Reality Check Tour 2022: Acadia National Park, ME - to Nova Scotia (Cape Breton - Cabot Trail) - to Quebec City


I had departed from Burlington, VT and drove back roads through New Hampshire, and to the tourist laden Bar Harbor, ME.  The joy of Bar Harbor is that it borders on Acadia National Park.  A ride up Cadillac Mountain was worth the ticket.  


And enjoyed meeting fellow bikers Nathan and Marcus from Virginia:


During this lunch with my new friends, they observed a contrast in culture right there in the restaurant (Geddy's):  Notice the Amish women eating lunch next to a nude mermaid :)


I then took the ferry from Bar Harbor, ME to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.  Taking Canada 3 and 103, I traveled north, stopping in Liverpool, Peggy's Cove, and Halifax.  I had been informed of a pirate's festival, called Privateer, held in Liverpool, so I dropped by:


The real fun began after leaving Halifax (a big industrial port city), and took coastal road Canada 7 up to Cape Breton.  I had never heard of Cape Breton, nor had I heard of Cabot Trail.  I had to make a decision to take 2 extra days for the trip to the tippy top of Nova Scotia.  Of course, I talked with a lot of people - and all insisted that I go up there:


I booked a room in Whycocomagh, NS at the Fair Isle Hotel.  In the morning, I left to Cabot Trail.  Nova Scotia is very very country (except Halifax) - just beautiful roads along the coast with homes tucked into into forested areas.  No traffic.  A biker's dream.  And I met a lot of motorcyclists on my way up to Cabot Trail:

"Pops"


I then hightailed it to New Glasgow for the night before the long trek to Quebec City.   The TransCanada highway has a few designations depending upon where you are: 103, 104, 105, 2.  The long trek to Quebec City was going to be over 9 hours ... but it was hours of evergreens and total wilderness.  A beautiful drive.

I have been very lucky weather wise.  I have only had 2 hours of driving in light rain - and that was beginning at New Glasgow.  The temperature has ranged from 62 degrees to 80: perfect biking weather.  I have had to change my instruments from "miles" to "kilometers"; Fahrenheit to Celsius, gas pumps that measured in Liters, etc.  I learned about Canadian provinces.  I noticed a calm here that I do not feel in the US - no handguns in holsters, etc.  I loved the civility and friendliness of the people I met along the way.

During the trip to Quebec, I was informed that my daughter gave birth to my first grandchild, a girl named Kennedy.   So, tomorrow I will arrive in Quebec City, then to Ottawa, to Sudbury, then to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, to Milwaukee to give my granddaughter a hug.

Here are a couple of shots from Cabot Trail:





Comments

  1. AnonymousJune 29, 2022 at 6:02 AM

    Congratulations on the news grandpa! Great photos. Safe travels.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJune 30, 2022 at 7:32 PM

    It was great meeting you on the road Rob. Safe travels and +1 to congratulations on being a new grandpa. Nathan.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJuly 16, 2022 at 12:06 PM

    Ummm, Rob, I am not sure how to tell this, but that is not a mermaid.
    Yours truly,
    ROCKIN

    ReplyDelete

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