Goin' Up the Country...

It's Victoria Day weekend...the unofficial kick off to the summer season in Canada.  It's the weekend that many seasonal tourist operations open, the weekend where many cottages are visited and the weekend that sees many flats of beer consumed (hence the reference to the "May 2-4 Weekend").

It is also the weekend where Halifax plays host to one of the largest charity road marathons in Canada; that is the Scotiabank Bluenose Marathon.  I did my part for the marathon by joining friends for Sunday brunch at the Bluenose Restaurant located just up from Historic Properties and the beautiful Halifax waterfront.  As usual this favorite Halifax eatery is busy for a Sunday morning but after a mere five-minute wait we are seated, and it isn't long until I have my coveted coffee and a fantastic breakfast of steak & eggs.  I may not have raised much for charity however I left with a full belly; we all have our own measures of success.

With the noonday sun beating down, the day was already well underway by the time we were packed and ready to jump in the car for this weekend's roadtrip adventure.  Working in the hospitality industry has its perks; one being that I have connections for accommodations and I am excited to finally visit Stonehame Chalets, located about an hour and a half from the thriving metropolis of Halifax.

We knew we couldn't ask for a better day weather-wise so we rolled down the windows, turned up the volume on the stereo (I feel it only fitting that we played Canned Heat's Goin' Up the Country) and excitedly left the city limits making our way northwest towards picturesque Pictou County.  With talk of beaches, oceans and ideal summertime meals, Kyle made the perfect suggestion of stopping into the Fisherman's Market as we drove along the Bedford Highway on our way out of the city to pick up a couple of pre-cooked lobsters to take along for the trip.  Having researched the amenities available at Stonehame Chalets we knew that our cottage was equipped with a barbeque; we now had the lobsters so all we needed for a surf & turf meal was some steak.  No hotdogs for us on this trip!

Kyle, enjoying the view of the falls at Victoria Park, Truro

It was clear sailing along Highway #102 so it wasn't long until we reached the town of Truro; the absence of RCMP cruisers on this holiday weekend made for a slightly quicker trip.  In keeping with the spirit of it being Victoria Day weekend, I thought it would be appropriate to make our next stop at Victoria Park; one of Truro's best attractions this park has great wooded hiking trails leading to some fantastic waterfalls.  Although we didn't spend much time here, it did give us a great opportunity to stretch our legs while enjoying a brief hike to the waterfall.

Our brief detour into Truro also provided the perfect opportunity to stop into the grocery store to pick up some steak, any other necessary provisions and the obligatory libations from the local "boozery" before heading back out on to the highway and making our way towards Fitzpatrick Mountain.

Once we leave the highway and get onto the back roads and as we make our way closer to our destination, we enjoy a great drive through rural Nova Scotia at its finest.  Even though it is still May the leaves seem to be out in full force and are already providing a canopy over the road as we wind our way up the mountainside to Stonehame; and with the windows rolled down the aroma of fresh cut grass and lilacs let us know that we have certainly left the city.

Our one-bedroom chalet, Stonehame Lodge & Chalets

Part of the overall experience of Stonehame Chalets is the drive to the property.  With breathtaking views atop of Fitzpatrick Mountain the spot is the ideal get-away; located only about fifteen minutes from the town of Pictou and the ferry to Prince Edward Island.  Accommodations range from rooms in the lodge as well as log chalets.  Our one-bedroom chalet is far from rustic; with all the amenities of home such as a fully functional kitchen, TV and modern bathroom, we know that we will feel at home and will be able to prepare our feast of surf & turf without any issue.

A meal fit for a King: Surf & Turf at Stonehame Lodge & Chalets

It doesn't take us long to get settled...and with the late afternoon sun beating down our thoughts soon turn towards the bountiful feast we are eager to enjoy.  I am immediately impressed at the state of the barbeque that is sitting on our deck; the grills are clean, the propane tank is full and the lighter actually works!  While I hear the barbeque, Kyle dices some mushrooms and onions that I will grill for the steak.  With a few cold beer to "wet the whistle" I grill a couple of medium steaks to perfection while Kyle arranges the lobsters, potato salad and fresh dinner rolls on the table.  It's not long until we are ready for our feast; accompanied by a glass of red wine we toast our perfect Victoria Day vacation and tear into those lobsters like a couple of Kodiak bears ripping into freshly caught salmon.

With full bellies and the evening sky turning to shades of orange and crimson, the Adirondack chairs seated by the fire pit made for the perfect place for relaxation and reflection of a perfect day.   As night fell I we decided that a small fire would be in order...as there is nothing like the sound of a campfire crackling away.  Although I never received my Boy Scout badge for building campfires I do consider myself quite capable of building a decent fire however my attempt on this occasion was dismal and I barely mustered a smouldering ember.  In hindsight the paper bag of lobster shells did not make for good kindling.  Having been watching my efforts from his deck the guy in the neighbouring chalet decided to help the situation by bringing over some kindling he had brought from home.  It wasn't long until the crackling sound of our campfire could be heard.  In talking with my neighbour I found out that he and his family had been coming to Stonehame Chalets for the past ten years; usually a couple of times per year.  It came to be no surprise that, in asking my neighbour what continues to bring him here, the attraction to Stonehame Chalets is peacefulness.  Needless to say an amazing night's sleep was had!

