Nova Scotia Bike (and hopefully Photo) Tour

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/23/2014 12:13:50 AM · #1

Thinking about going on a bike tour of Nova Scotia this summer. Never been thre and it sounds great.

//www.backroads.com/trips/BNSQ/nova-scotia-biking-tour

We are thinking about driving or maybe taking a train there from Albany (NY). Probably a night or two stops to visit sites along the way there.

Open for any suggestions.

Being on a bike tour, probably won't be able to do meetups, but chime in if you're in the area...who knows!

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

02/23/2014 12:36:53 AM · #2

Do they still run the ferry from Portland? I believe the cats have stopped now..... but you might be able to take the car on the ferry for a decent price to save some driving and would give you some photo ops maybe from the coast.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/23/2014 01:38:17 AM · #3

While the Ferry might be fun, it seems to be a 9 hour cruise, and then wed need another 4 hours on ground transport to get to Halifax.

And that's from Portland, ME, which is 4 hours from home.

Driving according to Google is about 13 hours from home to Halifax. Not sure if that's accurate given the border crossing. But it also means we won't have to schedule around the Ferry and the ground transport...which start at very limited times.

Driving means we can also schedule some stops along the way if we can spare a bit of time on the way there. Though it's a long time in the car!

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

02/23/2014 03:21:10 PM · #4

Wow that long... The cat was a lot faster...... For that time driving is obviously the go.

It's been a long time but I always remember that border crossing as pretty easy & reasonably fast but "security" has changed so much it's obviously worth checking what recent experience has been.

The tour of the fort in Halifax is worth the time - I was surprised to see so much Captain Cook things [I know him from the Australia stuff & pacific islands - that guy traveled in a time when it was hard :-)].

On the way; Quebec City is beautiful. There are some falls just outside of town that are worth the stop - bridge to walk over them e.t.c.

kawesttex

Apple iPhone 11 Pro

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

02/23/2014 03:33:52 PM · #5

There is no motor on those bikes! I would prefer Harley over Schwinn!

kawesttex

Apple iPhone 11 Pro

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

02/23/2014 03:36:18 PM · #6

Oh, by the way I have nothing over that.

FromDaRock

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM Lens

02/23/2014 04:55:17 PM · #7

Originally posted by robs:

On the way; Quebec City is beautiful. There are some falls just outside of town that are worth the stop - bridge to walk over them e.t.c.

That would be quite a detour.

RayEthier

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

02/23/2014 05:30:46 PM · #8

I can't remember exactly where Neil lives, but I do seem to recall that it is in Upper State New York.

If he drove north to Montreal and then to Quebec City and Halifax, his travels would be approximately 1000 miles. His return through the USA would be somewhat shorter at approximately 815 miles.

If I got a chance to see Quebec CIty and all it has to offer, trust me a 200 mile detour would not deter me.

Ray

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

02/23/2014 10:12:04 PM · #9

We visited Quebec City and some surrounding areas in June of 2012...we had a great time and I even got a couple of ribbons out of the vacation:

What more can I ask of a vacation :)

Also loved the falls at Ste Anne de Beaupre though perhaps my pic wasn't as well processed or processed to DPC tastes!

And Ray, we live near Albany (just west of it, Schenectady)

Message edited by author 2014-02-23 22:12:39.

RyanW

Nikon D7000

02/24/2014 09:53:15 AM · #10

I spent the first 20 years of my life living in Cape Breton (island that makes up the uppermost top 1/3, roughly, of the province) - you should definitely head around the Cabot Trail and make a point to look up Franey Mountain as there are some of the most "iconic" scenery images representative of the region.
Franey Mountain info site
Additionally, if you're in the southern part, you should head to Peggy's Cove.

Message edited by author 2014-02-24 09:53:43.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

05/23/2014 02:01:03 AM · #11

Back to looking into this...my wife says we need to decide on any stops so she can make reservations!

Highly recommended to us: Bay of Fundy ... it's an hour and a half out of the way, but looks pretty nice!

Any other recommendations?

