Friday, September 23, 2011

Fishing Cove Trail & National Park Safety Seminar

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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."

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

EAST MARGAREE WALK AND LUNCHEON

A CELTIC COLOURS WALK IN THE MARGAREE VALLEY Fall adventure on the Marsh Brook Trail, photo is not dated, but could be about 2003!!

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

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

SUNSETS ACROSS THE CONTINENT!

Lee & Suzanne Lazaro sent the following photo near their home in Oregon:

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Mary's Peak - Sunset River Float

Willamette River, Oregon, USA

 

From Lionel Conrad, Dartmouth, NS:

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Sunset on the Salt Marsh Trail, near Dartmouth, NS

 

And not to be out done here is Cape Breton:

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Fishing Cove, Cape Breton Island as seen from a "look off" from the Cabot Trail

DLingan Beach IMG_2798

Dominion - Lingan Beach Cape Breton, submitted by Suzanne Lazaro

Michael Haynes "The Business of Trails"

Dear members:
Nova Scotia's trail guru, Michael Haynes will be giving a presentation on Sept. 27, 2011 as per message below.  All are welcome!
Bethsheila Kent
Office Administrator
_________________________________________________________________________
Cape Breton Island Pathways Association
P.O. Box 328, Rear 65 High Street
Baddeck, NS B0E 1B0
Ph. 902.295.3177 |Fax. 902.295.1582 | www.pathwayscb.ca
--- On Wed, 9/7/11, Heather MacDougall <hgmacdougall@cbrm.ns.ca> wrote:

From: Heather MacDougall <hgmacdougall@cbrm.ns.ca>
Subject: FW: outline
To:
Cc: "Michael Haynes (activetransportation@rogers.com)" <activetransportation@rogers.com>
Received: Wednesday, September 7, 2011, 3:36 PM

Michael Haynes will be doing a presentation on “The Business of Trails: Policy that Works,” in the 2nd floor boardroom of the Civic Centre on Tuesday, September 27, at 7:00 p.m.  His presentation will look at trails as they pertain to tourism, environment, recreation, health and transportation.  It will be the keynote address that he presented to the Australian Tracks and Trails Conference in Sydney, Australia a few weeks ago.  The presentation should be quite interesting to trail builders.

Please confirm with me by September 23rd if you’ll be attending this presentation.

Thanks!

Heather

Heather MacDougall, BPR, BTHM

Program Coordinator

Cape Breton Regional Recreation Department

320 Esplanade, Sydney, N.S. B1P 7B9

1-902-563-5512

hgmacdougall@cbrm.ns.ca

Monday, September 12, 2011

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND WALKS 7 - 10 OCTOBER

PLEASE SEE SPECIAL NOTES REFERENCE THE CHETICAMP AND THE CAPE BRETON HIGHLANDS NATIONAL PARK VOLKSSPORT EVENTS 7-10 OCTOBER, 2011

1. Correction for the Atlantic Blue Book – Delete Cheticamp Island Trail

Insert Cap – Rouge Trail Friday, October 7, 3:00pm 5k, Rated 3B – 12k, Rated 3B

(See more details on the weekend’s brochure)

2. DVC will be hosting a Meet and Greet on Friday 7 Oct from 6:00 to 8:00 pm

Location: Pilot Whale Chalets, 15775 Cabot Trail, Cheticamp

(Come hungry but not all at once!)

3.  For the Corney Brook Trail and Le Buttereau Loop on Sunday morning, Lionel suggests participants bring a lunch to enjoy between the two walks.  (We'll be walking the 8 km Corney Brook Trail first, followed by the 4 km Le Buttereau Loop)

4. An Additional Special Whale Watching Tour Adventure has been added to the already exciting weekend.

The tour takes about 2 - 2.5 hours; Cost is $20.00 per person, includes tax, if we have 30 or more (55 max) committed persons. Warm clothing such as jackets or sweaters is advised when at sea.

Time: Sunday 9th Oct @ 2pm (depending on weather conditions) 

Location: Quai Mathieu located across from the NS Liquor Commission, Canada Post Office & the Irving Service Station.

Whale Tour Website: http://www.loveboatwhalecruises.ca/

Please contact CBIH for the Sunday whale tour at: bretonhoppers@hotmail.com

5. Fishing Cove Trail Sunday 9 October please be advised that you will meet at the Northwest Gate Main Entrance parking lot of the Highland National Park.

After Signing-in for Fishing Cove, the group will follow or car pool to the trail head with the walk leaders Phyllis MacLeod and Karen MacNeil.

The trail head is approximately 30 minutes from the Main park entrance.

The parking area is located on the right (south side) of the Hwy and the trail head is located on the opposite side of the road!

This is a 16K, 4C walk event and is estimated to be a 4 hour return trip or more due to the terrain involved. (See more details on the weekend’s brochure)

DO NOT EXPECT TO BE ON THE WHALE TOUR IF DOING FISHING COVE.

Monday, September 05, 2011

SHIRLEY BOUTILIER ANNUAL WALK EVENT

The CBIH Memorial Walk Event, Sunday 4 September, 2011 was attended by 25 members of the CBIH.

The father and son team of walk leaders Bill and Glen Boutilier's' led us along the roads and trails of Ben-George Road and out to the Mira River to German Point.

After the 5 &10k trail members were invited to attended a potluck style dinner at Bills home where the walk started and ended.

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Bill Boutilier with Joe MacKinnon welcoming walkers to the annual Shirley Boutilier Memorial Walk.

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More photos available in "photo gallery"

Friday, September 02, 2011

SEPTEMBER WALK EVENTS

(1.) MIRA PINES TRAIL

Shirley Boutilier Memorial Walk Event

Date: Sunday, September 4, 2011

Time: 2:00pm with registration beginning at 1:30pm

Location:B1K 2H9, Marion Bridge, Ben-George Road off Trout Brook Road

There will be a potluck dinner immediately after the walk event.

 

(2.) OFF ISLAND EVENT

Marathon Walk Event with Central Nova Volkssport Club

Truro Nova Scotia

Holiday Inn Select, 437 Prince Street

Saturday, 10 Sept,2011

Various times and various walk distances, please see schedule

 

(3.) 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.

An interesting bit of Trivia: Exit 7 and the Red Barn area is known as ???

Answer: Buckwheat Corner