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Looking at the light from
the north side of the rocky shore. I cropped this photo
because the rocks in the foreground didn't add anything to the shot.
Also, some of the clouds above were bland.
Now it was time to go to Halifax and try to find an outdoor supply
store so that I could purchase a winter jacket or maybe some snow
tires. This is when I learned that the stores in
Nova Scotia are not open on Boxing Day. I decided that I would
spend the day driving north to the Cape Breton Highlands.
A Cold Hell
I found myself in the
highest elevations of all of Nova Scotia. It was dark, and I
wanted to try out a photographic idea that I have been working out
in my head.. (can't tell y'all what it is) When I found
an area of deep darkness on the top of a mountain, I pulled off of
the road on a turn out. I didn't notice that the turnout was
covered with ice, but I did notice that I couldn't stop on the
slightly down angled slope. I was sliding very slowly to the
edge of a parking lot. My head lights shined forward, and I
saw nothing beyond a small guard rail surrounding the area.
This was it, should I jump? What do I try to grab from the
truck before it goes over the edge? My cameras are my life,
but I wouldn't have a life if I didn't grab my backpack full of
camping gear. If I thought to long, I may not ever be found at
the bottom of that ridge. I figured that I didn't have enough
momentum to break through the metal rail, but I would end up with a
nice dent in my new truck. Luckily, a small snow bank
kept me from hitting the guardrail. Now that I am here, should
I try to get the pictures I intended on shooting ? No!!
I am going to have to find a way to get off of this sheet of ice.
I had a bit of chain with me, but it was only 1 yard long. I
put it under the rear drive tire, and put the truck into reverse.
The wheels spun for a while, and I pushed from the front.
Damn, this didn't work. Just than, I noticed lights coming
from the direction that I had come from. I wondered what kind
of idiot would be up here at this time of
the night. Luckily, it was a park ranger and he was
able to help push my truck out of the way of danger. Whew,
that was close. I needed to find a nice place to sleep after
that experience. Before I left the area, I asked the ranger
about the weather forecast. He said It was not suppose to snow
that night. Thanks for the info dude, it was wrong!
After driving as far north
as possible, I slept in my truck in a co-op grocery store parking
lot at Meat Cove. During the night,
the manager of the store came to see why I was parked in the lot.
He allowed me to stay. I was listening to a radio station from
New Foundland. I found it odd that the time zone in New
Foundland has been adjusted 1/2 hour. I woke about 3am and
noticed that snow had started accumulating on my truck. I knew
that I would have to leave immediately if I was going to have any
chance of getting through the mountains to the nearest service
station. I had to drive bout 8 miles over coastal
mountain roads to get to the main intersection. After an
unsuccessful attempt of getting up the first hill just east of the
intersection, I decided that I would have to turn back and wait at
the intersection for a snow plow. The blanket of snow was
getting thick quickly. About 1 hour after I parked at the
intersection, I saw 2 snow plows come from the west. After
cleaning off the intersection, they proceeded east. I followed
the freshly plowed roads as best I could, but the plows did
eventually get out of my sight. I pushed on until I got
to the town of Ingonish Beach. The
first gas station on the right side of the road was my next sleeping
spot.
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