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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And now, the final cache:
On my way back to Halifax during my 2018 road trip around the province. I headed south along the eastern shore from Cape Breton. The road was windy, and the odd pot hole along the very lonesome road contributed to keeping me alert! At times, I felt like I was travelling down a road long abandoned, only to be accompanied by the tapping of a moose hoof, or a bear stomp. It was just me and my rental car for miles! Slowly but surely the towns became more noticeable, and sure enough I ended up at a little town called Sheet Harbour. I arrived here late at night, and managed to stay the night with a family-run campsite. As the maritime usual, I was greeted with open arms, even though it was just a little before midnight. I'm sure they wanted to get some sleep.
After getting some much needed rest, I was gently awoken by the dawn of a new day. My next stop would be Dartmouth, and the last place I would spend a night in Nova Scotia for that trip. Before reaching Dartmouth, I chose to check out Taylor Head Provincial Park. The hike itself was gorgeous. It reminded me of northern Vancouver Island, or Tofino. The trail went along beaches, and the occasional muddy trail. The destination was the tip of the very long peninsula known as Taylor Head. The views of the Atlantic were stunning.
On my way back, I happened across a few elastic bands used for holding lobster claws shut. A few more steps later, and I found a valuable item used for catching lobster. This very item you'll find at the final cache location. All the way from Nova Scotia. You may also still be able to smell the Atlantic Ocean on it!
To find this special final location, you must answer a few multiple choice questions. If you have read each story for each traditional cache associated with this series, you should have no problem figuring out the final coordinates.
1. Where did the airline employee think I was flying to?
A) Liverpool, England (1)
B) Sydney, Australia (0)
C) Halifax, England (2)
D) Perth, Scotland (8)
2. Which highway did I take to Big Pond?
A) Highway 9 (2)
B) Peacekeepers Way (4)
C) Highway 223 (6)
D) Highway 4 (8)
3. What did the campground host notice on me?
A) A bug (5)
B) My base layer shirt (6)
C) A tick (9)
D) My bright blue pants (8)
4. What did the sign on the house read?
A) "Anderson Cove & Ghost of Miss Anderson" (9)
B) "Keep Out!" (8)
C) "No Trespassing" (2)
D) "Welcome" (0)
5. What was the name of the band that played in Boisdale?
A) Coig (2)
B) Ten Strings and a Goat Skin (8)
C) The Rankins (3)
D) Sprag Session (5)
6. How did I get home from the pub?
A) I walked (1)
B) I crawled (8)
C) Took a taxi (5)
D) Took the bus (9)
N 49 19.ABC W 122 45.DEF
Now onto the final! I hope you enjoyed this series.