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.

 

 

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. 

 



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. 

 

June 12 - 13 NH ME, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia

At about 400 PM this afternoon we crossed the border into Nova Scotia (NS).  It was uneventful.

The trip from New Hampshire yesterday had us go through Bangor were we picked up Lynn and Lisa.  They flew from SC and be meet them at the airport. 

There was a light drizzle when we left Franconia and we headed out on the road right away electing to have breakfast later.  We stopped for gas some 50 miles down the road.  When I was pumping gas one ladies came outside to update some prices and I asked her about a place for breakfast and she recommended a place called Welches about one mile down the road.  When Billy came out he said he had a place for breakfast.  The lady inside has recommended the same place.

Welches was a nice place with a friendly wait staff and we ordered the meat lovers omelet (we each ordered one).  It was the  biggest omelet I have ever seen.  It must have been five eggs at least loaded with ham, back, sausage and cheese.  The price $6.95. A really amazing  breakfast.

The light drizzle continued the through out the day.  We got to the airport on time and then went to a place to have lunch.

Using Tripadvisor, I found a place called Moes BBW within two miles of the airport.  Well it was a small place, a chain it appears, out of Alabama.  Anyway, the guy running the counter (it was a walkup and order like Sonnys) started a running conversation with us and brought a friend over who lived in NS and he suggested a new route

He suggested Highway 9 which we took.  It was a great road through Main. 

We got to the border crossing station and I had forgotten to sign my newly renewed passport so I guess I got some special treatment because I had to go inside and have a short interview.

It was a larger station, four booths and a big 'inside' area.

After about 20 minutes I got the all clear and was allowed to enter Canada.

The roads in New Brunswick were poor.  Super rough.  There were stretches of good road and finally we got out of the bad stuff onto their equivalent of an interstate

Because of the stops during the day, we arrived very late last night in Frediercton, NB.  Nice hotel but we ate in the hotel's dinning room and it was a bit "formal'.  Unlike tonight when we ate at the Captain's Helm Pub and Eatery and I had a nice Ruben. 

So, right now we are in New Glasgow, NS.  I will add some pictures later.

Day 3 (June 11) NY VE NH

Well today was not that great.  I mean no animals made contact with the bikes (well some insects but that is normal) but it did rain all day, until the last two hours, about the time we got to Vermont.  So I have some pictures of Vermont and New Hampshire were we ended up for the night.

It was a steady rain since we left Auburn NY.  It was heavy at times but we have been in heavier rain and we have ridden all day in the rain before but this was a very scenic ride.  But, you takes your chances with the weather. 

We started out the day with a great breakfast at a dinner (old timey type) in Auburn.  Followed by lunch at a dinner (old timey type) somewhere in Vermont.  Both places were very nice and the food was great.  The wait staff in Vermont was very helpful in that we got to sit in an area and dry out rain gear.  It is a fact that no matter how good the gear is you get a little water somewhere.  So, there were some wet areas around the neck.

Sitting in the room now, with the gear all laid out or hung up and drying, ready for tomorrow.

As I said, the rain did slack off later in the day so here are some pictures from the bike as we traveled through Vermont and New Hampshire.  I am not sure was state these were taken in .  I do hope we get better weather tomorrow. 

Day Two MD, PA, NY

Today was uneventful.  Weather was a little chilly but not to chilly (60) and then warmed up to the upper 70s.

For those of you that are interested.  Here are some close up pictures of the impact points on the bike,

 

 

And here is the fix for the side case.  Gorilla Tape.

 

 

 



We traveled through the rest of West Virginia a small slice of Maryland and then into Pennsylvania.

 

 

We rode past the Penn State stadium the home of the Nittany Lions and then on into upper PA.

 

We Stopped for lunch at Henrys BBQ.  It was ok, not as good as SC BBQ but there was a good view from the restaurant.

 

 

 

 

After lunch we headed into the finger lakes region of New York.  We traveled by Lake Seneca.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





 I know its hard to see, but this is coming down a hill toward the lake.  Its a great view in person, not so much from this image.

Then we went around Lake Seneca and up the side of Lake Cagua which we rode up and around to the top where we stopped for the night in Auburn, NY.

Tomorrow, New Hampshire.  Its a shorter day tomorrow.  So far we have traveled about
 900 miles.

Today we started on the trip to Nova Scotia (henceforth NS).  We went the back way to avoid the I-26 I-20 traffic in the early morning.

No issues until we got to West Virginia.  We had some traffic after Charlotte but that thinned out.  Here are some shots from the road in West Virginia. 

We were on I-79 when Bill spotted a deer.  It was a doe and turned and left the road and ran into the woods.

Further down the road a deer ran out into the road.  We were in the left lane of a four lane road.  The deer ran directly in front of me and I clipped the deer.  (See below)

Bill took the picture when he went back to collect some stuff the was thrown out of one of the side cases (right hand case) when the deer was spun around my the bike.  I bungeed the side case together and we headed down the road to the motel  Here is some plastic damage to the  bike, nothing major it appears since the bike seems to ride fine.  We tested it for about 40 more miles to the hotel

An interesting start.  We shall press on.

Here are some pics of the bike after I got it back together.

 

 

And in case you wondered, we are both fine.  The deer spun around after hitting my bike and spun in front Bill who dodged it (well ne said he moved a little).  Its body, once its head was hit, struck the right side of the bike, the side case and my leg.  I felt the impact but there was no damage, just the impact  I may have a bruise tomorrow. 

 

At the time of impact, the bike shimmed a little, the front end doing two or three shakes/wobbles and then steadied out.  I shifted to the right land and pull off the road to check damage. 

 

Right now no issues, physical or mental.