2025 Oct 11-19, NCL Getaway Cruise 7-Day Canada and New England Round Trip New York, Bar Harbor & Halifax Part 2

Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick 

 Day 5, October 16, Thursday, Beautiful Bay of Fundy 

We will be docking around 9 A.M. The time changed from 6 to 7 A.M. Clocks moved up one hour. 

We ate breakfast in the Garden Cafe. There I ate scrambled eggs, biscuits, gravy, sausage, cheese, and water.

Everyone on the Beautiful Bay of Fundy excursion meets in the Manhattan room @ 9:30 A.M.

We left the ship and went into port @ 10:15 A.M. We loaded onto the bus. Our driver was Terry Finnegan, and our guide was Paul. 

Our first stop was the Cave Restaurant in St Martin's, where we were served seafood Chowder. (The food was delicious.) and a cookie for dessert. 

The famous creamy Chowder comes with scallops, lobster, haddock, and a biscuit.

To find the Cave Restaurant, drive through Saint Martin Village until you reach the harbor. Take the covered bridge, and the restaurant is the second restaurant on the right, where the caves are. 

The tide was low, so several people walked down to the caves. It was lots of rocks and wet. I was wearing tennis shoes and didn't want to get my feet wet, so I just walked to the edge. 

We stopped at the Visitor Center at Fundy Footpath and walked along the Big Salmon River to the Bay of Fundy swinging bridge, which was closed. 

Big Salmon River and Swinging River Bridge 

In Saint Martin's, we stopped to take pictures of the two covered bridges we passed on our way to the restaurant. There was an ice cream shop where everyone bought an ice cream. We purchased a peanut butter chocolate waffle cone. 

The tide was still out, and all the boats that were docked were on dry land. 

We rode back to Saint John, stopping on a hill overlooking the town, where we could see our ship.

Here, everyone got off the bus to take pictures.

The bus took us back to the port, and there we shopped at the Container Village. 

We loaded back onto the ship in time for dinner. We ate dinner in the Garden Cafe. I ate a taco with sour cream, avocado dip, chips, and lemon cake. 

At 8P.M., we walked down to the Effie Store to collect two more charms, and we won a watch at the Watch store. 

I bought two more charms for my bracelet.

We returned to our room, took a shower, and went to bed. 

498 Breakfast 7:40 A.M.

500 Port Bay of Fundy @ 9:51 A.M.

502-535 Traveling on Bus St John -Champlain, Saint Martins, Orange Hill, Bayview  @11:02 AM

535 Lunch at Cave Restaurant, seafood chowder @11:44 AM 

536-551 St John's @12:57 PM

552-604 Salmon River @1:34 PM

605-612 St Martins @3:36 PM

613-614   St John's Bains Corner @4:05 PM

615-619 St John North End @5:04 PM

620-626 Bay of Fundy @5:28 PM

627-628 Dinner on ship @6:04

629 Pier Bay of Fundy @6:26 PM

630 Receipts 

Canon EOS R6 Photos

5388-5407- Saint John, Port New Brunswick

5408-5424 The Cave Restaurant 82 Big Salmon River NB 

5426-5449 Berry Beach St Martin NB

5454-5551 St Martin NB 

5450-5554 Bay of Fundy, NB 

5557-5624 St John's, NB 

Day 6: October 17, Friday: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

We slept until 7 A.M. 

We did not have an excursion planned for today. We thought we would explore the town. 

We ate breakfast in the Savor Dining room @ 9:00 A.M. I ordered a parfait, a bagel with salmon.

After breakfast, we went ashore, stopping at the Immigration Research Area. 

I have family who immigrated to Canada, so I wanted to see what I could find. 

Some of my family came before 1865, and there weren't many records before then. 

I did find others that came later. 

We walked down the Boardwalk on Pier 21, past the Immigration Museum, train car, and historic markers about immigration.

We walked past the children's play area, many stores, shops, and food areas. We walked all the way to the Maritime Museum, which we visited the last time we were in Halifax.

