Memoirous

Day 11 @ St. Brendan's rescue donkey Sue and Alan Day 12, Dennysville to Steuben, Mainayr Campground Monday June 26, 2017, 63 miles (101 km) - Total so far: 530 miles (852 km) I'd like say today was easy, but I had to put on my game face. First, it was hard to leave St. Brendans Retreat Center also called Holy Trinity Chapel. Alan and Sue welcomed me into their home. Even the dogs started to love me. We'd sit around the table and have deep talks. There were also chores to do: goats to feed and milk, donkey pens that needed mucked out, and little baby goats that needed to be bottle fed twice a day. This a.m. I helped separate about 2 gallons of goat milk. I left with the sweet taste of cream on my lips. I knew I had at least 60 miles to do today--and 1/2 of this is up. Nothing like my JOGLE but yet it is taxing--especially in the hot sun. Yes, there was sun. A blessing and a curse. Then I got a flat tire. I pulled over and ex a mined it and found a tac...

Day 9, New River Beach to St. Stephens Friday June 23, 2017, 40 miles (64 km) - Total so far: 428 miles (688 km) After yesterday on route 1 I wanted to make sure I didn't have a long day in the rain. So opted to leave campground at a fairly leisurely pace. Route 1 was taken in 2 segments, to St. George's then to St. Stephens. I got to St. George's and bought a chicken pot pie right out of the oven. Nice! The day started sunny but rather quickly faded to cloudy. I kept my orange long sleeve riding shirt on the whole time. Wind was NOT an issue so route 1 went a lot faster. Easier than yesterday going up and down the hills. It began to spit rain after lunch, but continued on route 1 to Oak Bay right outside of St. Stephens. It was 50% rain predicted for today and 80 tomorrow. So after an ice cream at Teepee dairy bar I found a hidey spot. It's still quite early, but don't mind being settled before rain comes. I'd stopped at a campground, but they wanted $31...

Day 8, Digby/St. John Ferry to New River Beach Thursday June 22, 2017, 30 miles (48 km) - Total so far: 388 miles (624 km) What a lovely morning, almost hot and I didn't need to be anywhere until 11. But I left early for the ferry. Probably only a handful of times I've actually been early for a ferry. The last coupe of times I've just caught it before the doors closed. Had a nice chat with a wonderful woman, age 86, touring NS with a group. We had a lot in common--opposed to the fact she was a psychoanalyst--yet we agreed: neither of us dreamed. I'm usually too tired at night. I got onto highway 1,and let me tell you that was hectic. It is a super highway that allows bikes. There is a wide shoulder that keeps me out of the way of traffic. Yet the trucks just barreled past me making me nervous. On top of that the wind was a huge factor. I rode right into it. With the sun and the wind and riding uphill, I was constantly parched. I had to plan drink breaks because I...

Day 7, Yarmouth to Digby Wednesday June 21, 2017, 68 miles (109 km) - Total so far: 358 miles (575 km) Last night my motel room was a drying factory. There was so much--even if it wasn't wet it was damp. I aired out my sleeping bag and all the contents of my handlebar bag. It literally took all night for my riding shoes to dry. Every surface was scattered with items in various degrees of wetness.A couple of times I opened the door wondering if I was just being a baby and each time the wind and rain confirmed my instinct to stop. This a.m. there was no fog. No rain. Nothing but sunshine and birdsong. The motel offered a continental breakfast and the clerk insisted I take extra for the road. I did. Now let me say today was one of those days, so perfect, that it makes you love riding. You can ride and ride forever. There was sun and some clouds, low humidity, not a lot of traffic. Wind at my back. I cycled uphill like a pro. I didn't get lost or have to worry about making...

Day 6, Yarmouth, Lakelawn Motel Tuesday June 20, 2017, 18 miles (30 km) - Total so far: 290 miles (466 km) Well, I didn't get very far. I packed up dry--yet everything felt damp. The humidity. The first 13 miles were great though windy. I took a great pic(to come) of St. Anne's church and the interior of a Baptist one. It was the first time I'd actually seen one open. Even Sunday they all looked dead. After coming out of the church I noticed it was spritzing, not even half a mile down the road it was raining so I put on poncho. I crossed several causeways to get into Yarmouth. The wind was pushing me off the road. It was scary and my poncho was ballooning. I finally made it to a Tim Horton's, my life raft. I had them fill my thermos and ate a sandwich. All the while I was checking warmshowers and CouchSurfing, looking for a host. At one point the rain came down so hard the hardy lobstermen inside commented on it. Meanwhile I'm in soaking wet clothes, squishy ...

