XCAN Day 79. Rest Day Cornwall P E I

I don’t know how we do it but a lot of our rest day coincide with some amazing low pressure systems that come through wherever we are.  Saturday was no exception. The rain started around 6:45 am and did not let up all day.  As everywhere,  PEI needed the rain so the farmers were happy.

Nancy and Dave spent an hour or so under the awning cleaning their bikes in the morning.

Both couples were  planning to explore around Charlottetown so we headed in shortly after lunch.  We hit the information centre first and Nancy and Dave headed off after getting the information they wanted. We spent a bit of time asking about our plans for a bit of a road trip tour for the next day. The woman was very helpfull.
We then headed out to look at a couple of places around town.

The KOA had some umbrellas they lent out so that was very nice to have.  We wandered down the street and looked at a few areas and made it to the arts Center where we watched a small vignette on pre confederation. It was very well done and we enjoyed it.  As we headed back outside the rain had not let up at all.  So Greg and I decided to head to the grocery store to do the shopping and then back to the trailer.   So that is what we did.

Had a quiet afternoon and I won at Bananas.  Dinner was left over Chinese from the night before which actually was better than the night before.

Nancy and Dave had done some sights and then out for dinner and arrived back to the trailer with very wet feet.   We all headed to bed in our waterfront trailer for all the puddles from the deluge of rain.

Greg and I were getting up a few hours later to pick up Dustin from the Charlottetown airport.  His flight from Vancouver to Montreal was changed that morning but he was able to get on a flight from Vancouver/Toronto/Charlottetown.

We arrived at the airport and the Toronto flight was a bit delayed so it was 1:30 am before it arrived and about 2:30 by the time we got back and into bed.  So a bit of a sleep deficit this night.

I am excited about having Dustin here for a week and riding with me.   Should be a good time.

I  afraid there are no pictures from today from me as it was so grey and miserable.  

Supposed to be sunny tomorrow!    Heidi

XCan Day 80 - Cornwall/Charlottetown to Murray River, PEI

Distance: 75.3 km
Time: 3:27
Speed: 21.8 km/hr
Ascent: 715 m
Flats: 0
Bathroom Rating: 10

Today we had a divergence: Dave and I rode from Cornwall to close to the ferry between PEI and NS while Heidi and Greg went with their son Dustin did a driving tour through Charlottetown, Summerset, and the north side of PEI.  Today was the first day Dave and I felt lost.  Google had us going on the Confederation Trail a bit through Charlottetown, which was nice, and into the country. The Confederation trail is a lovely trail but it's gravel, which is nice for mountain bikes and walkers but not great for road bikes and none of the intersecting roads are marked.  After turning this way and that, we ran into a woman who directed us to the driving route (rather than the biking route) and after that we made good time.  UNTIL we hit highway 24 with 11, 12, and 13 percent incline hills - one after the other after the other.  Every time we said it's got got to go down to the water, we met met another steep incline.  Fun but tiring! We stayed at a B&B in Murray River that is owned by a couple from Newfoundland - our first introduction to the Newfoundland accent and we could only understand every third word.  But a lovely couple who leant us their car to drive into Murray Harbour first for beer and later for supper. Above and beyond our expectations! We went to a super cute little cafe in Murray Harbour called #5 Cafe - if you are ever in Murray Harbour go to this cafe and order the pear and blue cheese salad - you will not be disappointed!
Cheers,
Nancy and Dave

XCan Day 78 - Shediac to Cornwall/Charlottetown PEI

Distance: 123km
Time: 4:59
Speed:24.7 km/he
Ascent: 861m
Weather: sunny and warm...perfect for a day of riding
Flats: 0
Bathroom Rating: 8...disappointing for a KOA site

Today we arrived in PEI, our 10th province.  Just two more to go!

The ride was in 2 halves because you can't ride bikes across the Confederation Bridge. The first 1/2 was from Shediac along the coast with some inland sections. We were on back roads most of the way with little traffic in rolling terrain. The sections on the major highways were busy and noisy. At the bridge there is a free shuttle for bikers and walkers that runs continuously from one side to the other but there is a bit of a wait. It took about 1 hr from the time we arrived at the bridge until we landed on the other side. The bridge is about 13 km long, the highest point is 191ft high and took 4 yrs to build...all of this from the shuttle driver. Greg met Heidi at the bridge and took her across and she took a more direct route to the campsite. Once in PEI, Nancy and Dave took a back roads route along the coast with a stop in Victoria by the Sea. Lobster rolls for lunch and a visit to the shop where Tony sold his cut glas art work. Even took time for a photo op with his friends Kim and Maureen, while they reminisced about Tony and how much they miss him. Then on more back roads to our campsite in Cornwall. A beautiful day for a beautiful ride through the PEI countryside.

