Day 1,021- Keys to Canada- Lunenburg & Halifax

Battery Point- The original station was built on Battery Point 1864 (named for early fortifications like Fort Boscawen). It featured a 1.5-story keeper's dwelling with an 8-foot lantern on the roof and a fixed white light, with John A. Ernst serving as the first keeper. 

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, is a historic port town on Canada’s South Shore, renowned for its remarkablywell-preservedBritish colonial settlement and rich maritime heritage. Founded in 1753, the town retainsmuch of its original characterand charm.

In 1995, Old Town Lunenburg was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of itsexceptionalpreservation of the original 1753 grid layout, distinctive 18th- and 19th-century woodenarchitecture, and enduringmaritime culture. One of its most recognizable architectural features is the“Lunenburg bump,” a unique dormerwindow that adds to the town’s distinctive historic character.

Overlooking Halifax Harbour, the Citadel made Halifax one of the British Empire's four principal overseas naval stations

The Halifax Town Clock (also known as the Old Town Clock or Garrison Clock) on Citadel Hill in Halifax, Nova Scotia, has kept official time since October 20, 1803

The Grand Parade is a historic public square in the heart of downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia. Established as a military parade ground, it has been an important civic gathering place since the city’s founding. St. Paul’s Anglican Church: Located at the southern end, the church was founded in 1749 and is recognized as theoldest surviving building in Halifax and the oldest Protestant church in Canada.

Georges Island Lighthouse (Halifax Harbour)

Day 1,000- Recap

12 countries 

6,287 pictures 

213 stops

37,284 Miles

2 cruise ships

3 trains

5 planes 

 

Day 1,011- Keys to Canada-We made it!

We went on a little walk on a local nature trail. It was neat to see the beavers handiwork. 

Sussex Craft Distillery

The Sussex Craft Distillery officially launched in late 2017 Inspired by the history of local beverage manufacturing—including the legacy of Sussex Mineral Springs and Sussex Golden Ginger Ale—the founders recognized a prime opportunity to utilize New Brunswick's local grains, fruits, and maple syrup. 

The distillery pays homage to local heritage through its product line. For example, their Ward’s Creek Whiterum acts as a tribute to the historical bootleggers and rum runners who operated throughout the backroads of the area.

Bringing in lots of entrainment. Today we listened to Jacob Chevarie and Holly Joanne Campbell they were great.

 Spur Brothers Market and Taproom

What a history one family has made. Established in 1875 by Shippy Spurr,  Spur Brothers Farm s a fifth-generation family operation in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley. Spanning roughly 1,000 acres, the operation has evolved from a 62-acre hay and apple farm into a modern agricultural destination featuring a market and taproom. 

1875: Shippy Spurr started the farm, becoming one of the province's leading apple exporters and a vocal advocate for agriculture. 

1921: Shippy's son, William, joined the farm, adding potatoes and becoming one of the first growers of McIntosh Red apples. 

Present Day: The farm is currently run by Bill's children—William, Lisa Jenereaux, and Katie Campbell—marking the first generation to have women on the lease. 

Today, the farm produces over 20 varieties of apples, strawberries, onions, carrots, and soybeans. To diversify and build a local community destination, the family expanded their enterprise to include the Spur Brothers Fam and Taproom in Wilmot, where they sell fresh produce and brew their own house-made hard cider

Day 990-Keys to Canada- Maine Pt 2

Jonathan Bonano of Rose Eden Lobster has created a fabulous taste of Maine. The wide variety of seafood and the different flavors offered make for a memorable dining experience. Each dish highlights the freshness and quality that Maine is known for, allowing visitors to enjoy the best of the coast in every bite. Whether you're a seafood lover or trying Maine seafood for the first time, Rose Eden Lobster delivers an authentic and delicious experience.

FUN FACTS:

•   Lobsters can live to be 100 years old or older.
•   During colonial days, lobsters were plentiful and were the food for the poor.
•   A lobster's brain is in its throat, and they taste with their feet.
•   Lobsters are a great source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
•   Three and a half ounces of lobster is only 96 calories and about two grams of fat.
•   Lobsters can grow up to four feet long and weigh as much as 40 pounds.
•   Lobsters aren't red. They turn red when cooked, but in nature they can be green or yellow or even bright blue..

