We Fundy folk are quite fond of wild weather...well, we do live by the world's most extreme tides so I suppose it only makes sense that we like our weather on the edgey side too.Since so much of the ocean floor is exposed here at low tide, we're quite tuned in to how the weather and tides combine to interesting effect. Take the famous Saxby Gale, for example, still venerated in local folklore. I've also previously mentioned starfish tides and strange objects turning up in the wrack line.
One of the other things the tide churns up on a regular basis is massive amounts of driftwood... and not just small chunks either. It's quite typical to see whole trees wash up, like this one I took a photo of this morning. If you're planning a beach bonfire though, be warned, it's considered impolite in Fundy circles to actually burn these tree trunks - use them as seats instead! More beach bonfire etiquette in this previous post.
Perfect clotheslines. Thats what we used them for when taking kids beaching for the day.
ReplyDeleteFortunately for our forests but unfortunately for our natural barriers such as West Advocate Driftwood beach,the local forrestry industry has declined in the past decades and driftwood is not coming in like it used to. Many people familiar with they way the Fundy works are very concerned about people who come in and burn huge amounts of driftwood, thereby destroying the natural protection of the Acadian dike system. It's very obviously lower (or gone) in areas that have had all the driftwood burned. We love to have people come to enjoy our beaches, but please... don't have fires that you have to stand meters away from because they are so big, have a small fire, sit close & enjoy the wonderful experience!
ReplyDeletethanks for your note, Jane. That's a very good point. Please, folks, use a small amount of driftwood and don't make a massive pyre!
ReplyDeleteHello Terri - Lorraine here from the Keeps Me Smiling blog. We just returned from a week trip to Nova Scotia, and one of the highlights was visiting your area of expertise, the Bay of Fundy. Thanks for the comment - the location we were at on the Bay (from http://keepsmesmiling.blogspot.com/2009/07/braving-bay-of-fundy.html) was unconventional because we had no idea where we were going. But here is what I think: From the highway into Truro from the airport, exit the highway just before the turn off to Bible Hill, following a sign that said "Tidal Bore". A few miles along we hit a gravel road called "Shore Road" and decided to take our chances. We dead ended on driveways a few times, but eventually found a path down to the bay. Felt like we were somewhere between Maitland and Truro. Thanks for introducing me to your blog!
ReplyDeleteHi Terri, just returned from NS yesterday and wish I would have seen your blog before we came! We did get to have a nice drive along 215 between the Truro and Windsor areas and got to see low tide. Fascinating! There will be pics on my blog soon, but wanted to say thanks for giving me some new online reading material. We had a great time in NS and hope to come back again! My 10-year old LOVED seeing the low tide and all the historical stuff in Annapolis Royal and Louisburg.
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