Home I'll Be

After our first day on the Cabot Trail, around our campfire, Parker wondered when we were going home. Life on the road in the RV was getting him down. He was hearing of things that his friends were doing at home. Parker has never been an excited traveller and I told him he was suffering from FOMO. We explained this to Abby and I told her that I was blissful in my JOMO (joy of missing out). Keith asked Abby what she was feeling and she said she just loves to be with her family. So adorable. Abby is my traveller, she would go to the ends of the earth with me if I asked her. We decided that one more day on the trail would suffice for us all and then we would head back home. That satisfied Parker and probably Keith too, who is always excited to get home. I'm always happy to be at home after travelling but my wanderlust is real. I will have to get more creative in my trip planning as my kids get older and they begin to want to stay home during the summer.

So the next morning we decided to do the trail clockwise.  We left while the kids were still sleeping again so we stopped at La Bloc Beach for breakfast. We have said that this was a highlight of the trip for us all. It was still relatively early and there was no one on the beach except for a few dog walkers. One lady with a dog saw us reading the information about the beach and mentioned that one of the men in the picture was her grandfather. She pointed up to a red cliff high above the beach and told us that land once belonged to her family. They don't own the land anymore because land was expropriated in order to build the national park. That was a sobering fact. We loved exploring Cape Breton Highlands National Park but learning that people's land and livelihoods were disrupted is never a good thing. She also explained that because they were French, her family didn't speak the language necessary to understand the consequences of giving up the land.

La Bloc Beach for breakfast

After breakfast we explored the beach. I love looking for sea glass and Parker and Abby worked on making an inukshuk on the deteriorating pier out in the ocean. We then set off for the Skyline Trail. This is one of the most popular hiking trails on Cape Breton due to the amazing cliffside views. Unfortunately some of the trail was closed due to the park's efforts to regenerate some types of vegetation in this area. We were still able to hike to the side of the cliff and take in the gorgeous views. The day was a little cloudy but it was still breathtaking to be at such heights with no barriers keeping you away from the dramatic headland cliff that overlooks the coast. We took a few pictures, had a snack and headed back. On one part of the trail there is a boardwalk. At one point I looked to the end of the boardwalk and saw a hiker wearing an Eastview sweatshirt. I knew for certain that this was going to be someone else that we knew. Sure enough, we met a family from Abby's basketball team. So crazy! Such a coincidence that not only do we meet on Cape Breton Island, but we meet on a hiking trail!

In the town of Cheticamp, I had noticed an interesting looking store where I wanted to stop - Lola's Hookers. It didn't take much convincing once Keith heard the name. Abby and I went in to have a look. I had seem some amazing hooked pieces the last few days and I decided that this is what I wanted to take home as a memory of Cape Breton. The store was bursting with hooked creations. Knowing that the impatient men of the family were waiting, we couldn't linger too long. We stayed long enough to learn that the art of hooking is a dying craft and one artist told us that several of their hookers had passed away just recently, some of them in their 90's. Not many people are taking up the craft due to the hard work and time that it takes. The pieces were absolutely breathtaking. When deciding which piece I was going to purchase, I found a piece that depicted some houses that looked like Jellybean houses from Newfoundland. Last summer, when we visited NL, I had found a painting of Jellybean houses and I didn't buy it and still think about it to this day. I had made my decision. Abby thought it might be fun to try hooking, so we also purchased a small dragonfly kit to see if we can do it. The lovely lady told us all about how to do it as she wrapped up our purchases. As we were leaving she exclaimed to us, 'Happy Hooking!' Thanks! We'll try our best!!!

We saw a moose!

Not sure how you can top hookers, but rounding out the highlights of this day on the Cabot Trail was a moose sighting and a great lunch at the Rusty Anchor restaurant in Pleasant Bay. We felt like we had seen a lot in 2 short days and everyone was satisfied enough to turn Maje around and head for home. It's a little sad to think that next year Parker wants to be working and these summer adventures will now be memories that we will look back upon with fondness. I don't regret a thing when it comes to the purchase of this RV in order to have 2 spectacular cross country adventures with my family. Is it a good idea to force your children into a mobile aluminum can for a month? Probably not, but I can assure you, the memories we have made in Maje will be stories my children will one day tell their children with love in their voices. I know this for sure.