A Mysterious Land?

No one can say exactly who built these structures, nor exactly when. The 1400's? Earlier? later? These are the mysterious ruins of Bayers Lake, tucked into a corner of Bayers Lake retail park, oddly out of phase with the surrounding mix of retail and office buildings. But that's just another one of those idiosyncrasies of this fascinating and captivating province.

For many centuries Nova Scotia was a landing point, a rest place, a fortress or shelter for ancient mariners a home to the Mi'kmaq. The enigmatic, craggy and mystery-bound eastern coastline to the gentle inlets of the south shore or the rolling hills of the Annapolis Valley coast line. Many different cultures and nations have tread upon these shores.

Speculation of the Bayers Lake mystery walls runs that it may have been a trading post with the Mi'kmaq native Indians. Others that it was an outpost of the British navy. More recent is the tantalizing theory it was built by the Sinclair's of Scotland as they searched to hide the Templar treasure from the French and English. Which ties to the enigmatic and elusive treasure of Oak Island (which some now speculate is a diversion from where the real Templar treasure is hidden.) On Goat Island near L'habitation in Annapolis is a stone; upon which is carved the Masonic square & compass, with the date "1607" carved in it. Except "modern" Freemasonry wasn't started until the 1700's. The main building of the Bayers Lake walls is 5-sided; not at all a typical design of the past, with the entrance facing East. Why 5 sided?

This land abounds with them. The brilliant tale of Glooscap, the vikings, the French, the British, the Acadians...perhaps Nova Scotia is, arguably, one of the most mystery filled places in North America? I've come to find it so myself...on a foggy cool day driving along the coast, one can almost see the ghosts of Templar knights stealing quietly up the beaches, treasure chests in hand...

The Unveiling Canvas of Autumn in Nova Scotia

I felt the crisp, fresh breeze of autumn drift up from the harbour yesterday evening. It seemed as if Mother Nature was gently lifting the first corner of her fall canvass, giving us just a hint of the brilliant hues that would soon dress trees and bushes.

A breath of that cool, invigorating air and floods of memories stirred in my mind and sliver of contentment traveled up my spine. Autumn stirs this province from the lazy late summer heat and sets the pace for the winter to come. Steaming mugs of hot cocoa after a crisp evening walk in the park. The delirious mess of the kitchen from pumpkin carving and the scent of roasting pumpkin seeds.

Soon the Annapolis Valley will hear the laughter of children dashing about the Corn Maze. The local farms bustle with people out to pick their very own pumpkins straight from the field. Kentville and Wolfville homes and places decorate their lawns with fancily dressed pumpkin people. For a warm evening barbeque there's always the Pumpkin Beer of Propeller Brewery, yet another unique flavour of Nova Scotia.

The long anticipation of the Thanksgiving turkey dinner. The kitchen filled with family and friends preparing the meal while the house overflows with the melodious scents of cooking turkey. Plates filled with turkey, butternut squash, potatoes, carrots and turnip, heaps of stuffing and ladles overflowing with gravy. A crisp Gaspereau Valley or Jost wine to wash it down.

Sweaters become warm companions, while jackets are shaken from their summer slumber in the closet. Shorts and t-shirts are laid away for their hibernation. Lawn chairs and umbrella's are tucked and rose bushes wrapped. Leaves carpet the lawns and the sound of raking fills the Sunday afternoons.

Perhaps most pleasant of all is the daily, changing canvas of Mother Natures trees. Some brilliant yellows, startling reds or the occasional mottled brown of the oak. This is autumn in Nova Scotia, where memories of laughter and pleasant evenings warm a heart on a chilly winters day.

(Photo Credit: laszlofromhalifax on Flickr)