Another Revisit.....

Yes, I went out and did another revisit this evening. After my last adventure out at Sunset I really wanted to try and get some night time photos of a Lighthouse serving it's purpose.... LIGHTS ON!

I didn't have to go far for this one. The Prim Point Lighthouse is a short drive away from home (10 minutes tops), and I thought this was the perfect one to go to to put my camera and it's nighttime setting to the test (after all if it didn't work this night I could always go back out the next). I must say, I was pretty impressed with what I was able to capture... next time I'll remember to bring the tripod so I can get a steadier shot.

I love these photos, and love how this Lighthouse looks in the dark (well, almost dark). It has given me a new appreciation for what they were made to do for us.... they are more than just a pretty picture waiting to happen.

This goes to show you, how old things.... things you've seen a whole bunch of times, can always seem new in a different light.

Good Night from Digby, NS

~Jenn

Getting Started with the 2012 Season!

It's here! It's here! My 2012 adventure season is FINALLY here!! Well, it's almost here...LOL It is only March, so still a little early yet to be taking road trips to the cool shore lines of Nova Scotia, but we have had some real beautiful days this month so it's been really hard to contain my excitement and to keep myself from heading out there.

Today, I started the season off by going to one of my Favorite Lighthouses.... one that I visit every year, not just because it is nearby, but because it is a really nice spot to spend some time and of course, it's also a great looking Lighthouse!. It doesn't matter how many times I visit the Gilbert's Cove Lighthouse, I can never seem to take enough pictures, and with as many pictures as I do have, it's hard to believe I can continue to get some that look different from all the others.

It was getting close to sunset before I decided to take the drive down... really I was so tired from spending the week-end at home that I just HAD to get out and do SOMETHING! There were a few other people who had the same idea, but it wasn't too busy, after all it is still 'pre-season'. It was kind of nice seeing this Light at a different time of day.... really should've stayed longer to see it lit up, maybe another time.

I am so happy to have been out at a lighthouse already, now if I can just get on route to see some different ones that would be GREAT! I think I have made my decision of which way I'd like to go this year. Yes I still hope to finish off the Annapolis Valley, at the very least I want to see the Margaretsville Lighthouse near Middleton, it's not the closest of the 3 left. What I REALLY hope to be able to do is get to as many on the South Shore as possible. I could take a long week-end and pack the kids up, start in Yarmouth, work my way around... spend the night at a few campgrounds.... it could be really FUN! Plus there are other things that would be great to see and do.... I've been wanting to take the kids to the Fisherman's Museum in Lunenburg for a few years now, would be neat to go see the progress they are making on the rebuild of the Bluenose II, hit the Ross Farm Museum in New Ross, go find some geocaches.... whatever we can find to get in to. I have BIG plans, just need to figure out how and when to make the plans a reality.

So here's to hoping I can get some new and interesting stuff on here for you all to read about this year. :) Hope some of you are able to get out and have your own adventures this year!

Safe & Happy Travels
~Jenn

Travel in the Comfort of your own home?????

Ok, I have a new favorite thing.... I discovered a website called "Nova Scotia Web Cams".... how come no one ever told me this was here before!?!?! I'm officially addicted! I love it!! It is an awesome way to see places all over the province LIVE right from the comforts of your own home! Now mind you everything looks WAY better in person (just sayin' from experience), but it really is a neat place to go to check things out.

Already, I have a few favorite cams from the list. One is the cam set up in Digby over looking the Wharf.... now I see that view at a side angle from my own home, but it is kinda neat to check it out now and then, it's actually one of my favorite views in NS to photograph (not just because I live there either LOL) There are also some beautiful sunrises there every morning, so if you're ever up early check it out!

Of course the one in Peggy's Cove looking out at the Peggy's Point Lighthouse is another favorite of mine. That place is just breath taking and I could stare at that light all day, whether it's a rough sea day and the waves are crashing high, or it's a calm evening and you get to witness the stunning sunsets that sets behind her, you'll enjoy what this cam has to offer. I try to watch the Sunset there as often as I can :)

Another neat cam, actually it's a set of cams, are the ones set up so that you can see the progress that is being made on the Bluenose II. It's just kinda cool to check on once in a while to see how things are progressing.

My favorite web cam in the list.... the Lobster Cam in Halifax Harbour! How cool is it to be able to watch live footage under the sea?? Ok, maybe not so spectacular for some but I sure enjoy it. I've seen all kinds of things in the lobster trap, fish, Urchins, a lot of Starfish, and yes I've even seen a LOBSTER! imagine that! LOL Anyway, it's fun to keep an eye on.

So yea, it's a lot of fun looking through these cams, and they've got a lot more being put up this year, I'm interested to find out where. Not to sound like an advertiser or anything, but it's a great tool to "try before you buy", you know, take a look before you plan your trip; but I wasn't kidding when I said all these places look better in person, so you should really check them out. :)

Happy & Safe Travels

~Jenn

Wharf Rat Rally 2011

Hi folks! Wharf Rat Rally was here and gone!  Boy am I tired..... if the noise wasn't enough to keep me awake having to keep the windows closed to keep out the fumes from so many bikes was enough to cause many sleepless nights, but you know what?!? So worth it!

