We spent the first night in the states in Saco Maine.
When we left the temperatures were in the low 70s. We got up to the lower 82 in West Virginia and never got above 75 again until we left Maine headed home.
First leg home, Saco Maine to Pennsville, NJ. Traffic was bad. Temperatures got as high as 95 degrees. The Super 8 we stayed in at Pennsville actually had beer for sale in the check in area. We each got two. It was a hot long ride.
Next day, Pennsville, NJ to Rocky Mount, NC. Roads were much better (at least traffic wise). Again, temperatures reached 99 degrees on certain parts of the trip.
The Best Western we stayed at in Rocky Mount was excellent for the price. We located a local BBQ place that the front desk clerk said was the best in the state. So we got on the bikes and rode the six miles to the restaurant. And it was an excellent fare. They had a buffet and everything was delicious.
I arrived home about 130 on Friday. The bikes all held up well. Ever since day one and deer impact, I was concerned about the bikes mechanical shape. Did the front forks get misaligned? Did the impact on the side of the bike that almost shattered the right side case, also bend the frame. I truly don't know.
The tire wear pattern is unchanged, the bike still handles the same way it did to begin with and the engine performed as before.
This was probably the second best trip we have made. I think the first one out west was the best since I had not done that before. I will probably do that one again some time in the next year or two.
Riding is still the best way to experience this wonderful land in which we live. You have unrestricted views of the landscape. You meet people, someone is always willing to talk with a biker if he asks them about the local food or places to see. We have never been steered wrong.
So, next, take the ST to the local Honda shop and have it gone over and get an estimate on what it will cost to replace the broken pieces and, based on that, decide what to do next.
Friday, June 20, 2014
Saint John, NB and back to the State
We left Saint John with excellent weather. Clear skies, temperatures in the low 60s. And we headed for the states and Bar Harbor
Arrival in Maine. It is so very interesting to watch the terrain change you as you cross borders.
We were headed for Cadillac Mountain in the Acadia National Park. It over looks Bar Harbor and provides an excellent view of the area.
Arrival in Maine. It is so very interesting to watch the terrain change you as you cross borders.
We were headed for Cadillac Mountain in the Acadia National Park. It over looks Bar Harbor and provides an excellent view of the area.
Saint John, New Brunswick
It was only two miles from the ferry to the Holiday Inn Express in Saint John.
The accommodations were excellent and as we checked in, we inquired about a local place for dinner. The front desk person offered us advice and we got directions to Britts a pub in downtown Saint John which, we were told, was within walking distance. We were told that it was about 20 minutes. Well it really was. And the walk was on a nicely paved walking path from an area near the hotel. We used a paper map and the trip actually took about 30 minutes but was not bad through an unknown city.
Britts was a standard local pub on a side street and the food was good. Since we were not driving back we elected to have some alcohol with our meal. It was sort of amazing that both bills came to almost the same amount, about $60. And no, we did not drink that much, one drink and a sandwich each.
I said it was a standard local pub. I really can't say that since we only went to the one pub. The experience was good and, even though a bit pricey, we enjoyed the place and the walk back.
The accommodations were excellent and as we checked in, we inquired about a local place for dinner. The front desk person offered us advice and we got directions to Britts a pub in downtown Saint John which, we were told, was within walking distance. We were told that it was about 20 minutes. Well it really was. And the walk was on a nicely paved walking path from an area near the hotel. We used a paper map and the trip actually took about 30 minutes but was not bad through an unknown city.
Britts was a standard local pub on a side street and the food was good. Since we were not driving back we elected to have some alcohol with our meal. It was sort of amazing that both bills came to almost the same amount, about $60. And no, we did not drink that much, one drink and a sandwich each.
I said it was a standard local pub. I really can't say that since we only went to the one pub. The experience was good and, even though a bit pricey, we enjoyed the place and the walk back.
Digby and the Ferry Ride
We arrived in Digby early, as we had planned to do. We went to the ferry terminal to by the additional passenger tickets and to verify what we needed to do when we got there and were to go.
We then headed to downtown Digby for lunch.
