Today was our last day in Cape Breton.  We’ve only been here a few days, but we’ve packed in lots of activities.  Our house has been a perfect combination of comfort and rustic.  We’ve grown quite fond of Blue Gables.

But we still had a few hours left, and Lydie and Cassie were desperate to investigate the cliff that Julie and I had explored a couple of days before.  Julie kindly volunteered to pack for all of us to give us about 90 minutes to explore.  We set out on the path.  We kept our eyes pealed for moose, but saw only droppings, which we did our best not to step in.

The woods were quiet and sadly moose free.

We soon reached the rope leading down the cliff.  Unsurprisingly, the girls scampered down the rope like mountain goats.

We explored the beach for a bit, but with time being tight, the girls wanted to look for geodes.  We went to the south end of the beach, where I had found the cave-in that exposed the rocks with geodes.

Confession time:  Parenting makes me a little irrational.  Now that Lydie and Cassie were here, I began worry that more of the cave would collapse on them.  But I also want them to embrace travel adventures.  So, I let them explore, encouraging them to stay a bit further away from the biggest overhanging rocks.  I also listen carefully for any sounds of collapse — as if I had any idea what sound a hillside makes before it collapses.  Fortunately, the rocks didn’t suddenly come crashing down.  And the girls soon found geodes.

I did draw the line at bringing home some of the larger rocks that the girls found.  “No Lydie.  That one’s too big.”

With time running out, we had to leave.  We packed our collection into an empty backpack we had brought for just such a purpose.  My initial guess was that we collected about 10 pounds of stone.  As we climbed back up the cliff, I wondered if it was closer to 50 pounds.

We made it back to the house with no trouble (and still no moose), finished packing, and hopped in the cars to head to our next activity:  archery.  Lydie has long been a fan of archery, and before coming to Cape Breton Julie had discovered that there was an archery company — Highland Bow and Arrow — that was very close to our rented farm house.  As a present for Lydie and with the overwhelming support of the entire crew, we set out for a couple of hours of archery.

We arrived and our guide, Jaimie, got us sorted out with gear, selecting appropriate bows.  She took us to a target range and instructed us on the basics of archery.  We shot at targets with balloons over the bullseyes as additional inducements.

Once we got the basics down, it was time for the main event.  The plan was to divide into two teams and to shoot more targets, with points assigned based on accuracy.  We split the teams based on families, Team Hubbard versus Team Spain.  This time, our targets would be three dimensional fake animals.  With our guide we headed into the woods to start shooting.

One of the amazing things about traveling is that by getting away from your comfort zone you learn a little something about yourself.  In some rare instances, you may learn some of the fundamental truths of life.  Today was such a day.  We learned something true for all people, regardless of race, creed, or religion.  It’s true whether you are short or tall, young or old, Spanish or American.  That that truth is this.  Everyone looks cool with a bow and arrow.  Super cool.  Everyone.  I present to you a small body of evidence to support this claim.

Young Guille:

Guille would never hurt a deer.  But with a bow and with his arrow in flight that styrofoam deer was almost knocked off its feet by an undeniable wave of cool.

Catalina:

Yep.  Cool.  You know what *really* killed the dinosaurs?  Coolness.

Cassie:

Definitely cool.  I’m hoping that in her teenage years I don’t end up on the receiving end of that pitiless, icy stare.

Lydie:

Not just cool, but fashionably cool.  See that?  Both twins looked cool.  Involving twins always makes it feel like some sort of genetic experiment.

But I get it.  You’re still skeptical.  I don’t blame you.  It’s a bold claim that bows and arrows are universal cures to coolness dysfunction.  Maybe those four kids were already cool, right?  (Yeah.  As if!)  Does it still work for adults? Yes.  Yes it does.

Teresa:

Confirmed.  Muy, muy cool.  That day, she didn’t even have sunglasses on.  She just picked up the bow and arrow, and they materialized out of thin air.

Julie:

Not just cool.  Redhead-with-a-bow cool.  She’s Julie, and she’ll be shooting for her own hand.

Diego:

¡Qué wow!  Did the Spanish special forces invade Canada?  Some of the forest creatures actually gave Diego their number after this.

And finally, Old Guille:

At the very least, I look cooler than I normally do.  So there you go.  Need to look good in a photo?  You don’t need a professional photographer.  You don’t need the latest digital camera.  All you need is a bow and arrow.

We all had a fantastic time.  We’d do it again in a heartbeat.  (And Team Hubbard might have won the informal competition.)

Soon, it was time to go.  We had good drive ahead of us, heading to southern Nova Scotia, where we would be staying for a few nights in the small town of Mahone Bay.

We’d had spectacular weather in Cape Breton, but the rain set in as we drove south.  Eventually, we reached our new home base.  The kids settled in with another board game.

Meanwhile, the adults worked to scrounge up some dinner.  Diego and Teresa went to the grocery store to get supplies for a simple pasta supper.  They picked up some fresh muscles, too, which Diego expertly steamed for an appetiser. 

We were soon feeling at home in our new house.  Cape Breton was an unmitigated win.  We went to bed hopeful that the rest of Nova Scotia would be as great.

-Will