Cabot Trail

[pkpr1998]

Looking for advice in and around NS, especially Baddeck. Will be traveling there (hopefully) in early July.

Looking for affordable but nice accomodations (if it can be done). Opinions about visiting the Fort (Luoisburg), Gaelic College, the Town of Baddeck and of course the famous Trail.

Would be looking for the easiest and quickest way to get from Tennessee to NS.

Don't have the GPS yet!

[bob_menton]

Can't help ya on accommodations - we had the RV with us, and stayed at a KOA in Baddeck.

The Cabot Trail is prettiest when ridden clockwise. To prove this to yourself, ride it both ways - you'll see. The fort @ Louisbourg is definitely worth a visit. If you're very unlucky, you will run into fog on the Cabot Trail. We didn't, and I hope you don't, but I had a friend (retired) who spent 9 days in his tent waiting for the fog to lift.

It's a fine ride, and very worth doing as one of the three most outstanding rides on the east coast of North America (Cabot Trail, Blue Ridge Pkwy/Skyline Drive, road to Key West) - but after you do it, you'll appreciate even more the fine riding and scenery that we have on & near the Blue Ridge Pkwy.

- Bob

[pkpr1998]

Humm! Should we even go to NS? I have ridden the hound out of the BRP/Cherohala/Deal's Gap/mountains of N Georgia. Fantastic riding I agree, but having to cancel last year's trip (death) to NS, we would like to travel it this year.

I know the fog can be an issue; you never know when it'll be there and if so for how long! I've heard that the locals are very friendly, food is good, scenery is good. I've been looking at room rates that range from 85-135/night Canadian (which is even less in USD). Will it be worth the 4K round trip or should we look elsewhere for a summer bike trip? Petro is very high, you gotta cross the border and hope that you don't get a "Barney Fiffe" for a Customs Agent!

Just putting "feelers" out for a possible trip to NS. Thanks Bob.

[jhowdy]

Brett,
Be prepared, you may get "Betty" Fiffe at the border, we did. My wife and her finally started discussing something or another and suddenly the threat level I presented dropped considerable. Copenhagen snuff apparently is a controlled substance in some countries! :)

[bob_menton]

Brett, I still think the trip is worth it - especially if you have the time to see some of the sights besides the Cabot Trail (like the Fortress @ Louisbourg). As you've already surmised, Baddeck is a fun town to tour including Alexander Graham Bell's home. Catching the huge tides @ the Bay of Fundy would be neat. Peggy's Cove is a neat coastal Canadian town, as is Lunenberg. There's the Marconi National Historic Site in Glace Bay - as a "ham", I liked that. The ride off the Cabot Trail to Meat Cove turned into a rocky dirt road - on a lighter bike I would have done it, but not 2-up on the LT. Don't bother stopping at the BMW bike dealership in Halifax - it's a combined car-and-bike dealership, and they send some of their bike work (such as tire mounting) out to the local Honda shop. It's mostly BMW cars.

And the Cabot Trail is a great ride, especially the coastal scenery when ridden clockwise. I'd like to do it again. I won't in the near future, only because there's other places (like UTAH!) that I haven't ridden yet - but I would do it again if given the chance. I rode the Natchez Trace last year - not sorry I did, but I would not bother doing it again in the near future - don't need another 444 miles of gently curving road thru the woods.

As fine a ride as the Cabot Trail is, it's not very long. When you consider the ride and the scenery of the Blue Ridge Pkwy and its surroundings, ... well, it just makes you appreciate the "local" riding all the more.

Go. :)

- Bob

[pkpr1998]

We tool a bike trip in 04 to the UP of Michigan, Ontario, NY, Shores of Lake Michigan, Niagra Falls and other areas I don't remember. We crossed the border between the US and Canada 4 or 5 times and never had any troulbe! Got lucky I guess.

Bob, you gonna be at the Spring Fling this year?

[bob_menton]

We tool a bike trip in 04 to the UP of Michigan, Ontario, NY, Shores of Lake Michigan, Niagra Falls and other areas I don't remember. We crossed the border between the US and Canada 4 or 5 times and never had any troulbe! Got lucky I guess.

