Nova Scotia this june

Flatbutt1 · 03-04-2008, 01:24 PM

I'm thinking about going to Nova Scotia this june. Any and all tips on route,lodging , red heads are most welcome.

smallj · 03-05-2008, 04:20 AM

My buddy and I are looking to ride from Indiana to Nova Scotia in August. Don't know a damn thing about the place but we are going! The plan so far is to take the bikes camp, stay in hotels and occasionally eat something. That is about as planned as we get.

Flatbutt1 · 03-05-2008, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smallj

My buddy and I are looking to ride from Indiana to Nova Scotia in August. Don't know a damn thing about the place but we are going! The plan so far is to take the bikes camp, stay in hotels and occasionally eat something. That is about as planned as we get.

hey! except for routing thats my plan too!!

smallj · 03-05-2008, 05:06 AM

Are you planning on taking a ferry over? My buddy tells me we need to go to Dickey Maine, do you think he is trying to tell me something

smallj · 03-05-2008, 05:12 AM

Considering this picture of my buddy on my old R1100R, maybe I need to rethink my travel partner...

RoLoo · RoLoo's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by smallj

...my buddy...

---> RoLoo --->

Flatbutt1 · 03-05-2008, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smallj

Are you planning on taking a ferry over? My buddy tells me we need to go to Dickey Maine, do you think he is trying to tell me something

I've been told that the ferry is more trouble than it is worth. Apparently it only saves 150 to 200 miles compared to driving around. I have to do some map comparisons on that.

Highlander179 · 03-05-2008, 09:24 AM

of the 10 or so guys that I know that took that trip, they ALL took the ferry. the ride around is not that desireable. if you want, I can get more details, but there is a reason that the ferry is so popular.

jduke · 03-05-2008, 09:43 AM

I've been a couple of times and we took the ferry that left Bar Harbor about 7 pm and arrived at Yarmouth NS about 7 the next morning. That's a great way to go because you travel at night and sleep on the ship.
I heard they had discontinued the overnight ferry and replaced it with a high speed that only took a few hours, but traveled during the day.

smallj · 03-05-2008, 11:08 AM

The high speed ferry is only supposed to take a few hours

http://www.catferry.com/

Looks nifty. I was thinking about taking the ferry out and the roads going home.

Anyone know about tie-downs for the bikes down on the ferry? Not sure if they are required or not.

jduke · 03-05-2008, 11:13 AM

When we went across, they had some large pie shaped hunks of hard rubber. You put your bike on the side stand and wedge a piece on each side. We were VERY nervous about this so one of the deck hands offered us some nasty oil stained course ropes. We passed and the bikes rode fine.

bmcgrath · 03-05-2008, 12:21 PM

I am a Nova Scotian (Halifax). The ferry will save you about a days ride if you are coming to Halifax. The ride is not bad if you do not take the ferry (at least on the Canadian side - I can't speak to the road conditions in Maine. My advice would be to take the ferry on the way up and ride the coast of Nova Scotia from Yarmouth (where the ferry docks) to Halifax (take the southern coast and stop in Lunenburg and Peggy's Cove. If you are in Halifax on a Thursday, the local BMW riders group meets up in the evening (email me for directions). You also may wish to check out the Thursday bike night in down town halifax (on the waterfront). You will then almost certainly want to ride the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton. You may then wish to return to the States via New Brunswick (instead of the ferry), stopping at the Hopewell rocks and camping in Alma (Fundy National Park). Then ride to St. Martin's and check out the Fundy Trial.

Keep in mind that the Maritimers are the friendliest people in Canada, so you should enjoy your trip.

jduke · 03-05-2008, 12:34 PM

"Friendliest people in Canada", so it's safe to assume you Nova Scotian's aren't related to the Quebec French.....

pwillikers · 03-05-2008, 01:47 PM

"Bob from Tucson" was just there last summer on an extended tour. Were I you, he's the one I'd pester.

johnnydanger · 03-05-2008, 01:48 PM

I took the ferry from Portland over to Yarmouth. I'd recommend it as an easy way to get out there. As far as riding NS / PEI, etc. you don't have a lot of choices. Pretty much one or two routes with some little detours all the way around. I ended up going up the east coast of NS which was nice to Halifax, then up to Truro as I was starting to get tired of the bumpy coast and all the slow down/speed up through the villages, and then up around Cape Breton counter-clockwise. Then took the ferry to PEI, made a loop and came back on the bridge, then west up through New Brunswick, Quebec, etc.

Nova Scotia is great. Make sure to hit Peggy's Cove, Lunenburg, and Halifax downtown. And of course don't miss the Cape Breton highlands loop.

You'll have a good trip.

Cheers.

johnnydanger · 03-05-2008, 01:51 PM

Oh, the red sand beaches of PEI (Anne of Green Gables!) were nice too. I liked PEI. Kinda rolly and flat, but very nice.

Flatbutt1 · 03-05-2008, 02:07 PM

good stuff! thanks!

X-Triple · X-Triple's Garage

I did the trip both ways. Rt 1 through Maine to the border is great. The ferry ride back from Yarmouth was fun on the way back also.

Flatty get a hold of me if you have any questions.

X

Flatbutt1 · 03-06-2008, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X-Triple

I did the trip both ways. Rt 1 through Maine to the border is great. The ferry ride back from Yarmouth was fun on the way back also.

Flatty get a hold of me if you have any questions.

X

thanks bro

MaineRoads · 03-06-2008, 01:35 PM

Flatt, Can't help you much with travel info since I haven't done the trip yet. But, if you need a break when traveling, I live only 30 minutes north of Portland, Me. Steve