Made it! 2301 klm 128 klm per day

I am quite proud of my physical abilities that allowed me to do this ride but I am very appreciative of the many people who kept in touch and commented and gave encouragement along the way.  Very,  very appreciative! The solitary nature of the ride was a greater challenge than the ride itself and that support made a big difference. I enjoyed the ride, the varied towns, cities, shorelines and countrysides. I loved to push myself fairly hard on days when I was feeling energetic or a desirable destination was in reach.  It was particularly rewarding to spend time with my cousin Sharon and her husband John and my Uncle Jim and Aunt Angie. This ride started as a whim but my instincts were good.  As a final surprise a fellow at WestJet check in decided, after we chatted about my acomplisment,  to upgrade me to "plus" class.  (I. E.  The scotch is free)  "cheers!"

Halifax 96 klm

Since rain was forecast for early afternoon I got on the road at 7:30 to try and get to halifax before it began.  In order to avoid some hills in the area I decided to try the rail trail again.  It was pretty good riding for about 15 klm but very suddenly the packed, small gravel trail turned in to loose large gravel and sand. I rode on for a klm or so but had a fall in soft sand. Then another on loose, large gravel. I hit my elbow hard on that one.

My wipe out tracks.  Rather than continue another 8 klm to the next road crossing I backtracked 3 and switched to the old highway, hills and all.

A cool day at the beach. 

This Cape Islander isn't going anywhere again.

At the head of St. Margaret's Bay there is a great cafe doing brisk business this Sunday morning.  Perfect location for me to take a break.

At this point I was 30 klm from Halifax. Since the cafe was an old train station beside both the highway and the rail trail I asked 3 people about the quality of the trail from this point on and all agreed it was good.

So we headed out for the last bit of the ride.

The trail was very good and there were many cyclists out. I stopped at a lovely spot and enjoyed lunch prepared for me by Sharon and John.  

As I entered Halifax the trail was paved.

I arrived at my aunt and uncles about 1, just as the rain started.

I was in Halifax for an hour and we drove back to Chester for father's day scallop dinner. I had been offered the choice of just meeting them there and getting a lift with my bike back to Halifax. It did not seem like a fitting way to complete the trip so I declined.

Relaxing in Chester : Halifax tomorrow

After a leisurely start to a beautiful sunny day we set out and toured the area of Chester Basin, Chester, Lunenburg, Blue Rocks and places whose names I forget.
                               Sharon and Johns place

Lunenburg:  Where both the Bluenose and the Bounty (as in mutiny of)  were built.

 Unfortunately the Bluenose II was out for sea trials.  The one in this pic is a similar vintage but not as impressive as the Bluenose.

Chester 158 klm

Today was cool with rain to come later in the morning. I was on the road at 7:30 with the goal to get at least to Liverpool. The route to Liverpool was not coastal so was mostly forest bush once it was out of town. There was a long section where the old highway 3 and the big highway 103 merge with no other option to go east. It turned out that riding this section was OK.  Some good paved shoulders on some sections and reduced speeds on others parts. So a big relief. 

I've been meaning to take a picture of lupins for a few days. They are not as eye catching as the rodadendrons but they brighten up the roadside almost continuously. 

I was caught in a cold rain for the last 15 minutes in to Liverpool and I stopped at a quirky cafe to have great soup and warm up. I had a nice chat with a group of local women at the adjoining table. Eventually the rain stopped and I changed into dry and warmer clothes. I decided to push on to Bridgewater,  about 45 klm away, and see how I felt at that point.  It was a fast ride and after stopping at a timmys for a snack and to wait for another shower to pass I continued on for the last 41 klm to my cousins.

The ride from Bridgwater to Chester had some very pretty spots. The rain was also clearing.

Mahone Bay

I arrived at my cousins Sharon's (and John's) at 6:35 after 158 klm. Felt great. I've had a hot shower and a great meal at a seafood restaurant right on Chester harbour. I will stay here until Sunday and make the final ride to Halifax. 

Shelburne 162 klm

That's about how I was feeling yesterday evening. Disappointed that the riding was poor, that this last stretch was going to take more time and be more complicated. Thank you to those who helped me get back to focusing on enjoying the ride rather than anticipating it's end.

View of Yarmouth harbour in the morning  as I left.  Never did see it at high tide.  Note the big ferry that goes to Portland Maine in the harbour.  I headed out at 8:30 and followed the old highway 3 which stays closer to the ins  and outs of the coast. It was another very scenic ride without much traffic. I tried a 5 klm section of rail trail that was a short cut on one of the highways meandering bends but the trail was poor for my needs.

Cute little old place overlooking the ocean.

The coloured  things are floating markers that fishermen use to mark the location of their nets and lobster traps.

Colourful fishing gear.

One of many small harbours. 

At a snack break at 2 pm about 90 klm along I planned where I would end up. The next place with accommodations was Shelburne,  just 35 klm away. By highway. My route was over 70 klm with a few late afternoon hills thrown in. 

But it was very pretty on a smooth road with no traffic.

Stopped to dip my foot in the ocean for the first time.  Not as cold as I anticipated. 

It is a quiet Thursday evening in Shelburne.  I don't seem particularly tired after the ride. Can't figure out tomorrow's ride since highway 3 seems to merge with the larger 103 and there are no coastal roads. I called a local bike shop and the owner said that people cycle that section of 103 all the time. Well, I will have a look at it and the rail trail again. 

Yarmouth 110 klm

I slept well at a hostel type accommodation in Digby. Although I was in a dorm of 4 beds I was the only one in it. But there were several other guests in other rooms so at breakfast there were several people and good conversation.  No other cyclists though.

 I headed down the coast towards Yarmouth which is actually south west direction. Great sunny day with a cross wind. After 20 klm on a too busy highway I was able to switch to highway 1 which is the old road.

Digby harbour.

Surprisingly this area seems great for rodedendrons.

This area is part of what is called Acadia and remains quite french and catholic. 

Took this picture because I was struck by the colour.

I had chowder at a place that looked out at Cape St Mary's.  I arrived in Yarmouth before 4 but decided to stay put and booked myself in to the closest b&b. 

It was a very pretty ride to Yarmouth but even though highway 1 is not too busy it is not a good cycling road in my opinion.  There are no paved shoulders at all.

View of Yarmouth bay at low tide from the porch of my b&b.

 I have not looked in to the details of this part of the trip until now and I am concerned about these last 400 klm to Halifax along the south shore. As far as I can tell none of the roads have paved shoulders.  The route looks to be a patchwork of rail trails and secondary roads but that will only work if the rail trails are in good shape.