We had lunch on the veranda of a small restaurant on the coast line. It was a nice view and for a change the weather was warm (well 72).
After lunch it was off to the ferry. We pulled the bikes up to the "bus stop" were we waited to be instructed to board the ferry. Another local biker was there and we inquired about the process. We found out we were expected to tie down or bikes once on board. That posed a small problem for my bike since there are few exposed tie down points. Luckily when I added some foot pegs I also exposed the tip over bars so I could tie it down that way.
Here are some shots from the ferry.
The last image, above, is a neat device that allows the ferry to rotate around to line up with the dock. The bumpers are very large and hydraulic mounted so that not only absorb the shock of the ferry but act to push it back which, when done right, rotates the ferry parallel to the dock. Really neat to watch.
We then headed to downtown Digby for lunch.
We had lunch on the veranda of a small restaurant on the coast line. It was a nice view and for a change the weather was warm (well 72).
After lunch it was off to the ferry. We pulled the bikes up to the "bus stop" were we waited to be instructed to board the ferry. Another local biker was there and we inquired about the process. We found out we were expected to tie down or bikes once on board. That posed a small problem for my bike since there are few exposed tie down points. Luckily when I added some foot pegs I also exposed the tip over bars so I could tie it down that way.
Here are some shots from the ferry.
The ferry trip was uneventful. We arrived on time and exited with no issues and headed to the motel
The last image, above, is a neat device that allows the ferry to rotate around to line up with the dock. The bumpers are very large and hydraulic mounted so that not only absorb the shock of the ferry but act to push it back which, when done right, rotates the ferry parallel to the dock. Really neat to watch.
Halifax to DIgby
We returned home on Friday June 20, completing the trip as planned. I know I have provided any posts for the last several days so I now have time and will do so.
We left Halifax, NS headed for Digby, NS and the ferry to Saint John, NS. We had to arrive at the ferry terminal by 3 PM. That meant we had to change some of the planned routes to ensure that we got there in plenty of time.
So we headed from Halifax, down the main highway. It was an interior highway so when we stopped for gas, we asked one of the people there about the road that went along the shore. They told us it was a good road so we elected to head down that road and then cut back across NS to Digby.
It was a very scenic detour. Here are some pictures
We left Halifax, NS headed for Digby, NS and the ferry to Saint John, NS. We had to arrive at the ferry terminal by 3 PM. That meant we had to change some of the planned routes to ensure that we got there in plenty of time.
So we headed from Halifax, down the main highway. It was an interior highway so when we stopped for gas, we asked one of the people there about the road that went along the shore. They told us it was a good road so we elected to head down that road and then cut back across NS to Digby.
It was a very scenic detour. Here are some pictures
Sunday, June 15, 2014
June 15 (Day 7)
We awoke to an overcast and drizzly day in Sydney NS. We packed, got on the bikes and headed toward Halifax We have been eating breakfast on the road rather than before leaving. Sort make it part of the trip.
Today it took us about 50 miles before we found a place on the route we had picked to travel.
We found a nice Inn that had a breakfast buffet. Made to order omelets and crepes (if you like crepes). The price was not bad and we had a leisurely breakfast. While we were there the rain began in earnest. It became a heavy downpour. We consulted the radar (the inn had WiFi) and noted that the store was very heavy and could last a couple of hours. We stayed for awhile and when there was a break on the storm, we loaded up and took a very direct route to Halifax.
We arrived in Halifax at about 3 PM and had a late lunch.
After unpacking we took a side trip to Peggy's Cove. Peggy's Cove is apparent named as such because it sits on Margaret Bay. It has the original lighthouse from 1915 and some very interesting scenery. The whole area is very rock and it extends into the sea.
Here are some pictures on the way to Peggy's Cove.
Today it took us about 50 miles before we found a place on the route we had picked to travel.
We found a nice Inn that had a breakfast buffet. Made to order omelets and crepes (if you like crepes). The price was not bad and we had a leisurely breakfast. While we were there the rain began in earnest. It became a heavy downpour. We consulted the radar (the inn had WiFi) and noted that the store was very heavy and could last a couple of hours. We stayed for awhile and when there was a break on the storm, we loaded up and took a very direct route to Halifax.
