On route to the beautiful little seaside town of Digby, we stopped at a little lake for a swim. First chance to get in the water and have a splash around, ESP lovely since it had been raining recently. Arrived at Digby backpackers to be greeted by the lovely hosts Saskia and Claud. They made us a beautiful seafood chowder and followed this with getting the campfire started. Played s***head with the cards, drank a few beer and then started the goodstuff; made s'mores!! Haven't had them since the Timbers camp days and they were just as good as I remembered, if not better thanks to our perfectionist leader. So midnight struck and we started Canada day in style, with a few pretty fireworks.

The next day we went for a clam dig. So what is a clam and how do you get them out of the sand? We were introduced to the clam man, who explained how to dig and helped us along the way. It involves looking to tiny holes in the sand, digging the 3-5 prong fork into the sand and using your back and knees to move the sand. Have a look in the sand you've moved for clams or for more wholes as a clue where to dig next. If your lucky, you'll hit a clam with your fork and it will reward you by shooting you in the face with its juice!! Once you've to one, you have to check if its big enough by putting it through an oval on the side of the collection bucket. If its too small, you have to bury it again I give it time I grow more before collecting it. We spent about an hour digging, completely backbreaking, and I gathered 4. Kenny got about 12. Between the group of 12 people, we nearly filled a bucket, which the clam man could get himself in an hour!! Definitely have respect for those who do this for a living, 4-5hours a day without a break, (as when they can do it depends on the tides, as try are essentially digging the seabed when the tide is low) for 6 days a week for little pay. Afterwards we were rewarded with a clam and sea vegetable lunch, accompanied by the clam man singing his own songs and playing guitar; what a great way to spend Canada day!!

Later on we went for a hike to the balancing rock; a rock that has literally balanced on the cliff edge for thousands of years. So scaling the barriers to get a picture beside it, we really hoped we didn't knock over a piece of history. On the way back, we noticed a pretty amazing flower called sundew, will had the power to attract and kill an insect within 15 seconds! You wouldn't need to touch your greenhouse at all Mum :)

The night followed with another campfire, I love them, they never get old...

On leaving Digby, we passed through Bear River, which is a little town that balances on wooden stilts due to tidal variations, which is pretty amazing but hard to get your head around. With the Bay of Fundy having one of the biggest variations in the world, I suppose it is necessary.

Next we hiked to a gold mine. Kenny, having watched Gold Rush religiously for months before we left, had high expectations... Unfortunately how they mined gold a 100+ years ago in Canada, is pretty different from modern day Alaska gold mining. So in the rain and chased by Mosquitos, we read about how they chose where to mine, by following quartz veins, the equipment used and their relevant successes. When we reached to mining holes, they were about the size of a small car but no telling how deep as they were filled with water. All in all, a funny experience, watching everyone try to dodge the puddles in there trainers or flip flops, while I strode on in my walking boots :)

Digby... Loved it