An October Walk along Houston Beach

It was a perfect day for a walk along Houston beach-mid October. Sunny. Neither too hot ,nor too cold. Perfect.
Houston ( or Heustis) is a little sand beach about 1.5 km long along the Minas Basin just below Blomidon Provincial Park
It’s quiet this time of year except for the occasional dog and family strolling along the red sand .

Today we were there at about 11:45. By then the tide was out a far bit. The tide would not be high again until 7:45 pm. Lots of time to explore.
I use this site to calculate the tide at Houston Beach/Blomidon. These tides are also good for Hantsport, Cheverie and Burntcoat Head. The Cape Split/Bay of Fundy side’s tides are an hour earlier, and it’s earlier the farther west you go.

Unlike the Atlantic shores-these Fundy tides are big and are high up on the beach-high enough at times to trap you between the high tide line and the cliffs. But no worries if you follow these  instructions. My rule of thumb for good ,safe beach walking along the Bay of Fundy and Minas Basin are starting 2-3 hours after the tide starts to ebb, and ending no later than 3 hours before high tide.

From the beach we could see along the far shore-Highway#2 in Cumberland County.  Economy Mountain, Five Islands.

Mi’kmawey Legend tells of how an enraged Kluskap (Glooscap to you and me, maybe) tries to drive away the highly annoying Giant Beaver by throwing five great clods of mud into Cobequid Bay. These clods of earth, now islands, are named, in no particular order Long, Egg, Moose, Diamond and Pinnacle

Please take care not to walk too close to any of the Minas Basin/Bay of Fundy cliffs. the cliffs. They crumble and fall and sometimes there are mighty big rocks tumbling down. That goes for you pets too.

If you’re looking for sea glass-this is probably not the best place. The beach and cliffs take a pounding.

But it’s great for taking pictures and finding other interesting tidbits. Shells and rocks and swallows nests in the cliffs…

Great spot  for bonfires and corn boils too-the bank shelters you from the wind. Mind the tide times, though and please-not during a burn ban.

It’s popular for swimming. Striped bass fishing is also a favorite- here and around every little salt water tributary ..and you don’t need  fishing license!

This is, of course only one awesome adventure along the beautiful Bay of Fundy

More About Houston Beach

• Take Exit 11 off Hwy 101 and go to the lights. Continue straight thru the lights to Canning via Hwy 358. Once through Canning look for signs to Blomidon on your left. Continue for almost 10 km until you see Stewart Mountain Rd-turn right and go to the end. Park on the road, not the beach.
• If you’re not familiar with the Minas Basin and its red water-it’s due to the red sandstone cliffs eroding into the water. It won’t wash out. Just so you know. Over 200 million years ago, when Nova Scotia was in the subtropics, red Triassic sedimentary rocks formed in lakes and rivers in what is now the Province’s Annapolis Valley. These rocks form the cliffs found in this region, including those in Blomidon.
• You’ll pass the “Elephants Trunk” at Delhaven along the way. This is the best place to get a picture! Be careful parking along the road here-it’s twisty.
• The Elephant Trunk has been washed  down many times by tides -but it’s back!