It’s funny how a nondescript newspaper item can cause a crescendo in one’s curiosity. Take this quirky little piece of filler I spied in a recent issue of Canada’s Globe and Mail:

“MAN FINED $330 FOR KIDNAPPING, INEBRIATING WOMAN’S GOAT – Pictou County, Nova Scotia: A man has been fined $330 for kidnapping a woman’s pet goat, named Percy. Michel Daviau, 41, pleaded guilty to stealing the goat last month. Mr. Daviau told a prosecutor he took the goat home and fed it alcohol until it became belligerent and began butting people. The judge noted the goat’s owner worried about her pet for two days.”

I wanted more goods on this goofy goatnabbing so I Googled “Pictou County, Nova Scotia” on the Internet. Within minutes I discovered there are two newspapers published in Pictou County: The Evening News, a daily newspaper; and The Pictou Advocate, a weekly paper about the size of The South Whidbey Record.

I clicked on The Evening News’ Web site, did a search for the goatnabber’s name, and within seconds had access to the rest of the story from the May 27 edition:

“MAN FINED FOR GETTING NEIGHBOUR’S GOAT — New Glasgow: A Nova Scotia man has been fined $330 for a goat-napping case in Pictou County. Michel Andre Daviau, 41, pleaded guilty to stealing Percy the goat last month.

“The Crown says the theft took place after Percy’s owner got into a disagreement with a neighbour over the animal running loose and chewing on flowers. Vera Myers returned home the next day to find her pet missing.

“Daviau admitted to the Mounties he took the goat on a lark while on a fishing trip, and says a neighbour encouraged him to take it because it was a nuisance. Daviau told the judge it was all a joke, and he didn’t think it would come to this.

“Provincial Court Judge Clyde Macdonald says it was no joke to the goat’s owner, who was deprived of her pet for two days.”

End of the Canadian story, eh? Well, not for me. Now my curiosity was particularly piqued about Pictou County. Although I’d visited Nova Scotia some 20 years ago, I’d never heard of this particular part of the province.

Turns out Pictou County prides itself in having the “warmest salt water north of the Carolinas.” With a population of nearly 50,000, the county’s largest city is New Glasgow (9,000), followed by Pictou (4,000). That’s where I wanted to hang out — Pictou in Pictou County.

Located about an hour-and-a-half from Halifax on Pictou Harbour, this coastal city is in fact the birthplace of New Scotland. The Scots landed Ship Hector at Brown’s Point in 1773 with 170 Scottish Highlanders on board bearing such surnames as McKay, McKenzie, McLean and McLeod. Today the Scots make up more than half the county’s population. Their impact is everywhere, from their oh-so solid stone houses to shops selling tartans and plaids. Not to mention the preponderance of pipe bands and Highland dancing.

Pictou is a place where you can still buy an older four-bedroom house with a two-minute walk to the waterfront for $78,500 Canadian (that’s about $53,000 U.S.). It’s a place with such unique shop names as Whigmaleeries (Scottish for trinket or knick-knack) and Vernon D’Eou Lobster Plugs Ltd. (a marine supplies store).

It’s a community full of festivals, from the Pictou Lobster Carnival in July to New Scotland Days in September. Sandwiched in between is the Bluegrass and Old Time Music Festival in August. Historical heritage homes and buildings from the late 1800s are part of Pictou’s picturesque scenery, while accommodations range from Bonnie Brae B&B to Braeside Inn. No lack of Scottish pride here.

Nautically named eateries include Buried Treasure Coffee Shop, Lord Fin Fish & Chips and Settlers Saltwater Cafe.

Pictou is the home of the world-famous Grohmann Knives along with the Northumberland Fisheries Museum and the Hector Heritage Quay. That’s where the construction of a full-scale replica of the three-masted Ship Hector is taking place, making it Canada’s only fully rigged tri-masted vessel.

Sadly, my virtual visit to Pictou County is nearly over. But guess what? It only took an hour, didn’t cost me a loonie or a toonie and I’m not suffering from jet lag. Plus, no security checks or long lines to endure.

OK, so Google isn’t giving me frequent user miles yet. But I do have the satisfaction of knowing that Percy the Goat is more than a kidnapped four-legged animal buried in the back section of some Canadian newspaper. Percy is Pictou’s newest tourism ambassador.

I’ll beevy tae ‘at! (I’ll drink to that!)

Sue Frause can be reached by e-mail at skfrause@whidbey.com.