We stopped at Crème Cafe, Cakes, Cocktails ( a distinctive restaurant united by excellence in cuisine and atmosphere) for passion fruit cheesecake, located at 341 Lower Water Street, Unit 123, Halifax, NS, B3J 3R3.

We walked back to the ship and at 6:30 P.M., we ate dinner in the Manhattan Dining Room, where we ordered two lobster tails, creamed potatoes from Cagney's restaurant for $25.00.

Hubby ordered shrimp Pasta, and I gave him one of the lobster tails. 

We went to the Effie Store, where we collected another charm, then we went to the Atrium area to watch a game show. The Wild Cards. 

East Coast Store Halifax 

Iphone Photos

631-632 Breakfast in Savor @9:19 AM

633-635 Ocean Halifax @10:10 AM

637-638 lunch Garden Cafe @12:47 PM

639-775 Halifax Harbor walk @3:22-5:34 P.M.

776-778 Dinner Manhattan Room 

779-780 Receipts

Day 7: October 18, Saturday, Sea Day 

We ate breakfast in the Taste Dining Room (deck 6), where I ordered a spinach, mushroom omelet, a bagel with cream cheese, and a strawberry parfait. 

Hubby ordered three fried eggs, waffles, and toast. 

For lunch, we ate fish and chips, a chocolate brownie, and cheesecake at O'Sheehans (deck 7).

After lunch, I went outside. This was the first day it wasn't cold and wet. So, I walked 3 miles around the ship.

We watched several shows and went to Effie for more charms. 

For dinner, we ate at the Garden Cafe, which had seafood. I got grilled shrimp, corn on the cob, potato wedges, and lemon cake. 

From 7-8, we watched Rumors, a tribute to Fleetwood Mack  

Packed for the trip home tomorrow.

Iphone Photos

781-784 Breakfast in Taste  @9:21 AM

785-790 Battle of the Cake Master @10:52 AM

791-793 Lunch O'Sheen's @2:10 PM

794-797  Dinner Garden Cafe 

795-796 Sunset @7:98 PM

Day 8: October 19, Sunday Excursion New & Old New York and Flight Home 

Breakfast in the Savor Dining Room, where I ordered scrambled eggs with cheese, potatoes, and a strawberry parfait. Went to our room to get our luggage, put black tags on our luggage, and walked to the theater on deck 7 to meet our group for our excursion. 

We were the first group to disembark. Our bus was the first on the left as we left the terminal. 

Our driver was Harold on bus 760 Provost. 

We rode through New York down 59th Street, Columbus Circle, Lincoln Square, Central Park, 49th Street, Times Square, Garment District, 34th Street Penn Station, passed Macy's, Trump Tower, Apple Store, St Patrick's Cathedral, NBC News, Ropckerfellow Center, Hershey's, University of NY, and stopping at the Grand Central Terminal. 

We walked through the main Concourse level of Grand Central Terminal to the Summit. 

View of New York from the Summit 

In the Clouds at the Summit 

The Summit is a three-level multi-sensory art immersion.

Level 1 is on the 91st observation floor. 

Level 2 is on the 92 observation floor, where you are standing in a glass-bottomed ledge extending 1,000 feet over Madison Avenue. 

Level 3 is on the 93rd Observation floor, an open-air terrace with views of Manhattan and beyond. 

When finished, we rode the elevator down and walked through Grand Central Terminal to the bus. 

The bus took everyone to the airport as we passed through Eugene, Hudson Yards, Chelsea, 34th St, Herald Square, Koreatown, W36th St, and Bryant Park. 

We go through security and onto our gate. Our plane is not scheduled to leave until 7:30 P.M. Central Time. Our gate location changed 4 times while we waited for our flight. 60,61,69,75.

Confirmation GEIC WW LGA to Hsv, Canadair Bombardier Regional Jet 900 for 2 hours 40 minutes. 

We ate lunch at Jimmy John's: a submarine sandwich, cookies, and Cheetos. 

