Virginia & WV or Nova Scotia

[Bad Dad]

Me an the family did the eastern maritimes a few years back, beautiful scenery, nice roads, pretty good time. I use the family vacation as recon time for bike trips But on that trip I had 3 flat tires and 2 blowouts on our camper trailer Then on the eastern side of Cape Breton I snapped the leading shackle on the leaf spring and cocked the axle and burned a hole in the wheelwell and just about burned the camper up . So....I'd go to...either I still want to get back to N.E. Canada on bikes and W.V. looks good too!! Garry, the routes look nice, we're headin down deals gap way in mid July, but maybe we'll go W.V. instead

[Sport-Touring]

[SWriverstone]

You sure about the Cabot Trail being 300 miles?  The last time I rode it in June of last year, I clocked it at roughly 180 miles & change.  On a KLR bombing around the smaller roads there, you might get some more mileage I'll agree.

Come to think of it, you're probably right...when I rode it, I was staying down in Sydney and rode from there. That adds a bit, plus all the side/back roads I took added more as well. I just remember for me—in late October—it was a TOUGH day's ride...I was damn near hypothermic by the time I made it back to my hotel in Sydney (but I was happy!).

I also remember wanting to spend more time lingering in the little towns along the way, especially Cheticamp, but I was under the gun to get back before I froze to death.

Scott

[bikerfish1100]

i've ridden both areas. and both have their plusses & minuses. you won't be unhappy with either choice. one thing fer sure tho- the lobster is better in NS. Shediac, NB, yeah baby. oh yeah, less humidity up north.

[clyde]

I'm heading to Va in early/mid June and I am fired up.

[RenegadeVT]

To answer your questions RiverStone.

1) I live in Vermont so both are about 600 miles.  So we can go either way.

2) Everyone has their own bike and are capable riders.  My daughters are 20 and 22 so we will not be looking for kids stuff, but I don’t think they want to put on 300+ miles a day everyday for the week.  So we just are looking for few things to do.

Thanks for the feedback guys, keep it coming.

[Johnny Monsoon]

If you feel like trudging through my 'There and Back, NE to VA' post in ride reports, there's a good bit dedicated to limping through WV.  I'll say the roads are incredible, if taken at a reasonable pace (in my experience they were less than pristine).  The landscape is beautiful and there seems no shortage of twisties and elevations changes.  VA (western VA anyway) shares the same mountains and landscape with better roads, but they're slower (more police) as a byproduct.  Lots to do in VA.  I guess the question is what your family likes to do...

[Scratch33]

No, not much up here to see, and we only get about one week in the summer where the temperature doesn't go below freezing overnight. Also, the heavy snow cover we accumulate isn't usually done melting until early July, so a lot of roads are wet from melting snow all day long until then, and after that, they stay wet from the rainy season, with the odd day where you might get an hour or two of sun when the heavy oceanic fogs lift for a bit.
Rain & sleet are pretty much a daily occurrence, except for August, when the sleet is replaced by wet snow (it usually doesn't stay on the ground).

Lots and lots and lots of mosquitos, the big kind that raise a welt about the size of a quarter and and an eighth of an inch high. That's why the locals pretty nearly all wear mackinaw jackets - the checkerboard colour pattern confuses them -they mistake you for a shingle-sided building and so don't land and bite. Local hospitals capture them after they've fed off tourists who were caught outside without a mackinaw jacket and squeeze the blood out of their abdomens for use in the blood bank (it only takes about 40 of them to fill a pint bag).

And then there's the dump ducks (seagulls). Early in the tourist season, they're so ravenous from the lack of food over the winter, they pretty much go on the attack for anything held in your hands (they think it's food) and will swoop down to snatch it away. Their beaks are pretty sharp and can leave a nasty gash - the problem with this is, once the smell of blood is in the air, the mosquitos go on a feeding frenzy, and will descend a cloud thick enough around you that you can't see to get away (unless you have the mackinaw jacket on and they can't see you) causing people to run wildly until they hit a building, or any other solid object and knock themselves out. Then the cloud settles on them and the sight of a human body being deflated as millions of them suck out out their food has to be seen to be believed.

Even the bears go hungry at the height of mosquito season.

