Pull pork at Coco Pesto Bistro

As mentioned in my previous post about Opera Bistro, I have a particular fondness for restaurants serving fresh, local Bay of Fundy ingredients in creative ways. Another of my favorite dining experiences is Coco Pesto Bistro, located in the Woodshire Inn, in Windsor, Nova Scotia. This bistro opened nearly two years ago and, in my opinion, was quite a refreshing addition to the mostly pub and fast food dining scene in this part of the bay.

The Bistro reflects the seasonal abundance of our region, with three licensed dining rooms and outdoor terraced dining. An applewood fired smoker provides diners with the opportunity to enjoy such favourites as dry-rub pork ribs, smoky pulled pork on a bun and signature sauces such as house-made, smoked, sweet pepper compote. Coco Pesto also offers a fine menu of local and international wines. Due to the Bistro's popularity, reservations are recommended!!

A sample of dyked farmland - Shepody Marsh

Further to my last post about dyked farmland around the Bay of Fundy, here's a great view of reclaimed land, the Shepody Marsh, in Albert County, New Brunswick. I snapped this photo just as I stepped out of my car on Route 114 between Hopewell Rocks and Riverside-Albert.

If you get your magnifying glass out for this photo you may even be able to see the teeny tiny cows grazing happily in the fertile fields. There's also a ridge of dyke cresting the top edge of this picture where the fields meet Chignecto Bay (one of Fundy's two smaller upper bays).

Farmland below sea level?

Here's a peculiar sign that often catches the interest of passersby in the village of Grand Pre, Nova Scotia; it says: "GRAND PRE DYKE 3013 acres below sea level"

Now, you may wonder exactly how this can be so read on "...behind 28455 feet of dyke."

The fact is: a high proportion of our most fertile coastal farmland around the Bay of Fundy is actually reclaimed salt marsh. What's even more interesting is that many of these dykes were constructed in the 1700s by our earliest European settlers (who became the Acadians) from France.

Although some of these dykes eventually eroded so that several low-lying areas reverted to salt marshes, hundreds of miles of dyked farmland still exists in the upper part of the Bay in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

If you know what you are looking at you can see dykes in dozens of coastal, flat field locations quite clearly as you drive or walk by. In some communities, such from Wolfville to Canning, Nova Scotia, the top ridge of the dyke has become a popular walking & mountain biking trail!

Blueberry lavender scones

My small veg and herb garden is coming along nicely; it's responding well to our 25-30 degree sunny June days and foggy evenings. Like many folks in our gardening zone, I struggle away with indoor potted herbs all winter only to breath a sign of relief when summer's warmth arrives.

I got this recipe from Alive (Canadian Health magazine) awhile ago. It's an strange one that combines two great tastes: blueberry and lavender. This is when you need to remember that lavender is an herb (related to the mint family) and not a perfume! These scones are a bit odd but really quite endearing...

Blueberry Lavender Scones
3 c. all-purpose flour
1/4 c sugar
1 T baking powder
1 t. dried lavender buds or 2 t chopped fresh lavender
1/2 t salt
3/4 c cold unsalted butter, diced
3/4 c + 1 T milk
1/4 honey (or maple syrup)
2 t vanilla extract
1/2 c dried blueberries
icing sugar for dusting

Oven at 375.

Place all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Cut in butter until it resembles coarse meal. Stir together liquid ingredients in a separate bowl; add to dry ingredients. Mix just until dough comes together. Mix in dried blueberries.

Turn dough onto floured surface. Roll twice to 1 in thickness, each time folding in half (secret to a flaky scone). Roll dough into 3/4 in. thickness, cut into shapes. Place on cookie tray, brush with remaining milk, bake for 15 to 18 minutes until tops browned. Makes 12.

Exploring Cape d'Or Lighthouse

Here's a post that can easily fit in both the 'lighthouse' and 'places to eat' categories of my blog: the Cape d'Or Lighthouse. Cape d'Or is one of the best places to see Fundy's tidal rips: wild, upwelling tidal currents.

The site also offers a panoramic view of the upper part of the Bay of Fundy in the exact location where it splits into its two smaller bays: Chignecto Bay and the Minas Basin. And, even better, there is an amazing restaurant in one of the former lightkeeper's houses (the other house is used as a tourist guest house!).

Here a fun video of Darcy, the operator of the restaurant and guest house describing what makes Cape d'Or so cool.

Although the lighthouse was de-staffed in 1989 (automated), there's been a fog whistle at Cape d'Or since 1875 to warn mariners of the Cape's extreme tidal rips. Now the site is a great reward for those who take the time to drive 20 minutes up the dirt road from the nearby village of Advocate Harbour, Nova Scotia. One caution though: the cliffs are quite extreme here, ranging from 300 to 500 feet sheer vertical drop so this is not a great place to visit with little kids.

Whale watching season has begun

We're fortunate to have various whale watch tour companies in the Bay of Fundy. All the folks operate in the "Fundy Aquarium" ecozone off the coasts of Digby Neck, Long & Brier Islands (in Nova Scotia) and St Andrews & the Fundy Isles - Grand Manan, Deer & Campobello Islands (in New Brunswick).