We sat in the dining area where we met a professor from Renoke, NC. She said she had two daughters. 

We found several reclining seats in the sunny area, and that is where we sat until it was time to go to our gate. 

We boarded the plane at 6:50 P.M., arrived at Huntsville Airport around 10:30 P.M., collected our luggage, and started our trip home. 

There aren't many places to eat that late, so we stopped at Buc-ee's in Athens, where we bought a BBQ sandwich, chips, and Coke to share. It was very late when we arrived home. 

Iphone Photos

801-804 Arrive at New York Port @4:42 AM

805-807 Breakfast Savor @6:45 AM

808-811 Pier 90 @7:07 AM

812-888 Bus tour New York 8:29–9:18 A.M. 

889-910 Summit @10:20-11:13 A.M.

911-927 Travel to Airport @11:14 AM

Canon EOS R6 photos

5644-5676 @8:25 AM Grand Central Station, New York 

5677-5723 @9:23 AM Summit One Vanderbilt Observation Deck, New York

Collect Your Free Amulet of Adventure

Day 3: Anchor & Necklace at the Getaway Theatre Deck 7 FWD @12:30 P.M. Port and Shopping Talk Sea Sea)

Day 3: Nahla Amulet, Syd Norman's deck 8 fwd at 3P.M., Diamond & Gemstone Seminar 3:00 P.M., Sea Sea)

Day 3: Shopping Bag, we skipped 

Day 3: Champagne Glass at Effie Boutique Deck 8 AFT  8P.M. Celebration Party (At Sea)

Day 4: Effy TAG -we skipped

Day 4: High Heel at Effie Boutique Deck 8 AFT Feminine & Fabulous ladies night @8 P.M. (Bar Harbor)

Day 5: Gemstone at Effie Boutique Deck 8 AFT Colored diamonds & Showcase 8P.M. Deck 8 (Saint John)

Day 6: Heart at  Effie Boutique Deck 8 AFT Reverie Diamonds Dreams Reveal 10:30 A.M. Deck 8 (Halifax) 10:30 A.M. 

Day 6: Mad with Love @ Effy Boutique Deck 8 aft, Kabana showcase (Halifax @ 11 P.M.

Day 7 Panther @ Effie Boutique deck 8 aft, Final Call Savings (at Sea) 10:30 A.M.

Day 7: Horse Shoe @ Effy Boutique Deck 8, aft Effy Best Buy Sea) 2 P.M.

 

2025, March 14, 8-5:30 P.M. Scottsboro All Day (Day Trip) with Backroads Tours, LLC

 Everyone parked in the Patches Merchant Emporium 1501 Broad St parking lot around 8:00 A.M.

Everyone loaded onto the bus, and off we went for a full day of adventures.

 

Variety Bake Shop 

Our first stop was The Variety Bake Shop, where we were served two sausage rolls, a glazed donut, and a history lesson from the owner. Several people bought a variety of their desserts.

I took pictures of a few historic markers located across the street, which are posted on poles along the left side of the courthouse.

Veterans Memorial Park, Scottsboro 

Our next stop was Scottsboro Veterans Memorial Park. 

It was full of historical markers and military vehicles. 

Our next stop was the Scottsboro Museum, but no one was home. 

Our guide called their number, but no one answered. We rode by the old Mill and the Airport and finally stopped at the Train Depot.

We all got off the bus to go inside, but the curator called from the Scottsboro Museum, so we loaded it back on the bus and returned to that museum. 

The Scottsboro Boys

By this time, it was lunchtime, so we stopped at Payne's Sandwich Shop. There, we were served a red slaw dog, chips, potato Salad, and our choice of ice cream. I ordered Rocket Road. 

Payne Sandwich Shop 

After lunch, I walked up the sidewalk, taking pictures of markers. 

We loaded back onto the bus and rode to the Scottsboro Train Depot. 

Hubby shows the ladies how the scales work. 

Next, we rode to the Scottsboro Heritage Center.

The curator shared some of the history of the 1881 Procter House with us. 

