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Sailboating enthusiasts are looking forward to the anticipated opening of the Halifax to Lunenburg water trail in July, 2000.

by Dave Caulfield

May 29th, 1999 Halifax, N.S. - Kayaker and conservationist Sue Browne definitely has both oars in the water. Since January, Browne has sat at the rudder of a campaign to develop Atlantic Canada's first coastal water trail, and the sixth in Canada.

Atlantic Canada first coastal trail? Thinking immediately of the Keji
Adjunct, the Coastal trail in the Highlands, I decide to inquire about its
stake as the first trail.

"Huh?" I ask, exploiting every last kernel of my journalistic knowhow.

"Well," she begins with the meditative patience of someone who's explained something a thousand times, "This is a boating trail."

Oh!

"This is a new experience in Nova Scotia," Browne says, letting yours truly
off the hook.

FYI: according to the North American Water Trails Association, a water trail is a stretch of river, or shoreline, or an ocean that's been mapped out to
create an educational, scenic, and challenging experience for recreational
canoers and kayakers.

Browne recently steered the Nova Scotia Coastal Water Trail Project out of the funding stage of the pilot project, which will map out a coastal trail
connecting Halifax and Lunenburg. The project will receive help from the
Ecology Action Centre (where Browne volunteers), the provincial government, the EJLB Foundation (a private, charitable foundation from Quebec), as well as several community groups and area businesses.

Stage two of the pilot project, just underway, involves a variety of things. The trail has to be mapped. Overnight stopping areas (with suitable launching areas and a safe place to leave a boat for the night) for various
kinds of  boaters have to be found, which will range from secluded wilderness sites for under-the-stars snoozers to area Bed & Breakfasts that offer under-the-quilt brand of rest and a hot meal to boot. (This trail will be open to self-propelled boats as well as canoes and kayaks, though it seems as though wilderness sites, with small launching areas will be more readily available to folks in canoes, kayaks and other small boats.) Safe havens, where boaters can duck for cover from sudden storms, also have to identified.

"We're doing a lot of field checking," she explains, adding that she's also
talking to local boating enthusiasts, asking them about places they like to
stop. "We're looking at Crown land first." Private land is a possiblility,
but she says the Trail Project won't start approaching the Department of
Natural Resources or private landowners until autumn.

The Trail Project also aims to hook up with area attractions, which will
give travelling boaters the chance to stock up on food, do a load of
laundry, take a whale watching tour, rent bikes or hike a coastal trail.
Hence the support from local businesses.

The pilot project, connecting Halifax and Lunenburg, is expected to be
completed by July 2000.

"Hopefully, it'll go around the whole province eventually," she says.

RELATED WEBSITES:

The Ultimate Directory of Kayaking Links
http://www.cstone.net/users/winter/clubs
Curious about sea kayaking in Finland? Intrigued by water trails in the
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