Life . . . Reframed: Fairy Wings and La Rocque Harbour

August 10

Woke up to rain and howling wind today - the ocean was roaring with whitecaps, and sending big sprays up along the breakwater. Although, according to Sarge and Edwina, that was pretty mild compared to what they’ve seen over the years, especially winter storms. We had breakfast on the pier with Sarge (those big English breakfasts of sausage, bacon, hashbrowns, beans, toast and eggs that keep you full all day!) This is a weekly habit for Sarge, and he keeps out one sausage to take home to the dogs - they know what day it is and greet him eagerly when he gets home!

In the picture it doesn't look very rough or windy. But it was crazy.

Colin and Harvey waiting patiently for their bite of Sunday sausage.
Love these dogs!

When we got back, Edwina had dug out a set of “fairy wings” that Allie made when she visited here a few years ago during Halloween. She had helped David organize a Halloween party at “The Bean”, complete with carved pumpkins - apparently that’s not something they normally do here, but I imagine with Dave’s enthusiasm, that it’s probably tradition by now. Anyhow, Edwina was so taken with the wings that she’s kept them all this time and wanted me to see them. She was very careful to get them back from me - there will be no sneaking them home in my suitcase! I got a picture though!

Edwina and the fairy wings that Allie made a few years ago when she was here.

I can look, but I can't take them home with me!

We had a little rest, then went for a hike through St. Catherine’s Woods as the rain had stopped. It’s a really beautiful trail through private land that has been turned into a nature reserve. And it helped to wear off some of that breakfast!

One of the pathways into St. Catherine's woods

Why isn't the flash working???

Love this little fence someone built along the pathway using bits and pieces
of twigs that had blown down in a storm

Nice little log edging on the stream

Stepping stones across the creek

More stepping stones

From there, we borrowed Edwina’s car and took it out to La Rocque Harbour, a middle ages village, to see the tide - it’s the second highest tide in the world, the Bay of Fundy being first. The wind was HOWLING - we’ve heard it was estimated at 40 to 50 knots. The tide was waaaaaaaay out - all the boats were beached, and the area was a moonscape of nasty looking rocks. I can’t imagine navigating around here. We walked out along the breakwater, and a couple of times the wind almost knocked me down. It was quite fun!

La Rocque Harbour. The tides way out. There's a little tower out
in the distance. If you get stranded by the tide, you can wait it out there.

Beached boats. A lot of them!

Checkout the rocks behind the boats. When they leave the harbour,
they need to avoid these. Crazy moonscape.

My artistic shot :-) These buoy chains are very long.

It seemed funny to watch someone pump water out of their
boat when there's none around.

The breakwater at La Rocque. The wind almost blew me over here.

Attached to the side of the breakwater.

Looking out from the end of the breakwater. The water is a loooooooong
way out there. I liked this little stone bench.

We found another German bunker, as well as old Fort Henry (built in the time of Henry VII following the War of the Roses) on the local golf course and had a walk out there. You’re allowed to walk on golf courses here - just watch out for flying balls. I almost got hit by one. Couldn’t believe someone was actually playing in that wind!

Walking on the golf course. That's Fort Henry out there.

A little closer. This pathway cuts across the golf course.

Fort Henry

Another beach wall that stretches for miles

Tomorrow is our last day here, and I’m going to be so sad to leave. But I feel very lucky indeed to have had the opportunity to be here. It’s been well worth the visit. It started out as an opportunity to reconnect with old friends, and turned into a history lesson on a beautiful place. I may need to come back a few times!