Bent biking in Nova Scotia?

Try "Cape Breton Island"....perfect asphalt roads. There was a chap here last year who had a Low
Racer and he described his rides as nothing shy of fantastic. Sounded like Lancaster Penn. Amish
country minus the tourists. N.S.....like most Canadian provinces it has all the people jammed into a
few large cities and then nothing for 100 miles of agricultural lands/forests/scrub. Don't suppose
you are coming up here to Canada to take advantage of our new Drug Laws (after your recent bout with
the rubber roofing cement). Ever since Marijuana became LEGAL Americans have been thinking Canada
looks like a good place to visit. So now Gays can LEGALLY marry as well and the Federal government
is using tax $ to stage a "Free" Rolling Stones/ACDC Plus concert for 1/2 million people in Toronto

Try Prince Edward Island or NFLD. P.E.I. is a cyclists heaven...no hills to speak of and hardly any
people. NFLD is the place I would luv to retire to....the Province is the size of Great Britain and
the Police do not yet carry guns. The place has good roads because of a depressed economy re: the
only thing to do there is to keep doing government contracts to maintain roads. The way the U.S.
economy has been going, you'll feel at home in NFLD.
--------------------------------------
"Carol Cohen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

There's plenty of info on biking in N.S. elsewhere. I just want to know

how

Quoted message said:

it is for recumbents -- too hilly? Narrow high-crowned roads? Short crowded tourist season?

C.C.

Quoted message said:

From: "Joshua Goldberg" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Try "Cape Breton Island"....perfect asphalt roads.

But isn't Cape Breton pretty hilly?

Quoted message said:

There was a chap here last year who had a Low Racer and he described his rides as nothing shy of
fantastic. Sounded like Lancaster Penn. Amish country minus the tourists. N.S.....like most
Canadian provinces it has all the people jammed into a few large cities and then nothing for 100
miles of agricultural lands/forests/scrub.

The way we shoulda done it in the U.S., avoiding urban sprawl.

Quoted message said:

Don't suppose you are coming up here to Canada to take advantage of our new Drug Laws (after your
recent bout with the rubber roofing cement). Ever since Marijuana became LEGAL Americans have been
thinking Canada looks like a good place to visit. So now Gays can LEGALLY marry as well and the
Federal government is using tax $ to stage a "Free" Rolling Stones/ACDC Plus concert for 1/2
million people in Toronto

Gosh -- if I go to Canada do I have to turn gay and do drugs? How about if I learn to be a nice mild
person instead?

Quoted message said:

Try Prince Edward Island or NFLD. P.E.I. is a cyclists heaven...no hills to speak of and hardly
any people. NFLD is the place I would luv to retire to....the Province is the size of Great
Britain and the Police do not yet carry guns. The place has good roads because of a depressed
economy re: the only thing to do there is to keep doing government contracts to maintain roads.
The way the U.S. economy has been going, you'll feel at home in NFLD.

Years ago (before bikes were invented) DH and I visited N.S. and went back to Boston via P.E.I. It
has the rich orange soil that reminds me of southeastern U.S. And so carefully farmed that the
potato fields roll right down to the road's edge, no trash/tractor roadside zone. Whereas N.S.
reminded me of Scotland.

The only problem with living in any of the maritime provinces is their latitude -- long, dark
winters, lots of D.W.I.s possibly hitting cyclists.

I read somewhere that there's a ferry from N.S. to Newfoundland. I'd love to visit NFLD, since I'm
about the size & shape of one of their famous dogs. (Not biking lately and it shows.)

A neighbor here is building a house in N.S. and a bike trip would be a perfect way to visit her
next year.

Thanks, Joshua.

C.C.

There is a Ferry running direct from Boston to Yarmouth N.S. (Nova Scotia = New Scotland). Highland
Games in July and everyone goes pro-Scotland for a few weeks. Cape Breton Island is a Hill, the road
skirts the Ocean....one side the Island and the other side is Ocean. I believe (without checking)
the route is called the Cabot Trail.

"Carol Cohen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

From: "Joshua Goldberg" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Try "Cape Breton Island"....perfect asphalt roads.

But isn't Cape Breton pretty hilly?

Quoted message said:

There was a chap here last year who had a Low Racer and he described his rides as nothing shy of
fantastic. Sounded like Lancaster Penn. Amish country minus the tourists. N.S.....like most
Canadian provinces it has

all

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the people jammed into a few large cities and then nothing for 100 miles

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

agricultural lands/forests/scrub.

The way we shoulda done it in the U.S., avoiding urban sprawl.

