Grand-Pré http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/ns/grandpre/natcul/natcul6.aspx Grand-Pré was the Acadian village my Landry ancestors lived in prior to 1751, the year in which they fled to Isle-Royale from the increasing pressures aimed at the Acadians by the English. When I go back to Grand-Pré, I go home. There is a hand-hewn drain/sluice on display in the museum. It was pulled out of the mud by a local farmer wielding a backhoe a couple of years ago. Made from one log, you can still see the adze marks on the surface. The scientists who examined the rings date the year the tree was cut at about 1695. I am certain, even though I have absolutely no way of proving it, that one or more of my ancestors left their marks on that piece of wood. In 2009, Carol and I met up with Sarah Marie, Carol's daughter's best friend when the girls were growing up in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. Imagine my surprise when it turned out that Sarah Marie, who is studying archaeology in Halifax, had just returned from working at a dig at Grand-Pré. We forgot all about Carol while Sarah Marie and I discussed Grand-Pré history. This year, 2011, Sarah Marie is the team leader on the annual dig. One of these years, hopefully long before I croak, I will be lucky enough to join Sarah Marie at the dig and, perhaps, find some of the artifacts my grandfathers left behind in Grand-Pré. Here's their blog: http://grandpre.wordpress.com/
Fortress of Louisbourg http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/ns/louisbourg/index.aspx Located on Cape Breton Island, the original of this partially-reconstructed Fortress was built following the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. It ceased to exist in 1763 (+/-) when it was destroyed by the British. Part of my family history played out in this French walled town. It guarded the entrance to the Golfe du Saint-Laurent and Canada. In fact, one of the houses that was reconstructed, the LaTour/Dugas house, was built by one of my 6th great-granduncles, Joseph Dugas. It fell following a long seige by New Englanders in 1745 and was returned to France by treaty in 1748. It fell again to the British in 1758 following which it was destroyed. The first time my father took me there to visit, in the late 1950s, all you could see was some of the ruins. In the 1960s, the government of Canada put together a make-work program for laid-off coal miners. They located the original plans in the archives in France, replicated the original tools, carried out archaelogical digs, and rebuilt a portion of Louisbourg to original specifications as much as possible. Locals in period costumes are there during the summer months to explain historical events and role played by Louisbourg. About 1992, I took my (then) 12-year-old son to visit. We watched the blacksmith fabricate nails and explain what he was doing. After his presentation and listening to his accent, I noted that he was from Petit-de-grat to which he replied, "Yes, and you're Sharon's brother!" Tommie was a pre-teen when I left to go to university. A little later, one of the French drummers called me over: Edwin, one of my high school/university classmates. A bit later, I called one of the Park Guides by name: Leona, my mother's cousin. My son, Mike, who was raised in Alberta was stunned at how many people I knew in the Fortress. I explained that I grew up with these people less than 100 kms away by water.
Heceta Head lightkeeper's B&B http://www.hecetalighthouse.com/ This inn is within sight of the Sea Lion Caves located on the coast of Oregon. In addition to its history, which is interesting in its own right, its appeal lies in the windswept shoreline below the inn with opportunities to watch nesting bird colonies, resident sea lions and migrating whales, the historic lighthouse on the bluff above the inn and the seven-course breakfast they serve all guests each morning. Then, there are three resident ghosts. While staying there in May, 2010 we had the pleasure of two visits from one of the ghosts, Rue, who played tricks on us. On the first night, she hid my car keys and on the second she placed a candy on the keyboard of Carol's nearly closed laptop. We were going back in the spring of 2011 at which time I planned to serenade the ghosts with seafaring songs in the parlour. We have since postponed this trip to 2012.
Myown River Ranch http://www.myownriverranch.com/ Owned by a couple from Calgary, this is their favourite getaway place. It's become one of ours, as well. Located in the middle of cowboy country, it is one of the most peaceful places you'll ever find. No TV, no Internet, no cellphone service. Just a comfortable, fully-equipped house, a large deck overlooking the Red Deer River, a hot tub, two barn cats, one of whom loves to sit outside the patio door and to listen to me learning new tunes. We spent a week there in October 2010 savouring the view and the peace, cattle, horses and dogs on the other side of the river, canoeists and kayakers paddling by. We watched a cowboy cross the river leading a second saddled horse. He was a neighbour on a 40-mile trek checking fences. We returned in February 2011 for Carol's birthday weekend and heard no one except for maybe half a dozen trucks driving by. One morning, we spent over an hour observing a pileated woodpecker digging a hole in a tree root looking for his breakfast. One of the cats scared it away before it could fill its belly. Fabulous! Just fabulous! We hope to be back there sometime in the summer.
Rusty's Retreat (Orca View Cottage) http://www.orcaviewcottage.com/ This cottage, located on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, is a great place to hole up and chill out. You look out the window, the deck, the front yard at 25 kms of water teeming with seals, sea lions, ducks, cormorants, gulls, eagles and assorted other aquatic life going about the daily business of finding something to eat. Whales and orcas are known to swim by on occasion. Although we did not see any from the cottage, we saw five humpbacks from a zodiac in Oct, 2009. Freighters, tankers and container ships constantly steam up and down the strait. We don't see the neighbours except when they walk on the beach. It's a great place to light a fire in the firepit, pour a glass of wine or crack open a cold beer and relax. Turn off your cellphone. That blinking light on the American side is a cellphone tower looking to impose exhorbitant roaming charges on the unsuspecting.
Sundance Lodges http://www.sundancelodges.com/ I was a Beaver, Cub and Scout leader in Alberta for nine years during the '80s and '90s. Carol did time with Sparks, Brownies and Girl Guides in Cape Breton during the same era. Together, we're a dynamite camping team. However, we've both spent enough time sleeping on the ground and really have no interest in re-experiencing that pain. I've retired the Outback Inn (my 5-man tent) and we now camp at Sundance Lodges. It's quiet most of the time. The only quad on site is operated by staff. And the prices are high enough to keep most loud, drunken yahoos out. As we transition into a life of retirement, we plan to continue camping there, but to do it mid-week. Another great place to relax.
