May 18, 2010. Western Head, N.S. The New Wall.

Three times since we have lived here the causeway had to be closed. The sea brought rocks and boulders over the road damaging the road. Last August was the worst, when the road bed totally disappeared, for a distance of about six feet, allowing the waters to come right into the lake. Each time the road was repaired a bit differently, in the hope that the water will stay in the ocean and not cross the road. The first time rocks were just piled up along the road. The second time the authorities leveled the rocks and just allowed the high waves come over the road into the lake. That worked, except the road was cut in two when six feet of the road ended up in the lake.

This new approach is ugly but just might do the trick. But maybe not. On the ocean side of the road a wall has been built, six feet high, with large boulders and stone behind it. The wall is made of large cement blocks, all fitted together like Lego blocks. Most local people think that a heavy sea will just tip the whole wall over as the blocks are just sitting on top of the shoulder of the road. The walk across the causeway was very pleasant as you could see the waves on one side and the lake on the other, but now walking is not as nice. The shoulders of the road are much smaller and even though the cars are few and far between, a walker must pay more attention. It will take a big storm to test our new wall. In the meantime, local friends are betting on the ocean to win the battle.