BikerAl Across America 2018

Today was a day to get ready for the ferry to New Foundland.  We sail tomorrow on a 16 hour crossing.  So today we cleaned bikes, did laundry, and rested up for the long journey.  It is actually an overnight trip.  Should be fun.

We went to dinner at The Black Spoon and it was the best restaurant of the whole trip.  The food was exceptionally good.

Down the table on the left we have Michael, Maureen, Dave, me, Kendy, Des, Janice, Maggie, and Angelica.

Gonna miss these guys but will move on to more fun soon.

Well, today was our last official ride in the Maritimes.  We made it to North Sydney with no injuries, only minor bike problems and many good times.

Six of us rode today.  Karen and Kendy went whale watching and didn’t get to see any.  Maggie and Angelica drove the van.

Maggie has been our main van driver.  She finds our accommodation and scouts for libraries, restaurants, and anything else we think we need.  Usually unloads the van for us and is available to pick up any rider who needs assistance.  A great lady.

Seems like we had a lot of hills today.  We were all tired when we got in.  We did have one big hill, Kelly’s Mountain  but it was minor compared to the other three we rode.  I even rode 3.5 km down the other side.

From the top, you could see this big bridge we had to cross.  It was scary; no shoulder, narrow two lanes with lots of traffic and esp trucks, and you could see through the sides to the water.  That didn’t bother me but it did bother a couple other people who got a ride in a pickup to cross it.  One of our really good riders labeled the bridge ride as ‘uncomfortable’.  Coming from him, that says a lot.

43.5 miles.  3752.2 total

This is our lunch photo from yesterday.  Des, Janice and me.

The rain finally stopped during the night so this morning’s ride was good.  Started off with a few hills right from the bnb but leveled off, then we started the climb up Smokey Mountain.  This was the easiest of the three big mountains we’ve had to climb.  I even rode in my middle chain ring all the way up.  Three of us opted for a ride down the other side because it was much steeper, went along the coast, and in general was a scary ride down.

It was a short day and tomorrow is our last riding day to a destination.  We will have a rest day where we can ride some bike paths before catching the ferry but our ride is almost over.  So sad.  Gonna miss these people.  We’ve sure had some good times.

24.2 miles today.  3708.7 total

 

We woke up to very cloudy skies which started dttaveltg soon after and hasn’t stopped all day.  The forecast called for one to two inches of rain and I’m guessing we are going to get it with this non-stop rain.  Not hard downpours, just constant rain.

We knew this was in the forecast which is why we brought all the bikes over yesterday so we could haul all the gear and the riders today.  It was a very wise decision.

Since we had to be out of our rooms by 10 this morning and not able to get in our new rooms til mid afternoon, we lollygagged all morning, stopping at every crafty place along the way, taking a long lunch break, etc.  Just tried to kill time.  It was fun but very tiring, almost worse than riding all day.

This rain is supposed to continue well into tomorrow morning so we may start riding much later than I like to get started.

We are in a very nice bnb/inn tonight and wish we had spent three days here instead of that last place.  But you never know what you are getting when you book on line until you get there.  Such is life.

Four of us played cards again late this afternoon and had a great time.  Went to a recommended restaurant in the area for dinner and it was a little disappointing.  Oh, well.

Tomorrow is another day.

I got up early and on the road by 7 am to ride the North Mountain on Cape Breton.  It was cloudy but the forecast didn’t look bad.  I had arranged for Des to pick me up at the top to ferry me down the other side which was really steep and partially under construction.

I started out with dry roads, then a light mist after three miles, which soon turned into a heavier mist and by the time I got close to the top, a heavy rain.  I was soaked from the inside from sweat and doubly soaked from the outside from the rain.   It was a cool 60 degree rain so when I got in the heavy rain, I finally put on my rain jacket to hold in what heat I had.  As it turned out, I rode faster than I tho’t I could to the top and had a half hour wait for Des.  In the meantime, I weighed my options; go on and risk hypothermia or go back to camp.  By the time Des showed up, the top was socked in, I was cold, and my common sense said to abort the ride, which is what I did.

So I came back with Des, got hot choc and crawled into my bed to get warm.  I am happy that I rode the mountain but don’t need to prove anything and I really don’t like riding in the rain.  I just wanted to climb that hill.  It was 13% for two miles of it so I felt really good about myself.

By noon, it had cleared enough that the sun could poke through.  Then I felt bad for not riding on.  Michael, Dave, and Karen decided to ride to our next destination starting around 11 o’clock. since Sat was predicted to be heavy rain all day.  No one likes to ride in the rain so Des decided to take everyone’s bike ahead to the next destination and then bring the other three riders back.  So I hitched a ride part way in the van and rode almost to the end.  They stashed all the bikes at our next accommodation and returned and picked me and my bike up on the way back.  We have a bike rack on the van so tomorrow we can ferry all the riders and our gear as well as my bike.  At least I got some riding in.  Missed a good section but that’s life.

