Oct 8 2007
Today 110?
well I totally forgot it was a Turkey time and that nothing would be open. Phebea's brakes went from spongy to darn near gone by mid-morning so I hitch hiked into Cornerbrook. The gentleman who picked me up dropped me at a hotel right across the street from the bike shop. So technically I only biked about 30 km the other 80 km was in a truck. It is cold. I was wearing everything warm I own and I was shivering away. When the brakes went I was very ready to come home. I called Flip and told him to book me a flight from Cornerbrook I'm done thank-you very much. If the guy in the truck had dropped me at the airport I would have happily boarded the first flight. Now that I've had a warm bath and am sitting in a cozy room I'm keen again (sort of). We will see. I'll find our what is going on with my bike and I'll see if I can find some warmer clothes. This is going to put me back a few days. I originally wanted to be home for Thanksgiving, then it was the 15th now I thinking my new song is "I'll be Home for Christmas."
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Newfoundland
Oct 7 2007
Today 110 Total
Sleeping on the ferry did nothing to improve how my neck was feeling neither did the 70 km blasts that greeted when I got off the ferry. It took me two and half hours to do the first 17km of my ride today. The wind was steady at about 50 km which had me creeping along in my granny gear. The blasts would knock me off the road. I was just so happy to be in my last province. It was cold and raining. The whole time I was riding I was doing the '9 more days' mantra. I couldn't believe the number of rainbows I saw today. I must have seen a least seven. From the part arch, to a huge full half circle to a few smaller closer to the ground arches. It was kind of neat.
Today 110 Total
Sleeping on the ferry did nothing to improve how my neck was feeling neither did the 70 km blasts that greeted when I got off the ferry. It took me two and half hours to do the first 17km of my ride today. The wind was steady at about 50 km which had me creeping along in my granny gear. The blasts would knock me off the road. I was just so happy to be in my last province. It was cold and raining. The whole time I was riding I was doing the '9 more days' mantra. I couldn't believe the number of rainbows I saw today. I must have seen a least seven. From the part arch, to a huge full half circle to a few smaller closer to the ground arches. It was kind of neat.
I liked how you could only see this one on the mountain.
Phebeas brakes are feeling kind of spongy so I'm hoping to make it to Cornerbrook tomorrow to have them checked out.
Phebeas brakes are feeling kind of spongy so I'm hoping to make it to Cornerbrook tomorrow to have them checked out.
Nut Bar
Oct 6 2007
Today 137.9 Total 8288.1
Well what a night. the wind was howling and my tarp at one particularly bad gust blew apart. It shredded down the one end and flung all the pegs on the one side of the hammock everywhere. Three in the morning and I'm hunting for brownish pieces of wire with a headlamp on. I never did find all of them. I took the tarp off and replaced it with the original hammock tarp and slept like a baby rocked to sleep until 7:00.
Well I found the fall colours they were on the east side of the trail. Breath taking views and hills.
Today 137.9 Total 8288.1
Well what a night. the wind was howling and my tarp at one particularly bad gust blew apart. It shredded down the one end and flung all the pegs on the one side of the hammock everywhere. Three in the morning and I'm hunting for brownish pieces of wire with a headlamp on. I never did find all of them. I took the tarp off and replaced it with the original hammock tarp and slept like a baby rocked to sleep until 7:00.
Well I found the fall colours they were on the east side of the trail. Breath taking views and hills.
This is one of my favorite shots.
I think everyone needs to put the Cabot Trail on their life list of things to see and do. But for God's sake DON'T do it on a bike. Enjoy the thing. See it in a car or on a motorcycle. You need your head examined if you want to cycle it. I've done most the country and the only T-shirt I want says 'I'm an Idiot, I cycled the Cabot Trail'.
Yeah I'm done the trail.