The house was built by John A. Brown and sold to A.W. Brooks, the Mayor of Scottsboro.  

The house was then sold to General John R. Coffey. In 1981, the City of Scottsboro purchased the home and converted it into a Museum, research center, and community venue. 

We could not go upstairs because it was being repaired. 

Outside, we visited Sagetown, a recreation of a pioneer village, where our curator shared the history of each building.

Proctor Heritage House Museum

One of the buildings was the Little Courthouse, which housed public records dating back to 1820.

Our next stop was a sampling of specialty teas and protein shakes. The owner gave us a little history of his store. 

Long walk up the hill to the cemetery. 

Our last stop as a group was the grave site of Mayor Robert Thomas Scott and his wife. 

Their graves were atop a hill, which we had to walk to. 

We returned to the parking lot and bid each other goodbye.

Hubby and I decided to visit Unclaimed Baggage. 

Unclaimed Baggage Scottsboro 
The Truck where it all began.

We didn't buy anything, but the store had an incredible museum inside. 

Outside was a sign telling about the beginning of Unclaimed Baggage.

Then, we began our two-hour trip home. 

We stopped at Taco Bell in Rogersville to pick up something for dinner. We had a great time, but were ready for bed when we returned home. 

Cell Phone Photos 

6765-68 @ 9:12 A.M. The Variety Bake Shop

6769-72 @ 8:30 A.M. Markers left side of Courthouse 

6773—85 @ 10:07-10:50 A.M. Scottsboro Boys Museum 

6786-90 @ 10:55-11:47 A.M. Payne's Sandwich Shop 

6791-6817 @ 12:14-12:41 P.M. Train Depot 

6818-40 @12:50-1:17 P.M. Proctor Museum and Pioneer Village

6841-41 @ 2:37 P.M. Scottsboro Nutrition 

6843- @ 4:45 P.M. Unclaimed Baggage Outside 

6844-6868 @4:53-56 P.M. Museum @ Unclaimed Baggage 

6869-72 @5:03 P.M. outside Unclaimed Baggage

Walked 2.6 miles and 6,848 steps 

"Hi, I'm Hoggle." (inside the museum at Unclaimed Baggage)

Group photo (Courtesy of Backroads)

2022 Jan 28-30, Focus on Nature Photo Weekend JWSP (3 days)

 Jan 28, Friday

Today, I am going on an adventure. 

My adventure began at River Heritage Park, which overlooks Wilson Dam. The dam is usually flooded with birds, but not today. 

I was not to be discouraged; I adventured across Wilson Dam to the overlook and Rockpile.

It was a bitterly cold day, with temperatures below freezing, and I could see literally thousands of pelicans, seagulls, and cormorants (also known as snake birds) sitting on the rocks below the dam.  

A few challenged the north wind foraging for food, and a few white pelicans floated down the river. 

Nothing keeps the pelicans from floating down the river, even the turbulent water at Wheeler Dam.

Buttercups 

Rogersville Park is usually flooded with birds today; I saw buttercups reaching up with closed eyes. 

What adventure was waiting for me at Joe Wheeler Lodge? I am joining a group of fellow enthusiasts who share my love for photography and nature. 

Tonight, there will be hors d'oeuvres of Cheese, crackers, and fruit as we mingle with others. 

There will be a signup sheet for the activities on Saturday.

Alabama weather is so unpredictable this time of year. It ranges from 19 in the mornings to the 50s to 60s, sometimes 70s, during the day. I will wait until tomorrow to decide on my next adventure. 

Jan 29, Saturday, 

With a good night's sleep and a light breakfast, I was ready for the day. 

We spent the morning listening to Rocky discuss the camera's various features and how to utilize them. 

Many, like myself, were still confused about the camera. We love the auto modes. 

Lunch consisted of a BLT with onion rings.

White Pelicans at Wheeler Dam

& with making new friends. 

At 1 P.M., everyone met upstairs to disperse into different groups.

One group was going to the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge in Decatur. 

