The Cabot Trail

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THE CABOT TRAIL

Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Canada

The Cabot Trail offers a variety of attractions from camping, hiking, whale watching, Celtic music

and winding roads that will keep you wide eyed astonished as you experience the most beautiful drive in North America.

My heart is in the Highlands

Winding road near Cape North

There are many places to pull over to admire the scenery

Diane playing with the scarecrows

There are lots of turns to keep you awake

Wide awake

A fox might even stop to beg for food.

Please don’t feed the animals

A moose grazing at the side of the road.

Avoid encounters with moose as they can weigh over 1,200 pounds.

Bullwinkle the Bullmoose rules the Highlands and it is best to stay off the highways early in the morning, at dusk and at night.

Slow down or stop when you see a moose near the road.

I think this was the mother moose because a baby moose had just crossed in front of me and this moose in the picture took a look back at me from the side of the road. Pull completely off the highway and stop if you see a moose that is near the road and you think it may cross in front of you.

The following is from Parks Canada Website -

· Moose are common in northern Cape Breton and frequent the road corridors, especially from May to October and when there is lots of snow. They are attracted to roadsides to browse, avoid deep snow and because of road salt.

· Always be aware of the danger – moose cross the road randomly, not just at moose crossing signs. The signs simply denote areas of higher frequency.

· Moose are more active at dusk and night.

· The hood of most vehicles fits under the belly of a moose – the moose’s full weight (1000 –1500 lbs) will fall on your car, resulting in severe damage to the automobile and occupants.

· Moose eyes DO reflect light, but they are higher than the beam of your headlights and you may not see them. When they are facing the other way, they are virtually invisible.

· Moose are 6 feet tall at the shoulder – your headlights are apt to shine right through their legs, which are the same color as the pavement, and their dark bodies camouflage them at night.

· Be on the lookout on the shoulders of the roads at all times, especially at dusk or after dark when they are more active and harder to see.

· Moose are extremely unpredictable – don’t assume the moose has seen you and will wait until you pass to cross the road. Give moose ample space and time to cross or leave the road – often there is more than one moose.

· When threatened, a moose may stand his ground, run in the opposite direction of the danger (your car), or run to the right or left.

· Moose have been known to charge a vehicle. Don’t challenge a moose that refuses to leave the road by approaching it too closely or trying to pass it. Headlights may trigger an aggressive reaction so if the animal appears agitated, turn off the lights temporarily (i.e. turn off the car). Otherwise, activate hazard lights to alert other vehicles.

· For more information go here http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ns/cbreton/visit/visit6_e.asp

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Cape Breton and the Cabot Trail are beautiful in the summer BUT in mid October there are lots of big festivities, kitchen parties and music concerts in many of the small towns all over Cape Breton. This event is called Celtic Colours and it is held at the time of the year when the leaves on the hardwood trees change colour making for a very impressive panorama of colours as you drive down the highways. I offer tours at that time of the year but tickets to the musical events are in high demand so in order to get tickets to the main events I would have to have confirmation of the fall Celtic Colours Tour at least nine months in advance. It is a little cooler in mid October but we usually do not get much rain at that time of the year.

SEE CELTIC COLOURS HERE

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