Day 5, Shelburne to Argyle Historic Anglican church Monday June 19, 2017, 60 miles (97 km) - Total so far: 271 miles (436 km) Yesterday it wasn't just cloudy but cloud-bearing, and at the last moment there was a cloud burst. The air was saturated. The same thing today plus strong winds. Throw in occasional fog. I left the campsite about 8:30. Very relaxed. The night before I'd stayed up with Jerry and Wendy the campground host's talking around the fire. Lovely people, and so good to talk and hang out. I hit the 103, and hated it the whole way into Barrington, which was nothing but a cluster of museums. The visitor centre was very helpful and directed me to a place where I ate lunch. The wind was against me the whole way. But after I left the wind pushed me 30 more miles. I knew I couldn't make Yarmouth, maybe I could, but with the fog rolling in I thought better of it. I just didn't want to be stuck with fog and low energy during rush hour traffic. Tomorrow...

Day 4, Rest in peace, Liverpool to Shelburne Sunday June 18, 2017, 62 miles (100 km) - Total so far: 211 miles (340 km) Maybe not so much in peace. The winds picked up and it rained hard. I needed a strategy for keeping things dry. It's hard to set up in the rain, load in in the rain, and then decide what do do with the soaking wet clothes. Above all I needed to keep the sleeping bag from getting wet in all my manoeuvring. Also must sacrifice having wet socks on until last possible moment. Between the day before and the ride yesterday I had 2 pairs wet socks and only 2 dry ones left. I had to save one for sleeping in. The rain pants were a joke. I put them on because I needed something for running to bathroom in and they were dry. But in the night the coating came off on my skin and the seam seal tape came apart. I might need to find a laundromat for a dryer. I rode today in my spare bike shorts and they simply do not have the padding. They're pretty worn. So the weat...

Day 3, Liverpool graveyard, rained all day Saturday June 17, 2017, 56 miles (90 km) - Total so far: 149 miles (240 km) Last night I got rest. I had a great campfire, charged my phone, and read until sleepy. Far off I could hear the waves beating the cliffs. Then in the night the rain came. Not entirely unexpected. Also I was prepared from my 2 spring bike campouts. Both were really wet. Plus I knew I'd have to expect rain in Nova Scotia. I packed up wet and hit the road. About 5 miles later I was in LeHave. I took the ferry over and the salty sailor called it a miserable day. I went to the bakery there and ordered a pot of tea and a scone with butter. I had plenty of energy. The hills were not so bad. I was following my Warmshowers host Steve's recommendations. At one point though I went onto Green Bay Road to eventually connect with the 331. There was no way. I kept passing a circle of trailers where a woman emerged with her baby and went to sit under a torn tarp wher...

Day 2, Lunenburg to The Ovens Friday June 16, 2017, 41 miles (66 km) - Total so far: 93 miles (150 km) Today was low energy. The mileage doesn't reflect the effort. Sometimes the trail is sandy and slurry, making progress twice as difficult. My thighs were burning. Last night it got down to the mid 40s. Not terrible cold. Still I found cold spots when I rolled over. This a.m. bright sunshine. I took my time getting off. About 9 a.m. and immediately got back on the bike path, Bay to Bay Trail. I know the trail saved me some hills and car traffic--the trade-off is boring and sometimes an unimproved bumpy ride. I made it to Lunenburg in 3 hours, which by that time I was starved. I ate lunch at the first place I saw. The Dinghy Diner had an eclectic small menu. I got a cabbage roll and 2 sides for 6.95. Everything was excellent, I left full. Outside of shops and tourist stuff there wasn't much to do. It is a UNESCO site, I think because it represents a typical NS fishi...

Day 1, Camping at Graves Island Provincial Park Thursday June 15, 2017, 52 miles (84 km) - Total so far: 52 miles (84 km) Yesterday was uneventful, as it should be when flying. Had to change planes and do passport control in Toronto. In 30 minutes! Because plane was late leaving Chicago. Nevertheless, my bike and I landed in Halifax, hallelujah. Next I assembled the bike in record time and caught 2 buses to make it to my Warmshowers host. Steve was great. I stayed up until 11 talking with he and his girlfriend. Just leaving the States is helping me feel better and at peace. Of course, it hasn't started raining yet. Today Steve helped me get some supplies (cookies, etc) and showed me the way to the bank. Once that was done he dropped me off at the trailhead and I was off, about 10 a.m. I rode until lunch at White Sails Bakery. After that there was a bit of rain pitter patter, but the trail was very good. There was a patch about 2 miles before Hubbard where I hope there will be...