After passing a swelling ocean, we finally reached the entrance to the Great Bras d’Or Channel, where calmer weather awaited us. We spent the first night just after the entrance in Kelly Cove, in a run-down public wharf whose only advantage was free docking. Having taken CTD cast in the morning, we set off on our further journey, raising the sails. Before reaching the Seal Bridge, we realized that our speed under sail was not enough to overcome the oncoming current. When I turned on the engine, we noticed that its power was barely enough to move at a speed of 2 knots. Ultimately, after passing a narrow Channel, we came to a North shore with white gypsum cliffs – here were the famous plaster mines, which supplied high-quality plaster for finishing houses in New York. Soon after passing the white rocks, the Red Head opened up, which is located on BEINN BHREAGH (in Gaelic “beautiful mountain“), the famous estate of Alexander Graham Bell. After this cape, a lighthouse appeared, marking the entrance to the port of our destination Baddeck, where we would wait out Hurricane Lee.
Bird Islands aheadBird Islands with a birdEntrance to the Great Bras d’Or ChannelLighthouse at the entry to the ChannelThe navigation buoy leaned under force of currentKelly Cove old abandoned lighthouseDocking in the Kelly Cove public wharfDoing CTD cast in the Kelly CoveA plot of CTD cast data with well-seen large halocline and much less thermocline at 4.5m, resulted from limits of exchange of water during tides/waves. It’s also presented by steps in the oxygen concentration, light transmission and organic matter (fDOM).Leaving Kelly Cove – fenders up!Coming to the Seals BridgeGood fit to my capLines and curvesPassing the bridge clearanceMan of War Point LighthouseSmooth sailing in the calm dayReflectionsFancy mimic lighthouseGypsum rocksWhite-red shorelineFallen white gypsum rocksWhite rocks and trunksSpectacular formationsForest’s GuardCains MountainRed HeadBehind trees Alexander Bell’s Beinn Bhreagh Hall (The Big House)Kidston IslandKidston Island Lighthouse at entry to the Baddeck Harbour.BaddeckKidston Island Lighthouse from the shoreBaddeck Harbor anchorage Welcome!Docking in the public wharf with the sponsors’ banners show-ups
On the last day of our stay in Ingonish Harbor, we decided to try our luck and climb the nearby mountain, where, according to the advertisement, the best view of the surrounding area opens. The morning was promising, but when we rose to the level of the cable car, fog began to descend to the top of the mountain, covering all horizons in a couple of minutes. We were still lucky enough to see the surrounding area from a bird’s eye view. Afterwards. we went down to our boat and set sail from Ingonish, heading for Bras d’Or Lake , where we are going to wait out Hurricane Lee approaching Nova Scotia.
Sunny MorningThe Bay, as we saw it.In a few minutes, all views disappearedGoodbye, Ingonish!Misty sailingA fog-covered shorelineGoodbye, Cape Smokey!
On the second day of our docking in Ingonish Harbour, we again devoted ourselves to hiking, this time exploring the Middle Head Trial. A wonderful trail took us to a completely wild stormy ocean, crashing huge waves onto black rocks – I hope I was able to convey the power of the ocean. Across the South Ingonish Bay, Cape Smokey was visible, which in fact was constantly hidden in the smoke, but we were lucky to see it in a small window of weather conditions.
Parks Canada Information OfficeFreshwater Lake lookoutCape SmokeyWhite marble rocks from the topIngonish BeachKeltic LodgeBold Eagle in a fog flyCape SmokeyCape SmokeyEntry into the Ingonish HarborFloating foamIngonish RiverBiking Cabot TrailSt.Peter’s ChirchSeaview cemeteryA boat toy for the dead fishermanBuilding a boat