Bob, you gonna be at the Spring Fling this year?

Yup - with Sharon, in the RV @ Iron Horse.

- Bob

[jwp767]

Brett-

Sandy and I did this trip from Lake Norman in Sept 1999 and thoroughly enjoyed it. I rode my then new K12 and she rode her R1200C along with 2 other friends on their HD and old R100RT. No rain or fog at all in NS/NB and temps around 75.

We got a late start around 5pm and made it up to New Market, Va. on I-81 the first night. The second day we rode about 790 miles up to Albany then across to Lowell, Ma. The next day we ate lunch in Portland, stopped at LLBean in Freeport, and made it to Bar Harbout that night. The next morning we took the high speed catamaran to Yarmouth in the morning and that same day rode the lighthouse route all the way around to Halifax and then continued on to New Glasgow for the night. Next day we rode the Cabot Trail counter clockwise and got to Cheticamp for the night. Next day we rode back to New Glasgow then crossed New Brunswick and stayed in Fredericton. Next day rode to the St. Lawrence seaway and on down to Quebec City for the night. Next day rode down near Burlington VT on Hwy 100 and stopped at Ben & Jerry's plant. Next day we made it back down to Harrisburg Pa. area......then home the next day.

About 4200 miles clocked when all was said and done over 12 days.

[685ursus]

Thank you for all of the valuable input.

Diane and I have decided to make that our trip this year.
We are going to take the last week of July and ride to Vermont to the BMWMOA annual meet near Burlington, Vermont. Then we will ride to Nova Scotia on to Cape Breton Island, ride the Cabot Trail then home through Quebec, Quebec City, back to Ontario. Total 8 to 10 days.

[pkpr1998]

Ok Bob and Wes, looks like were heading to NS and PEI in early July! We just got back from planning the trip. Looks like we'll ride to Baddeck and stay for a few days, do the trail, fort, Gaelic College and visit some of the towns along the Trail. Then over to PEi for an overnighter. Back through NB and back home,

I would like to stay away from as many toll roads and such if I can. Like through NY and all. Is it best (time-wise) to take that route or should we head west of all of that and then head into Bangor?

[jwp767]

Brett-

we went straight up 81 to Wilkes Barre then over to Albany and on to Lowell, Mass.....then up route 1 to Bar Harbour. I don't recall ever getting a toll road going that way.

Coming back down 100 through Vermont was toll free too.

[pkpr1998]

Thanks Jay. I don't think that we will be taking the high-speed cat from Bar Harbour to Yarmouth. I don't think it will save any time.

Has anyone ridden Highway 9 out of Bangor and into Calais (?) NB? How is the road? We will be 2-up on an LT.

[BkrK12]

It's a great road. No twisties, but gets you to Calais in a hurry. Good restaurant on the left, about half way. Come to think of it, it's the only restauant and maybe it just seemed good because it was pouring rain.

[pkpr1998]

It's a great road. No twisties, but gets you to Calais in a hurry. Good restaurant on the left, about half way. Come to think of it, it's the only restauant and maybe it just seemed good because it was pouring rain.

Is that a good entrance into NB, Canada?

What is the distance from Bangor to Canada on 9?

[BkrK12]

We went over about 9 in the morning and waited 2 or 3 minutes. If I remember correctly, it's about 95 miles, approximately 2 hours.

[LTsaddledance]

we took the high speed catamaran to Yarmouth in the morning

My wife and I are thinking of running up to NS in June after Americade. Being of good Cajun stock, she wants to pay a visit to the ancestral Acadian homeland. I'm just an adopted coonass, me :-)

Do you really need a reservation for the CAT ferry for a bike and if so, how far in advance would be wise to make it?

Other NS/canada questions may follow....

[RT_COOP]

You've gotten lots of good advise.

The ferry from Portland is not a bad choice either. You can spend the night in a cabin. Alternatively, riding back from Nova Scotia toward home, you can take the ferry out of Yarmouth for either Bar Harbor or Portland for a day ride. I stress considering the ferries as it gives you a chance to ride the western penisula of NS. Low tides, Wolfville (Wolf-something, anyway), Lunenberg, Halifax, Magdelene trail are all pleasant, unique places to 'discover'. I found that west end of Nova Scotia as memorable as the Maine, New Brunswick side.

