Maritimes - Cape Breton Bike and Hiking Paths

It is known that the Cape Breton Cabot Trail route is one of the best biking routes in the world for scenery. For those who prefer flatter trails for biking and walking there is a newer route on the South West part of Cape Breton. You can find all kinds of trails in Nova Scotia here. Theres lots to see and a good place to streach your legs and see the sights.

Maritimes - Glenora Distillery and Resteraunt

Glenora Inn and Distillery is located just North of Mabou. I had olny tried wiskey once before but know this was a gastronomic destination so I gave it a try.

The grounds are very nice.

Here is the entrance to the hotel and resteraunt.

To start I had a lobster trio: lobster salad with celery, lobster sushi with wasabi aoli and lobster wonton with chili sauce. A delicious start!

As a main I had the smoked pork chop, asparagus and potatoes. Very nice but I would have liked them more smoked.

As an accompanyment I had thier fourteen year old wiskey, one half ounce. Interesting. I could taste the little flavors but have no idea if it was good or not.

Lastly I had the chocolate blueberry pot de creme which filled me up nicely. Tasty too.

I stopped by the brook again for a while until the mosquitoes came out. Otherwise a good tasting meal and good experience.

Maritimes - Laurel's Bed and Breakfast

Laurel's Bed and Breakfast is an excellent place to stay at when visiting Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Near Mabou, it is well located for visiting the island, its sights, food and music. Laurel is friendly, knowledgable and a great cook. Breakfasts are a treat for the senses.

Maritimes - Fortress Louisbourg - Inside the Community

Here is a fellow dressed as a servent for one of the Captain's of the Fortress.

Here is an assortment of vegatables that the renactors use in making food for the day.

Here is a lady showing how to make lace, a popular passtime.

A room full of charts and maps.

Here is an old drawing of Chateau Amboise, where my wife and I went to last year.

They also had a display of how the buildings were made back in the day. Here is the drainage system for water.

Here is the soldier renactor showing the chapel in the main barracks of the fortress.

Here is the same renactor cleaning his rifle, as he fires it off at the beginning of every tour.

This is the final post on Fortress Louisbourg. When in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, stop by early to get a good day at the site. Too see the other posts of the background, outside the fort, inside the fort and the buildings of the community, click on the links.

Other posts on Forts built during the same time period are:
Fort George in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Fort Beausejour/Cumberland near Amherst, Nova Scotia
Fort Edward near Windsor Nova Scotia

Maritimes - Fortress Louisbourg - The Community

Here is the main street linking the inner harbour on the port side to the main fortress and barracks. During peak season there would be many reinactors...and tourists.

Here is a view of half the town from the side of the fortress. As you can see there are many buildings and most are open during the tourist season. All are made using the plans, art and techniques of the timeperiod it was built.

This buiding, for instance, was designed by a Captain of the Fort whose wife lived in the area for a time. She knew how cold it would get and infuenced the final design.

This building, also for a captain, was built for him and his wife who were from a warm area of France. They were always cold in the fall to spring period because of the high ceilings and thin walls.

This is one of the working gardens and paddocks they have in the town. It helps to immerse yourself in the timeperiod of the 1740's.

Here is one of the reinactors dressed in typical clothing for a French citizen.

Maritimes - Fortress Louisbourg - Inside the Fortress

The inside of Fortress Louisbourg is very nicely made. Although there were other barracks nearby, they are still ruins so the main building is doing triple duty: Barracks for men and officers, Chapel and Governor's quarters.

Here is the typical uniform of a French garrison soldier in the 1740's.

This is the back of the main building.

This paddock is for the Governor himself. It would have animals, stored food and wine as well as a small garden.

Here is the main inner area of the fortress, with ramps to the upper defencive wall.

At points in the town are guard posts for the soldiers keeping an eye on the populace and for possible invaders

Maritimes - Fortress Louisbourg - Outside the Fortress

Here is a view of the fortified causeway entrance. This is also the main entrance to the fort turing the main part of tourist season.Note the low lying areas that could be filled with water to act as a moat, if the defenders have enough time.

Here is the series of defendable lines that soldiers could be positioned at to repluse attackers. Because of the stepped nature of these defenses, they are useless to the attacker if they take them.

This is a view of the rise on the other side of the depression tot eh middle of the fortress. Cannon can and were placed to bombard and beseige the fortress.

The walls are high and several feet thick.

Cannon were situated to either give supporting fire or aimed together to give barraging fire.

One of the last defences are these sniper nests. You could aim at distant or nearby attackers or scouts with secure comfort.