One starts at the home front with a little stroll along the beach - flowers everywhere...
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| Walking on the beach and admiring all the thistles... |
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| Glimpses of the sea from lush gardens. |
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| Enjoying the lilies in the garden on Cariboo Island |
The Gaelic, Irish, Scottish cultural influences are evident still in Pictou County. A large mural downtown Pictou shows the first settlers wading ashore, encouraged by bagpipes
The mural is starting to show a few cracks and is getting weather worn, but still, it sets the tone.
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| Settlers wading ashore in Pictou |
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| Not Loch Ness, but almost as gloomy, settlers named one of their landing areas Loch Broom, the name of their home back in Scotland. |
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| A dew drop for every bloom - rain and more rain,... |
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| Ever steaming Scott Paper Mill, across Pictou Harbour |
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| The original Loch Broom Log Church has long rotted away, but in 1975 a replica was built. |
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| A Tartan adorned chandelier in rough hewn Loch Broom Log Church |
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| Today's activities at the Log Church: a family Ceilidh, better known as an all out party with highland dancing, picnic, bagpipes and a general good time as well as religious services in old Gaelic and English |
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The Cameron Memorial, showing the names of the first settlers
1767 six families arrived in Pictou on the brig Betsy - the first settlers. On Sept 15, 1773, the Ship Hector brought thirty six Scottish families, as well as thirty single men - nearly all Presbyterian.
They send a plea for a minister to Scotland, and on July 11, 1786 Reverend Dr. James Drummond MacGregor, 27 years old, arrived in Halifax from Portmore, Scotland. Three men, already ordained as Elders, came with him. Their names: Simon Fraser, Thomas Fraser and Alexander Fraser. |
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| Part of the list of names on the Cameron Memorial |
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Replica Loch Broom Log Church
Unheated, people sat on flattened logs during service, a ladder gave access to a loft, to which the children would be delegated. The congregation stood to pray and sat to sing. They arrived on foot or by boat, as there were no roads.
1786 Pictou County had about 90 families/500 settlers. Rev McGregor did not receive his first pay until 13 months into his new job. To add to his troubles, drunken sailors tried to burn down his house, but he continue to minister not only to the people of Pictou but also to people in Pennsylvania, Maryland and the Scottish Highlands (Cape Breton?). He is reported to have bought freedom for at least three slaves, one of which costs him seven months of his salary. |
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Dan Munro - Pictou County Artist
Dan lives in Gairloch, Pictou County (www.danmunroartworks.com) and has been painting since more than 35 years. His medium of choice is water colour (I have one of his watercolours of 40 years ago - a mere beginner then)
These little paintings sold for $35 a piece at the Pictou County weekend craft market. |
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| Lovely small acrylic by Dan Munro - offered for sale at $ 35 |
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| At the same Pictou County craft market - quilts of all sizes and motifs. Sewn with love and patience by many women, these little treasures sold for a relative pittance. |
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| Tuckered Duck - wood carvings and furniture |
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Along Pictou waterfront, the Avenue of the Clans
Many of the original names with their tartan and crests adorn the local lamp posts |
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| Something happening every weekend. Dragon Races on the East River. But - high winds and sizable whitecaps kept the racers off the water (last year a couple of the dragon boats turned turtle during similar wind conditions). Musical entertainment made up for the lack of action on the water |
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| Race abandoned....too much wind |
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| Dragon Race supporter in her tartan |
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They say, Scottish people are tough - I would not want to mess with this tartan clad lady....
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