Now, I have to caution you: this isn't Seaworld we're talking about here...our whales move around a wide radius at the wide mouth of the bay and can't be "called with a whistle". Still, being on the water and being part of the search for whales here, in their summer migratory feeding ground, is part of the adventure! Our whale watch companies (who also, by the way, follow a strict whale watching Code of Ethics) are quite adept at locating the areas where Fundy's upwelling tidal currents stir up lotsa good whale food. Where there is whale food there are whales!

The first reported whale sightings happened this week: some finbacks & humpbacks. Check out a couple of the whale watch blogs to get the scoop: Brier Island Whale Watch (NS) and Quoddy Link Marine (NB). This is a photo of a humpback's fluke (tail). Our humpbacks are named by our whale researchers and are completely identifiable by their tail markings: this one's name is Moustache.

Vote for Fundy in New7Natural Wonders of World

I've been busy for the past few weeks trying to get the Bay of Fundy officially nominated in the New 7 Wonders of Nature contest.

For awhile now, it's been bothering me that the Bay of Fundy occasionally turns up on various lists of "7 Forgotten Wonders of the World"... I mean, really....

So, last year, I was intently following the contest for the 7 New Wonders of the World; the winners of which were announced in Lisbon on 07.07.07. That initiative was so successful that the 7Wonders folks decided to run a second contest this year for the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

I'm pleased to report that, as of today, the Bay of Fundy is a official nominee. You can go on the 7 Wonders website to vote. Over 1 billion votes worldwide are expected in the contest which will last 'til the end of this year. And the people speak....

Take the road less traveled

Here's a Bay of Fundy travel tip: be sure to get off the main highway and explore the secondary roads! Today I traveled a coastal section of the Bay of Fundy from Margaretsville to Hampton, Nova Scotia.

It had been many years since I'd taken particular roadway but it was absolutely delightful. There are several small ports along this shore; all of which are great places to see the vertical tidal effect of the Bay. Access this section of coast by going up (west) over the North Mountain outside Bridgetown (at one end) or at Middleton (the other end). Total kilometres about 30.

As luck would have it, I was passing by at low tide so I was able to snap these photos. You might like to take along a map but do allow yourself to 'get lost' a bit along this coast (and don't worry, the locals will help...we love helping visitors find themselves on the BoF).

My first restaurant review

Okay, I can't take it any longer.... I've been resisting making suggestions for dining experiences around the Bay of Fundy because, well, I've got a confession to make: if I tell you about my favorite places to eat you'll never find the best Bay of Fundy hamburger or steak. The thing is: I don't eat red meat so any thoughts I'm going to share in my new blog category: "best places to eat" are going to focus on fresh, local, regional, sometimes seasonal cuisine that's veg, fish or chicken served up in picturesque or artful settings around the Bay of Fundy. If you're up for this kind of culinary adventure then hop aboard!

So... allow me to introduce my first memorable dining experience: Opera Bistro in Saint John, New Brunswick. I like Opera so much that I ate there several days in a row this week. Owners Margret and Axel Begner (Chef) have infused Opera's decor, service and menu with their infectious European flair and charm. The menu (and wine list) is creative, eclectic and fun!

This photo shows me agonizing over which flavour of tartlette or homemade gelato to take back to the hotel for a midnight snack...would that we all faced this dilemma daily!

Saint John favourite places

I enjoyed the first really summery summer night this week while in the "Fundy city", Saint John, New Brunswick. It was a perfect night for a walk along Harbour Passage and the Hilton hotel boardwalk on the waterfront.

I don't have a category on my blog for favourite places around the Bay of Fundy to enjoy a Guiness but if I did then the Brigantine Pub in the Saint John Hilton (at end of the boardwalk on the right side of my photo) would be the spot. The Brig's outdoor deck overlooks the bustling harbour, where coast guard vessels, tug boats, tour boats and even cruise ships come and go. At the Brig the glasses are frosted, the staff is delightful and the Guiness is fresh off the boat from Ireland!

Sand sculpture competition at New River Beach

When I introduced you to New River Beach a few posts ago, I forgot to mention a really fun event that has taken place there every year for the past 23 years: the sand sculpture competition! Folks of all ages come out to stake their claim to a patch of sandy beach in exchange for a donation to the local food bank.

The only limit to the number of teams participating is the size of the beach! The event is held on a different day every July - needs to be one of the really low tide days. This year it's July 26 (rain date July 27). Locals, assorted radio personalities from the area and tourists enjoy the even as participants and spectators.

This is a fun photo of some nasty sand pirates and their treasure chest! arrrr, maties!

Weir fishing on the Bay of Fundy

You've probably figured out by now that I'm easily intrigued by all aspects of life and work around our beautiful Bay of Fundy.

Weir fishing is just another ordinary occurrence that I think is really neat. Last year I posted some video of the guys in action during the 2x daily spring harvest.

This year I met their truck coming up from the beach as I arrived, however, my dog (see a teeny tiny yellow lab in the photo) and I enjoyed exploring the clean, empty weir at sunset. Click here for weir fishing FAQs.

