This was a fund raising event for the Smith's Cove Fire Department. Feeling adventurous, wanting an excuse to walk out to Bear Island along the causeway and quite unwilling to walk alone, and definitely wanting to support our volunteer fire department, I went down to the Fire Hall and registered for the Scallawag Run. A group of 78 participants set off at 1930. The walkers had a head start. We got ourselves down to Smith's Cove Beach, and walked quite briskly along to the causeway, which is only visible at low tide.
I guess we should have sauntered along the beach, because we were too early for low tide. Even though we could see the causeway, and its configuration, several sections of the causeway were still under water. The walkers stopped short, and chatted and milled about waiting for the tide to continue to go down, so we could continue our walk across to Bear Island.
The runners, on the other hand, are an of an entirely different mind set. They just splashed through the water, and left us in their wake. 
But, we walkers didn't really care. Some anxious souls took off their running shoes and socks, and ploughed through the water, but the rest of us just waited for the tide to go down. Eventually it did. The causeway became more and more connected. Suddenly, as happens when the tide is going in or out, there was a muddy path. Most of us crossed on the sticky mud.
And there, on Bear Island, we wandered along the rocky beach. Looking east, we could see far up the Annapolis Basin. A magnificent view.
The island itself was a strange combination of marshy grasslands, and very congested bush. The seagulls are the tenants of the island. Their security guard unit paced around the grassy marsh, eyeing us with a curious malevolence. But they did not dive-bomb us, for which we were thankful.
At the north side of the island we found sail boats from the Royal Western Nova Scotia Yacht Club anchored just off shore. Their crews had been on the beach, and had set a bonfire to cheer on the runners. By the time the strangling walkers arrived, the bonfire had been doused, and the crew were in their tenders, rowing back to their boats. One group gave us a wave and shout of encouragement from the distance.
This is me at the most western spit of land on Bear Island. We were all taking pictures of ourselves and each other at this point. 
And then, just around the corner, there was Smith's Cove, seen from a less than frequently viewed angle. It was rather novel to look at our village, and pick out the Teed/Rollo residence on the hillside.
It's in the middle of the picture. A small, pale yellow house surrounded by trees, but just visible. There is a double field just above the house, so find that landmark, then cast your eye down, and you'll find our house.
The return portion was a bit hazardous, with smooth, round rocks, slippery with water, seaweed, and sea moss, and sharp with barnacles. We had to ford two small streams. This one looks quite sweet and innocent, but the gravel banks were constantly shifting underfoot, and the water was slightly more than ankle deep and moving at speed. It was like miniature rapids.We gingerly threaded our way across, finding nearly stable islands and peninsulas on which to tread, or taking a large leap over the flowing water. There were no mishaps, so we all made choices best for ourselves.
And then, we were back on the causeway, which provided us with a fairly solid footing back to the beach. The sun was setting in the west, and we were treated to a colourful display among the tidal pools and watery mud flats.
When the sky and water turn pink and mauve, the light rapidly disappears. Me, I had a big grin because I had enjoyed the walk, chatting with several people on the way, and stretching my muscles. I had planned to hike along the Appalachian Trail this summer, but there have been some modifications in the plans, so I am now taking shorter day hikes along our Nova Scotia portion of the Appalachian Mountains. This Scallawag Run was an ideal opportunity to walk along one of the generally unexplored places in our region. Bear Island sits in the Annapolis Basin, enticing us to visit, but with the causeway accessible only at low tide, the island is rarely visited. But, I went around it today, with a small crowd of persons, and her ei am grinning at the end of it all. 
My shoes are now quite useless. They have served me well, but after a couple of years walking around UK, Europe, southern Africa, eastern Canada, southern USA, I think it might be time to hang up these shoes. Well, maybe I'll use them in the garden for this year, I'll see how they are tomorrow.
And, as a bonus, I received a medal for completing the Scallawag Run.
All in all, a very enjoyable couple of hours this evening.
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