Tiny Bubble Tour - The Bubble Bursts

I know I am a couple of days late getting to posting our final day.  That’s because it is always hard.  Going home is not the hard part because there is always lots to look forward to, family, the garden, the dog…..no it is just hard leaving friends, friends who are more than just that…they are family.  We always seem to say the same thing on that last day….we don’t live close enough.  This is so true of those treasured relationships we have with a very small handful of friends.  I always thought communes may be the answer to making the circle, or the bubble smaller.  The beauty of the close friends we have is that is seems like forever as we wait to spend time together and once we are in the same place, it is like no time has passed at all.

After another great breakfast together, we said our good-byes to Jerry and Thy in Baddeck.  They were departing to catch the ferry.  We would leave not long after to head back to New Brunswick.  That’s the part that is always hard.  You just want to hang on to all the moments you can.

We finished packing our shit (that’s what it felt like) got on our bikes and headed out.

Most of the ride was on the highway as we rode towards Pictou to pick up the side road that takes us to Amherst.  There was a ton of traffic, probably as much traffic as there had been on all three rides on that road combined in the past weeks.  Once we got on the road to Tatamagouche heading to Amherst, the road traffic diminished and we could enjoy the roads and the ride.  A quick stop at the Tatamagouche Brewery for a refreshment (for non-alcoholic beer) to get some reprieve from the sun and humidity, another stop at Amherst on the side of the road under some trees for some water before we finally made it home.  One of the things we do on the road is celebrating milestones….no pun intended.  Larry turned 128,000 kms on his bike and I turned 90,000 kms on mine…now there was great discussion as to whether my bike would turn over to 90,500 exactly as we rolled in the driveway.  This had been our entire conversation from the border, all the way home….there was much discussion back and forth about whether we would be over, under or bang on….all I can say is that the odometer is on the very edge of turning to that 90,500 by mere fractions….I know it won’t even make it out of the garage without turning over to that number.

Fractions….fractions….

The whole week had been a battle of staying cool, and ensuring we had enough fluids.  The temps were hot and the air humid..not the best conditions for  riding day in and day out.  It certainly is draining which is why we try to keep the distances short with lots of opportunity to hydrate.  Still it can be very draining so having two days in Baddeck was just what we all needed to ensure a safe trip home.  It also provided a an opportunity for us to enjoy each other’s company and get some much needed rest.

So we are home, we have collected the dog, weeded the garden, mowed the lawn and need to connect with the girls.  It was a great trip and I can’t help but reflect on the good fortune we have been blessed to have such good friends and the opportunity to do these rides and share them with our family.  Until the next ride….stay safe, love the one your with and look after each other.

Tiny Bubble Tour - Day 11 I got nuthin’

 I got nuthin’

That’s about what we did today.  We got up, went to breakfast, had a nap, went for a walk, had lunch, had another nap and a short swim….all this followed by supper, wine and sleep….

I got nuthin’…except a few pictures.

Tiny Bubble Tour - Day 10 Bubble Time!

This morning we were preparing to head to the ferry to take us back into Nova Scotia.  We messaged the folks to let them know we were packing up and waited for them by the bikes.  Despite having a cup of coffee already, Jerry still seemed not quite awake…”dressed in his boots and coat but forgot his pants” kinda space lol.  After he loaded his bike, he went into the hotel to check out and forgot to take the baggage cart…not something easily missed.  As Larry and I had a bit of chuckle over this, I thought I would just return it so that he didn’t have to make a second trip….just to see if we could brighten up his day, I found a bedazzle sticker on the cart which I quickly affixed to his tank bag…that should give him something to smile about!

The big dilemma was whether we eat at the hotel or eat on the run…we went for on the run!  We got gathered up, checked out and headed out of Charlottetown on route to Belle River to catch the ferry.  Despite giving Larry a granola bar hoping to hold him over, we didn’t even get to the TCH before stopping at a Tim’s to get breakfast.

Once done here I indicated to everyone that it was non-stop to the ferry…we were already late for the one hour check in and I didn’t want to miss the boat…so to speak.  Bubble time!

We arrived at the ferry in lots of time to have a bathroom break and load.  It was very relaxing sitting down to enjoy some snacks and then spend some time on the deck.  It wasn’t long before we were at the other side and heading out to the highway to ride to Baddeck.  For some odd reason we were tired.  Not sure if it has been the heat, the days or not eating regularly but a nap would have seemingly looked to be in my future.  Until we arrived though, we had to keep the pace and get to our next stop…Bubble time!

