March 14, 2015 turned out to be a fine day weather-wise, with only sun and cloud in the forecast. Here we have a perfect day for a winter road trip around the Cabot Trail. As I’m writing this post, it is officially spring here on the East Coast of Canada, but this road trip was actually on a day near the end of a brutal winter season. We picked the day just right, as the next day another snow storm hit the Maritimes again! We started off the trip by making our way to Port Hastings and grabbing a Tim’s coffee before getting on the Trans Canada Highway. Heading east on the 105, we turned off (left) in Whycocomagh on Highway 395 to East Lake Ainslie, Margaree Forks, along the Margaree River and then Cheticamp. Up to this point the road was good and dry with only a few areas where a bit of snow had drifted across the road.
By the time we reached Cheticamp, it was time for a quick stop for lunch and coffee. A few months ago, I heard that the Tim Hortons in this community was going to shut down and I was saddened to see that it was already closed and boarded-up. Lunch at Tim’s wasn’t to be, but a few minutes up the road, there was a fantastic little place called Happy Clam Café and Grill which was just what we needed before heading into the Cape Breton Highlands. As to be expected, we found more snow in the mountains, but thank goodness, the road was bare in most places. North Mountain with its huge snow banks and Big Intervale near Cape North with a snow covered road was well plowed and passable with our little Nissan car, no problem. The rest of the way along the trail reaching the eastern side of the Cabot Trail, it was all blue sky again until we reached Sydney where again it was time for coffee and a bite to eat. We were back home in L’Ardoise by 6:30pm, the end of a perfect day for a winter road trip around the Cabot Trail…
Like to see more? Check out my other blog created back in 2013: http://capebretonliving.blogspot.ca/2013/03/the-cabot-trail-road-trip.html
Having visited Nova Scotia in August last year and spending a day on the Cabot Trail, it is lovely to see it all under snow on such a glorious day. You have one or two shots of views I took in your summer. I’ll be visiting again.
Thank you Helen for your lovely comment! The Cabot Trail is also beautiful in the fall with the warm yellow red and orange colours and the summer of course with the green foliage and blue ocean and sky. I’ll be posting summer and fall road trips too, hope to see you back again!