BT Edmonton Blogs

Cape Breton beauty

Wowza!    The fall colours reflected perfectly as we gaze at the pride of Nova Scotia .. Cape Breton.    This is a slice of heaven called Coxheath.    Lucky for us,  Jimmie thought of us when he was there for a family wedding in October — and this was the view from their backyard.  

DID YOU KNOW?    Cape Breton is connected to mainland Nova Scotia by the Canso Causeway.    One of the world’s largest salt water lakes (Bras d’Or–”Arm of Gold” in French),  is in the centre of the island.

FOR YOU HISTORY BUFFS:   Oh,….about 300 years ago (the late 1700s),  soldiers were stationed in Sydney to protect the British possession of Cape Breton.    Fast forward to the year 1758:  the British have defeated the French at Louisbourg twice,…so the soldiers started to enjoy where there were–and took time to relax and travel.    During “his” free time, Captain William Cox would sail along Sydney River (then referred to as “ Spanish River ”).    He wanted to settle the area to farm–and he did!    In 1790, he obtained land “on the condition”  that the farm fresh produce be provided to the Sydney soldiers.    No problemmo he says,….and the land became known as “Cox’s Heath”,  or Cox’s hill,  and the general area was deemed the “Garden of Cape Breton”.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A HISTORY BUFF TO BECOME A MEMBER OF OUR FRESH AIR PHOTO NATION!   BUT YOU DO HAVE TO TAKE A PICTURE OF MOTHER NATURE-OR HER CREATURES-AND SEND IT IN ASAP.