We planned on taking our Spyder to Canada but on the night before (6/5) we were to leave, we looked at the long range forecast for the Atlantic provinces and all it showed was rain, cold (40’s) and windy. So at ten o’clock on the night before we were to leave, I was unpacking the bike and packing Carol’s car.
The forecast was right for 8 days
but we did have a few short bursts of sunlight. Carol would have been miserable in the rain & cold and she would have made sure I was too.
Our trip did start in the sun as we headed to Bar Harbor and we had a few libations with Terry at Mainly Meats/Atlantic brewing on the 6th and used some of his hints to explore his hometown area (Lubec) on the 7th. Found all good roads all along the coast and even a very obscure (and active) Navy base. On the 8th we headed out by way of rte 179 up rte 9 then north to rte 1 till we crossed the border at Orient.
Very interesting border crossing. Canadian customs was very interested in why picked that border crossing and when I said we like the least traveled roads, they told me to pull over and after a VERY thorough search of the car, bags, clothes, they asked how we were getting to our destination. When I told them rte 122 to rte 105, they said be careful on rte 105 because it was not maintained and has a lot of moose and other animals on it. (During the entire time (30+ minutes) our car was being searched, not one other vehicle crossed the border either way). Customs must have been bored.
Rte 122 was an ok road and rte 105 was nice because it traveled along the St John River. 105 was a little rough but still passable and had great views. We didn’t see any moose, only deer. We stopped at the Best Western in Grand Falls then on to rte 17 (very smooth road) to Cambelton then over rte 132 in Quebec and up to Perce. Rte 132 was also very smooth with nice views. We stayed a few days at Perce in a B&B and explored the local roads. Forillon national park is spectacular, especially the northern side, right on the St Lawrence river. We also travelled along the st Lawrence (great bike route) and returned by rte 198 smooth but not very scenic.
We left Perce by rte 132 back to Campbellton and followed the coast on a bunch of small routes/roads all the way down to Sackville. The roads out to Miscou Island were nice and very scenic and even climbed the light house. The Rodd Miramichi hotel was very nice. It was on the river and on non-rainy days there is a boat that gives river tours (it was pouring while we were there)
We stopped a few days in Moncton and explored all the local roads and sights (i.e. Hopewell rocks, tidal bore, Fundy National park, etc). Found a nice Irish pub (old Triangle) with good food and drink.
We left Moncton and crossed over to Nova Scotia and too some more roads less travelled. Roads I would not have taken the bike on. On a few roads, we could go 45 minutes to an hour without seeing another vehicle, house or person but we did see a few animals. We stay along the coast roads (no rte #s) and ended up out at Westport on Brier Island. Because of all the red dust/dirt on Carol’s car, one of the ferry workers thought we regulars on the island.
We spent our last few nights in Yarmouth exploring the local roads & pubs. Cape Sable is a very nice area and Rudder’s in Yarmouth is a great Brew Pub (we even brought a few growlers home with us). Carol loved the Raspberry IPA.
The Cat was a very plush way to travel home and since it had just started up a few days previously, it was only half full (and only one bike on it). The Cat trip to Portland ME. was 5 hours but trimmed many miles and at least one night in a hotel.
By the time we got home on the 19th, the rear view camera in Carol’s car was useless and her rear window was caked with red dirt/mud but it was still a good trip even if we didn’t end up taking the bike.