Generallly we don’t ride past stupid o’clock.  That’s the time we allot for when we are tired, sore or just too hot to continue….when we are not giving our full attention to the ride.  Today’s stupid o’clock arrived early and about 100 kms from where we were staying for the night.  This is why we don’t generally make reservations until the day of and in this case we were not breaking this rule we had given ourselves.  Singing, stupid laughs, stretching legs, dance moves…all are distractions from thinking about how tired you are and how far you have left to go.  The good news is that we really didn’t have a lot of riding today and we arrived early around 4 pm.  Since we didn’t eat much on our stops we knew we were looking forward to a good meal and lucky for us there was a restaurant on site.

Larry made a reservation for 6:30 pm and was trying his best to keep me on time.  He was so good at it, we arrived for our reservation at 5:30…apparently the boy doesn’t know how to read time lol…Bubble time!

We had a great meal.  The food was stupendous and now the real Bubble time is looming.  Sleep beckons and the good news is we are here for two nights…I don’t have to get up early or leave….looking forward to a nice long sleep.  Bubble night!

Tiny Bubble Tour - Day 9 The Right Way

This morning started out with a walk...it has been more than a few days since Larry and I went for a walk or walked far to go to breakfast or supper.  Generally when we are travelling by bike, we make an effort to find some place close but far enough to get a little movement.  We really haven’t had that much walking in so this morning I suggested we do a walk much like we do at home...at least 30 mins.

Our supper in Alberton last night was good and we got to walk out on the wharf but at the end of the day we were pretty zonked.  Because we were in bed fairly early, we were also up at a good time.  We had agreed to have the continental breakfast (which was FAB) and be on the road by 9 am or shortly after.  We were both awake at 6 a.m. so after some discussion we decided on the walk up the road and back...sneakers on, watches synced and we were off!  

We love to travel by bike because you get to see more things, feel more things and smell more things (not always good).  Walking gives you an even better opportunity to get all of that as well...especially things you might miss as you ride by....such as what we discovered this morning.....you know things like a teddy bear in a tree, or a whole yard full of sculptures made from left over metal.....the bear in the tree though....lol

 After the walk we headed to breakfast and had a lovely chat with the other half of the married team who manage the hotel.  Jim works on the desk and his wife looks after housekeeping and the dining room.  With COVID they can’t put out a buffet so she puts everything you ask for in a cardboard lunch box...yogurt, fruit, juice, muffin, coffee...there was quite a selection.

After breakfast we headed up to the room to finish packing our stuff, loaded and took off.  We headed for North Cape where there is a wind mill farm and what seems like the end of the earth..or a least one of the ends. The air was cool which was welcomed and we spent a little bit of time exploring (or in my case the exploring was in the gift shop lol...).  This was Jerry and Thys’ first visit to North Cape and they seemed to enjoy it as well.

We then headed off in the same direction back to Alberton to catch the road we needed to get to on the next part of our journey.  Along the coast we had a great ride but as we headed more and more east, it got warmer and warmer.  Before long the air temp was reading 28C which shows cooler than the actual temperature because we are moving.  

Our first real stop was North Rustico Harbour to the Blue Mussel Cafe for lunch.  Highly recommended by some friends, it was not disappointing.  Better yet is that they don’t take reservations but they do have a “waiting” list which you can sign up for on line.  That way you do’t have to wait long when you arrive and you can take a walk around the harbour while you are waiting as you will receive text messages telling you that you are at the “top of the list”...we had a huge lunch, which is not something we normally do.  Luckily for us, our next hotel was only 40 minutes away. If you are very in PEI, you have to go....open all seasons except winter (I think), they have a high turnover of tables and you only wait for as long as you put yourself on the wait list.

We headed out for Charlottetown for the night and arrived at the Rodd just around 4 p.m.  We arrived to find out we had been upgraded to the King Suite....sweeeeeet.  But really....who needs this much room (as I sit in the living area typing this and Mr. J is snoozing in the bedroom).  This is a great old hotel which still has a lot of character, walking distance to a ton of great restaurants and easy to get in and out of......and if that wasn’t all, we didn’t make one wrong turn today!  We certainly got things done the right way today......except for suppper...we didn’t make reservations but that is not much of a story because we very seldom doing anything like that.