While we were waiting out the morning rain, Dec and Janice taught Kendy and me a card game.  According to Janice, us Americans are pretty competitive.  We sure laughed a lot.  Played again after dinner last night.

Serious Janice checking the score.

Kendy made tacos last night for dinner.  We have two small barbecue grills so cooking can be a challenge but everything has been really good.

No one has gone hungry.

20.4 miles today.  3684.5 total

I decided to talk about our various motel accommodations we have had since not much else happened today.  In general, most have been very good and a reasonable price for what you got.  But a couple have been overpriced and offer sparse amenities.  Our current one is an example.

We are here for three nights.   It has been our habit all along to cook (mostly barbecue) our own dinners to save money on eating out.  And we’ve always had the small frigs, microwaves, and coffee machine in our rooms, but not here.  Our drivers bought food for three nights and that is a problem.  I think we were able to stash some of the most perishables, like meat, in the restaurant attached to the motel, but what a bummer.

A couple motels only had fans, no air conditioning.  Some nights, like last night, were very uncomfortable sleeping.

My biggest complaint about almost every single motel is that the lighting is the pits.  I realize people usually only want to sleep but some are so dark, it is like sitting in a cave.  It is really hard to try to read.  I think I have complained about this in every single motel.  I’m sure my roommate is tired of hearing it.

Most bathrooms have had only  one hook on which to hang a wet towel and several have had no wardrobe hangers where we could hang damp clothes.  This motel has no vanity on which to even put our toiletries.

And over half had no laundry capabilities available, this one included.  Not sure what we are paying for here but it is way over priced.

Today, it was very dreary, off and on rainy day, all day.  Six of us took a road trip in the van this morning to check out the next day’s ride.  It is a 13% grade up (road sign said so) and there is road construction on the downhill side.  So I plan to ride up and get a ride down.

We only went half way but that is supposedly the hairy part.  Came back and spent the afternoon trying to read my book in this dark hole of a room.  So frustrating.

The other four riders got up super early (6:00 for them) and went on a hike looking for moose.  No luck.  We didn’t see any either but I’ve seen enough at home that I didn’t care if we saw one or not.

I promised myself that if I rode the entire road up yesterday that I would treat myself to this awesome photo I saw, two days ago, of our route in the motel in Margaree Harbour.  So today, I called the photographer and the photo is on its way to my house.  It shows the road along the coast, better than my photo I posted yesterday, and with fall colors.  A great momento.  It is being shipped home so will be there when I get home.

I rarely ever buy momentos when traveling but magnets are the one thing I do buy.  My frig is covered with magnets of the awesome places I have been.  So I did get two of Cape Breton because the pictures remimd me of the magnificent hard day’s work and my ability to do it.

The weather forecast for two days from now, when we are supposed to ride, is for 90% chance of rain and much cooler temps.   Tomorrow is only 40% chance of showers so I think those of us who plan to ride the big hill, North Mountain, are going to ride it tomorrow to our next destination, leave our bikes there, and be ferried back by van and not ride the next day.  That is our current plan.

My other happy shot from yesterday.

 

 

Woke up to very cloudy skies and threatening rain.  It had rained during the night so things were wet.  We were headed up over French Mtn and Mackenzie Mtn today.  You could see from the motel that the mountains were socked in.  Love it (sarcasm).

I ate breakfast in my room and left early, way before everyone else.  If the sun were to come out, I needed to beat the heat.

The first 25 miles were much like yesterday and then, when we got to the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, the hills started.

The first two big hills were daunting.  When I saw the first one, I was sure I’d be walking.  But I made it.  Yeah.  Then back down to the water and back up a second hill, almost more daunting than the first.  But I made it, too.  The rest of the climb, I’m guessing, was a steady 8 or 9% grade that went on forever.  I stopped a few times to let the blood flow back into my hands and legs, but I rode the whole thing.  Yee hah!

The top of the mountain was a glorious ride, high and mostly flat except for a couple hills, but very pleasant riding.

These hills were more friendly than the first two which appeared to go straight up.  A local told me those first two hills were 20% grade.  Can’t imagine because I was able to ride them.  Once I got to the beginning of the downhill, there was major road construction. I was able to get a ride in the pilot car through the mucky stuff.  Fresh gravel, some rolled but some freshly watered.  A cyclist’s worst nightmare.  Mountain bikes would have no problem but my skinny, treadless road tires aren’t meant for that.  I was ever so grateful.

When I got into the motel, I was the first to arrive and greeted by two vehicle drivers.  Ever so happy to be there.

We have two rest days before we tackle the next big mountain.  So I did financial paperwork and laundry this afternoon so I can truly rest tomorrow.  I feel like I need it.

