Today we decided to split up. Julie wanted to go check out the town of Digby, which was back on the Fundy side of Nova Scotia. The kids were a little road weary and preferred to take it easy for the day. Teresa and Diego generously agreed to supervise the kids in Mahone Bay while Julie and I went on a little adventure.

The Away Party left midmorning, driving for about two hours through the interior of Nova Scotia. We arrived around lunch time, which was no accident. Digby is famous for its seafood, particularly scallops. Indeed, Digby claims to be the “Scallop Capital of the World.” We found a promising seafood restaurant overlooking the water. The day was a little overcast and slightly cool, so we started with a seafood chowder. In our book, Digby’s culinary rep is well deserved. I may never have a chowder this good again. Lobster, fish, potatoes. The warmth and heartly flavor made me think that I too could fish the winter waters of Nova Scotia. (That notion lasted about as long as the chowder.)

And we had to get some scallops of course. Plus some fried oysters. So, so good.

Our bellies full, we decided to walk around the harbor. Earlier in the trip, we had observed the huge tidal swings of the Bay of Fundy in a natural setting. Here, we had a chance to see how the locals set up a harbor to deal with the same issue. The photo below is a little deceptive. If you look closely, you can see a very tiny Julie on the left side of the picture.

The distance from the top of the dock to the water was about 20 feet, so naturally there were some warning signs (which we read mostly for their comedic value).

Part of what makes the picture above deceptive is that the boats are oddly proportioned. I mean, I’m sure they are what peak performance looks like for scalloping boats, but they looked a little stubby to me.

After poking around the harbor, we headed back to the car. Before leaving town, we stopped by a small lighthouse. Because in Nova Scotia that’s what you do.

Next, Julie and I hopped in the car and drove about 30 minutes north to Annapolis Royal, which today is a small town but was once one of the major metropolises of the area. Founded as “Port Royal” in 1605 by the French, the town was captured by the British in 1710, who renamed the settlement “Annapolis Royal” in honor of Queen Anne. In fact, the battle was the first time the British took and held a French colonial possession and ultimately led to the British taking control of a much larger area, which they named “Nova Scotia.” None of this sat well with the French, who repeatedly tried to retake the town, including during the American Revolutionary War. Altogether, the town faced 13 separate attacks over the years, a record for North America. The remains of a fort are still there (now called “Fort Anne”), including the remains of some cannons. We enjoyed poking around a bit. Julie is actually standing on top of an underground magazine in this photo.

After exploring the fort, we headed into the small, adjacent town. You will never guess what we found. Never. A lighthouse. Because Nova Scotia.

Having thoroughly enjoyed our little adventure, Julie and I hopped in the car and headed back to Mahone Bay. We made quick work of the two-hour drive, cutting through the woodsy interior of Nova Scotia. Cutting near the Kejimkujik National Park, natural beauty lined our way. Just outside Bridgewater, one of the larger cities in the area, we picked up cell phone coverage again, and called the Home Team to check in.

The kids spent much of the day playing boardgames and relaxing. Teresa and Deigo also took them into Mahone Bay for lunch. I think the kids were fairly well behaved, though Teresa and Diego had to give them a little tough love along the way. Fortunately, a local pub — the Mugs and Anchor — was there to help.

Having confirmed that our children were alive and at least physically well, Julie and I arranged to meet Teresa and Diego at a local brewery called Salt Box. They claimed to have “Lobster Beer,” but didn’t have any on hand when we were there. I’m not sure if that was good luck or bad luck for us. In any case, we still found lots of good local beers to try.

We ended the night with dinner the Mugs and Anchor. We heard the food was good. Even better, a local Celtic band was supposed to play. And we already knew that the pub provided good childcare facilities. For better or worse, the kids behaved and were allowed inside.

It was a wonderful evening, and tomorrow we would be heading to Prince Edward Island. So, cheers, Mahone Bay! You’ve been a great homebase to explore southern Nova Scotia.

Here’s to more good times ahead!