On behalf of the Executive Members of the Cape Breton Island Hoppers Volkssport Club I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a "Very Merry Christmas" and a "Happy New Year"!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO OUR MEMBERS AND ALL FRIENDS OF THE CB ISLAND HOPPERS!
Elsie Buck, President, CBIH
Walking for Fun, Fitness and Friendship!
The CBIH annual walk schedule for 2011 has come to an end as of Sunday, 20 November.
Photos of today's events that began at the Cambridge Suites in downtown Sydney and through Wentworth Park and into a portion of Rotary Park along Wentworth Stream.
We stop at the Tennis Court before heading on to the trail.
Along the trail in Rotary Park
On the return trip through Wentworth Park we meet up with our good friend(s) Phil Irons (forefront with Joe MacKinnon). In the background is (L) Anne Irons with Nip Hillier.
A great day for a walk on the Coxheath wilderness trails:
A very sunny day with a light breeze at our backs.
Above: Joe MacKinnon President CBIH welcoming walkers to the 10k event.
Above: (L) Bruce Clark walk leader for this event introduces Andy Pitman chairmen of the Coxheath Trails Association. Andy welcomes the group and gave a short comment on the trail and other activities taking place now and in the future.
Up the hill we go! Carmel Coffin and Phyllis MacLeod enjoying the surrounding view.
The new picnic kiosk along the North loop.A very scenic area with a small stream nearby. On the far right between Bruce Clark and Elsie Buck is our latest visitor,Holger Kirkman who comes from Germany. This was Holger's first walk with the CBIH and unfortunately he will be returning to Germany on Monday. Holger will be back in Cape Breton next June and promises to join us again.
Above: (L) Cal Thistle (R) Barb Thistle
Our sincere thank you to the troops who spent their time here to ensure we all have a safe bridge to cross.
The view of Sydney River area as we head down the hill and say "farewell to the Coxheath Hills" for another year.
IMPORTANT NOTICES "Please mark on your calendar"
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The CB Island Hoppers Annual General Meeting will now take place on:
Saturday, 26 November
From 3:00 - 5:00 PM
McConnell Memorial Library
50 Falmouth Street, Sydney
The 2012 Schedule of Events will be available at the AGM and will be posted on the website thereafter.
Joe MacKinnon who is the fourth President of CBIH has indicated that he would now like to step aside after 4 very distinguished years as our club president.
Under Joe's stewardship we have had the Nova Scotia Marathon event arrive in CB for the first time (the CBIH is now on the annual list for this event) and we have hosted the Canadian Volkssport Federations National Convention and Annual General Meeting here as well, no mean feats as anyone who has worked at the national level can attest to.
Nominations for this position and other executives position can be sent to the past-president Rollie Coombes by email/phone or given to me at the next walk event.
We will also need nominations for Vice President, secretary as these positions have been occupied with distinguish by the same persons for more then 4 years or more.
Our Treasurer Lucy Nardini has re-offered for this position and it is recommended that Lucy continue to do the job in the excellent manner that we have become accustomed too. Thank You Lucy, this is most appreciated.
It is now time for others to come forward and keep this club going beyond our 15th year and to ensure that Cape Breton has this very unique walking club that is not found anywhere else, lets keep this club going for many more years to come.
Other ways in which you can help out is by volunteering for: "Walk coordinator/scheduling" or "ways and means" committees, membership and various other very important position that keep the club working as smoothly as possible. If you have the desire, just want to learn how the club works or the expertise in a specific field then please come forward and help your walking club.
ANNUAL END OF SEASON PARTY
The CBIH Annual Seasonal Pot-Luck Dinner will be hosted by:
Ann & Rollie Coombes
364 York Street, Glace Bay
Saturday, 3 December 2011 @ 6:30pm
Please bring your favorite style of cuisine or dessert to share with fellow walkers
Your favorite wine & soft drinks are optional to bring as well
Directions to 364 York Street, Glace Bay from Sydney:
For those with GPS the postal code is B1A 2N1
Follow the four-lane # 4 Hwy going East (Sydney/Glace Bay Hwy) continue through the community of Reserve Mines
where the #4 Hwy narrows to 2 lanes and continues as Reserve Street through the town of Glace Bay.
At the end of Reserve Street (Union St. Deli and a hairdresser are located at this T- Junction) turn right at Union Street, then left on Byng Street. 364 is located at the intersection of Byng and York.
Also note York and Union run parallel to each other, so any side street will take you to York.
Parking is limited in the driveway on Byng Street, you may park along York Street at the front of the house and use the front entrance.
We still have two great walk events remaining for the 2011 season, come join your friends at:
Coxheath Hills, Sunday, 6 November and Sydney Year Round Alternate Route on Sunday 20 November, see details on your schedule or on the website under Events.
Roland (Rollie) Coombes, past president, website&email coordinator
FOR JOE MACKINNON, PRESIDENT
Cape Breton Island Hoppers Volkssport Club
Walking for Fun,Fitness & Friendship
www.capebretonislandhoppers.com
SPECIAL NOTICE:
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The CB Island Hoppers Annual General Meeting will now take place on:
Saturday, 26 November
From 3:00 - 5:00 pm
McConnell Memorial Library
50 Falmouth Street, Sydney
Volkssporters from many parts of Atlantic Canada, USA and Germany attended the CBIH and DVC combined walking events in the CB Highlands National Park from 7 -10 October during the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend.
