Boscastle ~ Cornwall ~ England

Our travels in England have not included an RV but we've been enjoying some lovely travels and our wonderful trip continues.

We set out from Tavistock to spend our sunny day visiting some of the medieval villages on the northern coast of Cornwall. We drove across the moorlands and began our descent down to the fishing village of Boscastle. So many of these villages we were visiting are at the bottom of a long downhill drive to the water and this was no exception. The best part was that we were able to drive down to a parking area in the small village where other places we have had to walk down.

Village of Boscastle, England

We crossed the bridge to find our parking then walked through the shopping area of the village. This part of the village was only about a block long and had nice looking shops for those that may wish to browse.

Stone harbour walls in Boscastle, England

The stone harbor walls seen here, were built in 1584 and act as a buffer from the tidal waters that offer some very rough waves from the Atlantic Ocean.  The boats are able to come into the harbor to tie up behind the walls and away from the waves and dock safely when not in use.  Boscastle is the only natural harbor for boats along the 40 mile stretch of coastline.

Atlantic Ocean at Boscastle, England

We walked up the wet banks of rock overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and, as always, enjoyed watching the waves crash against the rocks. Waves are always fascinating and I wanted to take enough pictures to make sure I get the right wave and the right splash before I leave. It was very windy, I mean very very windy, so our stay out there watching the waves was shorter than we may have wanted it to be.

The natural harbour at Boscastle, England

Several people were walking on the other side of the harbor and one hiker can be seen up on top of the hill, giving us a perspective on how big that hill really is.  We had worn warm jackets and good walking shoes but these rocks were slippery and we needed to be cautious when walking on them.  Many visitors sat down on the rocks to enjoy watching the waves and weathered the cold stormy winds.  The blue sky is deceiving but the wind was blowing those clouds away, so we're not complaining.

Rivers running through Boscastle, England

The Rivers Valency and Jordon come together to create this natural harbor.  Then one day in August 2004 after torrential rains filled both rivers to overflow, there was a major flooding that devastated this small village.  The water tore through the town and damaged the majority of the buildings and homes as it ravaged its' way down the valley, including taking out the bridge.
 

Sunny day in Boscastle, England

We watched a video that showed the damage being done by the powerful force of that flooding and it is amazing that not one life was lost.  People were sitting on rooftops and had to be airlifted out by helicoptor.  The signage showing the water level that day makes it hard to believe their recovery has been so successful.  We had lunch in a quaint little hotel and saw the sign of the water level shown on the second floor. 

Fishing boats in harbour at Boscastle, England

Fishing was once a major industry in Boscastle but tourism is now the number one industry for this village and much of that might be due to the flooding then the recovery done by the strength and determination of the people of the village of Boscastle.  There is little evidence of the flood showing today, and it was great to spend some time in the village of Boscastle.

Peggys Point Lighthouse ~ Peggys Cove, NS, Canada

We were in Nova Scotia and the Maritime Provinces have some of the most beautiful lighthouses. I’d not seen the same on the west coast and was looking forward to getting pictures of as many of them as I could. Number one on that list was Peggys Cove.

We followed the Lighthouse Trail scenic drive from where we were staying in Mahone Bay to Peggys Cove, one of the most photographed structures in the Atlantic provinces. Legend has one story that it was named after a young girl named Margaret which Peggy is a nickname for, who was the sole survivor of a schooner that ran aground in 1800.

Peggys Point Lighthouse

The lighthouse, officially known as Peggys Point Lighthouse is now operated by the Canadian Coast Guard. It once also housed the post office but that is no longer. The current structure was built in 1914, is 15 M (50 ft) high and the color of the light has changed over the years but now conforms to the world standards and became a red light in 2007.

Lady with accordian playing at the Lighthouse at Peggys Cove, NS

Peggys Cove, earlier called Peggy’s Cove, sits of the shore of St. Margarets Bay, which is 43 km (25 mi) southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is a small fishing village, with a population of 46 in 2009, originally founded in 1811 when the Province of Nova Scotia issued a land grant of 800 acres to six families.

Granite rock at Peggys Cove, NS

The lighthouse sits on a granite outcropping that offers great exploring opportunities while wandering on the massive rocks.  This is to be done with caution as many people have been swept off the rocks by waves.  I came close to doing that in Portugal but that is a whole other story !

A fishboat from the past at Peggys Cove, NS

Tourism became the primary draw over fishing following World War 2 but lobster is still being fished in the area and the village does maintains the rustic look of those days.  There were some buildings destroyed from Hurricane Juan in 2003 and Hurricane Bill in 2009 which washed away one of the characteristic wooden fish sheds.

Colorful bouys at Peggys Cove, NS

Peggys Cove once boasted a population of 300 people in the early 1900’s when it supported a schoolhouse, church, general store, lobster cannery and boats of all sizes. Today you will see hundreds of visitors a day, enjoying the village that has had very few changes over the years.

