Ocean Blues and Pastel Hues of Nova Scotia

Mahone Bay Coastline

A beautiful, scenic travel route – straight out of a romantic novel – awaits all who visit the South Shore of Nova Scotia, Canada. The route I am talking about explores the roads following the Lighthouse Route between Crescent Beach and the Village of Mahone Bay. There were wooden shacks, cottage country chairs and private docks surrounded by ocean blue. Some ocean bays were a nest for sailboats and recreation boats. The ocean coastline views were dotted with white sandy beaches and lighthouses. The scenic route can be a sightseeing drive, motorcycle tour or a cycling route.

Our road travels to our new base camp for researching Nova Scotia, Canada took us along the South Shore to our campground in Martins River, Nova Scotia. We sit here and work late into the night on the banks of a quiet creek in one of the most friendliest campgrounds to date this year. Yesterday was “Xmas in July” in the campground. Big party for families. They held a Duck Race in the creek, a Xmas parade with Santa Claus and a beer bingo. It was something to watch I tell ya. Good times had by all.

From Martins River we are closing in on the big city – Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is now less than 80 kilometres away. We will be in their neighbourhood soon enough but first we must research the job at hand.

Crescent Beach

On this section of Lighthouse Route it is appropriate that a lighthouse be the first stop. Port Medway Lighthouse and Park is a nice spot for a break when traveling the region. There are picnic tables, information signs, a lighthouse, a historic wharf and a viewing platform propped up on a rock breakwater barrier which provides views of Medway Bay. The 1851 Port Medway Lighthouse use to have to place metal shutters over their windows to keep the east coast storms out.

Located just south of the Village of LaHave, Nova Scotia is a pair of white sandy beaches which stretch as far as the eye can see called Crescent Beach and Rissers Beach. Crescent Beach is a drive-on beach where beach goers park, side by side, right on the beach. The beach extends along a long narrow spit backed by rolling grassy sand dunes. It is a popular beach in the region, however… it is sooo large that one can still find a little piece of sanctuary on the beach. On my visit it was busy on one end of the beach and was vacant of human heartbeats at the other.

Exploring the Lighthouse Route from the Village of Lahave to the Village of Mahone Bay is a recommended side tour to take if seeking to avoid the busy #103 Highway. There are plenty of natural and scheduled pull outs for taking pictures and soul searching. In between the two waterfront villages is the main centre of commerce – Bridgewater. Bridgewater has a Tim Hortons so it was a scheduled stop for this cat.

Cottage Country Docks and Chairs in LaHave.

We will finish this EH BLOG entry with our visit to the small Village of Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia. It was the find of the trip as far as “postcard” communities go. In Mahone Bay, bobbing up and down, are sailboats, yachts and recreational boats. The main street of the village follows the shoreline of the bay. Decorating main street is an explosion of pastel colors. There are buildings housing galleries, restaurants, coffee houses, outdoor patios. Each painted yellow, blue, red, purple or any other pastel color that may come to mind.

Mahone Bay is a small enough village to park your vehicle and explore while walking main street. Walking permits poking noses into shops, trying the local cuisine, browsing art and sitting on an oceanfront bench absorbing marine views. The pastel buildings, the waterfront views and the unique shopping atmosphere will provide some good scrapbook memories of your South Shore visit when in Nova Scotia, Canada.