[ Day 31 ] Friday, July 17, Cheticamp to Pictou

Origen: Sue's B&B

Destination:  Dolan's Inn & Suites

Route Description: Cabot Trail clockwise to the 105 to the 104 by our rented Nissan Versa

Weather:  Another beautiful day!  

A breathtaking few hours today was our highlight as we wove our way in and out of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park on the scenic Cabot Trail, 

a third of which lies within park boundaries. Arrivng early, we often had the road to ourselves in the morning. We saw cyclists, some struggling and some triumphant. We definitely knew we had made the right decision to see the park by car. The curving park road climbs steeply to high partially forested plateaus and then plunges down next to high cliffs to the sea before climbing again.

Visible from the many lookouts are the heavily forested canyons carved by rivers. We passed many trail heads and camping areas, wishing we had more time to linger. 

A 2km drive on a dirt road brought us to the Beulach Ban falls, the highest waterfall in the park.  

A stop to walk on the beach at Black Brook Cove afforded spectacular views of reddish cliffs in the distance, waves splashing up against the large rocks, and mounds of driftwood that the tide has washed up--a tranquil spot. 

Moose signs alert drivers; Bob spotted a young one who stopped traffic momentarily while crossing the road right in front of us. 




Much of the Cabot Trail follows the coast thru small communities with services plentiful for visitors. We stopped in Baddeck (an attractive town bustling with tourists such as we) to see the museum dedicated to Alexander Graham Bell

and his many inventions ----in addition the the telephone. He and his wife had a second home in Baddeck and lived their final years there.
Outside this lovely building overlooking the beautiful harbor, we watched children fly kites they had created in a workshop at the museum.