When we were out on the Cape Breton, we stayed at a cool place called the Normaway. Fort Louisberg is definitely good, but it's not right on the Cabot trail. Cheticamp has a memorable cathedral if you like that stuff.

Have a great trip. You've got me missing the east coast, now. Guess I'll have to go wallow in my memories for a few moments.

[TBY]

Brett:

I did a 44-day cross-Canada tour in 2003, and I keep tons of notes. I have a couple of good recommendations for NS.

While you are on the Cabot Trail, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND staying in Cape North at MacDonald's Motel http://www.checkinnovascotia.com/Public/main/basicHotelInfo.asp?hotelCode=VIC009. The price was reasonable, the room was clean, but best of all was the restaurant across the street - one of the best restaurants we dined at during our entire trip. Price was moderate at the restaurant. The motel is right on the highway and the only thing across the street is the restaurant.

Also, there is a very nice B&B in Port Hawkesbury, The Marguerite. It's in a very nice, old house and has a bit of a view to the water. I don't have contact info for the woman that runs that place, but you should be able to easily find it if you're interested.

One thing you'll find about Nova Scotia if you've never been there before. That province has absolutely the best organized tourism organization and infrastructure linking government tourist information centres to the private sector of any place I have ever visited.

All you need to do is stop in at a NS government tourism centre, tell them where you want to stay, and the staff will help you find a B&B, motel or whatever you're looking for, then they will phone the establishment and make a reservation for you; no charge. Absolutely the best touring experience we had in our trip from British Columbia to Newfoundland.

Hope this helps.

Cheers from Edmonton, Alberta.

Tim Yip

[pkpr1998]

Thanks, we'll check into the lodging. If you can think of any other "must" see POI's we'd appreciate it.

[TBY]

Nova Scotia is all-in-all a wonderful touring destination, but some of the 'must-sees' in addition to the Cabot Trail are:

Peggy's Cove, probably the most photographed village, originally for fishing, but now tourism, in the province. (It's surreal and looks so 'authentic' that it reminded me of a Disneyland-like movie set);

Lunenburg, another historic fishing community but a large tourism town, known for Canada's famous Bluenose schooner, winner of the America's Cup trophy in 1921 and memorialized on the Canadian dime;

The Swiss Air Flt 111 memorial near Peggy's Cove.

Enjoy your tour!

Tim Yip

[tourunigo]

Can't help ya on accommodations - we had the RV with us, and stayed at a KOA in Baddeck.

The Cabot Trail is prettiest when ridden clockwise. To prove this to yourself, ride it both ways - you'll see. The fort @ Louisbourg is definitely worth a visit. If you're very unlucky, you will run into fog on the Cabot Trail. We didn't, and I hope you don't, but I had a friend (retired) who spent 9 days in his tent waiting for the fog to lift.

It's a fine ride, and very worth doing as one of the three most outstanding rides on the east coast of North America (Cabot Trail, Blue Ridge Pkwy/Skyline Drive, road to Key West) - but after you do it, you'll appreciate even more the fine riding and scenery that we have on & near the Blue Ridge Pkwy.

- Bob

---counterclockwise by m/c

[pkpr1998]

How are the mosquitos and black flies in NS around early July?

[BudCesena]

Cindy and I went in mid June. No crowds. Like Wes we took the Cat over. We had a great trip. Crowds get bigger after the fourth of July. Be sure to get a lobster at Halls Lobster Pound near Wolfville. It was really a great trip, we will go back some time soon. The black flies can be bad but we only had problems in a couple places. Im with the guys who recoment the Cabot Trail Clockwise.

[lexlan]

Some Pictures we took last July on Cabot's Trail, Peggys Cove, also a map.

[TandemCyclist]

Brett,
Find me at STC and we will talk Cabot Trail and NS.
Rick

[pkpr1998]

Gentlemen, thanks for all of the input regarding NS and PEI. Unfortunately we have had to scrubb the trip as the other couple is not able to make it.

Maybe one day we will be able to see and visit all of the nice folks in NS!