Although mid-morning temperatures were in the low 50s, once the fog rolled in, the temperature dropped to a cool 44 degrees by afternoon.  This did not interfere with our enjoyment of this charming city.  We spent the day visiting two beautiful parks, the aptly named Point Pleasant on the harbor, and Hemlock Ravine, which also carries a descriptive name.

  

An extensive boardwalk along the harbor provided a pleasant place for a long stroll, even in the fog.  A fleet of tall ships were docked in the Halifax Harbour including the Mar. This handsome ship was built in 1959 and remains available for tours and charters. 

  

In one of the parks where we were hiking today, we came across a beautiful plant growing wild as groundcover in the woods. Upon closer examination we realized that both the blossom and leaves bore an uncanny resemblance to that familiar southern sight, the dogwood.

  

Bunchberry (aka dwarf dogwood)

A bit of research revealed that this is indeed a dwarf dogwood.  Also called bunchberry, this perennial sub-shrub is a diminutive member of the dogwood family and is native to a broad area extending west from extreme southern Greenland across North America in Canada and the northern tier of the United States, across Alaska and even to northeastern Asia.  Sadly, the South is not a conducive setting for this appealing plant.

DAILY STATS

• Miles driven:  46
• Letterboxes:  5
• Fog:  543,712,680 cu.ft.