Yes, up here doesn't have much to recommend it. The only reason we all reside here is because it's illegal for us to move elsewhere in Canada (the other provinces are afraid that we might bring eggs from the mosquitos here on our clothing and thus spread the plague).

I'd say it's best you head in the other direction.          

 

[SWriverstone]

To answer your questions RiverStone.

1) I live in Vermont so both are about 600 miles.  So we can go either way.

2) Everyone has their own bike and are capable riders.  My daughters are 20 and 22 so we will not be looking for kids stuff, but I don’t think they want to put on 300+ miles a day everyday for the week.  So we just are looking for few things to do.

Thanks for the feedback guys, keep it coming.

Okay, that makes sense. I'm envious of where you live, because you have awesome riding in every direction! (Not that it's bad down here, but I'd rather be there!) Another thing—if you ride to Nova Scotia, you can tour New Brunswick's Fundy Coast which is fantastic—Cape Enrage and the town of Alma are incredible...and the Hopewell Rocks are pretty impressive too. I'm sure STNer Léon (Acadian Rider) would be happy to meet you guys and act as tourguide—he did a great job in that role for me!  

Of course, if you come down this way, there are plenty of folks who'd be happy to show you around, me for one. (Harpers Ferry is a beautiful and historic place, and "gateway" to the Shenandoah Valley and points west.

Scott

[Rocky]

I'm sitting here LMAO at some of the comments and impressions of our fair province.
For the record the Cabot Trail is 300km (185 miles) long. I you intend to blitz it in half a day then you're wasting your time.
SWriverstone got it right; take your time; come here for the culture and all the things we have to offer.
Yes, I agree, it is expensive here. Gasoline is $1.02 a litre today (and probably going up) and we do have some rough roads. Winter is hard on roads. It's -17C (2F) this morning, but we don't have snow in July. Trust me.
The past couple of years the province has undertaken an extensive re-paving program and the roads are improving every year.
Whatever you decide think about what you want out of the trip before you leave. The problem with many tourists it that they don't have enough time. They hit only the high spots and often go home disappointed.
I also agree that the Fundy coasts of both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are impressive and should not be missed.
If you decide to come here have a great time.
Vermont, BTW, is a beautiful state and I've been there many times over the past 30 years.

Rocky, a life long resident.

[Scratch33]

I you intend to blitz it in half a day then you're wasting your time.

Well... the most recent time I rode it, I did stop to throw a rock at a squirrel...

[ST-DocLizard1]

RenegadeVT,

If you want more Touring than Sport, try Nova Scotia. My three visits('80, '93, & '97) were outstanding with plenty of time to see the sights. We camped for 16 days on the first trip and did 10 days in motels for the last two rides.

After riding in all of the lower 48 and as well as 9 Canadian Provinces. West Virginia is tops on my list for Sport Roads.

Doc

[RCR]

Renegade...great options ....I was in both last summer....if i had to go back and do it again i would probably go back to ....................................... ....................................... ....................................... ....................................... ....................................... ....................................... ....................................... ....................................... ....................................... ....................................... ....................................... ....................................... ....................................... ....................................... ....................................... ....................................... ....................................... ....................................... ....................................... ....................................... ....................................... ....................................... ....................................... ............................both!  

[Hoss]

I'm planning on Nova Scotia/Cabot trail early this summer, then exploring some of northern Maine/New Brunswick on the way home. I'll let you know how it goes  

As a matter of fact, it's almost time to post on the Canada section and get some route advice...


SWriverstone, that was you with the ride report just before the site went down wasn't it? Was that report lost, or does it reside elsewhere? If it's the same one I'm thinking of, it was one of the deciding factors in choosing NS for this summer.

Is it summer yet?

 

[SWriverstone]

Yep Hoss, that was my report. I've been struggling for months to find the time to get it back online, and am almost there! I've got all the pics online now at Smugmug...and I'm adding the journal entries to the photos now. Look for a link soon!

Newfoundland, Cape Breton Island, and the Fundy Coast still glow in my memory (and I didn't even really see any of the rest of Nova Scotia—it's a big place!). Now that I've been there in October, I can't wait to return in the summer!  

