Nova Scotia - Yarmouth to Lunenburg

So far we've spent two days in Nova Scotia. The autumn weather has been kind, it's been sunny and
warm and very photogenic.

The first day, we drove from Yarmouth, where we exited the Ferry, easy to Lunenburg. The main route is single lane each direction, speed limit varying between 80km/h and 100km/h, and gets you there as quickly as possible. There is also a Lighthouse Route which is a slower but more scenic route, winding through small coastal towns. For perhaps 2/3 of the distance, we stayed on the Lighthouse Route, which meant a longer days driving. However the scenery is worth it. Oddly we didn't see many lighthouses.

Helen has created a great time-lapse video of the drive.



We are further north now, and the trees are changing colours, it is absolutely breathtaking at every turn. It 's very easy to see why this is named Nova Scotia meaning "New Scotland", it is very reminiscent of our trips through The Highlands and Isle of Skye.

Eventually we arrive at Lunenburg, which is a UNESCO protected town, that is like living inside a postcard. It's set on a small peninsula with water on each side, and a hill in the middle. Lunenburg Harbour is small and has a green golf course over the other side, and many boats moored.

The B&B we are staying in is on the hill, about 3 streets back from the wharf area, and we're on the 3rd story. So our room has the most amazing view of the harbour. You can see the B&B in the photo above; the large white house with red roof, just to the right of centre at the top.

Lunenburg is also used as a filming location for many TV Shows and Movies. Helen is a Haven fan, and says walking through Lunenburg is like being on the TV Show (which apparently is a bit weird). We watch a show called Jesse Stone (starring Tom Selleck) and his house is actually set on a small island off the edge of the peninsula, only accessible by foot across a small bridge.  Following some internet research, we found the house, here it is.

We finished with a beautiful fresh fish dinner at a local restaurant called The Rumrunner.

The second day, we had a gentle start with a late breakfast, and about 10am went for a wander around Lunenburg township. The town is starting to close down for winter, some stores and restaurants have left "back in May" signs on their doors. The quietness is very relaxing. We walk around the waterfront to see the Thursday Farmers Markets, and then meander back stopping off for a hot drink at the local coffee merchant.

For the afternoon, we drove to a nearby town called Mahone Bay, equally scenic, where we looked through the local shops. This town has an annual scarecrow festival, so all the shops are adorned with scarecrows ranging from funny, to strange, to downright scary! We found lunch in a small local restaurant, and afterward took a different scenic route back to Lunenburg.

Following a small snooze, we headed out for dinner in Lunenburg on foot, again deciding on The Rumrunner because it was so good yesterday! The head chef is Indian and they have a fish masala, so Dad and I tried it and were not disappointed. The fish was so fresh, caught today. Interestingly the fish was not put in the curry sauce, it was placed on the plate separately, the chef told us later that the fish becomes tough if put in the curry sauce. He knows his stuff!

After two lovely sunny days in and around Lunenburg, sadly it is time to depart. Next stop, Halifax.