25/06: A Beautiful Day for a Drive
Category: General
Posted by: The Agnew Family
It's time to move on again. This time we head south to Brier Island. It's a little island, approximately 7.5 km long and 2.5 km wide and is made up of basalt. We'll be driving through Annapolis Royal where we'll stop and see some history.
"On the rich shores of Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Basin, Port-Royal’s Habitation was one of North America’s oldest European settlements. From 1605 to 1613 French colonists including Samuel de Champlain lived in this fortified compound, forging ties with the Mi’kmaq who welcomed them to their territory and who helped them survive.
Because of its historical significance, the Habitation’s cluster of adjoining hewn timber buildings with an enclosed courtyard and surrounding palisade was reconstructed in 1939 using early 17th century building techniques."
The inside.
Though there was no military presence at the settlement, it was still fortified with cannons.
"Set on the banks of the Annapolis River, Fort Anne offers visitors a vivid reminder of an era when Europe’s powers battled for supremacy in North America. First fortified by the Scots as early as 1629, the site was later controlled by the French before falling for good to British troops in 1710. It would remain a regular scene of battles until the fall of Quebec in 1759.
Today, the fort – Canada’s first administered National Historic Site – consists of a renovated 1797 officers’ quarters (now a museum) and 1708 stone powder magazine, surrounded by a maze of defensive ditches, banks and bastions known as Vauban-style earthworks."
In the museum there is a really interesting video showing all the forts that have been on this location.
The powder magazine.
"Inside the museum, visitors can learn what this place means to the Mi’kmaq, see centuries-old artefacts, as well as the Heritage Tapestry, a hand-stitched work showing 400 years of history."
The photo is just two of the four panels. The tapestry was amazing. The 4 of us must have spent at least 10 minutes staring at it. There were numerous unique stitches. A plaque on the wall indicated that many people helped to stitch the tapestry, included Queen Elizabeth II. Her contribution was a few stitches on Queen Anne.
Cute harbour on Digby Neck.
The first ferry is finally coming. This ferry goes from Digby Neck to Long Island.
The 2nd ferry was crossing as we drove up to the ferry waiting line. This ferry takes us to Brier Island. Brier Island is separated from Long Island by the 0.5 km Grand Passage.
Looking across the Bay of Fundy watching the sun set.
Brier Island lighthouse
"On the rich shores of Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Basin, Port-Royal’s Habitation was one of North America’s oldest European settlements. From 1605 to 1613 French colonists including Samuel de Champlain lived in this fortified compound, forging ties with the Mi’kmaq who welcomed them to their territory and who helped them survive.
Because of its historical significance, the Habitation’s cluster of adjoining hewn timber buildings with an enclosed courtyard and surrounding palisade was reconstructed in 1939 using early 17th century building techniques."
The inside.
Though there was no military presence at the settlement, it was still fortified with cannons.
"Set on the banks of the Annapolis River, Fort Anne offers visitors a vivid reminder of an era when Europe’s powers battled for supremacy in North America. First fortified by the Scots as early as 1629, the site was later controlled by the French before falling for good to British troops in 1710. It would remain a regular scene of battles until the fall of Quebec in 1759.
Today, the fort – Canada’s first administered National Historic Site – consists of a renovated 1797 officers’ quarters (now a museum) and 1708 stone powder magazine, surrounded by a maze of defensive ditches, banks and bastions known as Vauban-style earthworks."
In the museum there is a really interesting video showing all the forts that have been on this location.
The powder magazine.
"Inside the museum, visitors can learn what this place means to the Mi’kmaq, see centuries-old artefacts, as well as the Heritage Tapestry, a hand-stitched work showing 400 years of history."
The photo is just two of the four panels. The tapestry was amazing. The 4 of us must have spent at least 10 minutes staring at it. There were numerous unique stitches. A plaque on the wall indicated that many people helped to stitch the tapestry, included Queen Elizabeth II. Her contribution was a few stitches on Queen Anne.
Cute harbour on Digby Neck.
The first ferry is finally coming. This ferry goes from Digby Neck to Long Island.
The 2nd ferry was crossing as we drove up to the ferry waiting line. This ferry takes us to Brier Island. Brier Island is separated from Long Island by the 0.5 km Grand Passage.
Looking across the Bay of Fundy watching the sun set.
Brier Island lighthouse