We arrived in Halifax at about 3 PM and had a late lunch.
After unpacking we took a side trip to Peggy's Cove. Peggy's Cove is apparent named as such because it sits on Margaret Bay. It has the original lighthouse from 1915 and some very interesting scenery. The whole area is very rock and it extends into the sea.
Here are some pictures on the way to Peggy's Cove.
After we left Peggy's Cove, we went to downtown Halifax just to see what was on in the dock area.
Here are some photos.
Tomorrow we head to Digby and the Ferry to New Brunswick.
Saturday, June 14, 2014
June 14 NS
Today was a good ride, despite the light rain that fell at times. We seemed to stay ahead of the rain. We would stop for food or fuel and the we would start feeling some drizzle. We would get on the road and it would slack off. So, we did not get any rain, worth mentioning until the end of the dmay when we stopped for the night.
Today we left New Glasgow NS headed for the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The park is on the upper part of NS and shows as an island on the map, separated from the rest of NS by water.
However, in fact, we did not cross over a bridge to get there but crossed by a causeway. Which, in my mind, makes it no longer an island.
Anyway, the trip is well worth the effort. I don't think I have seen visual scenery anywhere in the states that compares to this park.
And the roads are excellent, for the most part and twisty, and up and down.
So,
Here are some pictures. (I have not mounted the video camera due to the rain). Not that the rain would bother the camera but it would affect the image quality.
And the pictures below, do not do the scenery justice.
As I said above. as far as roads to travel, this one is well worth the trip. The road through the park is in excellent shape. Whenever you leave the park, the roads are not so good.
As we traveled back down the eastern side of the island to Sydney, our stop for the day, I was amazed to see a strange turn symbol on the GPS. Its a new one and the next turn is usually shown as a vertical line with a perpendicular line showing the intersection turn direction. For limited access highways, it shows three parallel lines with one in bold to show the off ramp.
This symbol had a short horizontal line with a bump. I had not seen this before. So I tapped the symbol (it gives more information). and it said "Ferry". I was not aware there was a ferry on this part of the route.
The ferry was about a 100 yard ride. Unlike the ferry I took several years ago across the Green River in Kentucky, this was almost a real ferry. But it falls into the category of the second shortest ferry ride I have ever taken.
The ride is so short, we did not even get off the bikes. The cost $5.50 CA. The ferry in Kentucky is free.
Today we left New Glasgow NS headed for the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The park is on the upper part of NS and shows as an island on the map, separated from the rest of NS by water.
However, in fact, we did not cross over a bridge to get there but crossed by a causeway. Which, in my mind, makes it no longer an island.
Anyway, the trip is well worth the effort. I don't think I have seen visual scenery anywhere in the states that compares to this park.
And the roads are excellent, for the most part and twisty, and up and down.
So,
Here are some pictures. (I have not mounted the video camera due to the rain). Not that the rain would bother the camera but it would affect the image quality.
And the pictures below, do not do the scenery justice.
As I said above. as far as roads to travel, this one is well worth the trip. The road through the park is in excellent shape. Whenever you leave the park, the roads are not so good.
As we traveled back down the eastern side of the island to Sydney, our stop for the day, I was amazed to see a strange turn symbol on the GPS. Its a new one and the next turn is usually shown as a vertical line with a perpendicular line showing the intersection turn direction. For limited access highways, it shows three parallel lines with one in bold to show the off ramp.
This symbol had a short horizontal line with a bump. I had not seen this before. So I tapped the symbol (it gives more information). and it said "Ferry". I was not aware there was a ferry on this part of the route.
The ferry was about a 100 yard ride. Unlike the ferry I took several years ago across the Green River in Kentucky, this was almost a real ferry. But it falls into the category of the second shortest ferry ride I have ever taken.
The ride is so short, we did not even get off the bikes. The cost $5.50 CA. The ferry in Kentucky is free.
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