190 mle drive on Friday, good roads, clear weather. Staying at a KOA about 10 miles from the Halifax Harbor. The campground is very large, lots of sites, trees, rocks, and very small sites. If you are larger than 34' I would not stay here unless they guarantee you a big rig pull through. We asked for a pull through, our reservation confirmed that, but when we checked in we were told there were non available, it was Canada Day weekend and they were overbooked. We ended up in a back in, so narrow that when our neighbor put out their awning I could reach out the window and touch it.
Even the pull through's are short and narrow. There are some big rig sites, but very few. The roads in and out are narrow and curving. No walking paths so all the folks try to navigate the roads along side the car and RV traffic. We were leaving to tour the city, going about 4 MPH when a small girl ran out in front of us. Had I been going the 10 MPH allowed I do not want to think of what would have happened. The campground rented this "pedal bikes" to kids and they were all over the campground, i was like an obstacle course trying to get in and out of the place.
Unfortunately there are not many camping alternatives. It seems the Canadian campgrounds are carry overs from the 1960's when rigs were much smaller.
On Saturday we went to the Harbor Market, it had begun to rain and steadily increased during the day to a downpour. The markets was jammed with stands, people shopping and musicians playing for donations. The vegetables looked great, we bought some along with a few Danish. The market is small when compared Pikes in Seattle, or Grand market
in Vancouver. certainly worth going to if you are in the harbor area.
We had to abandon our plan to walk the waterfront, stopped at a 1960's style dinner called "True North Diner" highly recommended by locals. It was decorated as one would expect, checkerboard floors, juke box (working) and Formica topped tables. Barb ordered Reuben, I had (guess what) fish and chips. Both were excellent, and the fries were served with brown gravy (its a Canadian thing).
We left with a large slice of home made cocoanut cream pie for later that evening.
That evening we were eating desert, playing another round of rummycube, score stands at Bob 6, Barbara 5. It was still pouring rain and we noticed a water leak by one of the windows.
Sunday morning we worked on finding the source of a leak in one of the living room windows, fixed it (temporarily). Barbara wanted to do some shopping so we visited the MicMac mall in Dartmouth. She happily went off shopping while I drank a Starbucks and read my book.
An hour later she returned with one very small bag. She was appalled by the high prices, to which the province adds a 13% tax to.
We stopped for some wine and found out that the brand I buy in Fort Mill for 8.75 is nearly $26.00, without the tax. Guess we will limit our drinking to beer.
Monday is Natel day. Nova Scotia has been a member of the Canadian Confederation since its inception on July 1, 1867, and Prince Edward Island since July 1, 1873. The term "natal" is derived from the Latin word for birth and, hence, Natal Day is the official “birthday” of the provinces. The first Natal Day celebrations were organized in 1895 and were intended to mark the arrival of the railway line in the area.
Monday Barbara was ready for another seafood fix, after some research we decided to go to Freddies Fantastic Seafood, a small restaurant rated as one of the best 10 for casual seafood places. We knew it was Natal day, but few businesses close that day. 45 minutes later, having gotten lost twice we found it, closed for the day!
Ended up at Montana Steak House, best hamburgers we have had for a long time.
Navel Yard Halifax's "Ellis Island' Waterfront View
People of the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island hold “birthday” parties for their provinces on the first Monday of August. Huge birthday cakes are prepared and distributed. Other events include communal meals, parades, sporting activities and firework displays.
We will go down to the harbor to celebrate along with the locals.
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