Day 6: Peggy's Cove & Halifax

From: Halifax, NS

To: Halifax, NS

Total KMs: ZERO

Steps: 13,400

Power Outage: 3 hrs

Sim’s Iced Cap Tally: 4 – seriously Sim…you have been put on alert

Today was amazing!!!  We woke up and I again ate my weight in fried potatoes and oatmeal.  (Hint, it will probably happen again tomorrow as well). After a filling breakfast we packed up and headed out for a trip down the coast to Peggy’s Cove.  I don’t think I am exaggerating when I say it is my favourite place in Canada.  You can just sit on the rocks and take it all in.  I had forgotten if you had to park at the visitor’s centre of if you could drive all the way up.  We drove as far as the entrance to the parking lot but uncertain of where the road would lead we turned around and drove back to the visitor centre.  But it was a nice walk up the windy road to get back to the rocks.  Sim had asked earlier if we could swim at the cove which I replied NO.  And she quickly realized why that was.  We posed for a bunch of photos with the lighthouse, and then explored the rocks for a while.  Sim made an effort to find the camera lens cap I lost there 7 years ago but was unsuccessful.  But A for Effort.  Then we just sat in tranquility for a while.  The view is just so peaceful, and the crashing waves just wash over you with a calming serenity.  It was hard to leave, because really you could stay there all day.  And it’s the kind of site that you can go back to over and over again and never get bored.  But there were more places to visit, so we were on our way.

Just a click or two down the way we stopped in to see the memorial set up for the Swiss Air Flight 111.  229 people perished in a horribly tragic plane crash in 1998 just 12km off the shore.  It’s terribly sad to think about.  It was just a quick stop but we were glad to have done it.

And then, and then, and then……it was off to the White Sail Bakery!!! As suggested by Dee Em.  And boy what a suggestion it was.  We ordered the Newfie Poutine just as we were instructed.  Basically it was a poutine mixed with giant stuffing pieces.  I. Just. Can’t. Even.  We split it between the two of us and it was more than enough.  We found two chairs set out of the way and chilled out for a little bit and just took it all in.  The weather today was just stunning.  Clear blue skies, bright sun, not too hot.  To die for.  After we filled up with delicious poutine we departed for a nearby beach that Sim found online.  It was absolutely the most perfect beach we could have possibly found.  Not too crowded.  Clear crisp water.  It was absolutely sub zero but it was fantastic.  We played a few games of backgammon and then headed in for some fun in waves.  We each tried to get the perfect snap of the other as the waves broke in near the shore.  But since the water was so cold, we could only stand a few waves at a time before we’d have to run back into shore.  And then we’d play a set of BG and then back out in the waves.  When Sim finally decided she’d captured the best possible shot she could of me, I took once last big wave and it knocked my on my ass.  Totally figures, but we got some great photos.

After we were all sunned and funned out it was back to the hotel for a quick shower and out for dinner.  We actually went back to the Bicycle Thief.  It was that good.  And Sim….got the Lobster again.  And I got something very similar to my first night.  And I also ordered a Mojito, light on the sugar.  It was high on mint and it was delicious.  We learned our lesson from last night and instead of going straight to a bar afterwards we came home.  Completely satiated, slightly bloated, and 2oz into a good buzz we hoofed our way back to the hotel.  If you’ve ever been to Halifax you know the struggle of the incline.  From the Harbourfront up to Sackville and Brunswick is our current struggle.  We ended up behind an older lady.  She had to be 75 years old.  And she was getting it done, one step at a time, with no complaining.  I turned to Sim two blocks in and said, if she can do it I can do it.  About halfway up we saw some police and firetrucks down Barrington St.  I turned to Sim and said “Good thing our next pub is up on the next street.”  Someone on foot tried unsuccessfully to get information from the police officer.  Really, he just stood there and basically ignored him.  Whatever.  Stopping only once at a stop light we made our way to the top in record time.  When we got to the top we turned across the parking lot to our hotel and….no lights.  A hotel employee was standing at the stairwell with a flashlight.  Stairwell, flashlight, cops & fire trucks.  It’s a blackout people.  It’s a blackout.  In good news, I am a stair pro now.  And in even better news, we are staying on the 2^nd Floor!!!!  Not much of a hassle at all.  We would have been taking the stairs regularly if they didn’t keep the door locked most of the time. 

Wasted and dead to the world we decided to take a nap.  Alarms were set for 8:30pm and I had all intention of getting up when it went off.  I probably could have stayed in bed all night from that point, but Sim was up and about so I got my butt out of bed and joined her.  Once I was up I felt like a million bucks.  Ready to face the world.  We headed back down towards Argyle St. to our final destination, Lot Six.  We had done some googling at dinner and found a place with killer cocktails.  My sugar levels had been under control this week so I splurged a little.  I was sugar conscious with my drink choices.  With use of their WiFi we were keeping our eye on the resolution of the power outage.  ETA of lights back on went from 10pm to 1:15am to 4:15am.  My level of annoyance was going from amber to orange to red, next stop hot fuchsia.  Will we be able to charge our phones?  Will we be able to get online?  Will the alarms work?  Will the fire alarm system be fully functional?  All questions we were starting to ponder.  After we reached limit, we packed in and headed for home.  A few extra lights were illuminated on the street as we headed towards home which was a good sign.  We rounded the corner and more and more lights could be seen.  I was holding my breath until the hotel rooms were in sight and we could see them all lit up.  So here we are.  Our last night in Halifax.  The power does work but we can’t get online.  Sim is fast asleep, so I got a small data pass to update with a non-update.  Tomorrow is our second last day.  We have a few more tricks up our sleeves.  Destination is Quebec City.  I haven’t been since I was 12 and Sim has never been.  We won’t get in until late, but I’m looking forward to some meals with hot cheese, and a nice walk down the boardwalk.