Scott

[jschmidt]

To find out about whether Nova Scotia is worth doing check out the Nova Scotia Motorcycle Guide.

http://www.motorcycletourguidens.com/

The unfriendly to motorcycle province that puts out a guide for motorcyclists?

Not much to see in Nova Scotia either.  The Blue Nose which often rests in Halifax was an old tub.  The crew didn't really win any races, and it is an ugly boat.

And if you make it to Cape Breton, its not all all beautiful.  Bras d'0r is just an large inland swamp that happens to catch the light in uninteresting ways.  

I won't say anything about the tremendously boring restored French fortress at Louisberg.  

The southern end of Nova Scotia with endless roads along the ocean, the Bay of Fundy, and ugly little fishing settlements is just not worth seeing.

I have never been good at lying.  Nova Scotia is incredible.  Don't believe the nay-sayers.  They would probably find Paris and London boring dirty little cities.

[Hoss]

Yep Hoss, that was my report. I've been struggling for months to find the time to get it back online, and am almost there! I've got all the pics online now at Smugmug...and I'm adding the journal entries to the photos now. Look for a link soon!

Newfoundland, Cape Breton Island, and the Fundy Coast still glow in my memory (and I didn't even really see any of the rest of Nova Scotia—it's a big place!). Now that I've been there in October, I can't wait to return in the summer!  

Scott

Great! Thanks for putting it back together, one of my favorite trip reports I've seen posted  

[Rocky]

SWriverstone, your ride report was one of the best, most fascinating and awesome reports I have ever read! I was terribly disappointed when the board went down and I didn't get to see the rest of it.
Since your were in my back yard and have been there myself (except to Newfoundland by bike) I was riding beside you in my mind.
We're all looking forward to the last few chapters.
If you get back this way in the summer time I think you will find it even more satisfying.
My helmet is off to you for making the run so late in the season when it can be cold and miserable.

Rocky

[SWriverstone]

Thanks Rocky.   The weather gods smiled on me, because I think the weather could have been a lot worse. Riding in October was spectacular, though. The colors were unforgettable, and—not that I dislike people or anything—but it was beautiful being up there when nobody was around. There were times when I'd ride all day and pass a single car (e.g. in Gros Morne)...and one of the best moments of the trip was at the Fortress Louisbourg, on a sunny, 50-degree day...and I was literally the only person there. I sat back in the sun against the main gate to the fortress, and the only sound I heard was the water lapping at the docks—it was magical, and I could easily imagine the year was 1740! Ditto at L'Anse aux Meadows...it was a ghost settlement when I visited—not a soul in site.

This is why it's completely worth putting up with some cold weather to ride in the autumn!   I'll get that ride report back up soon.

Scott

[st ryder]

... Riding in October was spectacular, though. The colors were unforgettable, and—not that I dislike people or anything—but it was beautiful being up there when nobody was around. There were times when I'd ride all day and pass a single car... it's completely worth putting up with some cold weather to ride in the autumn!   I'll get that ride report back up soon.

Scott

When I was out east in the fall I found a similar experience re how very few cars are on the road. I went for 30 minutes once on Highway 2, a 4 lane super slab in NB, cruising at 75 mph before seeing another car, all while enjoying a beautiful vista of the St John river. The coldest I've ever been on a motorbike was going from Halifax to Truro at 7:00 a.m in October. Cold to the BONE!!!! But, fall riding is the best riding for sure.  

[Hoss]

We're planning on a early June trip to try and stay away from the main tourist season (also it's the only stretch of consecutive days we can get away at the same time). Hopefully that works out.

While we live in Southern NH, our starting point will be in Northern NH. At some point I'll have to hit up you locals and more experiance guys for best routes through New Brunswick, and to/from the Cabot trail.

SWriverstone, your ride report was one of the best, most fascinating and awesome reports I have ever read! I was terribly disappointed when the board went down and I didn't get to see the rest of it.
Since your were in my back yard and have been there myself (except to Newfoundland by bike) I was riding beside you in my mind.
We're all looking forward to the last few chapters.
If you get back this way in the summer time I think you will find it even more satisfying.
My helmet is off to you for making the run so late in the season when it can be cold and miserable.

+1