I did meet other masochists on the trail. I played pass with an gentleman from Alberta for three days. He was traveling faster than me but he he put in shorter (time) days. He was staying in hotels and I was camping. I would be on the road early and he would sleep in then he would pass me around lunch each day. We had lunch together the one day. We were putting in very similar km but he was doing it several hours quicker than me. I really am a mule plodding along out there. I also passed two different couples cycling the trail. They were cycling the other direction which I believe is the steeper harder route. Good for them. Nut bars.
I managed to make it to the Newfoundland Ferry just after dark. At one point I was coming down a hill a whopping 8% and it felt positively flat after the monsters I had done. Perspective is a wonderful thing.
I managed to make it to the Newfoundland Ferry just after dark. At one point I was coming down a hill a whopping 8% and it felt positively flat after the monsters I had done. Perspective is a wonderful thing.
Cabot Trail
Oct 6 2007
Today 102.2 Total 8150.2
I tend to have a bit of a jaded view of road based on what people tell me. It seems everyone I meet has the biggest and worst hill in Canada. So when I was have breakfast in Cheticamp and they were warning me about the hills I smiled and reassured them that I had done the Rockies and several other passes in BC.
The Rockies don't even compare to the Cabot Trail. The Cabot Trail wins hands down as the most intense ride I have experienced on the trip. I was riding down things that would have made ski hills jealous.
Today 102.2 Total 8150.2
I tend to have a bit of a jaded view of road based on what people tell me. It seems everyone I meet has the biggest and worst hill in Canada. So when I was have breakfast in Cheticamp and they were warning me about the hills I smiled and reassured them that I had done the Rockies and several other passes in BC.
The Rockies don't even compare to the Cabot Trail. The Cabot Trail wins hands down as the most intense ride I have experienced on the trip. I was riding down things that would have made ski hills jealous.
This is the warm up hill. The steep stuff is later.
Love that gorgeous helmet hair.
It was very windy most of the day. It seemed to be on my back going up the hills, which was a blessing but coming down you never knew which way it was going to slap you from. And did it slap you. I was coming down one section of road that was very steep and I was going way to fast when one of the gust slapped me. I was sure I was going down. All I could think was this was really going to hurt. I don't know how I managed it but I stayed up but in the process I whiplashed my neck. I was just so thankful to have most of my skin still attached to my body that I didn't care.
I had hoped to make it to Broad Cove but based on what I did I'm proud I made it to South Harbour. I'm staying at a little campsite called Hidden Cove very pretty right on the ocean. They have tried to give me a spot sheltered from the wind but it is still pretty gusty here.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Cabot Trail Here I Come
Oct 4 2007
Today 128.9 Total 8048.0
It rained last night so I was very careful riding along. the road was wet and with the morning light the glare was blinding me so I knew that I would be invisible to the traffic. The hills started today. Not much in the way of fall colours but a very pretty ride none the less. I found a beautiful stealth spot just off the ocean. I watched the sunset over the ocean as the waves pounded the shore below me. It was achingly beautiful.
Today 128.9 Total 8048.0
It rained last night so I was very careful riding along. the road was wet and with the morning light the glare was blinding me so I knew that I would be invisible to the traffic. The hills started today. Not much in the way of fall colours but a very pretty ride none the less. I found a beautiful stealth spot just off the ocean. I watched the sunset over the ocean as the waves pounded the shore below me. It was achingly beautiful.
I then watched the stars slowly wink into view. There was zero light noise as the moon is near new and was also late rising. It has been a long time since time since I slept under the stars but I spent most of the night out of the tent. It was finally the condensation on my sleeping bag that chased me in.
Nova Scotia
Oct 2 2007
Today 136.7 Total 7793.6
I learned my lesson in PEI. I made sure I got the biggest thickest tourist book for Nova Scotia. What's open and what's not. There are surprisingly few things closed here. I think it is because of the Celtic Colour's festival they are having in Cape Breton this weekend. I caught the last ferry off PEI and crept my way in the pitch dark to the campground it was only three km but the headlight does little more than warn cars that you are there and let you brace for the bumps Anyone who has skied with a headlamp knows the feeling. (Can you say December sweeps). I was whistling as I rode and scared something big back into the bushes. I could hear it crashing along. It was running away so I was happy.
