Cabot trail
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 45
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From: Blackstone MA
Cabot trail
So I am leaving a week from tomorrow from blackstone ma and heading into nova scotia to ride the Cabot trail. This is my first "big" trip on my 06 SG I couldn't be more excited !!! Any tips on what to expect up there would be appreciated!! We are also riding Acadia on the way up
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
Cabot Trail is on Cape Breton Island, off the N/E of Nova Scotia. They are connected by a causeway.
Initially a French colony, the English took over all of Eastern Canada by 1755. ( sending the French settlers to Louisiana- there the "Acadians" became "Cajuns"
Fortress Louisberg is the old French fort, and worth seeing.
Much of Cape Breton shows the Scots/Irish heritage of most of the inhabitants ( I had Pals whose first language growing up was Gaelic)-
You will find people there inordinately friendly- get used to it, it is normal.
Days before easy transport to the rest of Canada, strong ties were forged to New England, trade immigration etc.
You'll find many older Nova Scotians are Bruins and Sox fans.
They'll want to know about where you are from, and find something common to talk about.
the highlands at the NE end are great.
Town of Cheticamp is a French Canadian enclave, they have a crab fishery, so look for places to eat.
Ingonish area has good beaches but the water will be cool-
the main highway runs across the center of the Island.
Town of Baddeck is where Alexander Graham Bell worked on the phone, flew planes and made all kinds of cool stuff. His home is a museum-the Grosvenor Family ( Nat'l Geographic) also has/had homes is the area.
Near there you may see fresh water oysters for sale, the local First Nation tribe, Mic Macs have been working those waters for thousands of years.
plan for weather- you know, layer it up.
Loud pipes could be a problem, keep it cool. Most find loud pipes are boring for long days in the saddle.
no firearms, have your passport, license, registration and insurance paperwork with you
If time allows, Halifax is a great town, lots to see and the coastal towns South of there ( like Peggy's Cove and Lununburg ( old German settlement) are gorgeous.
Mike
Initially a French colony, the English took over all of Eastern Canada by 1755. ( sending the French settlers to Louisiana- there the "Acadians" became "Cajuns"
Fortress Louisberg is the old French fort, and worth seeing.
Much of Cape Breton shows the Scots/Irish heritage of most of the inhabitants ( I had Pals whose first language growing up was Gaelic)-
You will find people there inordinately friendly- get used to it, it is normal.
Days before easy transport to the rest of Canada, strong ties were forged to New England, trade immigration etc.
You'll find many older Nova Scotians are Bruins and Sox fans.
They'll want to know about where you are from, and find something common to talk about.
the highlands at the NE end are great.
Town of Cheticamp is a French Canadian enclave, they have a crab fishery, so look for places to eat.
Ingonish area has good beaches but the water will be cool-
the main highway runs across the center of the Island.
Town of Baddeck is where Alexander Graham Bell worked on the phone, flew planes and made all kinds of cool stuff. His home is a museum-the Grosvenor Family ( Nat'l Geographic) also has/had homes is the area.
Near there you may see fresh water oysters for sale, the local First Nation tribe, Mic Macs have been working those waters for thousands of years.
plan for weather- you know, layer it up.
Loud pipes could be a problem, keep it cool. Most find loud pipes are boring for long days in the saddle.
no firearms, have your passport, license, registration and insurance paperwork with you
If time allows, Halifax is a great town, lots to see and the coastal towns South of there ( like Peggy's Cove and Lununburg ( old German settlement) are gorgeous.
Mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Aug 11, 2011 at 12:14 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,837
Likes: 50
From: usa
You can expect to see the end of the Hoka Hey Challenge.I was over to my dealer today in Halifax and saw a guy wearing a vest with the Hoka Hey Challenge crest on it.He was in last years ride,but this year he flew in to NS from FLA to meet the riders.He figures they will start arriving here in 5 days.There were half a dozen bikes in the parking lot from Florida as well.The end of the ride is in Glace Bay,Cape Breton.I don't know if the Cabot Trail is part of the route.I wish I was off,I'd go to CB myself.
I hope you have good weather for your trip up here,so far this summer hasn't been great.
I hope you have good weather for your trip up here,so far this summer hasn't been great.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
Working with rock bands playing the clubs, I traveled all over the Martimes to all the small towns.
I also worked for Parks Canada on Citadel Hill for a while, doing the restoration-also I wound the clock Tuesdays and Fridays and picked up trash
I had plans to be on my way there now, but a herniated disc has changed that plan...
NS is great and it should be a must-see for anyone, especially Riders.
Mike
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,890
Likes: 73
From: MA
I did the Cabot Trail in '08. I would suggest doing an overnight in Port Hawksbury and riding the trail unloaded. You might also want to decide which direction you will ride it, clockwise or counter clockwise. This will determine whether you take the inside track or the outside track. Where do you plan to cross the border?
One other thing, I never saw so much road kill in my life as I did in the Atlantic Provinces, especially on Cape Breton. I also still find red dirt from PEI.
One other thing, I never saw so much road kill in my life as I did in the Atlantic Provinces, especially on Cape Breton. I also still find red dirt from PEI.
Last edited by soos; Aug 11, 2011 at 02:20 PM.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 100
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From: Grand Falls, New Brunswick
If you are looking for another great NS ride, Rte 3 from Halifax towards Yarmouth brings you through Peggy's Cove, Lunenburg, Mahone Bay, Chester, Bridgewater, Liverpool, Shelburne and ends in Yarmouth. Then from Yarmouth, take Rte 1 up through Meteghan, Weymouth and into Digby. From Digby, you can hop onto the ferry to Saint John, New Brunswick and from there you can get back to wherever you are going.
Southwest Nova Scotia is a spectacular motorcycle ride, just stay away from 101 and 103. Both are boring highways.
Southwest Nova Scotia is a spectacular motorcycle ride, just stay away from 101 and 103. Both are boring highways.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 803
Likes: 1
From: Port St. Lucie FL
If you are looking for another great NS ride, Rte 3 from Halifax towards Yarmouth brings you through Peggy's Cove, Lunenburg, Mahone Bay, Chester, Bridgewater, Liverpool, Shelburne and ends in Yarmouth. Then from Yarmouth, take Rte 1 up through Meteghan, Weymouth and into Digby. From Digby, you can hop onto the ferry to Saint John, New Brunswick and from there you can get back to wherever you are going.
Southwest Nova Scotia is a spectacular motorcycle ride, just stay away from 101 and 103. Both are boring highways.
Southwest Nova Scotia is a spectacular motorcycle ride, just stay away from 101 and 103. Both are boring highways.
Don't miss all the sights Heavy D mentioned if you can get there after your Cabot Trail run. The weather can vary quite a bit so be sure to bring layers as others have suggested. If you can go south and have the time, be sure to stop at Brier Island and do an overnight at the Brier Island Lodge. Great small coastal community to see at the entrance to the Bay of Fundy and some outstanding whale watching trips available.
Whichever end you are able to do you will have a great trip. Ride safe and take your time - you will love it.