View atop Fitzpatrick Mountain looking towards Pictou Harbour

Stonehame Lodge & Chalets offers their guests many amenities to enjoy; the year-round outdoor heated hot tub, the seasonal heated outdoor pool, woodland hiking trails and numerous activities (such as badminton, croquet and horse shoes) lend this property to be an amazing option for a personal retreat.  In chatting with Jeff Gunn, Stonehame's General Manager, upon check out I am quick to note that guest satisfaction is of utmost importance and he and his team strive to exceed expectation.

In reflecting on our Victoria Day weekend adventure during the drive back to Halifax, we agreed that the weather, the drive, the food and the accommodations made for the perfect holiday; I am already looking forward to my return to Stonehame!

Sunday in the Car With Kel & Chuck

King, Edwards and Homewood hit Queensland Beach.  May 6, 2012

So here it is....the first Sunday in May and although there's a cool breeze, I throw on shorts and sandals and am ready to jump in the car and hit the open road.  After all, Sunday is the perfect day for a leisurely road trip!

After catching up with the folk on Coronation Street and downing two cups of coffee,  I pick up my travel companions and head to Halifax's Greek Village for Sunday breakfast.

Located uptown on Quinpool Road, this eatery is a favorite for Halagonians looking for good food at a reasonable price.  I have my usual; their feta cheese omelet is one of the best in the city and they lived up to expectation on this occasion.

With full bellies we decide to head out of the city along Nova Scotia's beautiful south shore.  Following the Lighthouse Route we make our way through suburban Halifax and soon out of city limits, keeping ourselves entertained along the way by catching up on the previous week's gossip.

Me, proudly displaying my newly acquired artwork at Mother Hubbards Cupboard

No road trip is complete without the obligatory sojourn at an antique store, so keeping with that sentiment we make our first stop at Mother Hubbards Cupboard in Hubbards, located next to the Trellis Cafe.  While browsing through usual fare of lamps, china and other articles that carry the aroma of a damp basement, I am awe-struck by a piece of artwork hanging in the far back corner of the shop.  After haggling with one of the proprietors (which simply meant that I inquired about the fare, explained that I was as poor as a church mouse and quickly accepted his reduction in price) I was the proud owner of a new painting for the living room.  Kel, not wanting to leave without treasures, acquired some fantastic broaches.  Chuck, on the other hand, found nothing to his liking but, in good spirit, kept my new painting company in the back of the car for the duration of the trip.

Edwards and King, dipping toes in the Atlantic

Back on the road we continue our journey along the picturesque south shore, winding along the back road with the Atlantic ocean at our side.  It isn't long until we reach Queensland Beach and our next rest stop.  Seizing the opportunity for pictures, Kel is as quick to grab her camera as she is at throwing off her shoes as we make our way to the sandy beach. I, too, threw caution to the wind and dumped the sandals on the shoreline and bravely dipped my toes in the Atlantic; the first time in 2012.  Chuck, perhaps the wisest of the three of us, decided that simply a few moments of simply being barefoot on the sand was as much beach experience as he cared to take in for this first weekend in May.  At least there were no jelly fish to contend with!

Once we knocked the sand off our feet we were back on the road again; this time not stopping until we hit beautiful Mahone Bay....and one of the most popular photo opportunities in the province.  No visitor to this quaint little town can pass through without capturing a photograph of the three churches and we were no exception; Chuck's requirement of the facilities allowed Kel and I time to grab our cameras and cell phones so we could claim our own moment in time.

We had mutually agreed that our destination for our adventure would be the town of Lunenburg; merely an hour from Halifax this town is steeped with nautical history and makes an ideal spot to visit.  We had hoped to call in on our friends that run the Ironworks Distillery however they had a previous engagement and a visit was not in the cards on this trip.  We did, however, decide to seize the opportunity to enjoy a feed of Lunenburg's acclaimed seafood and, after much debate, we settled on a meal a the Grand Banker.

Chuck & Courtney share a laugh at the Grand Banker, Lunenburg

 We had to agree that this was a great choice; Chuck and I had the one-piece fish & chips where as Kel went with the pan-fried haddock.  The food, the breath taking view of the inlet and the fantastic service we received from Courtney all made for an experience that exceed expectations.  If only they served pie for dessert!!

Having this been our first road trip of the season we did not want to over exert ourselves; with visions of a nap and relaxing Sunday evening at home in our minds we decided that we would make our way back to Halifax contented that we had an enjoyable day!