Post by 150FromFundy on Apr 25, 2009 18:44:00 GMT -5
Cap d’Or (Cape of Gold) was originally named by early French explorers who were searching for the elusive Northwest Passage to establish trade routes with the far east. The expedition of Samuel de Champlain first stopped here in 1604. Well, they were the first Europeans to stop here.
What the early French explorers though was gold was actually native copper. The Micmac Indians, native to Nova Scotia, had been gathering copper here to make fishing hooks, sewing needles, and arrowheads for hundreds of years prior to the arrival of the early French.
Enough of the history and Maritime culture, this is a beautiful place to visit even if your not French, or Micmac. Tourists aren’t out yet, so I saw no one and heard only the sound off the pounding surf.
Photo 1 – Cap d’Or Lighthouse
A sentinel to a rockhound. Where there is light, there is rock. Interesting how the empty bucket going down doesn’t prepare you for the 70 lb bucket going up. You can see the rock headlands beyond the light. I’ve got to get down (and up) that!
Photo 2 – Cap d’Or Headlands
Looking back at the sun cresting the other side of the headlands. Well, I got down anyway.
Photo 3 – 300 feet of Basalt Overhead
A really stupid photo. Don’t try this at home. I am a trained idiot standing at the base of an eroding cliff well within the fall zone.
Photo 4 – Sun Kissed Cliffs
The sun is kissing the cliff at about 300 feet while some columnar jointing is visible in the foreground at just above sea level.
Photo 5 – Watch That First Step
The groundkeepers have to be careful when cutting the grass. It’s a 100 foot vertical drop just beyond the last blade of grass.
Photo 6 – Basalt Cliffs and Fresh Rock Falls
One more of the eroding basalt cliffs from above showing the fresh rockfalls at the base. This is evidence of why one should not take photos as I did in Photo 3.
Photo 7 – Today’s Bag Limit
Well I didn’t find and native copper, or any natives for that matter, but I am pleased with what I did find.
If you enjoyed this post, be sure and check out Horseshoe Cove coming soon.
150FromFundy
What the early French explorers though was gold was actually native copper. The Micmac Indians, native to Nova Scotia, had been gathering copper here to make fishing hooks, sewing needles, and arrowheads for hundreds of years prior to the arrival of the early French.
Enough of the history and Maritime culture, this is a beautiful place to visit even if your not French, or Micmac. Tourists aren’t out yet, so I saw no one and heard only the sound off the pounding surf.
Photo 1 – Cap d’Or Lighthouse
A sentinel to a rockhound. Where there is light, there is rock. Interesting how the empty bucket going down doesn’t prepare you for the 70 lb bucket going up. You can see the rock headlands beyond the light. I’ve got to get down (and up) that!
Photo 2 – Cap d’Or Headlands
Looking back at the sun cresting the other side of the headlands. Well, I got down anyway.
Photo 3 – 300 feet of Basalt Overhead
A really stupid photo. Don’t try this at home. I am a trained idiot standing at the base of an eroding cliff well within the fall zone.
Photo 4 – Sun Kissed Cliffs
The sun is kissing the cliff at about 300 feet while some columnar jointing is visible in the foreground at just above sea level.
Photo 5 – Watch That First Step
The groundkeepers have to be careful when cutting the grass. It’s a 100 foot vertical drop just beyond the last blade of grass.
Photo 6 – Basalt Cliffs and Fresh Rock Falls
One more of the eroding basalt cliffs from above showing the fresh rockfalls at the base. This is evidence of why one should not take photos as I did in Photo 3.
Photo 7 – Today’s Bag Limit
Well I didn’t find and native copper, or any natives for that matter, but I am pleased with what I did find.
If you enjoyed this post, be sure and check out Horseshoe Cove coming soon.
150FromFundy