Touring Nova Scotia on a KTM 625 smc

[eSONG]

Originally Posted by gen

Gotcha. Makes sense.

I'm too busy to do much touring these days so I don't need the 18 liter tank but the LC4 Supermoto comes ready for that larger tank. I also use the KTM Comfort seat which has much more padding than the OEM torture rack that they call a 'seat'. I know the LC4 can tour but... I dunno, it's not in it's element as a touring bike afaiac.

I think it depends on your definition of "touring". For me, it was about 350 miles per day give or take 25 miles. 85% mountain twisties/backroads and about 15% on interstate/intermediate highways. In this combo, the supermoto is right at home... The main downside IMO were the vibrations. After more than a few days, it got to be a bit much [for me]. Otherwise, it was awesome.

[yellowknife]

Just read your report of our fair province, and really enjoyed it. I am dying to get back out riding but the snow is too deep still

Thanks for posting your RR.

[MonkeyboyVT]

Nice RR, My mouth is watering, looks like you guys found some amazing food spots up there. I Gotta check out that smokehouse sometime. DOes one meal stand out from the trip?

[Beemer Bob]

Originally Posted by eSONG

Wow. What time of year was it?

I can still remember my stormy night there like it was yesterday...the rain fly blowing up like a kite from all the air it let in with every wind gust, being sprinkled with rain from the rain fly opening up, freezing my ass off in my cheap ass wally world $20 tent... What a night. I would've gladly paid $1000 if someone offered me a proper tent that night.

Scenery was great, but I wouldn't have enjoyed spending that much time there.

Here's a link to the FLOOD at Meat Cove. I wished I had stayed another day. Our weather was perfect in July.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2010/08/22/ns-meat-cove-bridge-washout.html

[eSONG]

Originally Posted by MonkeyboyVT

Nice RR, My mouth is watering, looks like you guys found some amazing food spots up there. I Gotta check out that smokehouse sometime. DOes one meal stand out from the trip?

We tried to eat some lobster everyday, and it was very good pretty much everywhere. The one thing that really stands out is Fisherman's Corner at Peggy's Cove. Dirt cheap and *EXCELLENT* food. It's the one meal that I still think about from time to time...their fish and chips were absolutely amazing.

[pescatore]

Hey, great report and great pics! Sorry if I missed this in the report, but what time of year were you there? I saw a sign in one of your pics that said something was on sale until July 6th, but never saw any other dates mentioned. Trying to figure out if Memorial Day is too early in the season to do my own Nova Scotia trip this year... Seems like most people head up there late June thru September.

Thanks
-steve.

[eSONG]

Originally Posted by pescatore

Hey, great report and great pics! Sorry if I missed this in the report, but what time of year were you there? I saw a sign in one of your pics that said something was on sale until July 6th, but never saw any other dates mentioned. Trying to figure out if Memorial Day is too early in the season to do my own Nova Scotia trip this year... Seems like most people head up there late June thru September.

Thanks
-steve.

We were there first week of July. Next time I'd choose mid/late July.

I think Memorial Day is way to early if you're looking for 70s/80s daytime temps. I guess you missed the parts I talked about how freezing cold it was on some of those nights camping...although I admit I had a summer sleeping bag rated for 40 and a $20 Walmart tent.

We hit rain on the drive up, but after that first day of rain showers, it was clear weather most of the trip..(except that traumatic memory camping at Meat Cove during a heavy rain storm). But many locals were telling us during the trip that we were lucky because we arrived after nearly a solid month of rain almost every day.

[AngusMcL]

Memorial Day will definitely be too early in the year - if you do the Cabot Trail, you'll see snow still left in some of the valleys this year. August is typically the best month weather-wise.

A.

Edit - great RR by the way.

[pescatore]

Yeah, I saw the part about cold nights, but wasn't sure how early those cold nights were happening. Hearing that it was July worries me some... ;) Anyway, I can't do it later in the year this year - I'm heading somewhere over Memorial Day weekend and was trying to figure if this trip would work or if I should go somewhere else. I talked to a friend from NS last night and he suggested it wouldn't be too bad then, but I haven't decided yet if I'll take my chances on crappy weather or not. I can deal with the cold, and some rain, but frigid rains for 5 solid days might do me in. Anyway, thanks for the input!

-s.

[eSONG]

Originally Posted by pescatore

Yeah, I saw the part about cold nights, but wasn't sure how early those cold nights were happening. Hearing that it was July worries me some... ;) Anyway, I can't do it later in the year this year - I'm heading somewhere over Memorial Day weekend and was trying to figure if this trip would work or if I should go somewhere else. I talked to a friend from NS last night and he suggested it wouldn't be too bad then, but I haven't decided yet if I'll take my chances on crappy weather or not. I can deal with the cold, and some rain, but frigid rains for 5 solid days might do me in. Anyway, thanks for the input!

-s.

Good luck!!

[BumpyRoad]

Just discovered your report after somone revived it. My buddy and I are headed there the 3rd week in June, riding up from western Mass and we plan to take a very similar route so your RR is very timely. We're also planning to camp at Meat Cove but I see that there is a little lodge there. Did you see it?

Thanks for the nice write up and pic's, they are really teasing me to get going (after the ice and snow melt ).

[eSONG]

Originally Posted by BumpyRoad

Just discovered your report after somone revived it. My buddy and I are headed there the 3rd week in June, riding up from western Mass and we plan to take a very similar route so your RR is very timely. We're also planning to camp at Meat Cove but I see that there is a little lodge there. Did you see it?

Thanks for the nice write up and pic's, they are really teasing me to get going (after the ice and snow melt ).

little lodge? that might be the house where the guy lives who rents out spots on meat cove. but there are little one bedroom style cabins for rent too, but they were all taken when we got there probably about 9pm. we stopped for dinner before we made our way to camp. there was also a big house on the cliff some distance back that we could see from camp but that was a bit out of our price range to sleep one night, IIRC it was like $1000 or something. it looked like a full size house...I'm sure with a spectacular view. but it doesn't compare with camping on the cliff, especially if it's a nice night.