Kathy's visit

Our daughter Kathy is a busy wife, mom of four boys and now also a busy student.  It was fun that she could get away all by herself to visit us in Canada and see where we have been laboring.  She had previously made a trip by herself to visit us during our mission in Mexico City. She could only stay for a short time, so we let her choose what she would like to see.  It was not an easy decision for her as there are so many wonderful things to see in our mission. She finally chose to see beautiful Cape Breton Island, a place that is renown for the vibrant color of its autumn leaves. She was here just in time to enjoy them.

 Kathy and her daddy at the airport

First stop the mission office

Thursday:  After picking Kathy up at the airport we stopped by the Mission Office to show her where we spent much of our time.  We had dinner at our favorite Wharf Wraps in Eastern Passage and sold Kathy on the "best fish and chips in the world"! The walk around Eastern Passage is also a pleasant experience. 

Friday:  We began the beautiful drive to Cape Breton Island. This island is about 4000 sq miles located off the north shore of Nova Scotia. The island features rocky shores, rolling farmlands, glacial valleys, barren headlands, mountains, wood and plateaus. A little of everything for a pleasant trip. On this trip we followed the Cabot Trail, a scenic highway which makes about a 200 mile loop around the island offering gorgeous seascapes and passing through the Cape Breton Highlands.

 

One of the many quaint churches along the way

Breathtaking scenery along the way

We spent our first night at an inn in Cheticamp, a fishing community on the west coast looking out on the Northumberland Strait, an arm of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. .After we got settled in, we went downstairs to have dinner in the restaurant.  It was a charming place and it was so fun to be together and catch up on old times. 

 Sign on the wall of the restaurant, great advice!

 The room was cozy and it was fun watching the rain falling on the water.  

 Lots of rain

Saturday:  We continued the drive around the rest of the Cabot Trail.  It was beautiful but the weather was erratic We ran into sun, rain, hail, strong winds and even a little snow.  However, it didn't dampen our spirits.  One of the highlights of the day was hiking up to Corney Brook Fall.  Kathy has become a big fan of waterfalls since she moved to the Northwest, so she was excited to see this one. The autumn leaves and the stream coming from the waterfall were so beautiful.

Corney Brook below the falls

Trail to the falls

Just the three of us

And one more waterfall for the list (Don't remember the name of this one)

Time for lunch at Neils Harbour. We chose a little restaurant on the water.  We were lucky to be served. They were just rolling up the carpet and closing down for the season but they did let us come in. The tables out by the water were definitely empty. We had some great fish and enjoyed watching the waves break on the rocks and the birds flying over the water.

After lunch we drove through the headlands at the northern end of the island and started down the eastern Atlantic shore stopping at Green Cove.  It is a rocky granite headland jutting out into the oceans. The colors of the rocks and the view of the ocean was amazing.

 The rocks were lined with pink, blue and green

It was time to start heading home but not before stopping to see our friend John Pettipas, just over the Canso Causeway as you leave the island.  John is a great man who is not a member of our church but is a friend to so many members.  He probably knows more about the church than most members.  In fact, John knows a lot about a lot of things and he likes to share it with people.  He would frequently call the office to share interesting facts so it is fun when we can see him in person. 

 John's one of a kind store.  He has a little of everything and never sends you away without something.

 High Five!!

 The rest of the drive home was filled with beautiful autumn scenes and culminating with a gorgeous sunset.

Sunday: We had a wonderful day at church.  It was so fun to introduce Kathy to President and Sister Leavitt and to so many of the missionaries and members of our ward.  We spent the rest of the day at our apartment eating, visiting and enjoying each others company. 

Monday:  Larry returned to the office to keep things running while I played hooky one more day and Kathy and I drove to Peggy's Cove and then on to Mahone Bay and Lunenberg.  

 Kathy was fascinated by the docks and the huge cranes loading freight on the barges

Beautiful red plants growing around the rocks near the cove





 
 The church at the entrance to Peggy's Cove has just been refinished and it so lovely.

 Fishing boats and lobster traps at Peggy's Cove

 Kathy at the Peggy Cove lighthouse

Kathy looking over the rocks toward the village of Peggy's Cove 

A few of the many rock formations built on the natural rocks

 Colorful ground cover

 Memorial to Swiss Air Flight 111 that went down off the coast here in 1998.  The people of these small towns hosted the families of those killed in the crash when they arrived to make arrangements for their loved ones.

Famous three churches on Mahone Bay

 One of the many charming stores in Mahone Bay

 Mahone Bay

 Beautiful Lunenberg

Our darling Kathy in Lunenberg

 

 On the pier in Lunenberg

After a wonderful day we headed home to have dinner with Larry.  It has been a perfect visit and it is hard to see it come to an end.  

Tuesday:  Up early and off to the airport.  Kathy's plane left on time and we were off to work to prepare for a new group of missionaries arriving this evening.   

 Goodbye sweet Kathy

Thanks for a great time!  Thank you for letting us share with you some of God's beautiful creations in this wonderful part of the world.