocks. We're talking year round igloos here.

 oh baby! more rocks, look at them grazing in their natural habitat. 

and my fav pic of the day. at about the 17km mark. (rock fire) so many rocks

Overall this was a great day. No bugs, low UV index, and only one blister. If anyone is planning on doing the hike make sure you have; food, (meals and snacks), plenty of water, and have some good footwear, (I brought an extra pair of socks and change up half way just to be safe (dry feet are happy feet (not like the dancing penguins)). the terrain is not too difficult, the first loop (Pot Lake) is probably the most technical with roots and small rocks. For the most part the trails are flat with some short steep climbs every now and then, most of the brooks and streams are set up with little rock bridges and easily crossed. This time of year, you often feel like you are walking through a barren tundra with nothing around you but rocks. But not to worry, as awful as that may sound it is extremely beautiful and absolutely worth checking out. 

Can't wait to go for the 30km loop next. 

(http://www.wrweo.ca/BluffTrail/webMap.html link to trail map)

Happy Hiking 

The Bluff

This is a pic from The Bluff Wilderness Trail in Timberlea. I took this a few weeks back while doing the shorter 8km loop (w/Andrew, Craig, Mike, and a giant ice cream sandwich) great trail, very well marked, and some beautiful scenery. Tomorrow Dr.Zukes and I are attempting one of the longer loops (maybe the 17km one) so we'll see how that goes. I would recommend this spot for any medium to advanced level hiker, its a great trail system and its not too far from Halifax.
(parking lot and trail map on site, dog friendly, 4 stacked loops for trail options, well maintained)

Lets hope for some more leaves on the trees this time around.
Happy Hiking

(Timberlea, HRM, NS)

Here is a link to more info about the trails,
http://www.halifaxtrails.ca/index_files/BluffTrail.htm

Pollets Cove

Photo creds to Mark C with the GoPro on this one

This is one of the many very cool pics from this camping trip last summer to Northern Cape Breton. An experience of a life time for sure. Without a doubt one of the most challenging/ amazing outdoor adventure I've taken part in. After hiking up the first of THREE mountains I thought I was going to die, funny because the first climb is called Heart Attack Hill.(Side note, we were blessed with amazing walking sticks at the beginning of the trail, they were absolute live savers, take one!) The trail is very narrow and technical in places, and with the rain the night before it often disappeared under your foot. Without the walking stick to stabilize, you would be doomed to slide off cliffs into the swirling, rock-filled Atlantic Ocean, (aha, no but srsly!). After essentially bushwhacking and mountain maneuvering you would reach the top of a mountain and want to quit. Finally emerging from the narrow paths you would discover a view like never seen before. You would pause and enjoy the beauty, have some water, question life and your existence and then think, "this is totally worth the shit I just went through."

Looking back over the mountains you had just tackled; it made it easier to push forward to the next point. It also made you realize just how far you were from the Monks (the closest thing to civilization that we passed on the winding dirt road to the trail start.) My pack was heavy as hell, and it almost killed me a couple of times (shout out to Edgar for the loan of the pack), sleeping bag, tent, full rain suit, warm clothes, dishes, first aid, other footwear, canned food (dumb idea) etc etc, oh and some Rum (Captain 151, higher alc% with less liquid weight, genius I know) but all that shit adds up.Camping Tip: only bring what you need, make sure everything you bring has two uses, have a proper sturdy pack, and good footwear.( "alcohol has infinite uses, so it always comes" Bruce, 2013)

 To help pass the time, we created such trail friendly games as, "Hypothetical Situations" (yes its pretty much exactly what is sounds like, it also had an extremely catchy jingle.)

