Mills, Rivers, and Beaches (Hanging Out in Pictou County, Nova Scotia)

One of the highlights from my visit to Pictou County was swimming at Melmerby Beach, part of Northumberland Straight —probably the best beach in Nova Scotia I’ve ever been too (Risser’s Beach is a close second). I don’t know what the waves are like on a regular basis, but they were excellent when I was there last weekend. It was funny to watch all the beachgoers congregate to one of the two spots where the waves were “awesome.” Young and old stood facing and waiting for the next “big one” and with arms in air we all let ourselves get carried away!

“The Merb,” as the locals call it, got its name from the barque "Melmerby" which sank off the beach on October 12, 1890. “The Merb” is one’s of Nova Scotia’s busiest beaches and also home to lots of position ivy, so watch out. Other plant life found along the 2km beach is dune grass, beach pea, and the pretty pink bindweed. It is apparently one of the warmest beaches in Nova Scotia. I can’t say it was “warm” per se, but compared to swimming at Bayswater beach, it “ain’t so bad,” especially once you get used to it.

Facilitates include: ample parking, change rooms and bathrooms, salt-water shower, vending machines, and boardwalks. Parts of the beach are supervised.

[caption id="attachment_43" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Balmoral Grist Mill"][/caption]

 

My friends also took me to Balmoral Grist Mill, a working mill from 1874. I won’t lie to you and pretend we went through the museum part (not always in the mood for such things). Instead we went for a leisurely walk along the trail following Matheson’s Brook. It was a quick stopover between yard sales and Rushton Beach were we “sunbathed” and waited to warm up before swimming—which we ended up not doing as it was too cold and there were too many jelly fish. Still, it made for a beautiful picnic stop for supper.

[caption id="attachment_45" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The Walk to Rushtons Beach"][/caption]

As the second part of my vacation comes to a close (in the city visiting another friend), I look forward to returning to country life in the valley with my parents for a few days before heading out yet again with my mother and sister to New Brunswick. Yeah, I’m a little homesick.