Update24 - 5/30/01
We are in Belfast, Maine, heading west on the Northern Tier Route.
Leaving Halifax we rode the locally popular bike route on Highway 2 toward Shubenacadie (Shoe-ben-ak-adie). Along the way we met a group of men ROWING - rowing?? a vehicle. There were four rowers and a coxswain steering the strange craft down the road. They were attempting a record run from Halifax to Vancouver, BC to raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation. Check their site at www.rowingacrossCanada.com to see the strange craft and learn about their attempt to make a record run. While we were chatting with them CTV television showed up to cover their travels and decided to do a piece about us! We got National coverage on the news that evening. For the remainder of our tour of Nova Scotia many people stopped to wish us well or just honked and waved saying "we saw you on TV!" as they passed.
Reaching the Tidal Bore Park near Shubenacadie, we spent the night in a great little cabin with a view of the river. The next morning John Knol guided our raft to the mouth of the river, at the Bay of Fundy. We stopped on a sand bar and in a few minutes we saw "it" coming. A 5 foot wall of water moving up the river at 20 MPH!
The ride back UP the river was a truly unique experience! The tide here is up to 32 feet! We had a 25 foot tide, which gave us plenty of white water and a really wild ride.
It was a great time and if you ever get to this part of the world, don't miss it!
Check it out at www.tidalborerafting.com
Leaving the Tidal Bore Park we rode north to South Maitland, and then turned west. Our return to the West coast really started here, and it was an important crossroad on our long tour. Soon we were in Acadia, where French people settled in Nova Scotia in the early 1700s. They were later removed by the British and many ended up in Louisiana, becoming the Cajun people. Some of George's roots are here as his mother's side of the family are Cajun.
Following the Evangeline Trail to Yarmouth in beautiful spring weather, was a perfect ending to our tour of Nova Scotia. Reaching Wolfville we chatted with local cyclists at the bike shop there and they directed us to a little known low traffic route. We rode along on farm roads with only the occasional passing auto, trying to absorb all of the beauty of the historic old farms as we cruised along.
In the Annapolis Valley the apple orchards were in full bloom, and spring flowers were everywhere. We visited the Historic Gardens at Annapolis Royal, where a replica of a Acadian cottage, gardens and dyke construction are located. Nearby we toured the only tidal power electrical generating station in North America. It is a small plant, basically an experiment to determine what effects it might have on the environment. The Canadians are proceeding slowly and carefully with this and after 10 years the impact seems to be very minimal. Possibly this is a way to solve some energy needs without much damage to the planet.
South of Annapolis Royal, the small towns along the coast are very French, and most signs are French with English below. Thankfully, everyone speaks English so getting around was not a problem. As we have found throughout Nova Scotia, the people are very friendly toward tourists. The motorists have been wonderful, amongst the most polite we have had so far on our trip.
Coming back into Yarmouth, the spring weather caught up with us. We have great rain gear, but lightning is not good when cycling, so we stopped a few kilometers before town, at Churchill Mansion Inn. What an experience that was! After a great dinner the owner, Bob Benson told us stories of the history of the Inn and it's owner "Rudder" Churchill, a relative of the great Winston Churchill. If you want the whole story, you will have to travel to Darling Lake, Nova Scotia and stay in this historic home. Bob tells the stories every evening after dinner.
The next morning we rode into Yarmouth, completing the Nova Scotia portion of our tour. While in this amazing land we completed the Lighthouse Trail, portions of the Halifax Metro and the Glooscap Trails, and the Evangeline Trail. We will be back to ride the famous Cabot Trail and see Bras d'Or Lakes, as well as Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island. Hopefully some of you will be able to join us then.
If you want more info on Nova Scotia, give them a call at 1-800-565-0000. Be sure to ask for the "Doers and Dreamers Book." Visit their site at www.exploreNS.com
Leaving Yarmouth we rode "The Cat" to Bar Harbor, Maine. What a rush! We charged across the bay at 55 MPH powered by 38,000 horsepower. Quickly reaching Bar Harbor, we were welcomed back to the USA by the rugged beauty of the Maine Coast and Acadia National Park. We can't imagine a more perfect place to return home to. No wonder "Mainers" are so attached to this land!
Our last views of the beautiful Maine Coast will be tomorrow. We are excited about getting started west, but are also sad to leave this lovely land. We will be back!
George and Sharon Miner
Vancouver Bicycle Club, Vancouver, Washington
2000 da Vinci Global Venture towing Bob Trailer
Free as the Wind - Our one year self-supported tandem tour of the USA, Mexico and Canada
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