Nova Scotia Bound

[Bulldog9]

I leave Northern Virginia tomorrow around 7 a.m. Target is Brattleboro Vermont after stopping at Bill's Old Bike Barn in Scranton Pennsylvania. Day two will put us into the Bar Harbor Maine area and day 3 or Monday plan to get onto the island. Haven't made any hotel or motel plans yet but I'm sure I can find some Wi-Fi along the way. shoot me a PM if you're up in the area and you want to link up. Email is spratel@gmail.com.

My initial big plans to cover a wide area have pretty much passed. I think we're going to stay on Nova Scotia and Explorer the Cabot Trail Bay of Fundy and several other areas that have been suggested.

[leafman60]

If the weather cooperates, you are in for a wonderful ride on the Cabot Trail !




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[Ncdan]

Great ride, Bar Harbor is a great stop, hope you have a little time to spend there. It's such a neat little town.

[kingoffleece]

Be SURE to stop at the right time to see the tide come in.  Unreal!

[Lannis]

Probably the best trip we ever took.   It's a beautiful part of the world.    We rode from Virginia to Grafton, Vermont the first day (pretty stiff ride since we stayed off the Interstates, took US209 most of the way), then to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, then to St Johns, New Brunswick, then to Lunenburg, NS, and stayed a couple days there.

Then two days around the Cabot Trail and we lucked out like few have ever done - sparkling blue skies the whole way!   Whales breaching near the coast, spectacular scenery.

Do be aware that Nova Scotia is a working place, and not a park - which means that the big trucks along with the weather beat up the roads something fierce, so watch for potholes and take it easy.

And if you pass through Quebec on the way in or back (we spent 3 days in old Quebec), it really helps if you learn to say "Je ne parle pas bien le fran�ais; pouvons-nous parler anglais?" or something similar unless you already speak French - the folks there will appreciate it!

Have a great ride!

Lannis

[Testarossa]

And if you pass through Quebec on the way in or back (we spent 3 days in old Quebec), it really helps if you learn to say "Je ne parle pas bien le fran�ais; pouvons-nous parler anglais?" or something similar unless you already speak French - the folks there will appreciate it!

Folks in PQ are much friendlier if you make the attempt, just as in France. I use "Parlez lentement, s'il vous plait. Je sui comme enfant en francais." Usually gets a laugh and a sincere effort to communicate.

[oldbike54]

 Cool 

 Dusty

[jhrodd]

Love the Latchis Hotel in Brattleboro !  https://www.latchishotel.com    We were there in the Fall several years ago on a BMW GS and a local cop pulled me over for having my face shield up (no eye protection) . It was fogging over of course as we putted around Town.  He didn't give me a ticket but still....

[jhrodd]

Another favorite stop is the Craignair Inn at Spruce Head, Maine   https://www.craignair.com/q2it93um9zenit9gllxzd553wvu2z8

[Huzo]

If the weather cooperates, you are in for a wonderful ride on the Cabot Trail !




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Bloody hell...!

[yogidozer]

Bloody hell...!

Just don't look DOOOOOWWWNNNN 
But that IS a beautiful sight.
Hope you get time enough to do some hiking

[Huzo]

Just don't look DOOOOOWWWNNNN 
But that IS a beautiful sight.
Hope you get time enough to do some hiking

Makes Nordkapp look like the Nullarbor plain..!

[Lannis]

Makes Nordkapp look like the Nullarbor plain..!

It's as lovely as the pictures show, or more, but strangely enough it's not scary to ride it.   I'm not one of these guys who's ever going to ride some horrifying Colombian road hacked out of a mountain with waterfalls going across it and 1000 feet straight down with 30 dead trucks and buses at the bottom .....

.... but the Cabot Trail isn't worrisome at all to ride, plenty of room and no danger that a wind gust or pothole will put you "Next Stop, Atlantic Ocean"!

Lannis

[Testarossa]

i did that trip late summer1969 in a 1962 Beetle, camping along the route and rock-climbing on the sea cliffs at Cap Breton. Great time. I had a canvas tent folded up under the hood, with a camp stove and container of white gas. The container leaked, the tent got soaked, and a spark behind the dash blew the hood off. We were going around a curve at about 40 mph and the hood went spinning off the outside of the bend onto the rocks below . . . Piled out of the car and pulled the flaming tent out onto the pavement.

No other damage, miraculously (remember the car's fuel tank is up there too). We wired the hood back on with coathangers.