Tomorrow we head for the ferry to spend our last two evenings in Baddeck with Jerry and Thy.  Sad to see this trip coming to an end....I won’t say alternate ideas of how to extend the trip were planned but they were certainly discussed!.....just seems like the right way to go as well!

Tiny Bubble Tour - Stop, Relax and Go...3 day condensed version

Sometimes it is just hard to get the time, the wifi or the energy to type the blog when you are on a road trip.  In this case it was energy and time mostly...more energy or lack there of due to the insane heat and humidity.

So here is the condensed version of the last three days.

Day 6 - The Road to Hell

We left Grand Pre and Beach Breeze on an early start with the intention of stopping for breakfast along the way.  We all know the road to hell is paved with good ones, and as fate saw it, we found and travelled that road...ending up a Tim’s for breakfast.  Now nothing against Tims but we had set out with the hopes of finding a nice little Mom and Pop where we could sit inside and enjoy a “comfort” breakfast.  We were happy mind you considering the road to hell even had a Tim’s.

We managed to find a pretty nice route to take us to Truro, where we made a stop for lunch at Jerry’s brother and sister-in-laws, Bev and Mike.  The whole family was there to greet us and it was really great to be around a large family gathering.  They welcomed us (sweaty and all) and fed us a great lunch of salads and grilled chicken and shrimp.  Also made some new friends with Luna and Charlie...their two dogs.

Our next stop was a promise to Thy that if we saw a Sunflower farm we would stop...5 minutes after leaving Mike and Bev’s...we found the farm!  We waited as Jerry and Thy made their way through the garden...sunflowers safely stowed in my top case and we were off again!

We headed out with a stop in Tatamagouche (yes at  brewery) for a light beverage and then on to a stop in Amherst before arriving home.....We had just enough road dust to make getting home the best part of the day.  A shopping trip to the market for Thy and I, salads were made and steaks were grilled and we were all ready for sleep.

Day 7 - Looking for Mud in all the wrong places (you can sing it!)

The next day, saw us up early.  Thy made me a fabulous soup for breakfast which is traditional in Vietnam.  I could have soup like that every morning for breakfast and now I will have to start making my own.  Luckily she was very generous in showing me how and telling me the secrets to a good soup base.  We all headed out in the car to Hopewell Rocks to show Thy and Jerry the “ocean floor”.  They are both amazed by the difference in low and high tide and this was the best place to not only show them the difference but to read the hows and why at the information center.  We take these things for granted when we live here and we simply couldn’t explain it all to them, so it was a bit of an education for us as well.  

While on the rocks, Jerry happened to to see a couple of small kids having fun in the mud...not to be robbed of an opportunity, he decided it was worth a try as well (despite all the prior warnings).  He damn near got stuck and none of us were looking to rescue...support (and by support I mean cat calling and laughter) was provided from a safe distance.

 

We then headed to Alma for lunch and then back to the ranch where Thy showed me how to make Sushi and spring rolls.  I can’t wait to try and will need to FaceTime her when I get ready to do it !  We then headed out to see Con and Terri at their place.  We got to play with Winston until Theo arrived.   Then it was pass the baby..Theo is just adorable and a bit of a tease with a wicked sense of humour...seems to run in the family.  

After feeding the cows we headed home to have the sushi and rolls prepared earlier and by this time it was quite late.  

Day 8 - Did you say COWS?

We didn’t need an early start so we just packed up in the morning as we were getting ready to leave.

After a great breakfast soup this morning (different soup again!) we hit the road and headed for the island. Luckily we stopped for a bum break at the gas station as we were not sure how long the line up would be to the island for Covid check in.  The ride across the Confederation Bridge is still one of my favourite rides....you can see forever and it feels like you are floating above the ocean.  The line up for the residents of Atlantic Canada were not nearly as long as the line ups for everyone outside of the Atlantic Provinces...even with that it was sitting in 38 degree temps waiting to get under the big tent.  We quickly made our way through and pulled into the village for our Cows Ice Cream because you can’t come to PEI without stopping for Cows.  We road to Alberton, our stop for the night, arriving a little earlier than planned so we had lunch at the Albert and Crown before heading to the hotel.  Out of the sun, into a cool  shower and it is now “catch up” time...and for those of you who really thought they were going to to get the condensed version....well you show know better than to set such expectations.  

Supper tonight and off to explore the Island tomorrow.  Good night Anne!

Tiny Bubble Tour - Day 5 Fog’n Hot

We finally got some relief from the heat leaving Digby at 8:30am...not because it was early though...it was Foggy...

