Long Cove, Port Medway

Today we walked from Port Medway to Long Cove.

It was good to feel the warmth of the sun after a cold, wet week.

There is a little harbour at the end of the dirt road and Long Cove cutting inland.

Wire lobster traps were stacked up on the dock.

As well as the older styled wooden pots.

Our picnic spot had to be back at the limestone rocks,

with amazing views.

Apple and cherry blossom, plus wild azalea and bunch berry flowers, helped to add colour to our hike.

These tiger swallowtail butterflies enjoyed the heat of the track.

The Picton Castle Leaves for the South Pacific

The Picton Castle has been back home in Lunenburg for the summer, preparing for her next voyage to the South Pacific.

She should have left port 2 weeks ago, but Captain Moreland decided to delay the departure due to the approaching Hurricane Sandy.

The crew were not allowed to lie around.

There was plenty to learn.

Today, friends, family and the people of Lunenburg went along to watch this old very special sailing ship leave. Everyone was busy on deck,

getting the jobs done.

And above decks,

putting all their training into action.

I’m sure this is easier done from the safety of the harbour, rather than at sea.

Everyone gathered to wish the crew a ‘Safe Journey.’

I only found out at the harbourside that Captain Moreland’s and Tammy Sharp’s baby son, Dawson, would be travelling on this trip.

It looks like they might be bringing their son up in the Cook Islands, at least for the next three years.

The sails were unfurled.

The safety boat was moved away for the departure.

Horns hooted, people cheered and applauded as the Picton Castle moved off.

Some had a last look at Lunenburg. The next stop will be Grenada, then through the Panama Canal to the Galapagos Islands, Pitcairn Island, French Polynesia, and then to the Cook Islands.

She is off now on another wonderful adventure. The people of Lunenburg will miss her and all of the lively, friendly, crew.

The Mystery of the Carved Stone in Nova Scotia

On a recent coastal walk here on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, we came across this interesting rock. It lies among other boulders and looks as if it has been here for a very long time. But has it, is it an ancient petroglyph or is it a modern carving, done by someone having a bit of fun?

The carved scene is complicated and looks like St George and the Dragon, or some sea serpent, with a knight and horse. So, who carved this horse on the stone? Or the  knight who has just killed the dragon?

The Mi’kmaq recorded images of people, animals, hunting and fishing. With the arrival of the Europeans, they began to include images of sailing ships, men hunting with muskets, soldiers, Christian altars and churches, and small items like coins and jack-knives.

Can anyone solve this mystery for me? Is this a modern day carving or is it an ancient stone, with a meaning? There are many theories, but I’m sure there is a simple explanation.

At least this post has attracted a lot of interest and differing views.

Update – January 24th, 2017

In 2013, the Curator of Archaeology at the Nova Scotia Museum said it had been carved with a metal tool, so was probably done by a local artist.

Then the Director of Studies in History at Yale University said it was a clumsy copy of the Ramsund Carving.

It really is very much a copy of this!

I continued to try to find out who had done the carving. Someone thought a local stone mason had carved it, but the name I was given said he had carved stones, but not this one.

Some theories that were voiced in the comments were that it was to do with the Knights Templar and Oak Island, a Memorial stone, the Halifax Chiseller, Rosslyn Chapel …………..

My photos have been copied and posted by someone, stating that this stone was covered in seaweed and seagull droppings, before it was cleaned up – with no photos to support such a claim!

I have tried several times to have a photo printed in the local newspaper, hoping that someone would solve this problem, but that never happened.

Last summer, I had a friend who is a dowser, look at the stone. He was very excited by it and gave me this report.

[The runestone is genuine and was created in 1167 during the month of October.
Three men were committed to creating this wonderful original which took them 7 days to complete.
The process used in creating this masterpiece is still a puzzle except that heat was used before the carving was carried out. No chisels were used.
At the period of carving the stone was further inland. However, due to environmental changes, erosion of the coast, the stone was finally situated on the beach. Much of the erosion was caused by ice pushing up against the cliffs in winter periods during the small ice age which finally ended in the late 1800s.
The stone is currently buried to a depth beneath the beach of nearly 3 metres. In other words there is more stone beneath the beach than above it.
There are 6 ley lines ( earth energy lines) crossing the centre of the stone. All are positive- some male others female.]

I’m afraid this theory is too much for me!  October 1167, 3 metres beneath the beach, ley lines!

I put my post onto the Local Lunenburg Community Facebook Page and was told that this carving was done in the 1980’s by the nephew of 2 artists from the nearby beach cottage.

Now this is the one story that makes sense to me – no mystery or magic – just someone having fun and leaving their mark on the beach, and causing a good bit of discussion.

I think the mystery of the stone has been solved!

Shark Week in Lockeport, Nova Scotia

This was meant to be a fishing Blog telling about our trips fishing for mackerel and striped bass.

However, last week-end we headed to Lockeport to fish for mackerel, to find that the local Sea Derby was in progress. We fished for a short time at our usual pier, but nothing was biting, so we went over to the Government wharf to see what was being brought in.

Several fishing boats were waiting to land their catch. One boat had a long look-out platform for spotting sword fish. I liked her name.

Some cod had been landed and were being weighed and measured. There doesn’t seem to be a limit to the size taken, but there is a maximum of 10 rule.

The Governement body, the Department of Fisheries, was present to check what was being landed.

The sharks had to be winched from the boats up into a shed where they were weighed and measured and the contents of their stomachs examined.

The Porbeagle looked viscious, although they seemingly don’t attack humans.

The blue shark weighed about 350lb! I thought it was a beautiful colour.

We had a very exciting day and might go fishing at the Sea Derby next year.