Wednesday, July 29, 2009
almost home
Internet has been extremely difficult to find here. Whats worse is that my camera broke. I'm fine with the camera breaking because I got all the photos I wanted. I won't be able to upload any photos here until I get home, unfortunately. My Father and I get on the Ferry tomorrow morning, back to the mainland. I can't tell you how grateful I am of the people here. By far the friendliest people I have ever met. I will leave you now; be home Sat.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Going Backpacking
Internet in Newfoundland is very hard to come by. Newfoundland is beautiful!!! My father and I are in Gros Mourne National Park on the west coast of Newfoundland. I can't upload any pictures from my trip on this computer, but as soon as I can, I'll put out a bunch. The hike should have started this morning, but the winds were 70MPH+ and we need to take a boat out to our starting point; the boats were not going out because of the winds. My father and I will be in the back country mountains for 4-5 days. If I can put up pictures, I will as soon as I can.
I encourage anyone and everyone to think about traveling up here someday, its life changing!!!!
I encourage anyone and everyone to think about traveling up here someday, its life changing!!!!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Waiting for the boat...
I am writing from North Sydney, Nova Scotia. My father and I were supposed to get on the ferry for Newfoundland today, but the ferry was booked for the day. Tomorrow we have a spot on the 11:30am ferry, I guess its better then nothing. From Port aux basque we ride to Gros Mourn national park. After Gros Mourn, well...we are not sure where we want to go after Gros Mourn. I will update later with pictures.
Doing well, legs hurt, but the ride must go on...
Doing well, legs hurt, but the ride must go on...
Friday, July 10, 2009
Sorry for the wait.
Let me start out by saying that my body has never hurt so bad. I left you in Halifax, I join you now almost 300km away in a lively city called antigonish. I am sitting at the public Library, which have become a very useful resource for me on my trip. Its 2:45PM at the moments, so I figure I still have another 30-40km to go tonight. I spend a lot of time reflecting on life during my riding. This trip is not easy, there are times I really would love to be in the comfort of my own bed. However, I know that no matter how miserable I think I am, I know that in 20 years I am going to look back at this as being the time in my life that I really lived. I don't have any stories worth noting since Halifax. The hostel in Halifax as awesome, they really showing me where to go around the city. I meet a very attractive girl from Quebec, but it turned out she has a boyfriend, but I still enjoyed meeting her. Anyways... I am just going to show a few pictures of the last few days...enjoy.
Its nice to know the spirit of the south is alive and well in Nova Scotia!
This was taken while sailing
I had to stop here.
I have noticed that artist love to carve from old trees.
This is a village they restored to its 19th century ways.
This is where I camped last night
Its nice to know the spirit of the south is alive and well in Nova Scotia!
This was taken while sailing
I had to stop here.
I have noticed that artist love to carve from old trees.
This is a village they restored to its 19th century ways.
This is where I camped last night
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Finally in Halifax
Sorry, its been a few days. I sit in a hostel in the city of Halifax at the moment. I can't upload any photos, so words and internet photos will do for this post. I left off in Liver pool, which was a great town to spend a few days. The next ride took me through a small town called Lahave, which is home to a bakery I had been hearing about since I landed on Nova Scotia. I ordered the Blueberry Cinimon Roll. I sat outside to enjoy my treat when about 5 cyclist pulled over. The were all local and gave me great advice for my upcoming rides. In the town of Lahave is a cable ferry that takes motorist across the river. The Ferry reminded me of a cable ferry my family used to take near this small california town of Princeton. The next town was Lunenberg, very touristy.
As beautiful as Lunenberg is, I don't enjoy crowds of tourist, so I moved on. I stopped that evening in Mohone Bay; I ask an Englishman directions to the next town, it was getting late and he invited me to sleep in his camp trailer he keeps next to his house. It was small, but it was far better then camping. The next day I was planning on riding all the way to Halifax. I rode about 25K to this town called Chester. I stopped at the market for fruit and drink, when a nice couple from Boulder Colorado stopped to talk to me. I was a sunny day and they invited me to go sailing for the day. I agreed, and we went out on the harbor for a few hours. Chester is very beautiful. Hardly any tourist and might be the most beautiful city I had seen so far.
They had a beautiful house, it had a very nautical theme which was very tasteful. I spent the night and then headed off the next morning to Halifax, where I am now.
I am exhausted from the ride, and might go off for a quick beer before I head out in the morning. Oh, I almost forgot, my Father is going to join me for the Newfoundland leg of my ride. He arrives this Sunday and I am thrilled...More to come!!!
