HRM Monument #23: Waverly Legion War Memorial

Erected on November 5, 1967, the Waverly Legion War Memorial is yet another monument dedicated to those brave souls who fought and died while in the service of their country. This monument specifically pays tribute to those deceased individuals who came from the communities of Fall River, Waverly, Lakeview, and Windsor Junction.

HRM Point of Interest #12: Waverly Heritage Museum

Before 1861, Waverly, Nova Scotia was just a tiny town of 500 people. However, when Willis Brooks found a nugget of gold that year, the town quadrupled in size in just six years. The story of the gold rush, and of Waverly in general is told in pictures and artefacts at the Waverly Heritage Museum inside this quaint, white painted church. The church itself was originally located in nearby Fall River, but was brought down to Waverly during the gold rush in two pieces; each piece drug on a sled by a team of horses.

(An old anvil used to make odd-shaped metal nails. I can see now why the development of the ability to make standard sized parts during the Industrial Revolution was such an important event in our history as a species.)

HRM Monument #22: The Sailor

This monument at Sackville Landing on the Halifax Waterfront is a representation of the brave service of all the valiant Canadians who have served in the Canadian Navy during war time and in peace. It was erected by the Atlantic Chief and Petty Officers' Association.

Random Halifax Picture #7

One of the things I love about living in Halifax is all the odd signs I never even knew existed. I've even seen a sign warning drivers to look out for ducks.

CKDU Fort Needham Park Picnic: August 8, 2010

This is Kathryn. Actually, I never did ask how to spell her name correctly. Since she's one of those Alternapendent type of University people she probably spells it CkA7hyrnne, or something like that. I suppose this picture could even have been part of my Interesting People series, since "Kathryn" is definitely one of those too, but I put it in the random picture series since it was the event I came to see, not the person.

This picture was taken at Fort Needham Park, in the "scary" North End of Halifax, during a free outdoor concert and picnic put on by CKDU 88.1 FM (as you can see on the banner). CKDU is an independent radio station at Dalhousie University, and "Kathryn", who works at the station, organized the entire concert event.

I had relatively little interest in the concert, since living in Halifax means there's a free concert or three every weekend, but I never grow tired of free food.

Special Announcement: 250th Hit!

Ea-pea Dave's Terra Nova just had its 250th view some time today. Thanks to all my loyal readers who helped make this momentous occasion possible. Let's go hit 500 now!

EP Road Trip #1: Melmerby Beach

The EP Road Trip is a new feature I decided to add to Terra Nova, since I recently just completed my first one. An EP Road Trip follows the same guidelines as an EP Bike Trip - longer than 50 km away from Halifax, with a specific goal in mind - except it is taken in a motorized vehicle containing two or more people (you won't find any single passenger car journeys here).

This first ever EP Road Trip was the result of a decision by some of the members of my church's young adults group to go to a beach on the Northumberland Shore. The Northumberland Strait is famous for having the warmest sea water in Canada.

We piled five people into a tiny compact Chevrolet (probably an Aveo), and headed up the Veterans Memorial Highway - Highway 102 - to Truro, where we turned east on to the Trans-Canada Highway 104, and continued on to Melmerby Beach Provincial Park. It's just past New Glasgow, on highway 289 if you're following along on Google Maps.

Despite the beautiful weather, this normally popular beach was relatively empty when we arrived. It started to fill up later in the afternoon though, and by the time we left it finally started to look like a real beach.

I was initially sceptical about the warmest water claim, because of my less than pleasurable experience in the ice-cold waters of Crystal Crescent Beach. However, true to its billing, the waters of the Northumberland Strait are exceptionally pleasant. Depending on which mini-current happened to be flowing past my legs at any given moment, the temperature of the water could even feel warmer than that of the air (especially with the breeze). I've had less pleasurable swims in indoor swimming pools, which are usually kept relatively cold for the competition swimmers.

While the water may be warm, it is also salty. Up until this day, my childhood beach swimming experience had been one of swimming in the fresh water lakes of Alberta exclusively. The salt-water of the ocean though is so disgusting, that when some of it splashed up into my mouth off of a wave, the taste nearly gave me an upset stomach. Don't worry though, I ate two large chocolate chip cookies, a samosa, two bananas, a peach, a bagel, a chicken sub, three peach muffins, and two large pieces of pizza to settle it down.

(I touched up this photo to look like something you might find in an old book of photographs of Nova Scotia.)

(Sand castle enjoying the sun.)

(Speaking of sand castles, how about this sand mountain I made with its own road that leads in to itself, via a moat that kind of looks like a road? It was my first attempt to make an M.C. Echer-esque structure. I think I may need some more practice.)

(Good view of a great beach. Is that Superman in the air over there...?)

(Oh, no, never mind, it's just a killer whale. My mistake.)

(It's always better to be safe than sorry, I agree, but I'm not too certain Melmerby Beach with its half-metre tall "waves" is going to see any surfers who need to be rescued any time soon. I suppose the life guard might use one of them as a floatation device on which to paddle out to a would be victim.)