399 Kilometers
3256 Total Kilometers
We decided that although we are officially on Atlantic Time, we will continue to operate on Eastern Time. Our reasoning should be obvious - it works for us. People who take this much time away from work and family cannot be expected to operate otherwise. By staying on Eastern Time, we have basically simulated our own personal daylight savings time. So, when we arrived at our hotel today at 6:00, for us it was 5:00.
Our day began at 6:30 Our Time in the Avonside Hotel Parking lot. The installation of Bill's handlebar risers yesterday evening went well so he was ready for a comfortable day of riding.
We rolled out of the parking lot at 7:45 and rode to Tim Horton's, a Canadian hybrid of a McDonald's and a Starbucks. It was a happening place. The drive-though had a constant stream of cars. Inside there was a long line of people getting coffee and a quick breakfast before work and a group of older guys sitting around having coffee while giving each other their opinion on just about everything.
Pig was combined with yogurt and berries, and the coffee was excellent. Tim Horton's is OK.
Tim Horton'sWe left Tim Horton's under gray skies and a lot of fog.
We left Falmouth and headed toward Halifax.
Bill did an expert job of navigating us through Halifax, the largest city in Nova Scotia. We rode through several downtown neighborhoods. It appeared to be a vital city with a lot going on.
Downtown HalifaxOur mission today was to enjoy a pretty ride, have a good lunch and end the day in Cape Breton. Cape Breton is the scenic highpoint of Nova Scotia.
By mid-morning the temperature reached a perfect 72 degrees. The road was smooth, our bikes were running well, the sun was working mightily to burn away the fog, our bellies were full of pork and a live rendition of Free Bird was blaring through the headset. Life is good. Indeed.
Our route to Cape Breton took us along the eastern coastline of Nova Scotia. It is heavily wooded, with a string of small coastal towns dotting the shoreline. It offered quite a contrast to the western coast, which was pretty but without the lush vegetation we rode through today.
Along the eastern coast of Nova ScotiaWhile our ride today was mostly along the coast, we did venture into the interior on occasion. It also provided an interesting contrast. The coast was extremely foggy and about 65 degrees. The interior was sunny and the high temperatures reached 95 degrees.
We stopped for lunch at the Lobster Shack, located In Salmon River, Nova Scotia. Among the three of us, we had lobster rolls, smoked salmon, seafood chowder, sherbet and blueberry smash. The meal lacked only a live rendition of Free Bird.
The Lobster Shack
Your riders stuffed with seafoodWe arrived in Cape Breton at 5:30 Our Time and checked into the Maritime Motel, a clean motel with fast internet, a decent restaurant and a coin-operated laundry.
A few years ago, while on other motorcycle trips it was often difficult to find motels that offered high-speed internet. Now, when you ask if they have high-speed internet, the react as if you asked whether they have indoor toilets. Progress is usually a good thing.
Cape Breton is the "most scenic island in the world," according to Conde Nast Traveler magazine. Tomorrow we ride the Cabot Trail, a 298 kilometer long scenic coastal highway that completes a loop of northern Cape Breton.