Heading north into the highlands of Cape Breton
Friday morning, 7 October, the storm from the night before continues to bring high waves onto the shoreline in the park.
Fantastic Scenes along the Cabot Trail in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
SEE A LOT MORE IN PHOTO GALLERY
http://cbislandtrailphotos.blogspot.com/
The trail head sign at Fishing Cove & Looking down into the cove
All Members Atlantic Volkssports,
The CBIH and DVC continue to ensure that you will have a safe and wonderful experience of memories long after this 2011 trip to Cape Breton has been completed and to that end as the October long weekend of activities are fast approaching we look forward to having all of you visit the Island, for a fun safe filled weekend of adventure in the CB Highlands National Park.
Safety Seminar
To ensure your safety the HNP staff have arranged a Trail Safety and Coyote Seminar for 1:00pm Friday 7 October at the HNP West Gate Information Center or as commonly known as the Cheticamp Entrance to the park.
The CBIH walk leaders and the National Park staff invite you to attend this most informative seminar that has been arranged solely for the volkssport members attending this weekends activities.
Due to the large numbers of walkers on the trail, we should not have any problems, however a seminar of this type will be a good learning experience for all of us whether a novice walker or a seasoned volkssporter that you could use when developing walk events in other areas as well. Please make an effort to join us
For those persons who have not taken advantage of the "early bird pass",this will be your opportunity to pick up a weekend park pass.
The DVC and CBIH cannot be held responsible for any violations of parking tickets incurred for the weekend.
The seminar will take about 45 -60 minutes and will give us plenty of time to proceed to the first trail/walk event for the weekend.
Hike to Fishing Cove
The CBIH Walk Leaders have recently completed a pre-walk to Fishing Cove!
Again, they want to impress on all walkers that this is not a trail for the casual walker, at best the walk will take at least 5 hours plus, therefore you will not be back for the whale tour at 2pm!
Fishing Cove participants should carry extra water and a lunch including snacks! Be prepared for weather conditions such as rain!
From Phyllis MacLeod, Walk Leader:
"With regards to Fishing Cove-please note the following:
- The estimated time includes having our lunch when we get to the Cove
- Folks should be reminded to wear sneakers/hiking shoes - sandals not recommended
- Due to the terrain, the use of walking poles is recommended. There are some areas that require careful maneuvering due to washouts etc.
- There are 2 entrances to Fishing Cove and we usually park some vehicles at the second
entrance and shuttle back/forth. We will work that out when we meet in the morning.
- The trip out is mostly uphill-we take our time...it is not a race!!
Fishing Cove offers a beautiful cobblestone beach and breathtaking scenery. The trail starts at the top of MacKenzie Mountain and continues on an 8km descent. The Cove was once the site of a Scottish Fishing Community."
CBIH MEMBERS:
Kathi and Phil Rice have invited the group to their home after the next walk.
Message from Kathi and Phil Rice
"We'll be around and happy to help with anything in this neck of the woods for the walk on the 25th. Also would like to invite the group to our place afterwards for lunch, if that works out. ( We'll take care of the food and whatever as our way of showing our appreciation to the club and we'll keep it simple.)"
Kathi and Phil are located at 76 Hilltop Road, "Margaree Forks" less then 10 minutes from our Walk Start Point
For the most adventurous amongst us here are the directions or simply follow the carpool group or ["convoy"] to Hilltop Rd:
When departing St Michael's Church, turn right (N) on the East Margaree Rd then left on E. Margaree Crossing Rd continue over the bridge,
then left (S) towards Margaree Forks and watch for the sign on the RIGHT - S.W. Margaree (Coady) Rd. (there is a Scotsburn Store/Outlet at this corner as well.
Follow Coady Rd until you see the sign for Hilltop Road on the RIGHT, and continue to the "top" of the hill !
Please see details below on the Group Guided Walk Event
EAST MARGAREE
Marsh Brook Road/Trail
Date: Sunday, 25 Sept, 2011
Time: 2:00pm, Registration begins 1:30pm
Location: Rear of St. Michael's RC Church, T-junction of East Margaree and Marsh Brook Roads
B0E 1Z0
How to get to East Margaree!
From Sydney or Port Hawkesbury take the Trans Canada Highway (105), between Baddeck and Nyanza,turn at the "Red Barn" EXIT 7 - North on the Cabot Trail towards:
Middle River and to Margaree Forks about 43K then cross Doyle's Bridge and continue to East Margaree.
Note also if you miss Doyle's Bridge there are two other bridges going across the Margaree that will get you to East Margaree!
Simply, Just the fun of being an "Island Hopper" exploring this great little island!
Rollie Coombes for Joe MacKinnon, President
Lee & Suzanne Lazaro sent the following photo near their home in Oregon:
Mary's Peak - Sunset River Float
Willamette River, Oregon, USA
From Lionel Conrad, Dartmouth, NS:
Sunset on the Salt Marsh Trail, near Dartmouth, NS
And not to be out done here is Cape Breton:
Fishing Cove, Cape Breton Island as seen from a "look off" from the Cabot Trail
Dominion - Lingan Beach Cape Breton, submitted by Suzanne Lazaro
