Wednesday 7th September

Today we visited Fortress Louisbourg.The fortified French colonial town twice endured sieges that shaped the destiny of north America.  The French came to Louisbourg in 1713 following territorial losses to the English in Newfoundland and Acadia in the war of the Spanish succession. Based on a thriving fishing industry and trade, Louisbourg quickly became France's most important stronghold and seaport in what is now Atlantic Canada.
By 1760, Louisbourg lay in English hands and its fortifications were destroyed.  Today, the Fortress of Louisbourg is a national reconstructed 18th Century town in North America.

In the evening we were the guests of the North Sydney Rotary Club at their weekly meeting - Our 2nd presentation to a club was given here.

We visited Mayor John Morgan of Cape Breton Regional Municipality and exchanged gifts.

Following this we were entertained at an old fashioned Nova Scotia Ceilidh at the home of Murdock and Jeanne MacNeil.  There were those who could play the fiddle, guitar, the spoons and keyboard.  We were also entertained by a step dancer and a group sing song of all the olod favourite Scottish songs.  John and Jack did not let the side down...and recited a poem or 2.  What a brilliant time.

Jack Daniel’s Tribute to McGonagall

If McGonagall you do not know

Then to the Google you should go

And there within that magic place

You will see him given space.

T’will tell you of his finest verse

That scholars thought was but a curse

And by the Tay in fair Dundee

He is well known as could be.

He wrote verse about the mills

And wonderful poems of the Angus hills

He was a poet of great renown

In many a pub of a Scottish town

And if from Canada you should wander

And travel far by way of Gander

Then make your way to Edinburgh town

And by McGonagall’s tomb sit down.