The last decent into the cove was filled with many emotions; one of the biggest was the feeling of accomplishment, quickly followed by hunger, exhaustion and pain. (good thing we made Snack Sacks TM)

This is a view from near our tent site looking back on the decent into the cove. Its hard to gauge the size and steepness of the mountain, but I will say that coming straight down the last bit would have been very difficult and so there is a little meandering trail present. Ben and I swam to that rock island, (which is also much bigger than it looks) it also is covered in bird shit, so I dunno if I recommend doing that. If you look closely you will see cows by the stream running into the ocean (the stream running, not the cows). After hiking the 5 hours or so in, we had to traverse that river, (I switched to flip flops for that) and it was just about dark when  we were setting up camp.(Long day when you include the drive from Halifax) There were a tonne of cows and horses there to greet us and show us to our suites. these were also the same cows who licked my face through the tent to wake me up. (sorry for thinking it was you Sarah)

this is our friend Milton offering to take Sarah's Bags

and this is me healing a horse 

This trip was not easy, the weather hiking in was very wet, the trails are extremely challenging (especially with full camping gear), there are no actual camping spots, no access roads out, or any sort of facilities near by, and there are many Coyotes to be heard from at night. Now let me say I am not saying these things to try and seem all awesome that I did it, or am trying to scare people off. I just felt that I was not as prepared enough both physically or mentally, thus didn't take it as serious as I should have. Blogs and trail reviews did say it was high difficulty, but its hard to gauge something like this till you're in it. So all I ask is that you, "stay alert, and stay safe" oh and also stay alive.

With that said, this trip was extremely fun, and rewarding and I am very happy to have done it, and very happy of the people I got to do it with. Looking forward to getting out there again this summer.

Here are the survivors/victors 

(Taken in Pollets Cove, Cape Breton NS)

Side note, there is an abandoned village up the river from where we were, we did not get a chance to explore it. But we are certain it is infested with zombies, so if anyone checks it out please lets us know. unless you turn into a zombie then you can frig off and stay there.   Happy Camping

Jeff "End of the World" Hawtsauce

This is Jeff. We have been friends for a long time, and if there is one thing I can say about Jeff, Id say he likes hot sauce. this is a compilation of photos of him attempting (and finishing) the "End of The World" Caesar from the Port Pub Bistro. After finishing the drink he had no colour in the face, no feeling in his throat and face, his eyes were leaking, oh there was something going on with his ears too.(from what he was felt and from my first aid training, we later agreed he was definitely slipping into, if not was in shock ( Dr. Zukes on scene, concurred))  This was a huge feat that rocked the Valley community. Even the bartender was astounded that he had finished it was conscious  After finishing, our waitress came over to congratulate him (a waitress who Smac became very fond of), the waitress also happened to mention that the last person who attempted to conquered the "End of The World"  passed out in the hallway on their way to the bathroom. (woulda been nice to hear that before? maybe? meh) The drink contains an in-house made hot sauce, that includes ghosts peppers (the hottest pepper in the world) even the rim salt had chili-peppers on it, and of course the extreme bean garnish. I had a single sip myself and could not feel my mouth for about half hour, from one sip! Jeff's body eventually returned back to normal, though it took about 3-4 hours for complete normality to set back in.

Sarah said, "I really enjoyed our time there, the food was good, well priced and our waitress was great, one of my all time favourites."

Dr.Zukes stated that, "all previous cancers that may have been developing in his body were likely immediately wiped out."
Jeff has been quoted in saying, "I don't regret much in my life... but I was full of hot spicy regret after that drink."

(Taken in Port Williams, NS)

House on a hill, and sun in the sky

Beautiful day in Great Village, NS

This was a great trip to get the summer rolling. It was a beautiful day in May, and night too.
These pics bellow I stole from my new friend and fellow DJ Ian Smith, and they are some beauties. (Using a Sony alpha a250)

in this moment Craig is the funniest man on the earth.

 Great shot of the beach below the cottage. 

 That stick was up to something...

 Awesome colours with the Alpha. (that deep blue sky, and almost purple water)

 Check out them browns!

Dinosaur tracks I can only imagine. 

Fishing without a rod

City of Lakes showing one off. (Russel Lake, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia)

Baby in its cradle

Bluenose II the weekend before its re-launch on 29 September 2012 (Lunenburg, Nova Scotia)
http://bluenose.novascotia.ca/restoration

 Swedish House Mafia

 WE CAME...

WE RAVED...
















WE LOVED.







(Rogers Center, Toronto, Ont)