Thursday 11 July 2013

Cape Clear


Ella doesn't ordinarily get to ride in the back of a truck, so this was fun for her. 

Cape Clear is one of Margaree's finest attractions that we keep to ourselves by giving horrible directions. We know how to get there, but we often give absolutely horrible directions to those who don't.

 You've got to check out Cape Clear! It's the most beautiful spot in the world! How do you get there? Well, first you've got to get to the Highlands. Nope, not the Cape Breton Highlands park. What we call the Highlands is also the logging dirt road system back here. No, you can't trust that there will be signs, though there usually are. Nope, it won't pop up on your car GPS. No, it's not on google maps. No, you better not use your Garmin, because it'll probably take you up the wrong road before you get to the right one. Umm. Sorry. And make sure you keep track of every turn you make, because although the roads are in great shape, you  could spend days lost on those logging roads. Good luck!




But its actually way easier than it sounds. Any Department of Natural Resources office can give you a DNR map of the region that you can follow if unsure. From Margaree Valley, take Fielding Road until it turns left, becoming Highland Road. This road is wide and in great condition (at least by Margaree standards). People tend to fly on it, and it's one of the few dirt roads I've ever seen with a speed limit posted of 80 km, which can be done comfortably. I'd remain wary, though--if you stay on route to Cape Clear or some more popular destination, fine, someone will most likely find you if there's any trouble, but if you make a few wrong turns and get a flat tire, you might be left to your own devices for some time.



Some signage exists on Fielding and Highland Road, but the roads off these more major routes are typically not marked.  Stay straight on Highland Road for about 10 kilometers until you see the road marked Cape Clear on the left. Then drive to its end. Park whenever you begin finding it unsafe to drive, or when you see signs hanging from the trees that say "caution."



From there, behold--a magnificent view of the Margaree Valley from on top of a sheer drop-off of several hundred feet. See the Margaree river, the province's premier salmon spot, winding below you and looking like a bit stream from this height. On the right day, eagles can be seen soaring among the mountains.







Geocaches in area:
"Cape Clear" N 46° 28.359 W 060° 53.249 Status: Good (4/6/13) GCH2KC