[pebra]

Have a Nice trip, Bulldog! Looking forward to the report...…
Which bike are you taking?

[Huzo]

It's as lovely as the pictures show, or more, but strangely enough it's not scary to ride it.   I'm not one of these guys who's ever going to ride some horrifying Colombian road hacked out of a mountain with waterfalls going across it and 1000 feet straight down with 30 dead trucks and buses at the bottom .....

.... but the Cabot Trail isn't worrisome at all to ride, plenty of room and no danger that a wind gust or pothole will put you "Next Stop, Atlantic Ocean"!

Lannis

Hell yeah..!
I get out a little bit on the Norge, but have not done anything to top that by looks. Will go there before I go arse up...

[Lannis]

i did that trip late summer 1969 ....

Was Bryan Adams along for the ride?   You must have been quite an inspiration!

Lannis

[Huzo]

Was Bryan Adams along for the ride?   You must have been quite an inspiration!

Lannis

These are the "best days of my life..."

[blackcat]

i did that trip late summer1969 in a 1962 Beetle, camping along the route and rock-climbing on the sea cliffs at Cap Breton. Great time. I had a canvas tent folded up under the hood, with a camp stove and container of white gas. The container leaked, the tent got soaked, and a spark behind the dash blew the hood off. We were going around a curve at about 40 mph and the hood went spinning off the outside of the bend onto the rocks below . . . Piled out of the car and pulled the flaming tent out onto the pavement.

No other damage, miraculously (remember the car's fuel tank is up there too). We wired the hood back on with coathangers.

Damn, that must have scared the Shyte out of you!  I had the hood pop open on my 1970 Bug going down the road, but I didn't lose the hood which made driving kinda fun for a few minutes.

[wavedog]

Testarossa-that is a classic road trip story from that era. I had some adventures in my 57 bug, but nothing quite like that!

[geoff in almonte]

Make sure that you do the Cabot trail clockwise!  That way you get to see as well as ride the vistas in the tourist brochures!!

G

PS You can always redo the trail the other way - it is an easy day ride end to end with a stop for a lobster lunch along the way.

[Ridgerider]

I just got back to Connecticut after a 10 day trip through Canada.  With a buddy, I rode the Gaspe Peninsula, a piece of PEI, and, of course, the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia.  It's as lovely as advertised!  Be ready for a fair bit of road construction, but the roads are mostly quite good.  Enjoy!  It'll be a great trip.

[Bulldog9]

Made it to Bar Harbor last night heading North this morning after a little break. Going to check out the lighthouse at Lubec then North into NB & NS Suggested routes ?

Also my rear tire is a bit gnarly the 1500 miles were fun but not so kind. Any suggested shops in NB or NS to keep in mind? I may need a new set of shoes before heading back.

[Aaron D.]

Lovely rides along the Fundy coast in New Brunswick-though it will make your day long.

Nice inn on the northern NB coast, Little Shemogue, also worth a look-see.

Do not discount the east coast of Nova Scotia proper, especially north of Halifax.

[goozy]

I recommend the Number 4 route up to Sydney before jumping over to the Cabot Trail. Smooth and scenic and no construction. The views of the Bras Dor lake are worth it. The climb up Kellys Mountain after leaving Sydney towards the Trail is pretty cool too!

[Bulldog9]

Make sure that you do the Cabot trail clockwise!  That way you get to see as well as ride the vistas in the tourist brochures!!

G

PS You can always redo the trail the other way - it is an easy day ride end to end with a stop for a lobster lunch along the way.

Do you mean counterclockwise? If we do it clockwise will be on the inside Lane versus the outside Lane. Unless they drive on the wrong side of the road on Nova Scotia :-)

[Lannis]

Do you mean counterclockwise? If we do it clockwise will be on the inside Lane versus the outside Lane. Unless they drive on the wrong side of the road on Nova Scotia :-)

Counter-clockwise is best for the scenery - you get a wider view from the outside lane ....

Lannis

[geoff in almonte]

Counter-clockwise is best for the scenery - you get a wider view from the outside lane ....

Lannis

Try it both ways and let us know your 'druther' i.e. I druther do it clockwise.  Like I say, the Cabot trail is only a couple hundred miles long and beautiful regardless of the direction you travel.  I have done in both directions and I druther turn left after crossing the causeway.  If you have time take the road to Meat Cove.

Enjoy!

Cheers!

G