P.S. When the tide is in it's at the top of those poles - that's part of the 50 ft tide thing we have going here!

Rhubarb's going crazy!

Conditions around the Bay of Fundy are absolutely perfect for growing rhubarb and this year, especially, our rhubarb is going crazy - I've got some stalks that are over 2 feet long!

After the wild harvest of fiddleheads a couple weeks ago, rhubarb is the first 'edible' from most people's spring gardens. Indeed, rhubarb is the perfect cool weather perennial for our region. It prefers at least 2 months rest in frozen winter ground (under a blanket of snow - even better), slightly acidic soil, and lots of sun & rain in spring. I also have a theory that rhubarb loves fog!

Winter freeze-up of its roots makes rhubarb immune to most pests and diseases so it's an ideal candidate for organic growing. I do absolutely nothing to my rhubarb and it faithfully produces more stocks than we can eat each spring! Took this photo in the garden today...

Another type of Fundy beach: sandy!!

Just looking over my collection of beachscape posts and realizing that you may think all our Bay of Fundy beaches are full of sculpted cliffs and massive boulders - yikes! not so....

Here's a great example of a Bay of Fundy beach that could rival those of Florida or California:
New River Beach, located in Lepreau (between Saint John & St Andrews, New Brunswick). This is a perfect 'umbrella beach' for sunning, frolicking in the sand and, yes, even swimming. (well, maybe the water is a bit cooler here than it is in Florida!).

There is also the site of New River Beach Provincial Park with camping, boardwalk & trail hiking, etc.

Amazed (again) by Fundy geology

Although I make a point of checking out Fundy's various geology exhibits, such as those at the New Brunswick Museum, Hopewell Rocks, Fundy Geological Museum and Joggins Fossil Cliffs, there is really nothing quite like taking a guided interpretive hike along the beach at low tide tagging along with someone who knows what they're seeing!

Last week, a visit from an Outpost Adventure Magazine travel writer gave me a great excuse to take a few hours away from the office to take in a Fundy Geological Museum Field Trip with its curator.

We took an awe inspiring walk on the ocean floor alongside about 350 million years of towering basalt and smooth sandstone cliffs. It reminded me that the Bay of Fundy's geological tale is vast; it's about dividing continents, glacial deposits, rift valleys, reefs, tropical sea, desert sands and volcanic flows. Indeed, it's the tale of the Bay of Fundy then and now.

These museum field trips take in various sections of coast around Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, on a regular schedule throughout June, July & August; otherwise for group and school bookings. By the way, such tours are also a very safe way to explore our tidal coast.

Fundy blog in the news

Well, this is interesting....an article about my blog just ended up on the front page of the business section of Nova Scotia provincial paper. Interesting how new media and traditional media are starting to overlap! Here's the article at Chronicle Herald online.

Sea kayaking at Hopewell Rocks, NB

Here's the last in my series of notes about sea kayaking businesses located in the Bay of Fundy in both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Normally, I don't do 6 posts in a row on the same theme, but, truly, I couldn't possibly pick a favorite section of coast or a best kayak company - there is just so much out here to explore!

Baymount Outdoor Adventures is located at the well-known Hopewell Rocks, just along the coast from Moncton, New Brunswick.

At low tide, Hopewell Rocks provides excellent, staffed, interpreted and safe coastal access to a fun series of huge 'flower pot' rock formations (sometimes called sea stacks) via the exposed ocean floor.

At high tide, the best way to explore Hopewell Rocks is by sea kayak. Baymount's sea kayak excursions are about 2 hours long and are easy to moderate to participate in. This is a super 'first kayak', if you've never sea kayaked before! (If you'd rather not kayak, then try hiking the clifftop trails and watching the kayakers below).

By the way, owners, Richard & Kathy also offer guided caving expeditions in this part of the Bay of Fundy (and, in the winter, lead tours in Latin America!).

Sea Kayaking at Cape Enrage, NB

Cape Enrage, New Brunswick, is not only home to a classic lighthouse but it's become a nifty destination for Bay of Fundy coastal adventure. I previously posted about their rappelling but I don't think I ever mentioned the sea kayaking and zip line options.

The Cape juts out into the Bay which makes for some wild conditions - sea kayaking along this section of the Bay can be a bit of an extreme sporting event! Still, if you're into adventure as a group or individually, this is a 'must stop' attraction on the Bay of Fundy.

Site managers, Dennison and Ann, host and train an extraordinary group of students to professionally operate the site each season. This kayaking photo was taken during recent staff 'spring training'. Cape Enrage was recently named #1 View in Canada by Frommer's Travel Guide. When you visit be sure to try "Cake Enrage" in the Lightkeeper's lunchroom on site - it's awesome!

Sea kayaking in Alma, NB

FreshAir Adventure, in Alma, NB, is another super sea kayaking company here in our region. It seems like all my recommendations about sea kayaking in the Bay of Fundy have a theme: sea kayaking opens up new opportunities to explore the Fundy coast and tidal experiences. This is certainly true in FreshAir's region - along the coast of Fundy National Park and within the newly declared Bay of Fundy UNESCO Biosphere zone.

