Friday, June 29, 2007

NS AND CAPE BRETON MAPS

MAPS OF CAPE BRETON & NOVA SCOTIA



New club members, visitors and anyone wanting a map of Cape Breton/Nova Scotia can do so by ordering online at http://www.novascotia.com/ , these are free!

When you get on this site follow the links for maps or travel guides and fill out the required information.

You can request the Doers and Dreamers Guide as well, this is a great reference book for summer activities, hotels, B&Bs, museums and overall general information about NS & CB.

You may also send them to friends and relatives who are considering visiting the area.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

CANADA DAY WALK/POT LUCK LUNCH

The potluck on 1 July will be held at Lucy Nardini's home, 106 Carmichael Drive, Sydney River.
This is a change from our 2007 Schedule of Events.
Please pass this information onto all club members.

July 1st Walk begins at St. Josephs RC Church parking lot.
40 Cabot Street, Sydney B1P 4C8
This is a 10k walk only rated 2A
Walk Start Time: 2pm and registration begins at 1:30pm.

Our walk event on Canada Day will follow most of the route that Ann Irons used to do before our club was formed. That particuliar walk was a non-sanctioned event to introduce to the general public what a 10k route would be like and it would ensure what we were getting ourselves into. The success of this walk event lead to the formation of the Cape breton Island Hoppers Volkssport Club.
July 1st is also the last event for those who have been able to accumulate the required stamps (4 out of 6 walk events) for the certificate and pins that celebrate the 20th Anniversary of The Canadian Volkssport Federation (CVF) entry into the International Volkssport Federation or IVV.




WHAT A KEEPER!

The trail at Mabou starting near the "Pioneer Shrine" is a very unique walking trails that wanders along the Mull River and was once part of the railroad that stretched from Inverness to Port Hawkesbury.
A flat dry trail with several bridges crossing over the Mull River. The trail is well maintained by the local Mabou Trails Society. Along the trail is a marsh with plenty of birds and other wild life. In 2006 our group walked in a southerly direction and found the trail to be soft and boggy in places however this year going in the opposite direction (N) we were pleasently surprised to find the trail to be well compacted even after a rain the night before.
This is an excellent route to keep in mind for a future outing to Mabou.
On this walk there were 28 participants, Carol Obianwu from Texas joined us for the second time this year and hopes to join us again before leaving the island.
Phylis Wilton completed her first five free events and is now the proud owner of a Distance and Event Books and has become a full fledged member of the CBIH. WELCOME!
We would also like to welcome another new walker with us and we hope to see more of her is Julie Dzaich from Sydney. Great to see new faces along the trail.

After 1 July we get into our 10th Anniversary Walk Events. There's still time to register for the dinner at Fortress Louisbourg. Come out and have Fun, Food and Friendship with the Island Hoppers.

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Mabou Rail Trail Event

The Mabou walk will take place at Mother Of Sorrows Shrine, 45 South West Ridge Rd., Mabou.

Here is a google map of the Start Point:
http://maps.google.ca/maps?ll=46.068244,-61.397299&spn=0.004995,0.008669&t=h&z=17&om=1&msa=0&msid=105129794935099277215.00000113184a637842081



After the walk event we are suggesting the Mull Restaurant for dinner before you head home.

Go to the Mull restaurant web site for a look at the menu plus information if you want to reserve a table!

http://www.duncreigan.ca/

Thursday, June 07, 2007

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL

Early Bird Special

Cape Breton Highlands National Park of Canada
Annual Park Entry Passes
(Family, Adult, Senior, Youth)

50% off until June 30th, 2007

Telephone orders accepted: 224-2306 or 285-2691

Elaine Wallace Manager, Heritage Presentation & Visitor Services
Cape Breton Highlands National Parke
laine.wallace@pc.gc.ca
(902) 285-2270 or 285-3006FAX: (902) 285-2866

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Two New Walks Added To The Schedule

A New Festival Partner

This year the Island Hoppers will participate in the Johnny Miles Festival, Sydney Mines. Sunday, 05 August. More details to follow in our Events Schedule at www.capebretonislandhoppers.com

(article in Cape Breton Post, 05 June 07, pg A10, "Festival partners with walking club to promote active lifestyle.")


The Johnny Miles Festival has been developing this road race and other healthy activities for the past five years and they hope to include our volksmarch event on an annual basis.

If you want to know more about the Boston Marathon and the story of the Sydney Mines marathon runner Johnny Miles go to:

http://www.davidblaikie.com/david_blaikie/boston/baa_1926.htm

A quote from the author David Blaikie:

'Our feet may leave home but not our hearts'

Back to the waterfalls:

Another new walk ( a new IVV stamp will be issued) to our schedule for 2007 but one of our most favourite trails will be at Uisge Ban Falls on Monday, 13 August. We will host one of our favourite travelling walking groups, WAI - Walking Adventures International-

Anyone wanting to join me for this adventure should be prepared for an early morning start. We will meet the bus at The Telegraph House on Chebucto Street in Baddeck and then motorcade to the Start Point along the dirt road leading to the Provincial Park. In fact we will start 3kms from the park in order to get our full 10ks, After the walk when we arrive at the picnic area club members will hitch a ride back to our cars with the tour group. more details to follow.

St Peters Rail Trail

The Walk on Sunday June 2nd, International Trails Day, in St. Peters and the St. Peters Rail Trail had 18 members participating in this event.

The weather was great, sunny with a mild breeze but very suitable for a walk along the coastline of St Peters. Besides our new members we were joined by Rilla And Jim McLean, Port Hawkesbury and joining us for the first time this year were Phil and Kathi Rice who are summer/fall residents in Margaree. Welcome back folks we look forward to many more walk events with all of you.