Crispin’s
Guide to Stirling Cycling - Overseas
A cycle tour of Nova Scotia, Canada. Organised by Brian
Curtis and led by Derek Watts, a resident of Wolfville, NS.
The tour took place in September 2000, thereby
avoiding summer heat and winter snow. The group of four flew from Glasgow,
Scotland to Halifax, NS via Iceland.
Derek Watts - the tour leader.
Note his immaculate attire. Every morning, Derek
would impress us by turning up in an ironed shirt and pressed shorts.
You have to listen to someone that well turned out.
The rest of the group - small but perfectly formed -
Sarah, Laurence and Alastair
Day 2 - Tuesday 5th September - Halifax
Airport to Maitland.
Distance: 50 miles
On the main highway to leave the airport, we soon
picked up quieter roads through Shubenacadia.
Typical scenery on the first day
Looking towards the tidal bore on the Shubenacadie
River
Captain Douglas’ Guest House in Maitland.
Day 3 - Wednesday 6th September -
Maitland to Windsor.
Distance: 63 miles
Sarah and Derek ride the north coast road.
Day 4 - Thursday 7th September - Windsor to
Wolfville.
Milegage: 36 miles
Crossing the Avon River
Whiteboard church -Hantsport
Day 5 - Friday 8th September - Rest day
Distance: 40 miles
Derek led us on a ride via Grand Pre, Look-Off and
Hall’s Harbour, returning to Wolfville with enough time for us to eat large
quantities of ice cream, check out the bike shop and meet the locals (Hi
George!).
Sarah at Look-Out
Descending over the “mountain”
Hall’s Harbour
Day 6 - Saturday 9th September -
Wolfville - Middleton
Distance: 50 miles
Quiet undulating roads down the valley, past
orchards and fertile farm land.
Day 7 - Sunday 10th September -Middleton
- Annapolis Royal
Distance: 42 miles
View from the bridge in Bridgetown.
Deluded near Delusion
Day 8 - Monday 11th
September -Rest Day
Distance: 36 miles
Derek led us on a ride to
Port Royal and Victoria Beach. The afternoon was spent exploring Annapolis
Royal.
Port Royal – Reconstructed
Habitation of 1605
Day 9 - Tuesday 12th
September -Annapolis Royal - Kempt
Distance: 46 miles
Following Route 6 south, we climbed and undulated all morning.
The afternoon was spent canoeing in Keji’ National Park.
“The hotel that turned cyclists away.
The previous year this hotel had made the tour
unwelcome. The day before we passed, it burnt down.
This is a lesson for all hotel owners !
Leaving Jake’s Landing - Kejimkujik
Day 10 - Wednesday 13th
September - Kempt - Lunenberg
Distance: 74 miles
A day of unremitting toil and a late lunch.
Cable ferry across LeHave River
Day 11 - Thurday 14th
September - Rest Day
Distance: 10 miles
Laurence, Sarah and I cycled to the bike shop at
Blue Rocks before spending the afternoon exploring the Maritime museum in
Lunenburg.
Sarah learnt everything there is to know about
lobster fishing (“, eh”) and we poked around in the innards of lots of boats.
Brilliant fun.
Blue Rocks
Blue Rocks again
and again
Day 12 - Friday 15th September -
Lunenberg to Hubbards
Distance: 58 miles
The day the weather broke. It was dry, if overcast during
the morning and then, after lunch, it started to rain. This developed into some
of most torrential rainfall I have ever experienced.
Coastal village
Fishing harbour, just before Hubbards
Sarah on the coast road
Day 13 - Saturday 16th September
-Hubbards to Dartmouth, Halifax
If we had thought that
yesterday’s rain was bad, were we in for a shock. This really was the most torrential rain I had ever
experienced
At Upper Tantallon we stopped for coffee. I poured a
pint of water out of my Goretex socks, Sarah attempted to ring out her Porelle
Dry’s waterproof socks, while Alastair had accumulated several gallons of water
in the sleeves of his jacket. Heading straight into Halifax, we gave Peggys
Cove a miss.
Sightseeing in Halifax in glorious sunshine.
The webmaster relaxes on the deck of the Titanic – Maritime museum, Halifax
More sightseeing and ice cream before cycling to the airport and flying home.
Bye Derek, thanks for a fantastic tour!
© Crispin Bennett, 2001
Crispin’s
Guide to Stirling Cycling - Overseas