Hadley's Point Campground- Campsites are level, with gravel. We had a shaded area in D section and loved it. Roads are paved for easy walking/bike riding. Everything is new and updated.

Located in Maine, Acadia National Park is the oldest national park east of the Mississippi River. Its creation was unique: rather than being carved from existing public domain, it was the first national park created primarily from private lands gifted to the public by conservation-minded citizens

Jordan Pond House

The Jordan Pond House is a model of old town hospitality rich in history dating back to 1847. It began when the first settlers conducted a logging operation. The original farmhouse was built by the Jordan family of Seal Harbor, for whom the pond and house were named.

The Jordan Pond House was founded as a restaurant by Mr. Melvan Tibbetts in the early 1870s.

In 1895, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas McIntire began their association, which was to last over 50 years.

They were responsible for the character and atmosphere of the original Jordan Pond House, with its birch bark dining rooms and massive field stone fireplaces. Near the end of the Melntire's reign, Mr. John D. Rockefeller Jr. purchased the property and gave it to the National Park Service to ensure its continuation. On June 21, 1979, the original building was destroyed in a fire. Through the efforts of the Island Foundation, private funds were contributed for a new Jordan Pond House to be constructed. The Jordan Pond House has been operating ever since holding true to the history of what was started long ago. Today you will find connections to the traditional menu with enhanced options for the diverse crowds that choose to participate in the tradition of dining at the Jordan Pond House. Here we focus on local product and partnerships and quality products. Local farms supply greens and vegetables and fresh fish and seafood from right here in Maine is always used. The demand for fresh popovers might be different than it was but they are still cooked fresh each day and paired with a Maine made fresh tea blend that has been created for the Jordan Pond House.

A popover is an egg-batter pastry derived from traditional British Yorkshire pudding. It gets its name because the batter pops over the top of the tin while baking, resulting in a crispy golden-brown exterior and a light, airy, hollow interior. 

Popovers are traditionally served hot straight from the oven and enjoyed with butter and premium strawberry jam

Bar Harbor, Maine

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

Built in 1858 it sits on the southwestern tip of Mount Desert Island in Tremont, Maine. Originally funded by a $5,000 Congress appropriation in 1855, the 32-foot cylindrical brick tower guides mariners through the eastern entrance of Bass Harbor and Blue Hill Bay

Day 988-Keys to Canada-Maine Pt1

Maggie and Bill have found a piece of heaven on the coast of Maine. 

Marshall Point Light Station is a lighthouse at the entrance of Port Clyde Harbor in Port Clyde, Maine. The light station was established in 1832.

The lighthouse's unique raised wooden walkway is globally recognized as the spot where the Forest Gump character concluded his cross-country run in the 1994 film.

Built in 1817, the Ridge Church (historically known as the Second Baptist Church of St. George) in Martinsville, Maine, is a historic landmark. Originating as a branch of the First Baptist Church, the church has served as a beloved rural icon, famously captured in paintings by the renowned artist Andrew Wyeth

Authorized by President John Quincy Adams in 1825, Owls Head Light was built to guide vessels into the busy, lime-trading waters of Rockland Harbor in Penobscot Bay. Though just 30 feet tall, its strategic position atop an 80-foot bluff elevates the light to 100 feet above sea level

Larry the Lobster: A Marvel in Woolwich, Maine

Sitting atop the Taste of Maine Restaurant in Woolwich, Maine, Larry the Lobster stands tall, proudly claiming the title of the World’s Largest Inflatable Lobster. Crafted with care & creativity, Larry is truly one of a kind.

At 12 feet, Larry towers over the restaurant, catching the eyes of passersby and diners alike.

St. George's Episcopal Chapel in the St. George/Long Cove area of Maine was built in 1901. It was historically established to serve the English granite workers who had immigrated to work in the local quarries, in an area once known locally as "Englishtown"