Tidal Bay

What's in a name? A rosé by any other name would smell as sweet.

I made my way southwest to lovely Parrsboro in the Bay of Fundy via Jost Winery on the sunshine trail. My reasons for stopping: Tidal Bay. Nova Scotia's wine industry is nascent. They've wisely decided to focus on obscure grapes that grow well here. Jost Tidal Bay is made from L'Acadie, Ortega, and NY Muscat grapes.

 But Mercator's even better Tidal Bay is L'Acadie, Seyval, and Petite Milo.

On the way, I'm listening to a CBC program entitled: Alcohol, Tonic or Toxin? This is a terrible name for a wine, btw.

I learned that the Tidal Bay appellation, Nova Scotia's first 8 years ago, can be made with different grapes. Tidal Bay is a brand. So this year 12 wineries are making a Tidal Bay.

Now here's the real kicker: I asked about Tidal Bay at Jost. And the woman standing next to me told me she named it: that the tourism board of Nova Scotia held a contest, and she entered online. They never even told her she won. Eventually they sent a case of wine and some other treats as a thank you.

Nova Scotia is a place that gets marketing. Every place you drive by has a tagline. This is Parrsboro, which is being revitalized as an arts haven. I'm not sure what its tagline is.

The license plates for the province promise Canada's ocean playground.
Pictou was the birthplace of New Scotland
Stellation offers people, spirit, pride. (No comma)
Stewiache proclaims it is halfway between the North pole and the Equator!

Why come to the Bay of Fundy? Because it has the biggest tide changes in the world. This week, 33 feet difference between high tide and low.

I'd planned to go kayaking, but the trip got moved up early in the morning, so I went hiking instead to Wards Falls.

It was a nice level walk along a stream, about 7 KM round trip.

It crisscrosses the brook, which must have meant getting your feet wet until they put in 16 bridges.

Some are a little wobbly. That's half the fun.

The falls themselves were modest, like Canadians.

All that moss left me in a good mood, even if I'd set out without refilling my water and had to pick blackberries.

Afterward I drove out to look at the harbour (sic) which just looked like mud flats.

Went in search of food and heard there was a tea room at the hostel at the lighthouse. So I scampered down the hill.

Sadly it was closed.

But hard to beat this view out to Cape d'Or (Cape of Gold).

3 pm and I was getting desperate. All I had to eat in the car was a bag of plums from the market the first day. I picked up Hello Dolly bars at the gas station. And then stumbled upon the best fried clams I've ever eaten, at the cafe in a trailer by the campground. (Sorry HoJo's of my youth.)

Finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't include a few photos of the exquisitely restored home I'm staying in through AirBnB.

John is a retired professor from Ontario. I'll call this the wallpaper house. All the period detail is lovingly restored. Each room different.

 The teddy bear picnic graces the hall

Italo the cockapoo asleep on his chair.

If you'd like to stay here, I'd be happy to share the contact information. This may be the best heritage home I've ever slept in. One of the reviews said it was like staying in a Jane Austen novel.

Sigh. Why indeed?

Nova Scotia deserves all those taglines and accolades. They don't seem to get a lot of West Coast tourists. They're surprised I've even heard of it. And that's just fine.

Time to get a little rest. Tomorrow: a tour with an archaeologist on the floor of the Bay of the Fundy! Dinosaurs and more.