This photo shows FreshAir kayakers coming in on the rising tide at the Alma wharf... there is, of course, no water below them when the tide is low. Even the larger fishing boats would be on the ground!

One of FreshAir's owners, Joe, is also a teacher in the NB Community College Adventure Tourism program; and the other owner, Alan, is a high school science textbook writer and international kayaker.

Sea kayaking at Advocate Hbr/Cape Chignecto Park, NS

You'll want to pay attention to this kayaking recommendation because this is the only kayaking company based on the Nova Scotia side of the Bay of Fundy.

Nova Shores Adventures operates out of the beautiful village of Advocate Harbour, with tours focusing on the coast surrounding Cape Chignecto Provincial Park. There are definitely some secluded beaches, rock formations, cliff arches and coves that you can only explore in this part of Fundy by kayak. Nova Shores does half-day, day and multi-day tours.

Owners Else Marie and Werner have a vast amount of experience offering kayak tours. Nova Shores orginally offered excursions along the coast near Peggy's Cove (outside Halifax - about 2.5 hrs from Fundy!) but when Else Marie and Werner started personally kayaking this part of the Fundy coast they liked it so much that they packed up and moved there!

(BTW tours are still offered by their great staff at the Dover location for Peggy's Cove area).

Sea kayaking - St Martins/Fundy Trail, NB

If you're yearning to explore the Bay of Fundy tidal waters off the coast of St Martins, New Brunswick, then take a look at kayaking with River Valley Adventures. These folks are located right on the wharf in the pretty village of St Martins.

St Martins has great sea caves that you can walk out to at low tide, then kayak to at high tide (see photo). St Martins is also home to the Fundy Trail - 10 km coastal hiking & biking trail (with great access points from a parellel low speed roadway). Mike's River Valley sea kayaking tours take you along the coast of the Fundy Trail to beaches that are only accessible by kayak - very cool!

If you are wondering where River Valley Adventures got its name (considering it's on the bay), you may be interested to know that, in spring and fall when he's not otherwise in Fundy, Mike offers lots of outdoor education programs for youth in the St John River Valley.

Sea kayaking in Deer Island/St Andrews, NB

Sea kayaking is one of the best ways to explore the Bay of Fundy coast. I'm not a big swimmer but I've always felt comfortable in these stable made-for-ocean kayaks. I'm personally familiar with several kayak companies around the Bay so I thought I'd use the next few posts to profile each.

Seascape Kayak Tours' home base is Deer Island but they offer tours from both Deer Island and St Andrews by the Sea, NB. The owners, Bruce and Malena, are great folks who really know the bay and islands. Seascape offers both day and multi-day tours for all ability levels. By the way, if you happen to winter holiday in Costa Rica, you can also find Seascape there offering tours during Fundy's off season!! Hey, it's a rough life!

Red Rose Tea - A Fundy favourite!

The Bay of Fundy seemed to be following me in one particular way during my travels to the western part of our country last week ~ here's a photo of the tea I was served at my hotel: Red Rose Tea. Red Rose Tea was established in Saint John, New Brunswick, in 1894. Its orange pekoe tea was said to be made from only the top two leaves of each tea plant sprig this ensuring its superior quality. Initially the tea was only sold in our region but later went on to become one of the world's best known teas. Red Rose Tea still contains high grown leaves from Sri Lanka, Kenya, India and Indonesia.

Any of you who are my age or older may remember the Marquis Chimpanzees starring in three Red Rose Tea commercials in the 19060s. The most popular of these showed plaid-suited chimps playing a swinging jazz tune in praise of Red Rose. Now, thanks to YouTube, you can take a trip down nostalgia lane.

Fundy tidal power SEA complete

My blog readers from the Bay of Fundy region, and other readers from across the country, may be interested to know that the long-awaited Strategic Environmental Assessment of in-stream tidal power for our bay is now available.

Apparently there's enough potential in the tides to power 120,000 homes but this 'green energy' opportunity needs to weighed mindfully against potential changes and threats to the bay's sensitive ecology, traditional rural fishery, migratory bird feeding grounds, etc. The fact is: a tidal power project of the magnitude proposed for Fundy has never been tried anywhere else .... it would be a delicate experiment with the eyes of the region and the world upon it.

The Fundy SEA Report is a broad-ranging as it can be but there are still many unknowns. To download the report & other related documents, visit: www.offshoreenergyresearch.ca

Photo: Cape d'Or tidal rips (at the mouth of the Minas Channel)

Rare Right whale birth captivates researchers

It's not often that a Right whale gives birth and it's rarer still that whales researchers happen to show up at the 'right' moment to witness the happy event. By pure luck, New England Aquarium scientists were able to photograph this tumultuous and hopeful moment for a species so threatened by extinction that every birth counts. It was the first time anyone is known to have captured images of a right whale giving birth (click thru to photo gallery).

