ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL
As I write Ben and I are on the Nova Scotia to PEI ferry, the fifth ferry we have taken since leaving home. Which averages to one ferry every 760km - a pointless statistic but I like it anyway. Just like the crossing from St John NB to Digby NS the sky is leaden, the rain has been heavy and unceasing with the temperature hovering around 16C. Not exactly what you call summery - even here in the maritimes.
When Ben woke me this morning to announce he considered it high time I get out of bed and attend to his breakfast and medications I had good intentions of being on an early ferry. - and 2.45pm at the very latest. But on the three hour drive over here we were mugged! Yes, innocently driving the Trans Canada Highway and we were mugged in broad daylight. At the time the sun was still shining and we could see rather further than is possible now - and therein lay the problem. We fell in love with the views of Bras D’Or Lake the ‘inland sea’ of Cape Breton. And then we saw the signs for Baddeck and a bell went off in the deepest recesses of my brain. Wasn’t this where I had been told Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone once lived and isn’t there a centre dedicated to his work there? Yes and yes as it turns out. Consequently we are now on the 4.30 pm ferry!
Baddeck is a delightful little place with brightly painted Victorian era homes lining the main street leading down to a causeway and the Bell Centre. I asked Ben if he would like to visit and of course, being a dog that likes to learn and better himself he agreed immediately. Or perhaps it was my imagination and the need for a pubic restroom played into the decision! Anyhow we went and parked in the delightful grounds, took pictures of some of the flowers and the view and went in to the museum/interpretive centre
Today I tried to do something I have never done before, to keep a mental tally of how many people tell Ben or myself that he is a fantastic or cute looking dog. It started because as we left the hotel room there was an immediate “Oh you are beautiful” from one of the hotel workers! By the time we reached Baddeck I had counted 19 such episodes and when we dismounted the van at the Bell Centre I simply gave up the unequal struggle. Now I may be biased and think Ben is nearly as good looking as me - but things are getting ridiculous. I have long been used to the idea of playing second fiddle to my erstwhile companion, but the older he gets the more people like him and the further behind I fall as the ‘also ran'.
We both enjoyed the little museum but if I am honest, the gardens held a bigger attraction with the flowerbeds and the backdrop of a lake full of dinghies learning to race. I did manage to get Ben to pose for a couple of shots:
A TYPICAL WAKE UP CALL FROM BEN
AT THE BELL CENTRE