Cheers
Dave and Nancy

XCAN Day 77 Rest Day in Shediac/Moncton

Well after 8 days straight of riding we had our rest day in Shediac.  We all slept in a little...some of us very little.

A leisurely coffee and breakfast.  Nancy and Dave had to do laundry today so they got that in.  The weather wasn't sunny today, so Greg decided to wash the truck.  I helped by cleaning the inside.

After finishing laundry, Nancy and Dave had lunch and we headed toward Moncton, which was only 26 km on a nice hwy.  Along the way Dave spotted a sign for the "Magnetic Hill" so we made a quick decision to head there as we had lots of time.

The Magnetic hill is an optical illusion that makes you feel like you are coasting uphill.  So you pay your $6.00 and then wait in line.

When it is your turn you drive to this white pole and put your car in neutral and let off the brake.  Then you coast backwards,  seemingly uphill.  I think we had more fun joking with the workers than our 1 minute ride.  But we can say we did it!!

After our thrilling life changing event above, we headed for downtown Moncton.  We parked and the girls at the Info Centre said we had a good hour before the tidal bore so we headed for a coffee and treat.

Once we got back to the seating for the viewing, there was this young person from the Museum doing the presentation on tides and what caused them,  the tidal bore and other interesting stuff.  He did a great job and then it was time to wait for the bore.

Then around the corner it came.  It was actually quite amazing to see and hear the water rushing by as well as feel it as it created a bit of a breeze.  We watched for about half an hour as the water steadily crept up the bank.  After most people left our young presenter was answering questions and we learned that the river used to be much wider.  The creation of the causeway, see the info from Wikipedia below,  created a lot of new land in the river.

In 1968, a controversial rock-and-earth fill causeway was built between Moncton and Riverview to prevent agricultural flooding and to carry a crossing between the two communities. The causeway caused many problems for the river and its surrounding ecosystem. An estimated 10 million cubic metres (13 million cubic yards) of silt was deposited in the 4.7 km (2.9 mi) of river downstream from the causeway in the first three years following construction. The causeway restricted the movement of fish and reduced the region's salmon catches by 82 percent. Water quality has also dropped thanks to industrial expansion around the area. In 2003, Earthwild International designated the Petitcodiac River as the most endangered river in Canada because of these problems. On 14 April 2010, the causeway's gates were opened permanently as part of a $68 million three-phase project designed to restore the river, to be completed by 2015.

Our interpreter went on to tell us that the river bank is eroding now that the causeway has been removed and that they hope it will go back to some wider form and hopefully become healthy again.  He said they have tried to plant salmon back into the river but they have not taken hold yet.  Very interesting!

After our tidal bore experience we decided to meet up for dinner at 5:30 and the Tide and Bore Gastro Pub.

Greg and I headed to the museum which was quite interesting.  Definitely a place to take kids as it was very hands on.  After the museum we headed back to the river to see how high the tide had risen.  Nancy and Dave were doing the same thing after getting hair cuts.  So we decided to head for dinner right away.

Dinner was good.  We all had fish again tonight.  We were all tired so we walked back to the car and headed back to Shellac and the trailer after a quick stop to pick up a few groceries.

Back "home" we settled down for the night.  Trying to stay up for a while so we can get a good night sleep.

So on to Prince Edward Island tomorrow.   Another Province down.

That's all from Shediac for now.   Heidi

XCan Day 76: Miramichi to Shediac, NB

Distance: 121 km
Time: 5:02
Speed: 24.21
Ascent: 560m
Weather: hot, hot, hot and sunny
Flats: none
Bathroom Rating: 8.5

The ride today was through a mix of terrain from rolling hills on a major highway to farmland and seaside towns on a much quieter secondary road. Today, August 15th was Acadia day in New Brunswick and along the way there were many houses in the rural areas festooned with red, white and blue with the Acadia Star in a prominent spot. And in one of the seaside towns we rode through it was a full blown festival going on. Nancy and Dave basically followed a highway route that was very straight forward while Heidi followed google maps exactly which, although 5k shorter, took her through some major mud puddles. We finished the ride by going through the middle of Shediac and again, the Acadia day festivities were rocking on. As is our custom the day before a rest day we go out for a low key meal but the party was only getting started in Shediac...the Main Street was closed to traffic on our way to the restaurant. We were able to navigate around the party and had a nice meal. There was a singer at the restaurant playing songs from the 70s and surprisingly was able to play all of our requests...including a Valde song. Anyone remember Valde. So Day 76 is done.

