July 17, 2016 (2)

Welcome to Nova Scotia!Once again we have decided upon the scenic coastal route, so we followed the Northumberland Shore from Amherst to New Glasgow, approximatety 160 km. We had a stop-over today for a little touring in Pictue for an hour or so.

Lavender field enroute to Pictue, Nova Scotia.

Pictou is the home of the Hector Heritage Quay, a unique attraction located on the waterfront. 

Ship Hector, a is a full sized replica of the original ship which brought the first wave of emigrants from Scotland to Nova Scotia in 1773.

As the story goes - the famous journey began around the second week in July 1773 carrying 189 Highlanders (23 families, 25 single men) with the promise of free passage, 1 year free provisions and a farm. The Hector was an old ship and in poor condition when she left Europe. The journey took 11 weeks with a gale off Newfoundland that literally set them back 14 days. 

(sleeping conditions aboard the Hector)

Dysentery and smallpox claimed 18 lives on this arduous voyage, but on September 15, 1773 the vessel arrived in Pictou Harbour. 

As it turns out the free provisions never materialized and they had to hurry to build shelter without those provisions before winter set in and starved them. 

Pictou is a small community, approximately 3400 people. 

We wandered around and took pictures of old buildings.