Quoted message said:

Don't suppose you are coming up here to Canada to take advantage of our

new

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Drug Laws (after your recent bout with the rubber roofing cement). Ever since Marijuana became
LEGAL Americans have been thinking Canada

looks

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

like a good place to visit. So now Gays can LEGALLY marry as well and

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Federal government is using tax $ to stage a "Free" Rolling Stones/ACDC

Plus

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

concert for 1/2 million people in Toronto

Gosh -- if I go to Canada do I have to turn gay and do drugs? How about if

I

Quoted message said:

learn to be a nice mild person instead?

Quoted message said:

Try Prince Edward Island or NFLD. P.E.I. is a cyclists heaven...no hills

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

speak of and hardly any people. NFLD is the place I would luv to retire to....the Province is
the size of Great Britain and the Police do not

yet

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

carry guns. The place has good roads because of a depressed economy re:

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

only thing to do there is to keep doing government contracts to maintain roads. The way the U.S.
economy has been going, you'll feel at home in

NFLD.

Quoted message said:

Years ago (before bikes were invented) DH and I visited N.S. and went back to Boston via P.E.I. It
has the rich orange soil that reminds me of southeastern U.S. And so carefully farmed that the
potato fields roll

right

Quoted message said:

down to the road's edge, no trash/tractor roadside zone. Whereas N.S. reminded me of Scotland.

The only problem with living in any of the maritime provinces is their latitude -- long, dark
winters, lots of D.W.I.s possibly hitting cyclists.

I read somewhere that there's a ferry from N.S. to Newfoundland. I'd love to visit NFLD, since I'm
about the size & shape of one of their famous

dogs.

Quoted message said:

(Not biking lately and it shows.)

A neighbor here is building a house in N.S. and a bike trip would be a perfect way to visit her
next year.

Thanks, Joshua.

C.C.

We rode on the Lighthouse Tour (MOOSA) in Nova Scotia in 1998. I really liked it. For me Nova Scotia
has a very good mix of cultures, French, German, English and even Loyalist Afro-Americans. It can be
hilly but the roads were generally fairly quiet. We took the high-speed "Cat" ferry from Bar Harbor.
There also are ferries from Portland, Maine and St. John, New Brunswick to Digby, I think. The Maine
ferries pull in at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

We were camped one place on my birthday and the local day-care kids came over to look at our
recumbent tandem, a Ryan Fleetwood (AKA Duplex). When they found out that it was my birthday, they
went back and got some cupcakes and sparklers and came back to help us celebrate my birthday. Cute!

Ron Friedel

"Carol Cohen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

There's plenty of info on biking in N.S. elsewhere. I just want to know

how

Quoted message said:

it is for recumbents -- too hilly? Narrow high-crowned roads? Short crowded tourist season?

C.C.

Lox is their middle name, but can you get a good bagel in N.S.? "Carol Cohen"
<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

There's plenty of info on biking in N.S. elsewhere. I just want to know

how

Quoted message said:

it is for recumbents -- too hilly? Narrow high-crowned roads? Short crowded tourist season?

C.C.

Quoted message said:

"Carol Cohen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

There's plenty of info on biking in N.S. elsewhere. I just want to know

how

Quoted message said:

it is for recumbents -- too hilly? Narrow high-crowned roads? Short crowded tourist season?

C.C.

I did the Lighthouse Tour 2002 on a Vision 54. Hills are not a problem. Friendly folk, and for the
most part very courteous drivers. Traffic was not heavy (late July/early August.

I ride a Ryan Vanguard and a BikeFriday Sat-R Day. I have done quite a bit of self contained touring
in Maine, New Hampshire, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Labrador(Croatia, Bosnia, Corsica,
and Sardinia). Yes, I've also ridden the Light House Tour twice and prefer Moosa.

My advice on Nova Scotia is keep going, go to Newfoundland. It's beautiful, quiet, and little
traffic. You can also ride to the only verified Viking settlement in North America. This ride of a
life time (if you don't go to Sardinia that is), you'll never forget the experience of riding on
beautiful roads with no traffic except when the ferry lands.

Nova Scotia is boring and Cape Breton isn't safe in the summer time. When I was there about 4 years
ago the Cabot Trail was filled with travel trailers that were wider than the road and had mirrors
sticking out about head height (they probabally miss a recumbent). The first day I saw 6 riders hit
by a mirror or forced off the road. Going over those low rails is no fun. I tell everyone to waint
until Septemeber if you want to ride Cape Breton.

