Today was the first day of the Salty Bear tip which I have been looking forward to all holidays. We have a great group - Kristy (Aust), Kristian, Chris & Anna (UK), Natasha (Wales), Lorainne (Ireland), Katrina & Kirstin (Scotland), Anita, Christian & Bjorn (Switzerland) and our driver/guide Matt. Five minutes into the trip we were all joking around like we had been mates for years so I think it is going to be an awesome trip. So we felt Halifax via a short pit stop at the Botanical Gardens on our way to Cape Breton Island at the northern end of the province.

First stop was at the supermarket at Antigonish for supplies over the next few days - the 1L of vodka being of greatest importance. We stopped at Pomquet Beach Provincial Park (well what Canadians think is a beach) for lunch, and Matt, Kristy and myself went for a swim in St Georges Bay - cold!!

We then went for a very steep hike up Salt Mountain for magnificent views of Bras D'or Lakes. Our hostel was just around the corner - it was great it is actually a house owned by Salty Bear which they have converted into dorm style accommodation. In true Aussie style, Kristy and I were first to crack open the booze for an afternoon session on the front deck and a game of croquet (yes I still remember most of the rules!). After a great group meal of tacos and nachos, both Chris's and I went out to start the bonfire which was fell under way until we accidentally put it our. After half an hour of fumbling in the dark we gave up and got Matt to start it for us - thereafter referred to as Matt the Mountain Man.

Despite my constant shivering (which resulted in me melting part of my new shoes in the fire) we did say out playing "never ever" for several hours to the point where we were able to fill half a picnic table with empty booze bottles line up one by one.