41.2 miles today . 3664.1 total

We rode 25 miles on the bike path this morn to where it ended it Inverness.  Then rode on the road which was supposed to be bad before tomorrow’s really bad ride.  As in big hills.  Well, I’ll take this afternoon’s ride any time.  We had a few hills, nothing to write home about since I rode all of them in my middle chain ring.  I kept thinking that this was a piece of cake.  Who knows what tomorrow will really turn out to be.  This was supposed to be a warm up for tomorrow.  Only bummer is they are calling for 70% chance of rain, starting in the morning with thunderstorms in the afternoon.  Time will tell.

This is a big bridge crossing on the bike path with Michael in the front.

Everyone stopped for lunch in Inverness but I don’t like to do that because it is hard to get started again.  I take frequent, but very short breaks and just keep riding.  Which is what I did today.  I got in an hour earlier than everyone else (1:30) but it was still hot.  Too hot to be on the road.

Once I got close to our destination, the sea shore started getting interesting.  First time I have seen a beach and jagged coast line close together.

This is dinner outside our motel rooms.  Des barbecued chicken, pork, and sausages.  Salad and bread on the side.

So tomorrow we ride the Cabot trail which apparently goes straight up the mountain and straight down the other side.  We’ll see.  This is what Cape Breton is known for.

52 miles today . 3622.4 total

 

 

We rode out in one group and soon divided into two groups again.  It was a nice ride on a bike path except for a few loose gravel spots.

We stopped at a very scenic spot for a snack break with a shaded picnic table and view of the water.

It is so hard to get everyone facing the same direction, hence, a couple back side shots.

While there, the second group met up with us and we left before them.  And I left my helmet behind unknowingly.  I always wear a bandanna to catch the perspiration so felt like I had something on my head.  When we made another stop, someone asked me where my helmet was.  I frantically patted my head and looked around and then realized I left it on the picnic table at the last stop.  I was beside myself.  I never ride without my helmet.

So I back tracked to where the other group probably had gone off route to get coffee or tea and decided to go back to my first group, hoping like heck that someone picked it up and was bringimg it with them.  Maureen saw it and Dave put it on his bike and brought it to the end of the ride.  Was I ever relieved.  I know there is no bike shop for many, many miles where I could get another one.  So grateful to both of them.  But I did ride over 10 miles without a helmet. I was nervous the whole time.

One of the highlights of the day was when I ran over a 15 inch long, pencil size snake.  There was no way I could miss him so just ran over him and yelled, “SNAKE”.  Janice was behind me and didn’t see it but Kendy said she saw it curled up along side the road.  I couldn’t help it and didn’t do it on purpose.

This was a particularly abnormal day for the number of different animals seen.  Starting with a bald eagle first thing once on the trail, followed by every imaginable forest creature from rabbits to squirrels to chipmunk, etc ending with a dead mouse.  Kendy was keeping track and rattled off a list of 10 or more.  Also, saw a beaver dam and lodge right next to the trail.  That was cool.

Our accommodation tonite is a very large house converted into suite like rooms.  Kinda expensive but really nice.  Our view is great but it was very hard to get a good picture because of all the stuff in between us and the water.

We went to a local pub for dinner and heard some authentic Celtic music.  Two young girls played and they were really good.  The fiddle player did a dance while the other girl sang and then they sang a duet which was beautiful.  Most of the time it was the fiddle player with piano background.  Very enjoyable.

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We left in such a hurry tonite in order to get there and get good seats because the place fills up fast that some were only given 10 minutes notice to be ready.  Kendy was in the shower when I told her and it wasn’t until we were seated at the pub that someone noticed she had her shirt on inside out.  Quite a laugh that was.  We all have our moments.

31.1 miles today. 3570.4 total

Easy ride out of town today. Rode with Michael and Angelica. We had rolling hills, some flat, and no head wind. There was one long hill (a mile or more) right near the end of the day. Wouldn’t have been bad except it was hot. Otherwise, a very nice ride.

Taking a mid morning break.

About two miles from the end of the ride, I got my first flat tire this summer.. We had just got on the trans Canada hiway so I called our van for a ride. I was not going to change a tire along a fast moving hiway in the sun with the noise level so high that I couldn’t think. So after eating lunch, I changed my tire and Michael helped me. I had a nail that had broken into two pieces in my tire. Unreal.

The town we are in tonite has nothing except the motel. Really sparse. So we are driving to dinner in the next town. Dinner turned out to be very good. Highlight of the day.

Tomorrow’s ride is a really short one, only 27 miles. So the general consensus is to start riding at 9:00. Geez, I hate starting when it is already getting warm. I could start earlier and go alone but I really want to ride with the group. Compromise, compromise, compromise. I’ll survive. Just hope to heck it doesn’t get hot very early.

I have seen lots of new weeds-wildflowers along the roads. Two noxious weeds in Idaho: knapweed and purple loosestrife. The latter is very beautiful but also very aggressive. Mix that in with yellow goldenrod and white queen Anne’s lace and it is quite nice to look at.

36.8 miles today. 3539.3 total