Peggy's Cove

     Peggy's Cove is on the top of the list of places to visit when you come to Nova Scotia. It is one of the numerous villages around the perimeter of the Chebucto Peninsula and has a population of 30 permanent residents which increases to 35 in the summer season.

     It is a picturesque village where the lighthouse stands upon large round rocks at the end of the peninsula. Tourists come from all over the world to view the light house and watch the ocean waves crashing upon the rocks. Although there are warning signs not to go too close to the edge, many people still walk out onto the black, slippery rocks. Each year several people get swept into the ocean by an unexpected wave. Some of them are rescued while others have lost their lives and have never been found.

     The colours of Peggy's Cove:

Ropes and buoys of all colours, sizes and shapes

On the top left is the road that leads to the lighthouse

Waiting to go out and check the nets

An old whale bone outside of one of the gift shops

An abandoned dory

Outside a local shop

Colourful buoys

An anchor stuck in the rock near the lighthouse

Every village has one. An abandoned shack

In the William E. deGarthe Provincial Park, is a carved granite outcropping. This 30 m (100 ft) sculpture was carved by deGarthe as "a lasting monument to Nova Scotian fishermen". It depicts 32 fishermen, their wives, and children enveloped by the wings of St. Elmo, the patron saint of sailors, as well as the legendary Peggy of the Cove.

Bev phoning home!!!!

The Lighthouse

The lighthouse seen from a distance over the round rocks

The fog comes and goes

The round rocks are the foundation of the lighthouse.
The rock can get wet and slippery so if you see dark rock,
then it is wet and slippery. Be careful!!

The lighthouse was built in 1914 and is not open to the public.

Piper at the Lighthouse

Swissair Flight 111 Memorial

     We went to the Memorial for the Swissair Flight 111 tragedy which occurred on September 2, 1998. We walked along a rugged path to get to the memorial site. At the site you can look out to the ocean and watch the waves crash against the smooth rock shore line.

     Although Peggy's Cove was (and still is) a tiny village, it was the closest community to the crash site and became the staging area for ambulances and rescue crews.

Pathway to the Memorial

Ilse and Al walking along the path to the Memorial

The memorial consists of two large rocks with benches so
people can sit, contemplate and remember the tragedy.

In memory of
the 229 men, women and children
aboard Swissair Flight 111
who perished off these shores
September 2, 1998

They have been joined to the sea and the sky

May they rest in peace

In grateful recognition of all those who worked tirelessly
to provide assistance in the recovery operations
and comfort to the families and their friends
during a time of distress

Looking out to sea from the Swissair Flight 111 Memorial.
Fog and waves!

      In 1998, I was volunteering for the Canadian Red Cross in Ontario and I remember the Red Cross response to Peggy's Cove to assist with the community, family and friends of the lost and other responders. I remember hearing lots of stories and I will always remember this photo of a Red Cross responder standing with a member of the Salvation Army looking out at sea towards the site of the crash and recovery.

This photo was used to illustrate the work that Red Cross 
does during a disaster in cooperation with other agencies

     The drive to and from Peggy's Cove is very pretty with many coves seen along the way. Boutiliers Cove was one of my favourites; it was so picturesque.

We stopped along the way home when we saw these fishing
nets laid out on the side of the road drying.
You don't see that everyday.

     The journey to Peggy's Cove was pleasant and the Village of Peggy's Cove is quaint. As mentioned before, thousands of people come to Peggy's Cove to see the landscape, lighthouse and the Atlantic Ocean. Al and I have been there twice this year when visitors came to visit us here in Nova Scotia. It is the touristy thing to do. You can get a souvenir from one of a number of gift shops. You can eat a lobster roll (lobster in the "hot dog" bun) or other food items. Most of the people in Nova Scotia don't seem to have the same feeling for Peggy's Cove as the tourists. Many of them have not even been to Peggy's Cove.

     As a visitor to Nova Scotia, Peggy's Cove should be on your list of places to visit. Just remember to be careful. Don't get too close to the water's edge.