RyanW

Nikon D7000

05/23/2014 10:04:23 AM · #12

My previous post stands, Peggy's Cove is on the south part of the province, so Bay of Funday side trip can include Peggy's Cove visit; and if you get up into Cape Breton you should check out Franey.
Going around the Cabot Trail is the "most scenic/tourist-y" thing there is to do in Cape Breton aside from the Fortress of Louisbourg(if you only get there to do 1 thing, do the fort), but the whole island bends over backwords to cater to tourists (trust me, i grew up there....there's not a lot going on that isn't tourist or fisheries driven).
The trail is basically a roadmap to most of the location-based tourist things on the island as well as being a very scenic drive through mountains and valleys, over bridges and through quaint small towns.
If you time it right you might be able to see the Tall Ships (link 1 link 2 ).
The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax has some interesting things there, including actual items from the Titanic that washed up on short almost a century ago.
---
Send me a PM if you plan on staying in around the Sydney area, i'll call my folks and have them bring you some fresh lobster from my uncle's boat (my folks get 12-15 free per week from him, so they are happy to share) :)

Message edited by author 2014-05-23 10:12:55.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

05/23/2014 11:17:08 PM · #13

Thanks--the Cabot trail looks fantastic, but it's 5 hours past Halifax and not even remotely on the way! But if we can get there at any point...we'll try...it looks wonderful.

Fundy National Park (what I meant before as far as recommendations) is a bit out of the way (1.5 hrs or so), but at least it's sort of on the way. The My wife booked a B&B near the Hopewell Cape Rocks. We'll only have one or two nights there (depending on whether or not we want to spend more time in Halifax), then it's on to the bike trip!

Sample:

Day 1 Leave from Halifax...the "famous" lighthouse route...This coastal ride takes you past beautiful summer homes, colorful cottages, weathered docks and sleepy fishing villages, such as charming Mahone Bay�the perfect place for a picnic. If you�re a photography buff, don�t miss a shot of the town�s famous �three churches,� which stand in a row by the water�s edge and can be seen from miles away. Feel free to linger a bit in Mahone Bay, as it offers many artisan shops and cozy cafés to enjoy before you continue to the town of Lunenburg, a World Heritage Site. Those looking for a few extra miles can head along a rolling section of the Lighthouse Route to oft-photographed Blue Rocks, an idyllic fishing community that has attracted artists since the 1940s.

This is a quick summary of where we are staying...that's a copy from the itinerary, but it's not easy to copy from that PDF...so here's an idea where we are going, via where we are staying each night...riding town to town on bike:

LUNENBURG ARMS 1 NIGHT
This graciously appointed inn is situated in Old Town Lunenburg, overlooking the harbor. (spa)

WHITE POINT BEACH RESORT 1 NIGHT Originally a 1920s fishing lodge, this beautifully updated property is set against a white-sand beach. (pool, spa)

HILLSDALE HOUSE INN 2 NIGHTS This Italianate-style inn has welcomed King George V, Prince George of Wales and other heads of state since its opening in 1859.

VICTORIA�S HISTORIC INN & CARRIAGE HOUSE 1 NIGHT (ABOVE) A Victorian antique-adorned bed-and-breakfast built for an apple
baron in 1893

Enlightened

Nikon D7100

05/23/2014 11:41:38 PM · #14

I drive from Ottawa to Lunenburg every August and I usually "cut through" the States to get there. The border is a breeze but sometimes there is a bit of line but nothing crazy. When are you planning to go? There are some fabulous farmers markets in Mahone Bay and Lunenburg. (There is a bakery on the northside of the main road just west of the 3 churches and it is mouth watering good!:) The Bay of Fundy is spectacular and if you cross at St. Stephens NB it will be on your way. to Halifax. If you do nothing else in Halifax you have to go to Pier 21 it is an amazing museum about all of the immigrants who passed through the port to gain entry into Canada. Also if you cross over at St. Stephens St. Andrews is a beautiful area and a whale watching trip with Quoddy Link is amazing.

As Ryan said Peggy's Cove is great! I will try and think of some other places and psot again soon.

KarenNfld

05/24/2014 08:37:40 AM · #15

We did a driving tour of NS last September. I see you'll be staying in Lunenburg and Annapolis Royal (among others). Lunenburg is pretty and touristy, Annapolis Royal is a beautiful spot.

I also agree you should go to Peggy's Cove, it was my favourite place in NS.

If you want to see my pics from our trip here you go:

//bitstop.ca/travel/nova-scotia/