Another early START.....

Here's another thing I have been excited to start doing and couldn't wait any longer! I needed a trip to the beach. Since we were already half way there due to other engagements, once they were over with and it was a beautiful day I thought "what the heck?" and drove the rest of the way down the french shore to Mavillette Beach.

There were lots of sand drifts on the boardwalk and stairs leading down the the beach, as well as on the hills behind the rocks. It was very clear that the long winter months were windy ones and things just weren't meant to stay in their rightful places.

It was a great day on the beach.... still a lil cool (I didn't expect perfect conditions, it is still April afterall!), but it wasn't too windy..... it was just right to take an evening stroll in a light sweater. The waves were small, the tide was just on it's way out, the sun was shining bright.... a great way to end our day out and about.

I know this post isn't very "Lighthousey", but this is one of my favorite places in Nova Scotia, and it really is one of the hidden gems of the province. See my poorly drawn arrow on this picture below?? Well that tiny spec of a structure you see underneath it is the Cape St. Mary Lighthouse, so there... I got a lighthouse in here for ya after all! LOL

I hope you have been able to enjoy this lovely weather we've been having, if not, I hope you are at least planning a trip out to capture your own idea of beauty around you where ever you are.

As always, Happy & Safe Travels

~Jenn

The Lighthouse Cuts Deadline is Quickly Approaching!!!

It breaks my heart whenever the topic of Lighthouse closures comes up. Especially with the way the Government has been demolishing important structures of our history, I fear for the future of a lot of Lighthouses not only in Nova Scotia, but across the entire country. I am especially partial to the ones here in Nova Scotia. Lighthouses are a point of interest to many people all over the world, and as a province who depends on the Tourist season we NEED these things that draw so many here kept "alive" so to speak. Here is a link to my original post back in 2010 when the topic first came up http://nslights.blogspot.ca/2010/06/lighthouses-are-diing-breed.html and Here is the latest news release about the topic ( http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2012/03/08/ns-save-lighthouses-petitions.html)

Now it has been posted for sometime that there are opportunities to save some of these lights by applying to have them made Heritage Sights and save them from being demo'd, unfortunately it is quite a process, a lot more than just making a petition and gathering some signatures.

Right now there are more than 60 Lighthouses on the list in Nova Scotia alone, and only 14 are on the list to be saved so far. The deadline is May 29th, 2012, and that day is quickly approaching. If anyone is interested in learning more about what it takes to save a lighthouse, or if you are interested in helping out there are a few links below that can help educate you of the process and what is already going on.

• Parks Canada - Heritage Lighthouses of Canada - Petition Process
• Active Lighthouses Declared Surplus - Heritage Lighthouses of Canada
• Inactive Lighthouses Declared Surplus - Heritage Lighthouses of Canada

Anomg those that are on the these lists some that have yet to be nominated are: Black Rock, Prim Point, Cape St. Mary, Cape Forchu, heck even Peggy's Point is on the list of Active lights on the chopping block!! Peggy's Point is one of the MOST photographed structures in the WORLD!! Isn't that worth saving!?!?! Now I would think most of these listed above already have paper work in progress (or at least I hope) but can we really be sure?? On the inactive list, one that hits close to home is the Bear River Light. I just find this all mind blowing and it really sets me off.... I wish I would win the lottery or something and use the money for good and help save as many of these beauties as I could!

Here is the list of Lighthouses that has been nominated so far:

http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/progs/lhn-nhs/pp-hl/page01.aspx

I am not writing to single anyone out or make anyone feel bad, I only hope I can help build some awareness and if I'm lucky help a Lighthouse... or 2.... or 10 in this final push to the deadline.

Thank you so much for reading! If there ever was a time to get out there and plan your trip to see some of these amazing structures now is the time.... some may not be around much longer. You can see a nearly complete list of the Lighthouses of Nova Scotia and their individual history and location of each one at Lighthouse Friends dot com.

~Jenn

Welcome to NS

Well, it has been a little while since I’ve been here to post and although this will be a short one I think you may enjoy it J

Early this spring (like only days in to spring), I had the opportunity to go on a quick trip and while on the trip I did get to see the land to land entry point sign to Nova Scotia from New Brunswick. Back in one of my first posts I was able to post the sign from here in Digby that Welcome’s visitors to Nova Scotia that travel on the Ferry, but the “land to land” entry sign is especially cool.

What says “Welcome to Nova Scotia” better than a…… you guessed it…. A Lighthouse? Well, perhaps seafood, but speaking for myself, I’d much rather be greeted by a lighthouse than a scallop, or a lobster or a big ugly fish. LOL

After seeing this one, I was curious to see what the other signs across Canada looked like. I managed to find a really neat blog that has a post on ALL of the land to land entry signs (unfortunately there were only signs for the 10 Provinces, nothing for the 3 Territories), but it was still an interesting blog to read and if you are interested in checking them out the please visit that blog HERE. I can personally say that I think Nova Scotia has the nicest sign that shows a lot of thought and care was put in to it, and I also like the one welcoming you to Quebec.

Anyway, I really liked the sign, and was happy to finally get to see it in person, and I found my research on the other signs to be interesting and I wanted to share both with you. It’s that time of year to start planning your summer journeys, hopefully some of you are planning on coming here to Nova Scotia, we would love to have you. J

Happy & Safe Travels

~Jenn