We headed along the Digby Neck for a wild “no can see” ride until we reached the ferry for Long Island.  As we waited for the ferry to come in we did a check to make sure everyone was still on board to go, seeing as we couldn’t see!  As Jerry said “if we don’t go we can’t say we’ve been” so aboard the first ferry we went.  A short ride across Long Island to the next ferry and we all agreed it was getting brighter (not sure if that was real or imagined).  As we landed on Brier Island you could see the marks on the wharf that told the story of the tides....we were coming in at low tide so it was a steep climb up from the ferry, but you could also see the water mark of the high tide.  We rode to the tip of Brier Island where we could view (or at least listen to when we first arrived) all the birds on Peter’s Island just a short distance away.  

Before fog lifted.

After the fog lifted.

 As the fog lifted, we could see the lighthouse and eventually we could see the island and watch the tide coming in.  This may seem like watching paint dry to some but it is actually quite amazing how quick the tide in the Bay of Fundy rises and falls.  As we saw when we got off the ferry, the difference between low tide and high tides usually average around 30 feet depending on where you are and what time of year/month.

 We stayed here for a bit talking to some local folks, one who was checking on a report of hearing a beached whale.  It was a quiet spot and easily enjoyed. Everyone was feeling a little hungry as breakfast was small and very early.  We stopped at a small cafe on our way off the island  and enjoyed a light lunch on the dock overlooking the the harbour.  Being by the water never gets old for me, I just simply love the calming sounds and the fresh breezy air. 

We headed to the ferry that takes us back to Long Island and we quickly noticed two things...well maybe three would be more accurate.  The tide was coming, which was marked by the steepness of the decent onto the ferry (less than earlier) and how close to the top of the wharf it was.  The second thing we noticed was that the fog had already lifted and it was a beautiful sunny day......and the third thing was that it was a beautiful sunny day!......hot and humid!

Now the two things we have been struggling with on this part of the tour is the heat and humidity (that is one) and the lack of directional signage in this area....judging by some of the traffic we were not alone in our struggle to locate signage.  When it was present, it was usually hidden behind an abundance of trees that had not been “managed” in  years,  other times there were just none to be found.  At some point during the afternoon ride, we just totally abandoned the biway ride and headed for the highway .  Our only relief from the heat would be to get to our destination.

Even as we reached our destination and started stripping off our gear, the breeze off the Bay quickly cooled us even though the day was still warm.  But it was the warmth of our host that really made the trip worth it.  Our stay for the night was in a beautiful part of the Wolfville area know as Grand Pre or North Grand Pre to be exact. We were not far from the downtown area of Wolfville full of restaurants (really great ones) and shops and yet none of us had any desire to go anywhere....I think we would have chosen no food over going somewhere to eat.  Our host recommended a restaurant in town and called to see if they could deliver.  When they indicated they were too busy, he offered to drive in and pick up our order....that’s the kind of East Coast hospitality we have become known for.  We take these things for granted sometimes or think nothing of it when we have the opportunity to extend it, but this at the very core of who we are and it is nice to be reminded of this in such a truly honest way.  

If you are ever in the Wolfville area I would highly recommend the Beach Breeze as a place to stay.  The accommodations are quaint and simple, very well kept and super clean but it is location that is simply beautiful.  Here you can watch the sun rise and set, the tide rise and fall, and most of all you have the most perfect host...thank you Don for making the rest of our day like the beginning of our day...simply amazing.

Sunrise

Sunset

Tiny Bubble Tour - Day 4 Fog’n Fish

We got up this morning to wish safe travels to the Simons....we will miss them on the rest of the trip....they were headed to the same destination we were heading to today...Digby.  For them they had to take the direct route to catch the Digby Ferry while we were taking the coastal route.

We headed out on route 3 and the day started out at a decent temperature....and depending on how close to the water we were, the temperature shifted from cool to hot, hot, hot.

As we left Liverpool the morning temperature was not bad as it was still early...despite the time it was still around 24 C.  As we rode along and started moving closer to the coast we could see the fog and feel the drop in temperature.  It was more than refreshing.  The roads were amazing and really for the most part we had them to ourselves.

Around 11:20 am we were looking for a bum break and a place to have a coffee or snack.  We turned decided we would take a tour through Shelburne to see if we could find a spot.   We pulled into the first place we came to only to find that it was owned by a Newfoundlander who had relocated to NS many years ago....Mr Fish Restaurant/Take Out/Market was amazing.  The fish was fresh and they all but ruined me for having fish tacos anywhere else.  

