Kings County bus tour leads to hidden gems
The hidden gems of Kings County are worth climbing on the bus to see.
Not only that, but the tour is the best deal ever.
The County of Kings hosted its initial bus tour on June 10 and retired planner David Poole was a knowledgeable tour guide.
He knew there were pink lady slipper blooming beside Aylesford Lake to stop and admire. In fact, Poole had many interesting facets of Kings County to share.
Apparently, Kings County is the size of Singapore, or 800 square miles, but he said it only has 60,000 residents, compared to 5.5 million.
The county boasts several hundred lakes, but Aylesford Lake offers a public beach with lifeguard service and a boat launch. It was set up in 1990 with funds raised by development fees for recreation.
Deputy Mayor Emily Lutz, who took the bus, pointed an expert guitar repair service en route and spoke about learning to sail at the yacht club on the lake.
Upon arrival, county staff member Tammy Bezanson opened the gate and a pair of Canada geese toddled off into the water.
The second stop on the tour was Mcmaster Mill Park and photos, even on a sunny day, don’t convey the beauty of the seven acre site, which borders Rocknotch Road to the west, Harmony Road to the south and the Fales River to the east.
The land was donated to the county as a public park in 2010 by three daughters of J.R. Clayton Mcmaster. Poole recalled the sisters coming into the county office with the amazing idea of a gift of land, not unlike the Prescott sisters giving their family home in Starr’s Point to the province.
And then there’s the waterpowered lumber mill that’s still evident with bits of buildings intact, but it is hard to imagine that the family-run business operated for nearly a century from 1857 to 1954.
Leaving the churning water, Poole talked about the agricultural history of the fields we passed, how in the 60s apple trees were felled, to be replaced by tobacco and then vegetable crops.
Lutz pointed out intensively grown honey crisp apple trees, which are grown three feet apart and require fewer pesticides.
The ditches are beginning to fill with purple lupin and a recommendation is voiced for Holmestead Cheese in Nicholsville as the bus speeds past.
CFB Greenwood was next on the tour which Poole noted is the second largest base in Canada. He says the climate and the reasonable cost of real estate bring many retiring service people back to the area.
Melissa Morrison, who lives on the base with her pilot husband, says CFB Greenwood has the best PMQS in Canada. The current security climate allows the bus to drive right in.
Crossing the Valley tour participants head for Morden and Poole speaks of the sandy soil in the region that allows for early vegetables to be grown under plastic.
“The carrots are humungous,” he says, allowing that the soil type permits ease of development, so there is often a conflict between building and protecting farmland. A bus tour of Kings County opened the eyes of people as to the treasures that can be found locally. Young Abby Welton relaxes for a moment in one spot, while Ed Coleman welcomes participants to Morden Community Centre during another stop.
Morden, which is over the 725-foot high North Mountain, is cooler and the waves are rolling near the French Cross. Written history here goes back to 1755 and the starvation of fleeing Acadians, to Pierre Melanson and his Mi’kmaq guide.
A warm welcome awaits everyone at the well cared for community centre. A tasty lunch of fish chowder is made and served by gracious village residents. This tour is a treat.
Contact Robyn Dearman to save a seat on the next tour on July 15 - 902-690–6190 or email her at: rdearman@countyofkings.ca