The hills in Cape Breton are not easy for a recumbent, especially with that mile long line of
trailer and pick ups behind you. There are many places as pretty and more fun to ride. I like
Newfoundland, but Quebec and Maine can be fun. In fact got to New Brunswick and ride through
Capabello back to Bar Harbor. Or ride to Montrael from Showhegan and follow the rive to Jackman.

Enjoy the ride and for recumbents, enjoy the view.

We agree on NFLD...I had a friend who went the full trip south to north. He intended to spend a few
weeks cycling before going to the London School of Economics and he fell in love with NFLD and
cycled around for 3 months (missing the start of Univ.). The Cabot Trail is best "off season" which
was when I thought Carol said she'd be there. Mennonite country is cool too with the
orchards...Annapolis Valley is the name (cannot remember as it has been many years).
*******************

Quoted message said:

I ride a Ryan Vanguard and a BikeFriday Sat-R Day. I have done quite a bit of self contained
touring in Maine, New Hampshire, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Labrador(Croatia, Bosnia,
Corsica, and Sardinia). Yes, I've also ridden the Light House Tour twice and prefer Moosa.

My advice on Nova Scotia is keep going, go to Newfoundland. It's

beautiful,

Quoted message said:

quiet, and little traffic. You can also ride to the only verified Viking settlement in North
America. This ride of a life time (if you don't go to Sardinia that is), you'll never forget the
experience of riding on

beautiful

Quoted message said:

roads with no traffic except when the ferry lands.

Nova Scotia is boring and Cape Breton isn't safe in the summer time. When

I

Quoted message said:

was there about 4 years ago the Cabot Trail was filled with travel

trailers

Quoted message said:

that were wider than the road and had mirrors sticking out about head

height

Quoted message said:

(they probabally miss a recumbent). The first day I saw 6 riders hit by a mirror or forced off the
road. Going over those low rails is no fun. I

tell

Quoted message said:

everyone to waint until Septemeber if you want to ride Cape Breton.

The hills in Cape Breton are not easy for a recumbent, especially with

that

Quoted message said:

mile long line of trailer and pick ups behind you. There are many places

as

Quoted message said:

pretty and more fun to ride. I like Newfoundland, but Quebec and Maine can be fun. In fact got to
New Brunswick and ride through Capabello back to

Bar

Quoted message said:

Harbor. Or ride to Montrael from Showhegan and follow the rive to Jackman.

Enjoy the ride and for recumbents, enjoy the view.

Gene

Traveling in Newfoundland is easy. There aren't many roads. Logistics make riding the West Coast
much easier. That's good because the best cycling is on the west coast.

Roughly your route will be:

Ferry lands at Port aux Basques for there you go north to:

The route is Route 1 (Corner Brook and Deer Lake)and the to St. Anthony on the Viking Trail (430).
At Deer Lake you leave TransCanadian Highway for the Viking Trail. You follow the Viking Trail
(route 430) to St. Anthony. It's that simple. L'anse aux Meadows,the Viking site is near St.
Anthony. Any road map will do for navigation, there aren't many roads. You won't get lost.

There is a ferry from St. Barbie to Blanc Sablon if you'd like to do some riding in Labrador. There
only about 50 miles of highway in Labrador in the Southeast but that is enough.

Here's a few resources I used:

Ratings for all of the roads: <http://www.atlanticcanadacycling.com/bikeroutes/newfoundland/>

Weather: <http://www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/forecast/canada/nf_e.html>

Very helpful sites: <http://www.atlanticcanadacycling.com/a2p.html>
<http://www.atlanticcanadacycling.com/newfoundland/> (read this carefully)

Some nice pictures of the ride: <http://www.atlanticcanadacycling.com/newfoundland/tour/album.html#>

Viking Trail: <http://www.vikingtrail.org/>

Plan on taking the bus back from St. Anthony (CHECK DATE AND TIME, IT DOESN'T RUN EVERY DAY). It is
possible to ride back but the steady 30 MPH wind will be in your face on the way back not behind you
like on the way up.

The best part of the ride is from Port aux Basques to Deer Lake. Once you hit the coast it's a
sleigh ride in that wind.

I recommend mid July for the ride. The weather before and after that is more unpredictable. In fact
you might find July a little cooler than you expect, remember when you are riding by the water you
can expect to see Ice Bergs.

I hope that gets you started. Take a look at some of the pictures at the sites above, they are
beautiful. Newfoundland is a unique place. I've never seen tabletop geology before. Plus a few
hundred miles with a 30 MPG tailwind, not too shabby.

Enjoy the ride ... Roland