For those who don't know what Wharf Rat Rally is, it is only like the BIGGEST Motorcycle Rally in Atlantic Canada.  It's pretty cool. If you want to learn more visit their website, as I'm sure you'll get more from it there than you would from me as to what it's all about.




Before I start talking about the Rally, one thing that totally drove me crazy (in a good way) was the car my brother brought home from work for the week-end.... omg, so hot!!  Only bad point is after seeing this car, there was no way any bike would catch my attention this week-end! LOL

I have been to both the 1st and 2nd Rally, moved away for a while so I missed it for quite a few years and now I am living right in town in Digby so I am experiencing it full tilt right in the thick of it this year.  I must say being in town for the entire thing has been a challenge, but I have 3 very young boys, who's sleep patterns were messed up, and getting through the streets by car, even if it's just to go to the grocery store to get some food?  Forget about it!  Take it from me, if you ever move to Digby and are around for WRR, going shopping a week in advance for EVERYTHING you could possibly ever need and Bunker down! LOL Other than those few minor issues this is a really great event, it brings a lot to the town, surrounding towns, heck even the whole province. So if you are ever in the area around Labour Day, or you are into Motorcycles at all, you should Definitely make the trip and come experience it for yourself!

I am signing off for now, but before I do that I put together a slideshow of the many pictures I took this year at the Rally.

Thanks for stopping by....

Have fun & Safe Travels

~Jenn

A Whale of a Tale

Today I was fortunate enough to have a Whale Watching experience without even having to get on a boat OR leave the Wharf in Digby! How cool (and rare) is that!?!?

Had the boys down to the wharf fishing this afternoon, and they weren’t getting any bites. I kept thinking I was seeing something in the water, it would just barely peek out of the water, I thought MAYBE a seal (because I tend to see them often there), or I also thought maybe I was just crazy and was seeing things. Then I noticed others looking out also, with the same look on their face as I had.

So I had the boys reel in their lines and then I saw it!!! I saw the dorsal fin pop up out of the water. Then I thought maybe a Dolphin?? HE kept circling this one area of the harbour, round and around and around… me I was snapping pictures like crazy! (I love my multi shot setting, it allowed me to be ready AND make sure I got at least 1 good shot every time he surfaced LOL).

It wasn’t until we moved to another spot to get a better view of him that we realized he was a Whale. I thought he must have been a baby, and I bet for the most part he was young, but after getting home and doing some research I learned that he was a Minkie Whale, and they aren’t very big whales anyway.

The crowd kept getting bigger all watching this guy make his rounds. Eventually he slowed down and we didn’t see him much, I think since the tide was going out at the time that he probably knew to get out of there before he couldn’t.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures, thank goodness I never leave home without the camera!!!… I just never know what I’ll see even just a short distance from my house.

Happy Travels

~Jenn

The ONLY Reference you'll ever need!

Wow, it’s been a long time since I’ve been by with an update. Then again during the winter months, there’s not much opportunity to get out and see and do stuff without fearing the road conditions, so I really didn’t have much to report on anyway. Thankfully spring is here and hopefully another summer of Lighthouse adventures will soon be underway.

I did however come across this really cool book one day in the mall, "Lighthouses & Lights of Nova Scotia: A Complete Guide" by Rip Irwin (one of the founding members of the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society - VERY cool!!). JACKPOT! I was so excited about this discovery!! Whenever I would plan trips to see lights, I would always go to Lighthouse Friends, read up on the history, find out the accessibility, get my driving directions etc. which worked out GREAT! I also liked that when I decided to go see a light unplanned I had a place to go on my phone to find out whatever I needed. However this wasn’t always an option as I found myself in a lot of places where my cell service just wasn’t going to work. (plus reading all the info on my tiny screen wasn’t one of my favorite things to do). Now, as long as I keep my book in the car, I have all the info I need right at my fingertips because this book is PACKED full of information, photos, and the history of every light.

I think my favorite feature of this book is the map right up front. It breaks up the Lights in sections by Shore groups it also gives a quick reference as to where to find the Lighthouses within the book, which is much better than looking in the index. What I love most about it though, it that there are 178 Lights in the list… and you can see where they all are on the map.

I can see, just by looking at this map that last year I almost visited the entire Annapolis Valley. There are still 3 left (out of 22) that I need to get to. I did also get to one along the Fundy shore, and 2 on the South Shore.

So if you’d rather read a book instead of surfing the web for information about our lighthouses, this is a really great resource! You can learn more about the book HERE.

Happy Learning!

~Jenn

Just a Quick Update.... Yes, I'm still here! :)

I know it’s been a while since I’ve been in here to post much of anything. After last year’s lighthouse adventures there aren’t many left in a close distance from home that I don’t have to plan a special trip to go see. So I’ve been thinking and though this is and will always primarily be a blog about the Lighthouses of Nova Scotia I would also like to show you some other lights I have seen in my travels to other places, as well as share some photos of special events and points of interest in locations here in Nova Scotia so you can get a feel for other things this lovely province has to offer.

So stay tuned for some interesting updates!!!

~Jenn