Pleasant Surprises

Sony A7rII, 35mm, f/11, 1/5t sec., ISO 100, panorama

My favorite experiences are often ones that occur unexpectedly.  In this case, our destination was Peggy’s Point, Nova Scotia where there is a well known lighthouse perched on a large rock outcrop.  The rocks were formed hundreds of millions of years ago by molten material that flowed up from the inner earth through openings resulting from movement of the earth’s crust.  The village of Peggy’s Cove sits alongside a picturesque little harbor where fishing vessels continue to operate.    Cruise ships that stop in nearby Halifax, send busloads of visitors to visit the lighthouse and the little village.  Most tourists do not venture beyond the immediate area of the lighthouse and village.  Yet, not far from the point and the lighthouse a rugged, beautiful landscape spreads out along the coast.

About 20,000 years before, glacier action scoured the landscape and carried and dropped large granite boulders, called “erratics” as the ice melted away.  The result is a landscape with visible scars on the rock formations and randomly placed boulders.  Bogs, barrens, and unique plants normally found in arctic alpine environments fill in the the areas between the large rock formations.   In autumn, the leaves of blueberry and huckleberry shrubs turn red creating a sea of red that is quite beautiful with the lighthouse and Saint Margaret’s Bay in the background.

While the lighthouse, harbor and village are worthy destinations themselves, our brief visit to this unique landscape has me wanting to return to explore further!

Many thanks to Bernard Chen for finding and leading us to this wonderful place!