Cheers
Dave and Nancy

XCan Day 74 - Belledone to Bathurst NB

Distance: 50.5 km
Time: 2:03
Speed: 24.5 k/hr
Ascent: 232 m
Weather: sunny and hot
Flats: none
Bathroom: 7.5

A short, flat, ez ride today.  Sometimes you have to ride longer or shorter than you would prefer just to find a campsite. Today was one of those shorter ones.  But, it was a good one!  Dave and I used today as a bit of an errand day - looking for sunscreen and bike chain degreaser. Just outside the drugstore, I  asked a woman where a coffee shop was.  She explained to me that this was a very small village and they didn't have a coffee shop other than Tim Hortons but they did have a little Bistro.  We said that was perfect so she gave us directions and we headed off down the road.  A few minutes later a car pulled up beside Dave (on the shoulder side!), the same woman showing Dave the Bistro was across the street.  I was about 200m further along the road when I heard a car honking and then pulling in front of me - the same woman telling me that I missed the Bistro and had to go back.  When Dave caught up she said "she was speeding, you would have never caught her,". So we go to the bistro and find it's closed and end up at Tim Hortons after all, sitting on a bench by the drive thru.  And wouldn't you know it - the same woman drives through and said "you didn't go.,". We all had a good laugh.  Then, shortly before our campground we stopped at a bakery to buy a pie for dessert and Dave was asking where a road was.  There was a customer in the bakery who overheard the conversation and as I was standing outside waiting for Dave, this customer pulls up again on his motorcycle.  He had driven off to find out where the road we were looking for was and then came back to tell us.
Two random acts of kindness from perfect strangers in New Brunswick!  We live in a wonderful country!
Ride on,
Nancy

XCAN Day 75 to Miramichi

Distance:         98 km
Time:              4:20
Elevation:       654 m
Weather:         17 - 28 c. Overcast in afternoon. Headwinds
Bathrooms:     5
Flats:               0

A good night sleep and up and at em.  It was a pleasant ride today but nothing spectacular to see as we left the coast behind and travelled inland through wooded uninhabited areas.  Lots of sign for moose but none spotted. Saw a couple of people picking blueberries along side the road and thought on my next break I would pick a few. But seeing the fresh blueberry bear poop changed my mind and I kept going.

We first rode through Bathurst to try to stay off the big highway.  The roads through town were a little messy but once we got on Hwy 134 it was clear sailing for 26 km. There was a small community we passed and brought to our attention again the red white and blue with the yellow star decorations of the Acadians that we have been seeing for the past couple of days.  So when I got in to camp tonight I asked Mr Google and it is National Acadian Day tomorrow August 15th.  That would account for all he extra decorations.  It would be nice if we can partake in some of the festivities...but will have to see what tomorrow brings.

After reaching Hwy 8 the sides of the road were tough. Narrow and in some places non existent or so rough you couldn’t ride on them.  Luckily on any hills they had the extra passing lane so it gave a bit of a break from cars wizzing by.  It always make for a tense ride and I really feel it in my shoulders.

There was not really any place to stop today except for an Esso Gas station/restaurant about 60 km out.  I didn’t stop but Nancy and Dave did and said it wasn’t great.   The headwinds were against us all day but not that strong for most of the ride.

I headed on to Miramichi and got a text from Greg asking me to walk the bridge in Miramichi  as it was very narrow.  When I arrived at the bridge the approach was so rough and overgrown that I got off my bike anyway.  Also the wind was blowing sideways quite strongly and whistling in the guardrails  and with the very narrow walkway it would have been dangerous. It was scary enough walking over the bridge in control. Not much room when the big trucks went past.   Anyway I thanked Greg and he texted Dave and Nancy as well about walking the bridge.

Dave and Nancy received the text just before the bridge when they stopped to pick up some items. They were contemplating going to the info bureau but it was a ways out of the way and so they decided to walk the bridge as well.  During their stop they met a nice couple who just arrived home from Newfoundland yesterday, Genevieve and Kevin.

Nice afternoon relaxing and even went for a dip in the pool to loosen up my shoulders from today’s ride.

Nancy and Dave made a great dinner and had a pie for dessert. Yum!

Tomorrow will be our 8th day riding in a row before a rest day.  So am looking forward to a day off and seeing the sights of Moncton.

That is all for today.   Looking forward to some seafood and lobster soon!!!

Thanks for reading...Heidi