At the crack of dawn … okay, it was only 8 am really, we depart the campground and take off for Baddeck. We didn’t know it was a tourist spot and a lovely little town, we only knew this was where Alexander Graham Bell had a home and Parks Canada operated a National Historic Site where visitors can enjoy the life story of Dr. Bell. Alexander and Mabel Bell first visited Baddeck in 1885 while on vacation with their two young daughters. They enjoyed the area so much that they spent much of the last 37 years of their lives here and Bell continued inventing and experimenting at his Beinn Bhreagh estate. In the site’s museum we discover how air and water captured Dr. Bell’s imagination and how ideas led him to transmit sound on sunlight; contribute to advancements in the recording industry; and create man-carrying kites, airplanes, hydrofoil boats; and of course the telephone. A look at the humanitarian side of this famous inventor reveals how he bridged the world between sound and silence, work that eventually led him to establish a research and resource centre for deaf people that continues today. The interpretive centre is located across Bras d’Or Lakes from Dr. Bell’s estate that continues to be occupied by his descendants today.
After this educational time, we travel to Sydney to say hello to Joanne and Fletcher, friends from Dawson City days. We have a quick visit, including a lovely lunch, and Joanne gives us a Newfoundland primer as she was just there with friends. Then it is off to the ferry at North Sydney. The crossing is approximately 6 hours and we are treated to a magnificent sunset as we arrive in Port-aux-Basques. It is dark when we finally dock so sightseeing is out. Channel Port-aux-Basques will have to wait for another visit. We find the J.T. Cheeseman Provincial Park nearby and spend the night there.
