Graves Island Provincial Park - Hiking in Nova Scotia
Quick video on the new walking trail that was built in 2011 at Graves Island Provincial Park.
I've done some research on the island, and sharing the text I've used to create an earth cache.
A drumlin (Irish droimnín, a little hill ridge) is an elongated whale-shaped hill formed by glacial action. Drumlins were formed with their long axes parallel to the direction in which the ice was moving.
Nova Scotia's drumlin fields provide markedly dissimilar landscapes, depending primarily on their suitability for early farming and settlement. Only the drumlins found in Lunenburg and Kejimkujik were extensively exploited for their well-drained loam soils. Here farms still dot the landscape (even though there has been much land abandonment) and provide variety and interest. The other drumlin have poorer soils and historically have supported very little farming.[3]
Those in southwestern Nova Scotia indicate a nearly southerly ice movement becoming southeasterly in eastern Lunenburg and western Halifax counties. Drumlins around Halifax have about the same size and orientation as those in central Lunenburg County. However, from Sheet Harbour east to beyond the Guysborough County border, the drumlins again have a north-south orientation, as if they were formed by ice that moved directly down from the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The few around Canso are oriented more to the southeast. [4]
In general, the ice appears to have moved directly across central and western mainland Nova Scotia from New Brunswick, whereas in eastern Nova Scotia the ice moved southward from Pictou and Antigonish counties and spread out to the east into Chedabucto Bay.[4]
Drumlins do not normally form from granitic material. Those drumlins frequently have a rock core. Occasional granitic drumlins are found in non-granite areas such as on Graves Island, but this is unusual. These drumlins contain large granite boulders, are often well- or excessively well-drained, and have soils with characteristics similar to Gibraltar soils.[4][7]
Graves Island was first settled by farmers and you can still see some signs of them today.[4] Overlooking scenic Mahone Bay, the island has a lot of history. Ownership of the land and residents of the island have been primarily associated with two families over the years: the Graves and the Zincks who first settled in Lunenburg County from Germany in 1753. [5] Even today, remnants remain from the families that once called Graves Island home, including stone foundations, old lanes, hand-dug wells, apple trees, tiger lilies, and rose bushes.
The 4 trails at Graves Island are well suited for family groups as they are all quite short. They take hikers around the island to see the many other drumlins and islands in the water. [6] For an easy hike, stay along the coastline which is flat.
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
Hidden Blues by Pitx
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) — Fri, Jun 4, 2010 @ 4:22 PM #avoidingchores #VisitNovaScotia #hikingNS
Loch Briar Knits, Episode 5 - Where the yarn gets away from me
EPISODE 5: Loch Briar Knits ~ Where The Yarn Got Away From Me
Where to find me:
o Instagram & Twitter: @kellylboyce
o Ravelry: lochbriar
o Ravelry Group: Loch Briar Knits
o FB Page & Etsy: Loch Briar Knits
Acquisitions! (1:22)
1. Lots of naked yarn people – BFL, 75/20 fingering, yakky goodness! There is lace and DK on the way as well. That means lots of dyeing!! ☺
2. Loot from the day trip to Lunenburg:
a. Llama project bag – Dots & Loops
b. Paris Scarf – Antique/2nd hand store
c. Tea Cup – Shop on the Corner
d. Notions and stitch markers – The Mariner’s Daughter
e. Handmade Soaps from the Farmer’s Market
Patterns bought (all on Ravelry): Isabell Kraemer Patterns: Gretchen Pullover, Indigo Frost Poncho, On the Beach Sweater
Day Dream Sweater by Heidi Kirrmairer
WIP IT (FOs, HOs and what’s on my needles!) (15:00)
• Lots of progress on my Spring Explosion socks for my sister made from my first skein of hand-dyed yarn. Almost completed first sock. (Plain vanilla sock)
• Started my Softyak Slouchy Hat from Churchmouse Yarns knit on Telluride yarn in grey and red. (Pattern on Ravelry)
• Made a little more progress on my Simple Lines Wrap by Simon Alexandra (Pattern on Ravelry). This is knit with Juniper Moon Herriot Fine in Bahia Beach. Not enough to get me past the 1/3 point, so still a THO! ☺
In The Queue (27:58)
The Joji’s Starting Point Mystery Wrap starts May 12th and I’m super-excited! But I can’t decide on what yarns to use yet!!
I have decided to wait on my first sweater until after the Starting Point Wrap is wrapped.
I am going to cast on another pair of socks using Lavender Fields, one of my own yarns … because why not!
To Dye For (45:01)
YARN UPDATE FOR MY LOCH BRIAR KNITS shop over at ETSY!!
I’m doing a shop update on May 21st. This will just be a small update to start with 2 skeins each and mostly on 80 SW merino/20 nylon fingering weight (save for one colourway in DK and one in 70/20/10 SW merino/yak/nylon).
Here is a list of the yarn that will be available for the first shop update on May 21st:
• Springtime in Nova Scotia
• Raspberry Tart
• The Rose Teaspoon Society
• Old Barns (70/20/10 – SW merino/yak/nylon)
• Green Tea
• A Gentleman, Most Refined
• Hazy Daze (3 skeins available in DK only)
• The Skein to be Named Later
• Apollo’s Tears
• Sunburst
• Oh My Heart
• Granny Smith
Total Randomness (49:50)
Happy knitting!
~ Kelly, Loch Briar Knits