Cape Breton Hiker

Emily Forrest Walkabout - 2995 km

2010-05-07T17:08:10Z

In the Australian "Come Walkabout" Commercial directed by Baz Luhrmann for Tourism Australia, you will hear the words -" Sometimes we have to get lost in order to find ourselves. Sometimes we got to go walkabout."

Photo credit - NS Come to Life

Emily Forrest Walkabout begins May 13 to August 8 and involves walking 2995 km of Nova Scotia's coastline, stopping in over 88 communities. She will be walking on average 40 km a day.

She is not lost at all and has well defined routes and stops along the way. Her goal is to inspire Nova Scotians to start walking groups, develop an active lifestyle, and explore new routes in their communities. Keep track of your walks, log your steps (pedometer) online with Walkabout program . Emily wants to promote the Nova Scotia Heart & Stroke Foundation's Walkabout Program and help people discover the physical and mental benefits of walking in their communities.

So log on and register (its free) on www.walkaboutns.ca . Click on routes at the top of the page and type Forrest walkabout in the search box. Choose a map or route of one of Emily's 88 routes. Why not join her for a walk in your community or nearby. You can follow her on twitter and on facebook.

A New Year - New Experiences

2010-01-04T13:28:05Z

Over the holidays, I was able to enjoy two special movies - Saving Private Ryan, and the Bucket List. Both brought important messages for the new year - Live life to the fullest and write down your list of experiences and do them. I have a pretty extensive list of what I want to do in 2010.

Here goes - a busy June - 1) Ride for Diabetes - 50 km cycling event, 2) Cycle the Cabot Trail (300 km ), and 3) participate in Walk for the Wildlife weekend at Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

In July - 4) participate in the 2nd Annual Geocaching weekend at Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

In September, 5) hike more than 100kms in the Hike the Highlands Festival, 6) hike Croagh Patrick, Ireland's holy mountain and 7) hike Dingle Way (104 km) in Ireland, 8) hike more than 500 kms in 2010 and 9) become a better amateur photographer with more manual shots and 10) produced amazing slide shows of experiences that move people.

I have my work cutout to do all that list but I am hopeful that with extensive training and proper planning I will achieve most if not all of them. It is amazing how much of this can be done locally or nearby. Nova Scotia has so much to offer....

So why not start writing down your list of experiences you want to do this year during weekends, free time and vacation(s). Remember 2010 is the year to enjoy the many great experiences out there in Nova Scotia.

My Hero - Terry Fox, "Never Give up on A Dream "

2009-09-09T05:44:30Z

On the second Sunday in September each year, Canada recognizes one of its greatest heroes and his dream of beating cancer. I am talking about Terry Fox and his Marathon of Hope. In Nova Scotia, there will be 85 communities hosting the Terry Fox Run to continue his dream of beating cancer. To date more than $400 million dollars has been raised worldwide for cancer research through the annual Terry Fox Run which began in 1981.

In 1980, Terry Fox began his dream of running across Canada to raise funds for cancer research. He did this on an artificial leg as he lost his leg with bone cancer.in 1977. He ran 143 consecutive days, each day 42 kms (26 miles). Terry never took a day off. He had to stop outside Thunder Bay when cancer appeared in his lungs. He ran a total 5,373 kms. He later passed away at age 22 in 1981.

Terry Fox was an exceptual young man of great integrity, courage, determination,and hope. He gave so freely of himself and continues to be an inspiration to so many people. A tremendous athlete that believes so strongly in the dream of beating cancer - the suffering most stop. Twenty nine years later, the Terry Fox Run still continues. I will always remember Terry Fox and the phrase " Never give up on your dream". On September 13, 2009, do your part by participating in a Terry Fox Run or pledge a donation to help beat cancer.

