Noon Cannon at Citadel in Halifax
July1, 2007
Happy Canada Day! The bridge into the city was decorated with flags. As were the ships in the shipyard where we parked. Two submarines were in states of repair or building. We walked up past the Town Clock where a military band was assembling. The Halifax Citadel, once the command post and landward bastion of Halifax’s defenses, had free admission today. We received free Canada flags and pins as we entered. An officer dressed in 78th Highlanders uniform posed with Kathy. Everyone was adorned in red and white, Canada colors, celebrating the day. Set up in the center of the main grounds was the opening ceremony for Halifax Canada Day Celebrations complete with cake. We stood up on the wall and watched the speakers below. At noon the local tradition of firing the Noon Gun was reenacted by the Royal Artillery of 1869. Down in the main courtyard we watched the historic regiments of the British Army and the musicians of the Highlanders perform. Chipmunk Mounty posed with Kathy and gave her a flag on our way out. We sat on the hillside to watch the end of the parade. (Look for us in the reflection in the building across the street! -third column Kathy has a blue shirt on and is waving; Will has his black Luckenbach shirt on.) There were lots of pipe bands; we were sorry to have to miss the evening Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, the world’s premiere cultural spectacular with over 200 military and civilian pipes, drums, bands, enactments, dancers, choirs all packed in to a two and a half hour presentation.
We saw long lines and found out the group Nickel Brown was playing. Someone offered us tickets for just $55 each. We see why they call it scalping! The public gardens were just a few blocks up. There were many beautiful fountains and plantings. The big red poppies were shining brightly. Swans swam in the pond. The center gazebo was filling with people ready for the free concert. Nickel Brown started to play and the boom boom bass was all that could be heard. We walked around town. People were decked out expressing their Canadian pride. Three boys painted themselves and wore tall hats with the Canadian flag. We found a statue of Winston Churchill, a round bulletin board with scrapes of important notices, mural covered buildings, shops and eateries that lead us down to the waterfront. We boarded the HCMS Sackville, the last of the corvettes built and used during World War II; Will took the wheel in mock navigation officer mode. The Amistad, a student training sailing ship, was docked and a group was announcing the next voyage. Theodore Tugboat was giving rides in the harbor. We watched a pirate do magic tricks. We paused at the Casino to get a picture of the ship fountain and then got back to the Roadtrek.
Continuing south we past Mahone Bay did a drive through Lunenburg and stopped at the visitor center overlooking the water. We made some dinner and relaxed a bit then headed on. We arrived at Bart Shea’s home in Stone Hurst Bay and met he and his wife, Fran. The sailboat, our home for the next few days was at the dock below the house. We got the Roadtrek settled near the house and then got acquainted. We met a bunch of friendly people that come and go in their boats. It reminded us of the boater’s life Maria and Cliff lead in the summers; lots of visiting, eating and partying. Fran was a wonderfully friendly woman. Her first question of Kathy was, “What size shoe do you wear?” We were both a size 8 so Kathy was given Helly Hanson boat shoes to use for the sail. We shared stories, chatted, checked the weather and talked a bit more.
Fran is a real estate agent. It is a very busy time; homes and property are selling well to Americans and Europeans. They come up looking for islands to buy for their grandchildren. The Shea home is a neat little cottage right on Stone Hurst Bay. They have a great sunroom with windows all around and French doors leading to the deck. Bart’s 30’schooner is just off the lower deck. He has a boathouse and she has an office upstairs. About 11ish we went to the Roadtrek to get some sleep.
Happy Canada Day! The bridge into the city was decorated with flags. As were the ships in the shipyard where we parked. Two submarines were in states of repair or building. We walked up past the Town Clock where a military band was assembling. The Halifax Citadel, once the command post and landward bastion of Halifax’s defenses, had free admission today. We received free Canada flags and pins as we entered. An officer dressed in 78th Highlanders uniform posed with Kathy. Everyone was adorned in red and white, Canada colors, celebrating the day. Set up in the center of the main grounds was the opening ceremony for Halifax Canada Day Celebrations complete with cake. We stood up on the wall and watched the speakers below. At noon the local tradition of firing the Noon Gun was reenacted by the Royal Artillery of 1869. Down in the main courtyard we watched the historic regiments of the British Army and the musicians of the Highlanders perform. Chipmunk Mounty posed with Kathy and gave her a flag on our way out. We sat on the hillside to watch the end of the parade. (Look for us in the reflection in the building across the street! -third column Kathy has a blue shirt on and is waving; Will has his black Luckenbach shirt on.) There were lots of pipe bands; we were sorry to have to miss the evening Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, the world’s premiere cultural spectacular with over 200 military and civilian pipes, drums, bands, enactments, dancers, choirs all packed in to a two and a half hour presentation.We saw long lines and found out the group Nickel Brown was playing. Someone offered us tickets for just $55 each. We see why they call it scalping! The public gardens were just a few blocks up. There were many beautiful fountains and plantings. The big red poppies were shining brightly. Swans swam in the pond. The center gazebo was filling with people ready for the free concert. Nickel Brown started to play and the boom boom bass was all that could be heard. We walked around town. People were decked out expressing their Canadian pride. Three boys painted themselves and wore tall hats with the Canadian flag. We found a statue of Winston Churchill, a round bulletin board with scrapes of important notices, mural covered buildings, shops and eateries that lead us down to the waterfront. We boarded the HCMS Sackville, the last of the corvettes built and used during World War II; Will took the wheel in mock navigation officer mode. The Amistad, a student training sailing ship, was docked and a group was announcing the next voyage. Theodore Tugboat was giving rides in the harbor. We watched a pirate do magic tricks. We paused at the Casino to get a picture of the ship fountain and then got back to the Roadtrek.
Continuing south we past Mahone Bay did a drive through Lunenburg and stopped at the visitor center overlooking the water. We made some dinner and relaxed a bit then headed on. We arrived at Bart Shea’s home in Stone Hurst Bay and met he and his wife, Fran. The sailboat, our home for the next few days was at the dock below the house. We got the Roadtrek settled near the house and then got acquainted. We met a bunch of friendly people that come and go in their boats. It reminded us of the boater’s life Maria and Cliff lead in the summers; lots of visiting, eating and partying. Fran was a wonderfully friendly woman. Her first question of Kathy was, “What size shoe do you wear?” We were both a size 8 so Kathy was given Helly Hanson boat shoes to use for the sail. We shared stories, chatted, checked the weather and talked a bit more.
Fran is a real estate agent. It is a very busy time; homes and property are selling well to Americans and Europeans. They come up looking for islands to buy for their grandchildren. The Shea home is a neat little cottage right on Stone Hurst Bay. They have a great sunroom with windows all around and French doors leading to the deck. Bart’s 30’schooner is just off the lower deck. He has a boathouse and she has an office upstairs. About 11ish we went to the Roadtrek to get some sleep.
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Natalie