Oct 3 2007
Today 125.5 Total7919.1
A beautiful day for riding. Warm with a good tailwind. I stopped in Pictou to do some blogging at a UPS store. I got all set up, camera card out, ready to go when the girl at the desk said, "You did see our rate sheet?" I looked up. $20 an hour. I'm glad she pointed that out. I thanked her and left.
I was in desperate need of a laundromat and luckily the campground at Linwood had one. I hate wasting two hours staring at the laundry go around in the middle of the day. I don't mind if I can blog at the same time but that is extremely rare. Two hours of riding that's twenty-thirty km. My life has been reduced to thinking of how many km I could have done while doing something else. It's getting harder and harder to stop in the middle of the day for anything other than food.
Today 136.7 Total 7793.6
I learned my lesson in PEI. I made sure I got the biggest thickest tourist book for Nova Scotia. What's open and what's not. There are surprisingly few things closed here. I think it is because of the Celtic Colour's festival they are having in Cape Breton this weekend. I caught the last ferry off PEI and crept my way in the pitch dark to the campground it was only three km but the headlight does little more than warn cars that you are there and let you brace for the bumps Anyone who has skied with a headlamp knows the feeling. (Can you say December sweeps). I was whistling as I rode and scared something big back into the bushes. I could hear it crashing along. It was running away so I was happy.
Oct 3 2007
Today 125.5 Total7919.1
A beautiful day for riding. Warm with a good tailwind. I stopped in Pictou to do some blogging at a UPS store. I got all set up, camera card out, ready to go when the girl at the desk said, "You did see our rate sheet?" I looked up. $20 an hour. I'm glad she pointed that out. I thanked her and left.
I was in desperate need of a laundromat and luckily the campground at Linwood had one. I hate wasting two hours staring at the laundry go around in the middle of the day. I don't mind if I can blog at the same time but that is extremely rare. Two hours of riding that's twenty-thirty km. My life has been reduced to thinking of how many km I could have done while doing something else. It's getting harder and harder to stop in the middle of the day for anything other than food.
PEI
Sept 30 2007
Today 123.0 Total 7395.9
Today 123.0 Total 7395.9
I'm not sure what we are looking for but I'd like the big guy behind us to climb up on my plate.
I woke to frost on the tent this morning. it was chilly so I dressed warm. I was heading almost straight south and the sun was up and warm on my left side well my right side was kept chilled by the morning breeze. Another nice day of riding. It was Sunday so I was really hoping to find and do some damage to a nice brunch but it was not to be. I really meant to spend one more night in New Brunswick but I saw the bridge and one thing lead to another and well then I was on PEI. I spent the night at a little campsite just off the bridge. 
The Confederation Bridge
Oct 1 2007
Today 155.0 Total 7650.9
I would really like to come back here during the summer some year. I found it very frustrating place to visit on the bike. I had planned on using this a touring aimless day but everywhere I went all the signs would be up guiding me to a place only to get there and have a closed sign on the gate. I spent the whole day riding and saw nothing but trees and potato farms. It was a very tiring and frustrating day. I couldn't even find anywhere open to eat. I'm glad I carry so much food now.
The Confederation Bridge
Oct 1 2007
Today 155.0 Total 7650.9
I would really like to come back here during the summer some year. I found it very frustrating place to visit on the bike. I had planned on using this a touring aimless day but everywhere I went all the signs would be up guiding me to a place only to get there and have a closed sign on the gate. I spent the whole day riding and saw nothing but trees and potato farms. It was a very tiring and frustrating day. I couldn't even find anywhere open to eat. I'm glad I carry so much food now.
Sooo I was looking around for an open sign and......
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