Day 13, Saturday. I roll out of bed about 11. The sky is still covered in clouds so I'm in no rush to get going. Once fully mobile I jump on the bike and head up route 333 along side St. Margarets Bay to HWY 3 and fill up. I head West through Hubbards and into Chester. I make a pass through the old town area where the shops are and head back to Timmy's on the main road for a muffin and some warmth where I meet a man on a Road Star that he dislikes. I ask about the rear that's been bobbed. "ya, it's going in for paint". He continues on with the list of dislikes; the headlight is too big, hates the floorboards, does'nt like the front end... "Hey" he says. "You've ... read more

Day 11. Thursday Another cool cloudy day in Cape Breton. No surprise right? I thought I'd take a drive to Sydney to have a look around. In seven kilometers you climb to around 750 feet and back to sea level. On the way down you spot a large green bridge that crosses at New Harris Settlement onto Boularderie Island. A little further along I spot the ferries that go to Newfoundland docked in North Sydney. Unfortunately I'm caught at a light when I notice one pulling away with the nose open. By the time I get somewhere I can take a picture from it's too late. A quick look around by the docks and I head off to Sydney. Other than a giant violin outside a music hall I don't see anything interesting. Glace Bay is ... read more

Day 9. Tuesday. At 4am I wake up cold. Probably because I have one. I'm 48 hours into a battle to the death with a Rhino Virus. I'm feeling fairly confident though, In my 40+ years I hav'nt lost one yet. It reminds me though to check the propane level. I am only surviving the cold nights because of the furnace. Perhaps I should get an electric heater as back-up. According to Environment Canada the weather forecast has improved. Five days of rain is now Just Thursday and Friday although it's only going to 13 today. That's pretty chilly riding at the best of times but with me having a cold... After putting on some sweats I get back to sleep around 6:45 and wake again at 10:30. Much better. I unhook the trailer for the ... read more

Day 7, Sunday The sun was bright so it was a day to ride despite the wind. I climbed out of bad with a sore lower left back. Did I sleep funny? Oh, I bet it's from picking up the bike yesterday morning. When loading the bike in the morning I approached the ramp on too much of an angle and when I stopped I had no footing. A bruise to my ego and the ramp but thankfully no damage to the bike. I gassed up in Caraquet and headed East. I wanted to ride to the tip of Miscou Island. I rode down to road 113 and headed straight to the lighthouse. I've never been really far North but this is what I would expect to see. Not much foliage, mostly scrub. Is it too ... read more

Day 5. I've noticed signs around the area stating this is Gaspe's 475th birthday. I'm no geologist but I think it's older. Just my opinion. Today I decided I would stay put and just ride. I only got in 145km before the predicted afternoon showers arrived. I suppose I should have worn the full face today because rain drops hurt when they hit you at 100km/hr. Oh well, chalk it up to experience. I started out riding back around to the North side of the Bay and into Forillon National Park. I rode to the end of the road where there is a 3Km walking trail to the tip of Cap-Gaspe and on a nicer day with proper shoes I might have done it but I know from past experience riding boots are not hiking boots. ... read more