Day 27 (Aug 20, 2024) Dingwall, NS to Ingonish, NS

We got up early and drank coffee while watching the sunrise from our porch. It was a beautiful (and dry) morning although rain was forecast. 

After packing up the car we walked out to the beach at Markland. We had the beach all to ourselves. The large pebbles on the beach made a unique sound in the surf - similar to what you mean hear in a white noise app.

The large pebbles in the surf with morning sun.

We had picked a hike called the Aspy Trail to do first. When we got the trailhead it was raining- we didn't feel like getting soaked again so we waited out the rain in the car. We felt pretty stupid when it stopped, we geared up and then went to the trailhead to read the sign (that we could see from our car) - the trail was closed. There was a nice waterfall (Beulach Ban Falls), though, 10 meters from the parking lot, so that was kind of a consolation prize for the hour and half that we lost.

Next we tried Mika Hill with a little more success. Alltrails had warned that there was little protection from the sun so the overcast sky was perfect. The rain held off except for a little misting at the end (which felt great), we flew the kite - although almost lost it to a pine tree- and best of all - there were wild blueberries.

Kite before it was attacked by a pine tree

We grabbed a quick lunch along the coast and then went for our second hike on Jack Pine and Coastal Trail. The trial was a little longer than a mile with beautiful views of cliffs over the ocean. Much of the hike was through the woods over tree roots, although after the rain, was quite humid. 

After our second hike we checked into Glinghorm Beach Resort. Our room had a balcony with a view of the ocean and was clean but did have a motel-like feel.  

45 miles in the car today (but only 28 door-to-door)