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Keats94: Putting this puppy to bed. Making space for another.

GC854G5 ▼

A cache by Keats94 Message this owner

Hidden : 3/21/2019

Difficulty:

Terrain:

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 curiosity 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 at 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:

After staying the night on a local geocacher's land near Bridgewater, I drove south along highway 103 towards Shelburne. The highway was long, straight, and very flat, with the odd rolling hill. The weather was overcast, but there was a feeling in the air that the skies would open up. I wanted to make it to Shelburne before dark, so I could attempt a nearby geo-art series. This was indeed a very lofty goal.

The drive was uneventful for the most part, but looking through the windshield, I could start to see that silent grey sheet of rain sweeping across those gentle rolling hills of southern Nova Scotia. Pfft! I have seen rain like this back home on the "wet coast", so I kept rolling down the highway.

The first rain drop made an innocent "pat" on my windshield. The second followed quickly behind. Nothing to be too worried about here. Nothing at all.

Sure enough, this "patting" of rain became a thorough applause. Much like an enthusiastic audience after a rousing theatrical performance. It was just that this "audience" was starting to give my windshield wipers a run for their money! This "patting" turned into a "rumble", and sure enough, my windshield wipers were waving little white flags, my sanity was too. This rain became too much for my windshield wipers to handle!

I was still going highway speeds, and I needed to either slow down to a measly fifty kilometers per hour to see better, or desperately find an exit. I chose the latter, and ventured along a very quiet road, and eventually to a dead end near the highway. Relieved to be no longer in motion, I waited for the now litres of water that were falling by the second outside my car to finish. It was unreal.

I looked at my phone, and noticed a geocache nearby, so despite the sheets of water falling outside my car, I ran outside and quickly found it in the guardrail I was facing. I had never seen rain like this before, everything I was wearing got very soaked, after half a minute.

Like brain freeze after a cold slurpee, the rain eventually subsided, and I was back on the road. It wasn't too far from Shelburne by this point. I still needed to find a place to camp. I seemed to wing it on this trip, and somehow successfully.

"Historic Shelburne," a road sign eventually read, and I took the exit that would take me to this town founded in 1783. The town itself was very quiet. Not a soul strolling along its peaceful streets. No surprise, as I'm sure it was simply recovering from the shock that was the torrential downpour, less than an hour ago.

I checked my phone for nearby places to camp, and it suggested a pretty looking provincial campground along the inlet just south of the town. I drove towards it. Still no soul in sight.

I rounded the corner, and a large yellow gate next to a little house was up ahead. I pulled up, and sitting on a bench was an elderly lady. At first, I thought she was one of the guests at the campground.

I got out of my car, said "hi" and quickly found out she was the campground host. We chatted for a bit, and she told me to call from the nearby cord phone to make my reservation. Booking a campsite in a Nova Scotia provincial campground is certainly different than in British Columbia.

Eventually, she noticed the base layer shirt from the company I work for. I told her that I work at its Vancouver store. It wasn't long before she praised my company for the incredible customer service that was given to her when she was looking for a tent. "I was looking for a tent, and they wouldn't let me leave the store without making sure I was confident with what I was getting," she said. "They really looked after me, and I don't always give glowing reviews for companies, but you work for a great company."

I didn't expect to talk about my workplace on this trip, but it was quite something to be in rural, small town Nova Scotia, and chat with someone who knows, and has had such a great experience with the company I happen to work for. I had no idea it would spread so far into the quiet quaint reaches of southern Nova Scotia, but here I was, talking to someone who connected with me on something.

This conversation I had with this lady really stuck with me, as I once again was blown away by the incredible friendliness, and generosity that was shown to me. Perhaps I should not be as surprised, but the rural-urban cultural differences were certainly noticeable. I would never have expected a conversation like this in downtown Vancouver.

I managed to set up my campsite, and thankfully the rain held off. Another fond memory of Nova Scotia.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Jurer n gerr naq ebpx zrrg. Terj va Yharaohet Pbhagl.

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)