And now, introducing (drumbeat)...the Cabot Trail!

OK, now to fortify yourself for this long drive around the northern half of Cape Breton, we'd recommend a lunch of crabs and mussels. Well, at least Bill would! I might prefer a grilled cheese sandwich, or anything else! But look at that happy grin! Bill truly enjoyed his seafood delight, and I enjoyed the fact that I did NOT have to partake in it!


Now...down to the nitty gritty, or just the gritty...!?! At the risk of sounding sacrilegious, we did not find the highly-touted Cabot Trail to be the show-stopper everyone else seemed to. Maybe it was because: a) there were way too many long waits to pass through these dirty road work sections (hmm, is this what awaits us in Alaska?? Hopefully not as many and not as often and with much bigger payback!), b) we're so spoiled in having already seen sooo many beautiful and varied landscapes (including CA's Pacific Coast Highway, which, in my opinion, rivals or surpasses the Cabot Trail for pretty views and exciting-looking drop-offs), or c) we did not stop and experience the Gaelic Scottish culture the area is also reknown for. I can, however, imagine this place is spectacular for fall color. It is, like so much of the Canadian Atlantic Maritimes, nearly non-stop mixed forest!

That white dot is a giant RV chugging up one of the steeper sections of the Cabot Trail.

Pretty ocean view from a look-out stop. We also saw a bald eagle overhead.

The historic Keltic Lodge Resort and Spa in Ingonish.

A stop for a beach boardwalk excursion with the doggies. Notice the pink rocks - just like in Maine's Acadia!

Lotsa trees. And the road rises to meet you, and then falls away beneath you, and...

One of the prettier viewpoints, in my opinion.

A stretch that reminded of the PCH.

Maybe I was being too harsh, characterizing this place unfairly. It was beautiful. I've just seen many, other equally or more beautiful places. And my expectations were set so very high by its worldly reputation as THE most, most! But had we tarried and experienced more of this land and its people up-close, perhaps we would've fallen more in love with it as so many others have...?? Or maybe not. Maybe I'm just a Colorado Rockies girl, and that's that!