Here in the Bay of Fundy (the summer feeding grounds of many species of whales), we feel quite connected to Right whales. Much whale research takes place in our region throughout the summer and fall - contributing greatly to worldwide scientific research on whales. In the winter, whales venture about 1000 km south to the coasts of Georgia and Florida (where this Right whale was born in January).

A few weeks after the birth, the mother whale (known to researchers by the nickname, Cat's Paw) and her calf were seen swimming side by side as seen in this photo. Later, the aquarium team ponder what to name the baby. Then it came to them: Resolution, in part to honor it's New Year's Day birth, but also the species' unending will to survive. Awww....

A world first ~ 800 km unicyle race thru Fundy!

In your idle moments, do you ever imagine someone creating a Tour de France-style race for unicyclists? Well, imagine no longer - here is a world first!

From June 16 to 20, unicycle teams from around the world will "Ride the Lobster" - racing 800 km along the Bay of Fundy coast and up to Cape Breton.

The race will feature over 25 teams, with over 100 competitors from 19 countries. Teams will be tracked by satellite with their positions streamed live to the Ride the Lobster blog.

P.S. I don't think the racers are required to wear lobster red, but, if you plan to be a spectator, do consider sporting a classic red foam lobster hat - you know you've got one buried in the back of your closet!

New Bay of Fundy video tour

I just came across this great new Bay of Fundy promo video on YouTube. It’s an excellent virtual tour of the New Brunswick side of the Bay…cool time lapse high-low video too. Take a look!

Fiddlehead soup recipe

During the next few weeks (while I'm scouring the woods for fiddleheads) I thought I'd post a few of my favourite fiddlehead recipes.

My fiddlehead soup recipe is a blend of traditional French vichyssoise and good old-fashioned Bay of Fundy fiddlehead soup.

Fiddlehead Soup
1/4 c butter
1 c white ends of leeks, seperated, rinsed, chopped
1/4 c flour
5 c chicken or veg stock
1 lb fiddleheads, cleaned
1 c parnsips, peeled & chopped
1 c celery, leaves & all, chopped
2 c milk
1/4 t (or more) grated nutmeg
salt & fresh pepper to taste

Melt butter in large soup pot. Add leeks, cook at low heat 'til softened but not brown. Blend in flour to make a roux; cooking for 2 minutes at low hear. Whisk in stock in batches. Add fiddleheads, parnsips and celery to pot. Bring to boil, stir, over med. heat. Lower heat, cover, simmer 20 minutes.

Puree soup in blender then return to pot. Heat through when ready to serve. Stir in milk and seasonings. Plain soy milk is an alternate to cow's milk. Not quite as smooth but still good. You may want to pump up the nutmeg & pepper to counteract the slightly nutty taste of soy milk.

(By the way, if you're not really into beating the forest for ferns, fiddleheads are available in produce sections of most Fundy grocery stores).

Sneak peek at new Joggins Fossil Centre

Although the 'new' Joggins Fossil Centre opens to the public on May 17, I was delighted to receive an invitation to attend its opening ceremony last week. There is much buzz in our region about this very welcome addition to the Bay of Fundy 'product'. My first glimpse of the new centre certainly did not disappoint!! It is a beautifully designed experience both inside and out. Here are some highlights:

• Local stones were layered on the exterior facade to replicate the site's adjacent fossil cliffs
• The site will generate about 60% of its own power through wind turbines & solar, and has some nifty 'green' features like a sod roof & rain water capture.
  
• The gallery exhibits are really interesting, with lots of interactive design elements like those in the photos as well as glass portholes in the floor, trackways to follow around the museum, interesting multi-media displays, etc.
  

A colleague who attended the opening caught me clambering out of the inside hollow of a tree (there's a cool multi-media presentation in there for kids!), and, examining the intro panels mounted on replicas of fossilized tree trunks!

Scenes from the ocean floor - 5th of 5

Here's my last scene in this 5-image series taken at Two Islands, near Parrsboro, Nova Scotia. The receding Fundy tide exposes lots of interesting aspects of the ocean floor: salty puddles, living tide pools, sculpted reefs, mussels, clams and globs of seaweed.

If you generally find yourself exploring shorelines with your head down, this is your kinda beach! I've noticed that kids delight in exploring the intertidal zone at low tide searching for toe-sized hermit crabs to follow, tiny white & blue shells to collect, teensy fish to watch and squeaky rockweed pods to pop.

Safety tip: be sure to check local tide times before walking out onto the ocean floor at low tide. Only explore the zone for a couple hours before the low tide time. Don't explore after the low tide time - the low tide time indicates when tide is turning and coming back in so scram!!

Tide times vary around the bay and change every day. A searchible chart of tide times is also available on the Bay of Fundy Tourism website but do double check with the locals when you arrive on the bay to be sure these time are accurate.

Scenes from the Ocean Floor - 4th in a series

Here's a pulled back shot of the island shown in #3 in this series. My yellow lab is actually walking along the water line but you can't even see her in the photo - it's that far away. True, it is a bit wet underfoot in most places at low tide on the Bay of Fundy. My footwear recommendation: skruffy running shoes, hiking boots, water sandals or crocs. Note that if white clothing comes in contact with Bay of Fundy mud it will stain...I like to think of it as a cheap souvenir!!

