Shore Excursion L:L is for Lobster
This excursion begins with a drive through historic Halifax as we make our way to Route 103 and the turn-off at Tantallon to take the very scenic Route 3 that skirts along the shores of St. Margaret’s Bay.
Town of Chester, a unique community
We’ll tour along (and sometimes through) the historic communities located along Route 3 such as the Town of Chester, a unique community and one-time fishing town before it’s transformation into a resort community for wealthy families from Baltimore. Today it’s a place where the well-to-do from Metro have their summer homes. Chester is also home to a very fine golf course, curling and hockey rinks, yacht club and lovely harbour too.
Mahone Bay, a picture-perfect postcard town
As well, we will drive through Mahone Bay, a picture-perfect postcard town noted for it’s Three Churches, it’s extremely fine harbour that leads out into the Atlantic, and also for its specialty shops and eateries. Some say it is the romantic weekend get-a-way spot in Nova Scotia.
Town of Lunenburg the fishing capital of the world
Our destination today is the Town of Lunenburg which was founded in 1753 and is known as the fishing capital of the world as well as the home port of both the original, world-famous fishing schooner, The Bluenose, and it’s replica, The Bluenose II. The town has been designated a United Nations World Heritage Site and was once visited by ABC’s Good Morning America. Noted for it’s unique architecture, Lunenburg has also served as the backdrop for the popular Jesse Stone CBS movies of the week. It is also home to the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic.
A Lobster fishing adventure
Docked next to the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic is the Chris L, a working lobster boat which has been converted into a comfortable tour boat for the summer. The boat offers comfortable seating, washroom facilities, and comes equipped with a canopy for those who wish to enjoy the sea with a bit of shade! Your two hour (+/-) lobster fishing adventure starts at the dock with introductions to crew, an overview of the features of the boat, and a thorough review of safety procedures.
Once onboard, you'll have a brief look at the historic Lunenburg waterfront as you head out to sea to a point where the professional lobster crew will stop to haul up six lobster traps from the ocean's floor. The catch will include lobsters, starfish, crabs and other sea creatures. The crew will tell you about the many different styles of lobster traps, describe in detail the lobster life cycle (including molting), survival and conservation. During your time on the Chris L, through 'fishing stories' and sometimes the 'spinning of a yarn' or two, you will gain insight into the heritage, culture and history of this distinctive area of Nova Scotia.
Don't forget your camera!
On the return portion of your journey, you'll pass by a number of scenic islands and narrow passageways, and see the historic and scenic Blue Rocks. For much of it's history, it was a fishing village but beginning in the 1940s, it was discovered by many artists and photographers including Joseph Purcell, William E. deGarthe, Jack L. Gray, Wallace R. MacKaskill and others. Check out these websites for more information on a couple of these artists:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_E._deGarthe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_L._Gray
The village boasts of many artists to this day. Additionally, there are also numerous guest houses to be found among the fishermen's dwellings. Be sure to keep your camera at the ready throughout the entire voyage as scenic photographic opportunities are at hand every minute including the ‘Battery Point Lighthouse’ which you’ll see on your return to Lunenburg Harbour.
The Vinegar Bible
Upon our arrival dockside, we’ll give a brief orientation tour of the town including a stop at the historic 250 year old Gothic Revival style St. John’s Anglican Church. This lovely church was almost completely destroyed by a prank fire on Halloween in 2001, but has since been completely and lovingly restored to it’s former grandeur. While here, we will be able to view the church’s copy of the Vinegar Bible, so called because it contains a typographical error where the word vinegar was substituted for the word vineyard in the Gospel of Luke. Printed in 1717 by John Baskett, this particular Bible (one of only three in existence with the typo) is older than Halifax.
Following our orientation, you will have time to explore this unique port on your own, and perhaps enjoy some lobster for lunch before we begin our return journey back your ship at the cruise ship dock in Halifax.
This private, pre-booked excursion tour is fully narrated by your guide and will take an estimated 7.0 hours (+/-) to complete.
