In The Spirit of Adventure at Cabot Shores, Past and Present

Upon looking for definitions of Adventure and adventurous in Roget’s Thesaurus and in the American Heritage Dictionary, I was struck by the several negative definitions that preceded more uplifting ones – definitions such as risky or questionable undertaking.  Obviously, this is not the kind of adventure we engage in at Cabot Shores.

It’s more about encouraging a Spirit of Adventure. A spirit of adventure embodies qualities such as curiosity,  courage, a willingness to stretch out of one’s comfort zone, inquisitiveness, inclusiveness, a group effort, working together to solve a problem or reach a destination, having an open mind, and a willingness to be delighted and surprised.

Childhood experiences might come to mind. I spent part of my childhood living in a cabin off the grid, accessible mostly on foot and some distance from the nearest village, in the meadows and woods of northeastern France.  I lived there primarily with my grandparents who took me foraging for special wildflowers, berries and mushrooms; where I learned how to cook and garden, and how to put up food; where I also learned how to host small gatherings and festive meals, chop wood, make and tend a fire, play in a tree house with a swing and hammock; be allowed to explore the woods on my own, feeling safe, connecting with the spirit of the woods and that of special climbing trees. And to share these experiences with visiting kids and with my brother.

Looking back, this was a magical time in my life.   These were timeless experiences, where learning took place effortlessly, connections were made naturally, the envrionment was respected and enjoyed. The smells and sounds of the woods, meadows and its inhabitants are with me to this day.

I see that this magic has lived in me all my life. I have always been drawn to remote places where this natural energy is viscerally present and accessible. I am discovering that this type of magic lives here in the land and the water of Cape Breton.

On an outer level are the berries, wildflowers and mushrooms; the moose and eagles; the gardening, the cooking and the fires; the hikes to waterfalls and caves; the smell of the ocean.

On an inner level are the elemental experiences of the natural world. The quick changes of weather and the wind that gusts and howls, at times reflecting inner states of mind; the tides; the sun on the water, on the snow, through the ice; the sensations of being in and on the water, exploring the woods in all kinds of weather.

The mind relaxes and expands. Ordinary concerns and worries fall away.   Breathing opens up.   We feel alive and refreshed.

At Cabot Shores, we have made it our mission to share these kind of experiences with our guests and their friends, family and kindred people you might meet here. We realize that everyone has their own way of experiencing their sprit of adventure. Not every adventure here is appropriate for each visitor.

Different Guests,   Different Adventures

For example, a 91 year old women’s adventure was to cross on our Eagle Feather Ferry to the beach whereas her teenage granddaughter preferred to make her way to the beach via a Yolo board (stand-up paddle board), accompanied by the dog. Or, when taking a group of elders into the Indian Brook wilderness, some of the group decided to turn around at the first lookout, whereas a small group continued to one of the waterfalls. Whereas yet another group of mixed age adventurers set out hiking, swimming and climbing through the Indian Brook riverbed to a truly spectacular, timeless waterall, picking berries and spotting eagles along the way.

We invite you to allow us to help you design your own experience, one that suits your interests and abilities, and your spirit of adventure.