On the first morning in Bridgewater, I walked in the neighbourhood. Many homes there have lovely painted front doors, which feels like a welcome. Some are elegant, others are more simple, but pretty nonetheless.

And some simply elegant homes as well.

Lupins grow naturally here, in gardens and along roadsides. Such a bright and cheery flower.

     

Including these lovely flowers in my friends’ garden

 

The planned event for this day was a  tour with my friend’s brother. David loves to tour people around the area and further. I’d get to see sights not on the regular tourist brochure. The area had its own map and amazing sights. I was in for a good day.

I took a lot of photos, and didn’t catch everything. Some I just took in with my eyes and wonder at the natural beauty of places like Green Bay, Petite Riviere, Crescent Beach, and La Have Islands to name a few.

David knows his way around these roads since he’s been a tour guide at other times. And he grew up in the Riverport area. He enjoys taking people to art galleries and places where there can be a conversation about the art. We had plenty of those conversations that day and on Friday we planned for a second trip to Lunenburg.

Green Bay and Petites Riviere are lovely little seaside places where it’s out of the way of usual tourists, and quiet (unless there’s a storm on the water). At least it was quiet and pretty when we were there. In fact some clients of the ARK in Bridgewater had painted fish for the fence of the school at Petite Riviere. We didn’t see that though.

On our way back toward Lunenburg from these small places was this lovely historic building with the sign Mariner Crafts. We had to go and see what was there.

                                   

The crafts relate to the area, to the sea and fishing and storytelling. I found a few treasures here, a book about Helen Creighton who was an early collector of folklore in Nova Scotia; a necklace featuring a sand dollar; as well as a picture book about sea life.

From there we took the river road #331 and eventually stopped at the Saltbox Gallery. More sea-related art and chickens on art cards and canvas. So I got the cards and postcards for my grandkids back home. On the walls they had art on canvas, on metal, and even art in the (former) Chicken Coop out behind the store.

For both David and me, it’s always tempting to add to our art collection when we go to these places, but I restrained myself that day, apart from purchasing the cards and books thus far.

               

While we were out we toured the LaHave Islands, travelled on some back roads to the end of one where a church sat, all by itself.

We stopped in at the LaHave Bakery for lunch. It was well past noon, more like two o’clock, so we were both famished. When we’d had lunch we toured all parts of that enormous building that hosted a craft area, artist’s studio, and small bookstore and library combined. Lots of local area  books  there. David came out armed with another Helen Creighton copy that I found for him.

Then we ventured to the wharf out back of the large building.

From here we could see the ferry cross the LaHave River. I’ve had a ride on that ferry on previous trip years ago.

 

From there we headed to Westcote Bell Pottery and Art, as well as another facility where art was displayed. One of the neatest things that day was seeing jewelry made from old  (recycled) x-rays, from layer after layer of silver being applied to such things as a sand dollar at the Heart to Hand Studio. It was fascinating.

                 

Unfortunately a few of these neat tourist shops were closed on Monday so we headed back the river road toward Bridgewater and stopped at one more spot (also closed), a lighthouse from early days when the coast was protected.

   

I called our hosts to let them know we’d be back in time for dinner. David stayed too and we chatted about things we saw that morning and afternoon. I was ready for a  good sleep that night. It had been an amazing day full of many interesting sights.

From the fort lighthouse we could see across to Riverport, where the fishing factory stood, where many fishermen returned from a day of fishing, grateful to be back on land.

Fisheries claimed many lives, being a dangerous occupation out on the water. Those of us who don’t live near an ocean are lulled likely into thinking of it as an occupation with little risk. David spoke of his brother-in-law who experienced trauma on certain trips out of harbour. Not for the faint of heart.

 

Tuesday’s post coming soon. Join me there, will you?