We also had a chuckle as were listened in on a phone conversation (not voluntarily) about some local woman who was being questioned as to what she was doing with her Mother’s hair.....not sure if the conversation just ended with “that’s all I am going to say about this”  or if the relationship between hair dresser and client ended with the same phrase spoken by both parties...I was just about to yell over “no phones at the table” in my best parenting voice however figured it may not be best received.  We had a great chuckle over it as did the other table of locals who also was subjected to the same conversation.

Mr. Fish boasts Nova/Newfie style cooking and is one of the best places I have eaten at and I would travel to eat there again...highly recommended.  My only disappointment was that we didn’t have any refrigeration or cooler that we could purchase fresh haddock or smoked haddock to take with us....next time though, I will!

After lunch we continued along the coast with temperatures reaching 20 or 22....however as we had to move further inland we were subjected to temps of 29 and 30 with high humidity.  It was oppressive after having ridden in the cool fog of the coast.

We finally arrived in Digby.  Once we checked in we were all agreed to shower and head down for supper at a local restaurant.  We found a spot where we could sit outside and enjoy the view of the harbour and wharf.  Given that it was still 26 C, it was also a very comfortable coastal temp for sitting and eating...that doesn’t always happen but like everything else, it always seems to work for us.

Tomorrow we will be heading out to Brier Island and head on down to Wolfville.  Not a lot of travel distance, but two ferry’s and some slow riding will make this another full day.

Tiny Bubble Tour - Day 3 Ports and Shorts

 Getting out of Halifax with 4 bikes in a hilly city is not always the easiest especially with traffic downtown.  Lucky for us we managed to hit every yellow/red light which made it easy to stay together...getting around the Armdale rotary another challenge but one we met with the same determination.....once we overcame all of those obstacles, the rest was easy.

We gassed up for the day and headed out through Prospect Road, destination the iconic Peggy’s Cove.  As we got closer to the coastline and Peggy’s Cove we encountered fog...much like yesterday as we came along the eastern shore of NS...it was refreshing and welcomed.  As we entered Peggy’s Cove it became evident how many changes have been made to accommodate tourism.  Firstly the parking lot is not the parking lot.....lol...there is a brand new parking lot below the restaurant and gift shop....so a little trip around the lot and we proceeded to the upper parking lot...just wanted to give our friends the “full tour”.  We were directed to parking for motorcycles which is great...sometimes it can be a little tricky leaving your two wheel vehicle among the cagers.  We set down along the rocks to the lighthouse, took all the pictures and, as with every trip we have made here, watched all the intelligent beings walk along the black rocks (wet ones) DESPITE all the warnings even as you drive in.  Luckily it was a very calm day and you could make your way down quite a ways, but really.....I mean really?  Is it really going to give you a better vantage point for a picture or to see the water.....rant over..

We headed out for Mahone Bay, with a stop at the Trellis Restaurant along the way.  What a great lunch...homemade bread is baked daily on site and used for it’s sandwiches along with unique soups and sandwich combinations.  For a hungry bunch there was left overs and that almost never happens.

Mahone Bay is a picturesque area of the province with three beautiful churches that mark the shoreline as you enter.  A busy place, there are a lot of big homes, big boats and lots of traffic.  Another tourist destination, it has an abundance of gift shops, restaurants and speciality shops along the Main Street.  We didn’t stop, no need to as we had already eaten and we don’t have a lot of room to carry stuff.

We did stop in Lunenburg hoping to catch a look at the Bluenose II as it is celebrating 100 years this year.  Unfortunately she was just returning from a tour and was anchored outside of Mahone Bay.  We had a walk about and visited the Bluenose gift shop, got some ice cream and had a nice break taking in the downtown area.  It was getting hot and it was late in the day.  

Given that we still had an hours ride to get to Liverpool, we headed out by highway to hasten our trip with the promise of a refreshing dip in the pool!  We were not disappointed!  We ordered pizza and sat in the breakfast room, for our evening ritual of food, drinks and of course more storytelling and laughter....that, no matter where we go, never gets old.

Tomorrow will be a different journey as Terri and Con have to return home...we are thankful to have them for an extra day on this trip and that they were able to join us at all was a real blessing.  We love their company and will miss them on the rest of the journey.   We will be heading to Digby so that we are in place to head to Brier Island...but that is a tale for another day or two from now.