Scenes from the ocean floor - 3rd in a Series

Walking around on the ocean floor at low tide certainly makes for some odd photo opportunities. I actually have a theory that you don't really need to be a very good photographer to take amazing photos around the Bay of Fundy: it just seems like everywhere you look there's something neat to take a picture of....the photos sorta take themselves!

Take this image, for example. My view from the ocean floor gives this small island tip an oversized look by comparison to the shallow puddle of water (low tide) it's floating in. Odd but interesting to think it will be surrounded by waters 35-40 feet higher 6 hours from now at high tide when it will go back to looking like a 'real' island.

Scenes from the ocean floor - 2nd in series - video

While I was walking around on the ocean floor yesterday afternoon at low tide, I took this fun little video of the intertidal zone. I should probably use a tripod or something to keep the filming a bit more steady, but you can still get the idea of precisely how much ground is exposed at low tide at Two Islands.

Scenes from the ocean floor - 1st in a Series

No, I wasn't scuba diving today; merely walking on the vast ocean floor that's exposed at low tide leading out toward Two Islands, near Parrsboro, Nova Scotia.

Here in the Minas Basin region of the Bay of Fundy the inter-tidal zone (fancy name for the exposed ocean floor) stretches along the coast for miles and out from the coast (toward the centre of the Bay) for 2-3 miles too.

For example, in this image, the closer islands (on the right) are about 1.5 kilometres from where I took the photo and the small islands, along the horizon in the far distance (Five Islands) ,are about 20 km away. This is the tide at dead low, especially because of tonight's full moon: full moon tides bring both the highest and lowest tides of the month.

At high tide here all the rocks would be completely covered and, yes, I'd have very wet feet or perhaps be swimming above the spot where I took the photo.

Introducing...fiddleheads!

Fiddleheads rate right up there among the weird things we like to eat around the Bay of Fundy. Fiddleheads are the unfurled fronds of young wild ferns that we harvest for eating every Spring. They are steamed or boiled but must be cooked (um, not that anyone would really find them appetizing raw, anyway!) before eating. They are only available anytime now 'til early May but just for a week or so before they fully spread out into the full fern plant.

Most folks eat them freshly cooked with a small amount of melted butter. They taste a lot like other super-green veggies - perhaps kale or broccoli-ish , but with a taste all their own. Once cooked, they can be chilled for use in salads, frozen for use later in the season or pickled. Delicious!

Bay of Fundy play reading in Texas

I've been blogging the Bay of Fundy for about a year & a half now and here's a random observation I'd like to share: of my U.S.A. readers, there are more from Texas than all but two other American states (only Maine & Massachusetts - our neighbouring states - rank higher). This causes me to ponder: are Texans somehow predisposed to be intrigued by the Bay of Fundy? Is the Bay of Fundy also studied in high school science texts there - the way it is in Europe & Russia? Maybe a whole bunch of former Bay of Fundy residents retired to Texas and are trying to keep in touch with the homeland?

Well here's a special announcement for my Texan friends in the blogosphere: I'm pleased to let you know about a Bay of Fundy presentation happening tomorrow night in your neighbourhood - well, if you live in Austin, that is. Playwright, Sherry Kramer, is presenting a reading of her newest work "The Bay of Fundy" at 7:30 pm at the James A. Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas, Avaya Auditorium, ACES building, 24th Street and Speedway. Admission is free.

Happy little shad fish

To celebrate this day (April 15 - the first day of fishing season), I thought I'd post about shad.

The appearance of shad in fresh food markets of the Bay of Fundy is a sure sign of spring. In fact, a traditional spring meal here could very well be shad and fiddleheads (young fern shoots). Although shad are bony and considered difficult to eat, if you've got the patience to properly prepare them the result (a really tasty fish) is worth it. In fact, its scientific name sapidissima means "most delicious". Shad are actually a member of the herring family.

Here around the Bay of Fundy the annual "shad run" is a dramatic event. Within the space of a few weeks shad by the thousands come up the Bay from the Atlantic ocean to spawn. Shad can arrive anytime now up 'til June, depending on weather & water temperatures (they prefer 8 to 12 C). In addition to being fished by hand they are also a favourite catch in our traditional fish weirs.

High-low tide pics in mystery location

Here's another set of high - low tide photos to add to my collection. I ran across this set on answers.com. It's a typical pair but I'm baffled as to which of our many tidal harbours they present. The breakwaters of St Martins, Parrsboro, and Advocate Harbour are further from their wharves; wrong wharf length for Halls Harbour; doesn't really look like Harbourville, Blacks Harbour or St Andrews either...Maybe Margaretsville?

If any of my regular Fundyite readers would like to make a case for a particular harbour, please send a comment!! By the tinting of the photos and the all-wood lobster traps, I'm thinking these photos were taken quite a few years back. Groovy!