As beautiful as Lunenberg is, I don't enjoy crowds of tourist, so I moved on. I stopped that evening in Mohone Bay; I ask an Englishman directions to the next town, it was getting late and he invited me to sleep in his camp trailer he keeps next to his house. It was small, but it was far better then camping. The next day I was planning on riding all the way to Halifax. I rode about 25K to this town called Chester. I stopped at the market for fruit and drink, when a nice couple from Boulder Colorado stopped to talk to me. I was a sunny day and they invited me to go sailing for the day. I agreed, and we went out on the harbor for a few hours. Chester is very beautiful. Hardly any tourist and might be the most beautiful city I had seen so far.
They had a beautiful house, it had a very nautical theme which was very tasteful. I spent the night and then headed off the next morning to Halifax, where I am now.
I am exhausted from the ride, and might go off for a quick beer before I head out in the morning. Oh, I almost forgot, my Father is going to join me for the Newfoundland leg of my ride. He arrives this Sunday and I am thrilled...More to come!!!
Friday, July 3, 2009
Liverpool
I have always said that I would approach this trip with an open itinerary. The problem is that every town I stop in, I am talked into staying because of some event that looks too good to pass up. Liverpool is a small town with a fascinating history. During the Revolutionary war, the American rebels sent two ships up to Nova Scotia which was British territory and attacked the town with 50 men. There was a battle which ended with the Americans retreating.
Liverpool is famous for privateering, which is a fancy word for legalized pirates. Every year they have Privateer days here in Liverpool, and this year is the 250th anniversary of the town.
All of these small towns always has a hook which convinces me to stay. With Lockeport it was the grease poll. Liverpool has the Rum Run. Teams of 5 get in a row boats and row through the harbor through a course. The objective is the gather rum scattered through the harbor. The winners receive Rum of course, and bragging rights for the rest of the year. The locals told me that teams will be looking to pick up individuals who don't have a team. I plan to win. Water competitions always get me, I love them
Liverpool is famous for privateering, which is a fancy word for legalized pirates. Every year they have Privateer days here in Liverpool, and this year is the 250th anniversary of the town.
All of these small towns always has a hook which convinces me to stay. With Lockeport it was the grease poll. Liverpool has the Rum Run. Teams of 5 get in a row boats and row through the harbor through a course. The objective is the gather rum scattered through the harbor. The winners receive Rum of course, and bragging rights for the rest of the year. The locals told me that teams will be looking to pick up individuals who don't have a team. I plan to win. Water competitions always get me, I love them
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
The Adventure so far...
Well, I must start from where I left off. Internet didn't come easy the first few days, so I will back up from where I last left off.
I arrived in Portland Maine around 6:30 Sat. evening. I was thrilled to see my bike box waiting for me at the luggage counter. I eagerly assembled my bike only to find a key component missing. I quickly thumbed through the phone book to call every bike shop in Portland to see if any were open late on a Saturday night. I was out of luck. To my rescue, Ellen Maemsch an Anesthesiologist from Stockton was watching my fractiousness. She asked if I needed help, I told her yes. Her and her husband drove me to their friends house where we had possibly the best home made meal I have ever had. Salmon, Wheat bread, and a salad with baby greens, strawberry's and lots of sugar. Maine is beautiful, and I was rescued by the doctors of Maine Medical Center, Phil and his wife Cecelia. I still had a broken bike, which was an easy fix because LL Bean was started in Freeport outside of Portland, with a 24hour shop. They drove me up there after dinner and saved my trip...$10 for the part. This is the room I slept in that night
The next morning Phil drove me to the ferry terminal where I hoped on the fastest ship I have ever been on. This is Portland in the Morning.
Its called the CAT and it goes almost 60MPH.
6 hours later I was in Yarmouth Nova Scoitia. Customs was very quick; I was quickly learning that Canadians are very nice people. This is my first view of Yarmouth from the Ferry.
I hoped on my bike and started riding east.
The landscape is beautiful, very wet and very humid.
The first thing I noticed is that every house has a sign in the front yard with the family name proudly displayed. Whats even more interesting is that you find six to ten houses in a row on both sides of the street with the same family name. I later found out that long ago, a family would buy large amounts of land and that the kids would build along the road next to their parents house, a tactic my mom is currently try to use on my and my sisters. The first stretch of nova Scoitia is very french, the acadians are their official title. American has acadians all over Louisiana, but we changed their names from acadian to Cajuns.
There are lots of light houses all over the coast, but none are the same. Most houses have small wooden light house decorating the lawn. This is one of many lighthouses I came across.
Sunday was my first day of riding. I would have made it all the way to Barrington but the rain started come down hard. I knocked on the door of the first house I saw and asked to take shelter until the rain passed. The family originally from Prince Edward Island brought me in, made me coffee and welcomed me into the house for the evening. It was nice to have locals to talk to. They taught me a lot of the area, and even gave me their last bottle of Canadian beer. The next morning I started riding for Shelbourn, a town founded my British loyalist who didn't want to me amercing after our revolutionary war. This is Shelbourn
Later that night in Shelbourn, I happend across a group of wild rabbits.
