Monthly Archives: September 2016

Nova Scotia Achieved!

240 miles

Total around the world bicycle miles 25,727 (41,403 km)

September 14, 2016

We left Calais, Maine crossed over the St. Croix River and re-entered New Brunswick into the town of St. Stephen. Our day was spent on a sightseeing route around the Bay of Fundy which was beautiful on this bright clear day in sharp contrast to yesterday’s storm. A cold front passed through and it was a little cooler. The Bay of Fundy is a bay on the Atlantic coast of North America, on the northeast end of the Gulf of Maine between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the U.S. state of Maine. It is home to the highest tidal range in the world with extremes to 53.5 feet (16.3 meters).

After a delicious fish lunch, we continued to New River Beach Campground and settled in with a nice camp on the Bay of Fundy.

The next morning, we rode mostly on New Brunswick 1 to the city of St. John and proceeded to the Nova Star Cruises Digby ferry to check on departure times. We were going to spend a night in St. John but since the ferry was leaving within the hour we boarded. The 42 mile ride took a little over two hours on a very comfortable but expensive ($102 Canadian). On arrival at Digby is was a two mile ride to the very inexpensive Digby campground where there were several others campers. It was a ten minute walk into town and a delicious but very expensive seafood dinner. Digby is supposedly the scallop capital of the world so we indulged in this very tasty treat for us. After stopping at an ice cream shop we walked back to camp and settled into the tent for the night.

This morning we decided to take a break and explore this quaint and interesting fishing village. It’s hard to believe that we have biked over 3,100 miles through Canada since July 10th as we have taken many days off to explore. Sometimes we will bicycle tour a town and while in others we will walk. Most campgrounds will be closing at the end of this month. The seasonal people will winterize their trailers and leave them in place hoping they will be okay after the long upcoming winter. The season will then start sometime in May. We have really enjoyed all the campgrounds throughout all of Canada whether they be private or provincial. Our original plan was to cycle more north to Prince Edward Island which is north of Nova Scotia as we have talked to many that have and they all say it is stunning. We had even talked about cycling Newfoundland and Labrador. But we have run out of time. I will be leaving for a business trip to Denver at the end of this month and will fly out of Boston around September 26th. In the meantime, we will cycle out of Digby tomorrow morning and head northeast then across Nova Scotia to Liverpool and south to Yarmouth. From Yarmouth we will ferry to Portland, Maine and continue south to Boston.

September 16, 2016

Yesterday we left Digby then rode north before heading east across the Nova Scotia Peninsula. Last night another cold front came through and the morning temperature was in the low 30’s f. After an all day ride we entered Kejimkujik National Park and found a cool campground among the tall tress bordering a beautiful lake. The park consists of 381 sq km of rolling hills and waterways and closes October 10th. We were expecting it to be expensive but at $25 it is much cheaper than the $41 provincial parks. This morning we continued and turned south at Liverpool and continued a few more miles to Hunts Point Beach where once again we saw the Atlantic Ocean after a long, long, time.

September 17, 2016

Today we made it to the historical town of Shelburne established in 1783. We stopped at the Boxing Rock Brewery in town but the tasting was very strange as you are allowed a “splash” of what is available and then one small 4 oz sample of one you like. This sample was $2. As I have said many times Canada has very different alcohol rules. The campground was not open but after five days of camping a motel was nice.

There are lots of abandoned structures in Maine.
There are lots of abandoned structures in Maine.

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Back in New Brunswick.
Back in New Brunswick.
We cycled toured around the Bay of Fundy.
We cycled toured around the Bay of Fundy.

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New River Beach on the Bay of Fundy.
New River Beach on the Bay of Fundy.
Across from our campsite - the Bay of Fundy.
Across from our campsite – the Bay of Fundy.
Interesting reads about tides.
Interesting reads about tides.

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Breakfast overlooking high tide. We usually make peanut butter wraps with all sorts of stuff including apples, bananas, dry cereal, dried fruit, nuts, etc.
Breakfast overlooking high tide. We usually make peanut butter wraps with all sorts of stuff including apples, bananas, dry cereal, dried fruit, nuts, etc.

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Nova Scotia Achieved!
Nova Scotia Achieved!
A quaint fishing village of Digby, Nova Scotia.
A quaint fishing village of Digby, Nova Scotia.
A very low tide.
A very low tide.

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Sunset from our seafood restaurant.
Sunset from our seafood restaurant.
Very fine scallops on a salad bed.
Very fine scallops on a salad bed.
Digby Campground. The second night a cold front came through and we moved our tent into the three walled and roofed structure to the right as we were being flooded.
Digby Campground. The second night a cold front came through and we moved our tent into the three walled and roofed structure to the right as we were being flooded.
We ferried to Digby then cycled to Liverpool and south to Yarmouth.
We ferried to Digby then cycled to Liverpool and south to Yarmouth.

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Climbing out of Digby.
Climbing out of Digby.
Jean from Houlton, Maine gave us our first Mrs. Dunster's donuts. They are the best ever. Thanks Jean.
Jean from Houlton, Maine gave us our first Mrs. Dunster’s donuts. They are the best ever. Thanks Jean.
Our camp in Kejimkujik National Park.
Our camp in Kejimkujik National Park.
All through Canada we have seen trees growing out of rocks.
All through Canada we have seen trees growing out of rocks.
A beautiful lake at Kejimkujik National Park.
A beautiful lake at Kejimkujik National Park.
Look closely to see a deer.
Look closely to see a deer.
Nice!
Nice!
The timber trucks in Nova Scotia are very kind as compared to other parts of Canada and north Florida.
The timber trucks in Nova Scotia are very kind as compared to other parts of Canada and north Florida.
Once again the Atlantic Ocean!
Once again the Atlantic Ocean!
Another fine campground across the street from the ocean.
Another fine campground across the street from the ocean.