New children's book about Fundy dinosaurs & fossils

Tomorrow will be a very exciting day for a new Bay of Fundy children's book writer. Paul Burns of Riverview, New Brunswick, is launching his book: Owen and the Dinosaurs, based on his son's love of dinosaurs. Over the years, Paul and his son made frequent trips over the border to Joggins and Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, to search for fossils on the beach and discover dinosaurs at the museums.

Most of the storyline of the book is based on real events (except for the part where Owen meets a talking dinosaur, Butch!). The book explores themes of friendship and loyalty for children aged 7 to 9. It's available at various Fundy gift shops as well as on line.

Fundy tidal power workshops

In January, I blogged about potential tidal power demonstration sites on the Nova Scotia side of the Bay of Fundy. Now the New Brunswick Department of Energy is partnering with the Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership (BoFEP) to conduct a series of public open houses about tidal energy in Fundy coastal communities. These sessions are part of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of possible tidal power development in the Bay of Fundy.

Within the next week or so, these public forums are taking place in Alma, Moncton, Saint John, Grand Manan Island, Campobello Island, St George & Deer Island.

Background materials about tidal power will be available at these sessions and will be placed in local libraries and municipal offices. There's also lots of info & a session schedule on the BoFEP website.

With 100 billion tonnes of water moving through the Bay of Fundy with each tide, tidal power (assuming that its impacts on Fundy's ecosystem are few - which is, as yet, unknown) has the potential to be a big source of sustainable energy production in the future.

Green accolades for Fundy garden

It's great that so many of our Bay of Fundy residents, businesses, towns and cities participated in Earth Hour late last month but as Earth Day (April 22) approaches, I'll mention some locales where innovative initiatives toward a greener & more sustainable environment are already underway. For example: Kingsbrae Garden in the pretty Fundy town of St Andrews, New Brunswick.

Kingsbrae Garden is passionately committed to a healthy environment, by maintaining the magnificent public garden 99% chem-free, by offering workshops, and natural lawn and garden services in the St Andrews area. It was just awarded the Project EverGreen Canada National Stewardship Award, 'Because Green Matters', for its outstanding commitment to raising the profile and awareness of the benefits of green spaces in Canada.

Project EverGreen's mission is to raise the awareness of the environmental, economic and lifestyle benefits of landscapes and promote the significance of those who preserve and enhance green spaces at home, work and play. Kingsbrae Garden is all about healthy, sustainable green spaces, with over 50,000 perennials, shrubs and trees on 27 acres. And not only green, but yellow, red, purple, white, pink, red, orange and blue...

Thanks to Maureen at Kingsbrae Garden for sending along this photo of some Red Hat Society ladies enjoying a fine game of croquet in one of Kingsbrae's many green spaces.

Maple chicken recipe

At this time of year, when maple syrup is so abundant around the Bay of Fundy, I don't mind 'wasting' a bit on some extra recipes, such as this simple but tasty maple chicken...

Maple Chicken
2.5 lbs chicken pieces
1/2 c maple syrup
1/2 tsp lemon rind
1/2 c chopped almonds
pepper
2 tsp lemon juice

Remove skin from chicken pieces. Place in shallow pan. Mix remaining ingredients. Pour over chicken. Bake uncovered at 375 F for 45 minutes. Taste occasionally!

Fundy fossil takes a walk....

Here's a uniquely Bay of Fundy riddle: what's 300 million years old, weighs two tonnes, lived in a basement for 43 years and just made a 50-km trek across the New Brunswick - Nova Scotia border?

Answer: a two metre long fossil of the tracks of an arthropleura - a Paleozoic invertebrate that resembles a giant millipede.

This fossil was discovered by a Mount Allison University (Sackville, New Brunswick) professor in 1964 and has been housed there in a basement storeroom ever since. Yesterday morning it was transferred to its new home at the Joggins Fossil Centre across the border in Joggins, Nova Scotia.

The arthropleura may have had as many as 30 legs and left tiretread-style tracks that can still be seen fossilized in the actual Joggins fossil cliffs. The rediscovered fossil will be displayed in the lobby of the new interpretation centre - opening April 22.

(Photo of movers loading the fossil on to a truck - courtesy of Mount Allison University)

Bay of Fundy Whirlpool - A School Study Topic?

I hear from visitors all the time that they first learned about the Bay of Fundy in school. Indeed, the Bay, and its incredible tides, is studied in science textbooks throughout North America, parts of Europe, and - as photographer & travel writer Igor Kravtchenko recently told me - Russia.

For example, I just came across Will Rhodes' travel blog - he's a teacher from Katy, Texas, who visited the Bay of Fundy late last summer to research a unit for his students.

Will's got an excellent selection of photos & videos from tidal bore rafting, his ocean floor drive over to Minister's Island, New Brunswick Museum, Joggins Fossil Cliffs, St Martins Sea Caves, and even this rare footage of the Old Sow Whirlpool - the largest whirlpool in the western hemisphere... here in the Bay of Fundy! Wow, with teachers like Will, no wonder so many people have the Bay of Fundy on their 'bucket list'!

