Blue Rocks in Winter

Winter is hanging on here in Nova Scotia.

We get a warm-ish day, of + 8 degrees, followed by a day of snow and freezing conditions. This week we will have a high of 0 and a low of – 12.

I usually take my photos of Blue Rocks in the summer, but thought I’d show you how it looks just now.

The little fish houses sit amongst the blocks of ice.

And the sea moves like a bowl of thick porrage.

The lobstermen work when they can, in the open sea, and in the bays.

In the summer we launch our kayak from this little bay.

From the beach or down the ramps.

I think we’re ready for a melt and some warmer weather.

I’m looking forward to another hot, hot summer, like last year.

Blue Rocks, kayaking again.

Today is wet and foggy, but I don’t mind as we have had a really good spell of weather.

Yesterday we took the kayaks down to Blue Rocks, again.

We left Blue Rocks, before 8 am.

 

The sea was like a mill pond, as we headed out beyond these little islands.

This island has 3 houses on it and  is linked to Stonehurst by a  small wooden bridge. I mentioned it in a previous blog about ouhouses.

https://queensincanada.wordpress.com/2009/01/02/canadian-outhouses/

We tried to catch some mackerel for lunch, but no luck.

What is so amazing about Blue Rocks and Stonehurst are these narrow channels, many accessible by kayak only.

It’s like entering another world.

Slabs of rock and stunted trees.We didn’t see any otters on this trip, but there are plenty around – hopefully next time.

We paddled back around to the other side of the little island,

and under the bridge,

back along to Blue Rocks.

I feel so fortunate to have such a place, so close to home,

with exciting paddling, great wildlife, and colourful boat sheds.

Kayaking around Stonehurst

It’s kayaking season here again and we have had a couple of short trips out from Back Harbour and Stonehurst.

Last week we paddled around Heckman’s Island – that is a first for us.

The great thing about kayaking is that you see buildings and places that you would never see from the land – like these docks, houses and boat sheds.

>>>>>>.

>>>

These look like 3 little holiday cabins.

>>>

Stonehurst has lots of natural, safe harbours.

This is a dock that we have walked to. It is a lovely spot, well away from the road and right on the edge of Tanner’s Pass.

I like this guest house, built on the rocks.

These barnacles look so clean!

There were seals out at the Rackets – where we saw them last year.

There are just so many herons around. Every cove has several, fishing.

We spotted this bald eagle.

I have marked out our route on Google Maps and it is almost 20kms.

http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=111336547359512933588.00048cd81324c6b5c6542&ll=44.370159,-64.233541&spn=0.016627,0.045447&z=15

The Lost Gallery, Mahone Bay

Friday night was the gala opening of the new contemporary art gallery, The Lost Gallery, in Mahone Bay. This is the exciting new venture of Lynette and Angus Park.

Lynette and Angus moved to Nova Scotia, from Aberdeen, 2 years ago and have been dreaming of the day when they would open their own gallery. They bought a former bookstore, at 532 Main Street and Angus has spent the past winter renovating the 1850 building into an impressive area to display modern art.

Here Lynette stands with her painting of the famous Mahone Bay churches, which are just opposite the gallery.

(copied from press report)

Lynette paints abstracts and abstract impressionist paintings. Pride of place in the gallery is  an eight foot square canvas, ‘Big W”, Lynette’s reaction to how George W Bush handled hurricane Katrina. It shows people drowning, the Statue of Liberty holding a hamburger, American money, skyscrapers and building plans.

The ‘Big W’ painting.

This painting is entitled ‘The Harbour’

Here is another abstract entitled ‘The Handbag’.

The coastal scenes of Nova Scotia also feature in Lynette’s paintings, from Peggy’s Cove, and Blue Rocks, to Lunenburg.

>

Lunenburg Waterfront

As well as Lynette’s paintings, the gallery exhibits 3-dimension work by Angus,  and work by other Nova Scotian artists.

This gallery is a great addition to the South Shore and I wish Lynette and Angus every success in their new venture.