Amherst a happening little place!!

Hi all we have spent the last two weeks in beautiful downtown Amherst (the "H" is silent). Last weekend was the "MaRS" festival, the Maritimes Rockabilly Shakedown. I am not sure the a comes in but I guess MaRS sounds better than the MRS festival. The closed off the streets in the downtown and had vendors a car show and an open stage with free concerts. This years headliner was Lee Rocker ex of the Straycats along with Johnny Cash's drummer Fluke Holland and many more. We sat through "Lenny Crash and the Restorations" show which was about 75 minutes at the free stage and enjoyed them.

 

Lenny Crash and the Restorations

There were people milling about in "Rockabilly" clothing vendors selling everything from Pipe Dresses to hot dogs and lobster rolls. I am not sure but I think it is illegal to have a Festival in the maritimes without Lobster Rolls.

There about 60 old cars for the car show as there was limited space and the cars changed each day. I caught this shot on the Saturday.

Chicks and Cars

The headliners played at "The Stadium" which for you west coasters is the Arena, and had been sold out for months so we walked by on Friday night but listening outside is just not the same.

The following weekend was the "Wild Blueberry Festival". Within a 50 kilometre range of Amherst is largest wild blueberry patches in Eastern Canada. The blueberries are low bush berries and are harvested each year using a "Combine" like harvester. The berries grow wild on the hillsides and except for the relocating of the larger rocks the fields are Wild. Once again the main street was shut down and vendors musicians and Kids Stuff took over. We sat and listened to two performers got a pulled pork sandwich and just enjoyed the days. Sunday was kind of washed out due to heavy rains from some hurricane or other but a good time was had by all.

This miniature fire truck was a huge hit with the kids..........ok me too.

Right downtown Amherst is 3 churches the Baptist the Anglican and a Presbyterian. They are all made of stone and have incredible stained glass windows.

The Baptist Church

The Presbyterian Church

Window from the Baptist Church

In the 1960's and 70's Amherst was hit with Dutch Elm Disease and it killed of all of the wild Elm Trees. As the city struggled with what to do with the old trees a guy from Truro asked if he could carve some of them. So as you walk around town you see "Statues"of people that were carved from the trunks of the infected trees. There are around 35 of these Carvings around the town. In front of the Baptist church is a carving of the minister and one of his wife.

Minister of the Baptist Church

My grandmother who has been going to the baptist church for just about 80 years doesn't like it when I ask her what is the minister doing with his hands in front of his pants but hat just the "devil" in me i guess.

The town of Amherst has a long and rich history, four of the fathers of confederation were born here, they built the Anson Bomber here during WWII, the houses are old and very large and the people are very friendly. There are no fences between yards and the lawns are always cut. The town is going through some tough times as industries closed and jobs move away but they are experimenting with windmills and tourism ios on the rise so don't count out the old town just yet.

We are leaving tomorrow for the southern part of Nova Scotia and I hope to update you all as we go. Thank you once again for reading our Blog

JunKel