Bay of Fundy Mud Drum Workshop

I wish I lived a little closer to the Canada - U.S. border that enters the Bay of Fundy at St Stephen, New Brunswick. There's a fun 8-week workshop starting tomorrow at the Cobscook Community Learning Centre over the border in Trescott, Maine:From Mud to Music - Making & Playing Musical Instruments From Clay. The class will be instructed by Connie Harter-Bagley, master potter and owner of Clay of Fundy Studio. Participants will create clay instruments such as drums, ocarinas and flutes, and will learn to play them. Course includes clay, glazes, firing and one goatskin drum head.

I've been playing the djembe (african drum) for about 2 years and would love to make my own drum from Bay of Fundy mud! Well, perhaps I'll have to get myself down there this summer if they re-offer Mud to Music.

Earth Hour around the Bay of Fundy

There's been much news coverage in recent weeks about Earth Hour. This initiative originated in Australia last year, and, thanks to reach of the web, blossomed into a worldwide event. Starting at 8pm local time tonight, folks in cities, towns & countries all around the world will turn off their lights & otherwise lower their energy consumption for one hour to acknowledge their awareness of climate change and their commitment to energy conservation. I think it's a great initiative; anything that makes us think more about our personal responsibility to reduce energy consumption is a good thing.

Tonight, between 8 & 9 pm, I'll be walking down to my local Bay of Fundy harbour to see the high tide. I often walk to the beach at dusk but tonight (and from now on) I'll make a point to unplug all appliances, turn off all lights, and even switch off my computer before going. I've heard from many friends and colleagues around the Bay that they'll be doing something similar. For example, the Fundy city of Moncton's skyline (see photo) will darken for Earth Day. Perhaps next year I can engage my enthusiastic blog readers in the region to help initiate a more formal Bay-wide Earth Day challenge!

If you'd like to tell the rest of the world that you're participating in Earth Hour, visit the Earth Hour website.

What's in a Name?

Here's a commonly asked question: where did the Bay of Fundy get its name? It turns out that there are three possible sources (or perhaps it's a combo deal).

1.The name "Fundy" could date back to the 16th century when Portuguese fishermen referred to the bay as "Rio Fundo" or "deep river". Aptly named ... to these early visitors Fundy would have seemed like a massive and mysterious river that flowed in both directions!

2. "Fundy" may have evolved from the name given the bay by early French explorers & cartographers (in 1604): "Baie François" (meaning "French Bay").

3. Or possibly the name is a version of the French word "Fendu", meaning "split". One of the most impressive outcroppings on the bay is still called "Cape Split" (see photo).

Btw, the correct pronounciation of Fundy is "fŭn'dē", not "fun-day".

Angling for Striped Bass

One of our other fine little fishes around the Bay of Fundy is striped bass. These are highly prized fish by anglers because of their feisty nature and size. Striped bass grow up to 100 cm long and can live for up to 30 years.

As with any sport or recreational fishing activity, there are strict rules and regulations to follow when angling for striped bass. The daily bag limit is one striped bass, 68 cm (26.8 inches) in length or longer measured from the tip to the nose to the tip of the tail.

Anglers can fish striped bass year round in the tidal waters of the Bay of Fundy. As a general rule, angling for striped bass in the inland waters of Nova Scotia begins April 1 and is permitted as long as a fishing season is open in those waters for trout, salmon, landlocked salmon or smallmouth bass. In the inland waters of New Brunswick draining into the Bay of Fundy, the season is open from April 15 to Oct. 15.

Strict management measures implemented by DFO more than a decade ago have resulted in increased numbers of striped bass, particularly in the Bay of Fundy. If you have any questions regarding seasonal closures or rules and regulations for angling striped bass, contact Department of Fisheries & Oceans.

The Bay of Fundy Living Beach

Due to our persistently snowy weather, it's been a couple months since I visited one of my favourite Bay of Fundy beaches. When I arrived there today I discovered that a fine, sandy beach had replaced last summer's rocky beach!

I was reminded of a favourite book, The Living Beach. I devoured this book when in came out in '98 and haven't looked at beaches the same way since.

When I was a kid here on the Bay of Fundy I remember a sense of anticipation every spring: how would a certain beach look after the winter winds waned and ice cakes evaporated? Would it be a pebble or cobble beach this year? A shale beach? Sandy? Strewn with large boulders and thick layers of wrack? Would a sandbar have shifted or a mud flat been created?

After reading The Living Beach, I realized that beaches are living ecosystems; they shift and adapt constantly to various conditions; they are constantly influenced by wind, erosion, and, in Fundy's case, are significantly impacted by the daily ebb and flow of about 100 billion tonnes of water.

I'm more observant, respectful and accepting of Fundy's annual spring beachscapes now - these simple surprises are one of the secret joys of living here.

(The Living Beach, by Nova Scotian, Silver Donald Cameron is available in video or book format.)

Visions of summer on the Bay

Winter should soon be wrapping up around the Bay of Fundy. Unlike our snowless winter last year, it's been a particularly stormy one this year - should make for voluminous blossoms in our gardens this summer. Here's a fun set of photos of the Historic Gardens in Annapolis Royal. It's hard to imagine a pergola changing this much from season to season!