This cache has been archived.

Keats94: Sorting out some of my low traffic caches by archiving them. Freeing up more space for those who wish to contribute to the game.

Cheers,

Keats

GC8535Q ▼

A cache by Keats94 Message this owner

Hidden : 3/21/2019

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Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

One of my favourite things about geocaching is being able to travel, and see new places. I have had a deep thirst to see the other side of this beautiful country. Perhaps it had to do with my interest in maritime fiddle tunes, or simply taking in the aroma of fresh Atlantic air.

Every cache you will find in this series is authentically Nova Scotian, with the exception of some logbook receptacles. Whether it be pieces of my Christmas tree from Lunenburg County, a pill container I found on the shores of the Bay of Fundy, and a little surprise camouflage at the final, this series is truly east coast.

There was something about Nova Scotia that sparked my curiousity from a young age. I didn't exactly know why, but I needed to answer Nova Scotia's call.

I booked my plane tickets, and organized my trip to Cape Breton Island in 2017. My goodness was I excited. Not only because I was going to Cape Breton, but this was in October, the season of the Celtic Colours International Festival. A music fest of fiddles, pipes, and an island with vibrant fall colours.

The furthest east I had traveled to that point was Montreal, so seeing the maritimes, and the Atlantic ocean almost felt like travelling to Mars.

When I landed in Nova Scotia for the first time, it felt awesome. It was a remarkable feeling, because I finally made it to the place I have been so curious about.

This series pays tribute to the call I've felt, and tells some of the memorable experiences of the two trips I made to Nova Scotia. The first to Cape Breton in 2017, and a road trip which circled the province in July of 2018.

To figure out the final, read my stories, and answer some of the questions on the final cache page.

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The Story:

Bags packed, excited and nervous, it was an early morning drive with my mum to the Vancouver Airport. I had booked this trip to Cape Breton Island almost a year previous, so I had built up a tremendous sense of anticipation, and expectation for what was to come. I had only seen the Atlantic ocean in photographs, and only went on a sense of trust that this place called Nova Scotia did indeed exist. I just had to go waaay east. I had made it as far east as Montreal the year before and thought THAT was pretty east. Well, Canada sure goes further east than that!

I got to the airport, and gave my mum one last hug. Will I miss her? Was I going to be homesick? Will I like Cape Breton? I was staying for two whole weeks at an Air BNB.

I got through security, and boarded my plane. One of three actually. There are no direct flights to Sydney, Nova Scotia that is...

I looked out my plane window and waved goodbye to the Pacific Ocean and Fraser River as the plane banked east. Over the Rockies, the prairies, and the seemingly endless sea of trees that makes up Northern Ontario. This first flight to Toronto was a breeze. Now at Pearson Airport, I needed to find the gate that would lead me to my next flight to Halifax. Well, it turns out this gate is close to the opposite end of the airport, and my goodness is Pearson Airport sizable!

During my trek through the airport, I casually glance over to the screens that show all the scheduled departures. It would cycle though two lists, one roster of flights all green, the other page all green except one in red. I kept walking, down the long hallways of Canada's largest airport. Much like finding a geocache after a lengthy search, there it was, my gate to my plane to Halifax.

I gladly sit down, and read the local newspaper. Though, in the corner of my eye, I see another one of those "Departures" screens. Out of curiosity, I get up and see what destination some poor souls are going to realize that their flight is delayed. As I get closer I start to see Hal... Hali.... Halifax! GASP! Surely not MY flight to Halifax! I look at the flight number on my ticket, and the number on the screen, and sure enough... I was part of the group of those poor souls on this flight. The only domestic delayed flight that day.

Did I mention that if everything went to plan, that I would only have a thirty minute layover in the Halifax airport to connect to my flight to Sydney? Well, that rosie plan promptly went up in flames.

I headed over to ask an airline employee what my options were. When I said "Sydney", they thought I was talking about Australia. I was like "haha, no, Nova Scotia." They didn't give much of an answer, only really saying that I would need to catch a flight from Halifax to Sydney the next day. Ugh!

One and a half hours delayed, I finally get on my flight to Nova Scotia's capital city. Only about a two hour flight to the lands of lobster blood from Toronto!

A very surreal feeling washed over me as we touched down in Halifax. I made it to Nova Scotia, the place I have been so interested in, and curious about. It was night time, and quite late, but I sure wasn't feeling fatigued. As we were taxiing to the gate, one of the flight attendants said "for all you making connections to Sydney, don't worry, we've already booked you on flights tomorrow, and got you a hotel , and meal voucher." I was very impressed with this particular airline. They really took ownership of the issue.

All us Sydney goers crammed into a wee shuttle van that would take us to the nearest airport hotel, where we would spend the night. I was talking to some folks that frequently travel to Sydney, who were all too familiar with the half hour layover that gets promptly missed due to delays. Apparently this issue was common.

We got to the hotel, and the staff were sure not expecting us. Thankfully they had enough rooms to house us individually for the night. I made my way up to the room, and settled in. What a day of travel!

I still had my meal voucher, so I headed down to the bar and saw that they close at 11pm. It was 10:59. Feeling rather guilty, I poke my head in the door and said "hey, I really hate asking this, because I know you're closing, but is there anything I can eat with this meal voucher?"

Instead of a "nah sorry, we've closed up for the night", one of the waitresses responded with "what can I get fer ya!?"

Maritime hospitality is very real, and within an hour of landing in Halifax, I felt its presence. There was something very moving about that greeting. Maybe it was magnified by the exhaustion of travelling across the worlds second largest country, and the delay in Toronto, but I knew that this east coast adventure was going to be a great one.

The next day I would fly to beautiful, Cape Breton Island.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Evtug fvqr bs gur genvy tbvat abegu, vg terj va Yharaohet Pbhagl. Ghpxrq nebhaq. Or fgrnygul!

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)