Hike the Highlands Festival Starts Soon

2009-09-02T18:11:08Z

One of Nova Scotia's signature events is just around the corner. Next week the 6th annual Hike the Highlands Festival will take place in Cape Breton from September 11-20. This ten day hiking festival features 24 guided hikes, four workshops, a great evening program of activities and the new Hikers Distance Award Program of 100, 50 and 25 km with lapel pins given to hikers who achieve their goals. The festival is attracting hikers from Great Britain, US and in Canada from BC to Newfoundland & Labrador.

The Highlands of Cape Breton are situated on the world renowned Cabot Trail and offer some of the most spectacular coastal scenery and hiking trails in the world. A portion of this significant example of Canada's natural heritage has been designated as a national park. Thirteen of the 24 guided hikes in the Hike the Highlands Festival are located in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park with the other eleven hikes in the highlands of Cape Breton. The hiking trails are located nearby in 10 communities along the Cabot Trail and Highlands of Cape Breton including Cheticamp, Pleasant Bay, Meat Cove, Sugar Loaf, Cape North, White Point, Neil's Harbour, Ingonish, Ingonish Beach, North River, and Indian Brook.

Nine new hikes will be introduced in this year's festival and four popular hikes are coming back. "The goal is to provide hikers with choices each day," says Lisa Dixon, Chair, Guide Committee, " a short hike or a longer hike with various distances. Dixon states hikers should wear hiking boots to provide good support and protection for your feet. The full schedule of guided hikes is available on the Hike the Highlands Festival Website along with descriptions of each trails.

New in 2009, four workshops will be offered to hikers at this year's festival and they include Outdoor Nature Photography with Wally Hayes, Introduction to GPS - instructor Derek Quann, Nordic Walking - hiking with poles - instructor Linda Murray and Introduction to Geocaching with Angie Payne. Workshops are limited to 25 participants and require pre-registration.

After a great day of hiking, hikers can take off their hiking boots and enjoy an outstanding evening program during the hiking festival. The lineup of evening activities includes opening & closing ceremonies of the festival, evening presentations, a social evening with Acadien & English Folklore music in Cheticamp, theatre in Ingonish,plus a hikers night at Thirsty Hikers Pub. Evening presentations include - Journey into the World of Digital Photography" with Wally Hayes, Species at Risk - Cape Breton Highlands National Park with John Francis Lane, Trekking in Central & South America with Marie Stradeski and Challenges, Celebrations and Cyclists: Talk on Hiking in Europe with Lori Burke.

For more information on this festival and registration please visit the festival's website.

Lunch Time Ceilidhs - A New Tradition

2009-08-12T19:09:00Z

On Cape Breton Island, we are well known for our evening ceilidhs. But a new tradition has started in Judique, a small community in Inverness County, Cape Breton. Lunch time Ceildhs at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre - from 11:30 am. - 1 :00 pm. in May until close of Celtic Colours Festival in October. Visitors can enjoy a great lunch until 3pm, including Maritime Seafood Chowder, Haddock specials,fresh Lobster specials, fresh salads, homemade desserts and the regular favorites. Daily dinner specials. The lunchtime ceilidh provides a great opportunity for visitors to mingle with the locals.

They have daily music demonstrations (Monday to Saturday) from May until October 19th-beginning each day at 9:30am. Their professional musicians talk about the traditional music of Cape Breton and give a live demonstration. Workshops are held every Thursday 1-3pm, of July and August. The instruction is in both fiddle and guitar, intermediate/advanced with artists such as Andrea Beaton, Colin Grant, Shelly Campbell, Glenn Graham, Scott Macmillan, Jackie Dunn MacIsaac, Jerry Holland, Tom Daniels. The Celtic Music Centre welcomes drop-ins to the workshops or you can pre-register online.

Their is an extensive gift shop at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre that carries Celtic music, cds, dvd's, giftware, jewellery and Cape Breton homemade treasures. It has an extensive line of music which can also be purchased from their online store So when you cross the causeway, experience lunch time ceilidhs in your first experience of Cape Breton Island.