Bagpiper on the rocks at Peggys Cove, NS

For those of us that enjoy listening to the bagpipes being played, we had a treat when a student raising college funds began to play.  The wind carried the sound over the rocks and was music to our ears as we cautiously trekked across the granite, no dancing on this ground. (:

Village at Peggys Cove, NS

This area was declared a preservation area in 1962 when Peggys Cove Commission Act was passed.  Regional and provincial governments have placed strict land use restrictions to prevent most property developments and they have also placed limitations that restrict property inflation values for year round residents.

We enjoyed a wonderful morning wandering about Peggys Cove and although it is a small village, it has had a very large impact on the tourism of the Maritime Provinces. This is one of many special places that we visited on our cross Canada RV trip and we were off to see more.  Have you ever been to  Prince Edward Island?  Clik here and join us on our visit to that beautiful little island.  

Kaslo, B.C., Canada

While RV'ing home from our recent visit to the Kootenay's, we were so fortunate to have this beautiful sunny day to enjoy and to also see the first snowfall of the year off in the distance. The clouds were hanging just below the mountain tops and it was an awesome sight.

Snowcap view from Vimy Park

Kaslo, B.C., population 1029, is 70 km (42 mi) north of Nelson on Hwy 31, and a beautiful RV drive along the Kootenay Lake shoreline. Kaslo is the oldest incorporated community in the Kootenays, built in the silver boom of the 1800's. Nestled in the incredible Kootenay Rockies, Kaslo, B.C. was voted one of Canada's prettiest towns, and once you're there, it is so easy to understand why. They've restored the heritage village and offer quite a shopping assortment, ranging from restaurants to galleries with works of local artists and artisans, and many other shops, as well.

Vimy Park at lakes edge has Kaslo Municipal campground with an incredible view of the mountains.The campground is open from May 1 to Sept. 30th yearly with an easy walk downtown.

Sailing on an autumn day

Kootenay Lake is the largest natural lake in the Kootenay Rockies region and the third largest in B.C. The lake offers many ways to enjoy the natural beauty of the area. Sailboating is a favorite for many but pleasure boats of all kinds are seen enjoying the lake as well. Fishing is a great sport in this area with fish up to 12 kg (26 lbs) caught, with the north end of the lake being good for the Kokanee trout. Kaslo Bay Park, with a boat launch just west of this photo, offers great summer fun for day visitors at the lake and a view of the majestic mountains in the background.

SS Moyie

The SS Moyie is the worlds oldest sternwheeler. Since it's retirement in the 1950's, it has become a Provincial Heritage Landmark and a National Historic Site of Canada. This beautiful sternwheeler museum is a testament to the group of volunteers who worked on her restoration for 40 years and she sits proudly at the shores of Kootenay Lake in downtown Kaslo, B.C.

                                                    Fall colors frame a downtown church

The colors of fall always add such beauty to a sunny autumn day and Kaslo is a town of many colors. If only I had a way of getting aerial pictures of town to show, but I am happy with just being able to enjoy the colors. This quaint town is home to many heritage style buildings and shows a community pride. There are many activities and events planned throughout the year, bringing many visitors to enjoy the splendor of Kaslo, B.C.

Steelhead Provincial Park - Kamloops Lake - Thompson River

At the southwest end of Kamloops Lake at the head of the Thompson River sits a very unique provincial park. The park, established in 1995 is the site of one of the oldest homesteads in the southern interior, a stagecoach depot and ferry landing. The historic buildings and cemetery are all located on the site. The buildings have not been preserved to be suitable for any use but are protected from unwelcome four legged visitors by a fence, which also prevents the two legged visitors from entering, as well.

              A double rainbow shows Savona as being the Pot of Gold at the end of the rainbow.
Overnite camping with 44 campsites is available at this popular destination camp for visitors wishing to go boating or fish on Kamloops Lake or the river. The park offers 240 meters (approx. 263 yds) along the beach and 1000 meters (approx. 1093 yds) of frontage along the river. Savona, with small town amenities is close by. There are clean shower and toilet facilities and a playground. There are water and power hookups as well and pets are fine on leash. Someone will come around daily to collect the cash only fees. It is open for business from May 1 into October.

A doorway from the Past looking at a gathering of Today.

We spent some time there with several friends celebrating a birthday on Thanksgiving weekend and our group was the only one there. It was a bit windy at times but still warm and perfect for a family reunion or gathering. The water is low at that time of year and the big beach along the lake has white sand and driftwood decorating the area. Signs of visiting kids dot the beach, with some ‘forts’ built from gathered driftwood that likely gave them hours of play, perhaps not much different than the kids of many years ago when the stagecoaches stopped here.

The day was also great for taking pictures, with the bonus of a beautiful double rainbow to enjoy. Pictures are a wonderful reminder of the places we visit, but I always wish I had taken more, we may have to take another trip out there soon.   Steelhead Provincial Park located 40 km (24 mi) west of Kamloops, on Highway 1 at Savona, B.C., Canada