Another group was going to Wheeler & Wilson Dams and other nearby local sites. 

The last group was going to watch a falconer release three Harris Hawks into the woods to hunt for food (small animals). 

It was cold, but not bitterly cold like yesterday; we were bundled up. 

The groups dispersed in different directions. Ours was inside the Joe Wheeler State Park. 

Before the falconer released the Harris Hawks, he had anyone wearing fur or a colorful hat remove it. The birds may think they are small animals and attack, and they tend to avoid bright colors. 

The birds were released for the hunt, and we followed them into the wooded area. 

They didn't go too far into the woods, but stopped to watch or even pose for us.

The hawks treed a squirrel, but the squirrel outfoxed them. No catch today for the Hawks. 

Our group walked down to the lake's edge near the cabins. We saw shells, fossils, wild mushrooms, and driftwood. 

We saw Spoonbill Ducks swimming in a nearby sewage area; they love the minnows that grow there. 

There was a Bald Eagle in the Day Use, and that was our next stop.

With the camera in hand, we slowly descended the hill, stopping for that next great shot.

Bald Eagle with his eyes on us. 

The eagle got wind of us and flew away.

We saw a kingfisher, Canadian Geese, and a gray heron at the lake.

We sat down at the edge of the lake and watched the sunset. 

What a way to end our hike. 

Lake Wheeler, as the sun goes down
the ripples and different colors upon the lake. 

We enjoyed a seafood buffet while sitting around and socializing. 

The falconer returned with one of his Harris Hawks with Q & A time.

Rocky finished the day with a slide show and several stories.

Harris Hawks 

What an excellent way to make new friends who share a keen interest in photography and nature.  

A shadow of friends 

1996 ~ Sept 16 & Oct 14 Trying out my new (film) Canon Camera in Huntsville, AL

I had just received a new Canon Camera and wanted to try it out so here are some of the places where I took pictures.

House across street from Constitution Village 

Constitution Village

The Village rests on the actual site where the Alabama Constitutional Convention was held in 1819.

Alabama became the 22nd state admitted to the Union on December 14, 1819. This living history museum features costumed guides who lead visitors on a tour of a working village. A cabinetmaker's shop, print shop, confectionary shop, library and post office are all featured. More than eight carefully reconstructed buildings of the 1800s depict early lifestyles in Alabama, including that of African-American settlers. It also commemorates the place where the 1819 Constitutional Convention was held. 

Constitution Village 

Weeden House

Built in 1819, the house at 300 Gates Avenue is now open to the public as the Weeden House Museum and Garden.  Dr. William Weeden bought the house in 1845 and his descendants owned it until 1956.  Now owned by the City of Huntsville, it is leased by the Twickenham Historic Preservation District Association and maintained as a 19 century house museum.
Earlier residents included John McKinley who lived in the house

Ditto Landing 

Huntsville Railway Company Huntsville, Al

Huntsville Railway Company Huntsville, Al

Huntsville Railway Company Huntsville, Al

Huntsville Railway Company Huntsville, Al

Huntsville Railway Company Huntsville, Al

A Three story Museum with miniature train set on the first floor, second floor has a large model train  set to look like the depot did in 1862 and on the third floor is Civil War history 

Huntsville Railway Company Huntsville, Al

Burritt Museum

Burritt on the Mountain is a public 167-acre, scenic site overlooking Huntsville, Alabama, featuring a 19th century living history (interpretive) park, an eclectic ...

Burritt Museum

In 1955 physician and Huntsville native William Henry Burritt willed his estate and mansion known as Round Top Mountain to the city of Huntsville to create their first museum. 

Huntsville Botanical Gardens taking a Hay ride thru the garden 

Huntsville Botanical Gardens  Rose Garden
Huntsville Botanical is more than a garden, from May thru Sept the garden comes alive with butterflies, in the butterflies house, the Scarecrow Trail is filled with goblins from Sept through October and the Garden is bubbling over with Christmas lights during their Galaxy of Light. There is always something to do at the garden.