The next day, I asked the locals in Shelbourne about Canada Day, July First. They directed me to Lockeport, a small (900 People) town on the coast about 35 km from Shelbourne. I road on to Lockeport and found a group of kids jumping off the docks into the harbour. The boys quickly convinced me to dive in off the docks, I never refuse a challange involving water. That evening there was a concert in the town square with 3 bands, one from Halifax, one was a AC/DC tribute band, and the other was a blues band from Shelbourne. That night I camped on the towns baseball field and woke up this morning for Canada Day!!! Lobster fishing was a big theme of the parade.
The big event for Lockeport is called the, "Grease Poll". The town sticks a log over the harbour, greases it with Lard, and sticks money all over the mast. Then, young men line up to slide down the log and try to peel the money off the log as they are falling. Did I mention I don't refuse a challage involving water, or money. I hoped in line.
Me sliding down the log. It was very slick!!!
I came away with $80 which I believe was the most anyone got. The big Prize was the $50 bill at the very end, I got it!!!! Every gave me a big cheer when I got out of the water with a around 600 people watching. This is me with my first earning from the grease poll!
I am writing from the house of the last desendents of the Locke family, who founded the down. Tomorrow, I ride to Liverpool!
I arrived in Portland Maine around 6:30 Sat. evening. I was thrilled to see my bike box waiting for me at the luggage counter. I eagerly assembled my bike only to find a key component missing. I quickly thumbed through the phone book to call every bike shop in Portland to see if any were open late on a Saturday night. I was out of luck. To my rescue, Ellen Maemsch an Anesthesiologist from Stockton was watching my fractiousness. She asked if I needed help, I told her yes. Her and her husband drove me to their friends house where we had possibly the best home made meal I have ever had. Salmon, Wheat bread, and a salad with baby greens, strawberry's and lots of sugar. Maine is beautiful, and I was rescued by the doctors of Maine Medical Center, Phil and his wife Cecelia. I still had a broken bike, which was an easy fix because LL Bean was started in Freeport outside of Portland, with a 24hour shop. They drove me up there after dinner and saved my trip...$10 for the part. This is the room I slept in that night
The next morning Phil drove me to the ferry terminal where I hoped on the fastest ship I have ever been on. This is Portland in the Morning.
Its called the CAT and it goes almost 60MPH.
6 hours later I was in Yarmouth Nova Scoitia. Customs was very quick; I was quickly learning that Canadians are very nice people. This is my first view of Yarmouth from the Ferry.
I hoped on my bike and started riding east.
The landscape is beautiful, very wet and very humid.
The first thing I noticed is that every house has a sign in the front yard with the family name proudly displayed. Whats even more interesting is that you find six to ten houses in a row on both sides of the street with the same family name. I later found out that long ago, a family would buy large amounts of land and that the kids would build along the road next to their parents house, a tactic my mom is currently try to use on my and my sisters. The first stretch of nova Scoitia is very french, the acadians are their official title. American has acadians all over Louisiana, but we changed their names from acadian to Cajuns.
There are lots of light houses all over the coast, but none are the same. Most houses have small wooden light house decorating the lawn. This is one of many lighthouses I came across.
Sunday was my first day of riding. I would have made it all the way to Barrington but the rain started come down hard. I knocked on the door of the first house I saw and asked to take shelter until the rain passed. The family originally from Prince Edward Island brought me in, made me coffee and welcomed me into the house for the evening. It was nice to have locals to talk to. They taught me a lot of the area, and even gave me their last bottle of Canadian beer. The next morning I started riding for Shelbourn, a town founded my British loyalist who didn't want to me amercing after our revolutionary war. This is Shelbourn
Later that night in Shelbourn, I happend across a group of wild rabbits.
The next day, I asked the locals in Shelbourne about Canada Day, July First. They directed me to Lockeport, a small (900 People) town on the coast about 35 km from Shelbourne. I road on to Lockeport and found a group of kids jumping off the docks into the harbour. The boys quickly convinced me to dive in off the docks, I never refuse a challange involving water. That evening there was a concert in the town square with 3 bands, one from Halifax, one was a AC/DC tribute band, and the other was a blues band from Shelbourne. That night I camped on the towns baseball field and woke up this morning for Canada Day!!! Lobster fishing was a big theme of the parade.
The big event for Lockeport is called the, "Grease Poll". The town sticks a log over the harbour, greases it with Lard, and sticks money all over the mast. Then, young men line up to slide down the log and try to peel the money off the log as they are falling. Did I mention I don't refuse a challage involving water, or money. I hoped in line.
Me sliding down the log. It was very slick!!!
I came away with $80 which I believe was the most anyone got. The big Prize was the $50 bill at the very end, I got it!!!! Every gave me a big cheer when I got out of the water with a around 600 people watching. This is me with my first earning from the grease poll!
I am writing from the house of the last desendents of the Locke family, who founded the down. Tomorrow, I ride to Liverpool!
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