Seeking advice on riding in Nova Scotia

Collybus · 03-30-2013, 07:30 PM

I am planning a trip from Boston, Massachusetts up and through NS in late June. We'll be about 15 bikes. The Cabot Trail is our goal, but I'd appreciate suggestions on best roads to get there, places to stay, things to avoid, anything that people with experience in the area can offer. Many thanks in advance!

CanadianX · 03-30-2013, 07:42 PM

Jump on the dualsport.ca page or google NS Dualsport, Kelsow will have plenty of good advice for you, or PM him here on adv, he likely has several tracks also C-Stain, also here on adv can probably give you some good tips he did a RR on running the Cabot.

kelsow · 03-31-2013, 10:17 AM

Check out the new site here, rideatlantic.ca http://rideatlantic.ca/yaf_topics7_F...-friendly.aspx
Have a look to see if that is of any help.
If you have any questions, ask away here or sign up there, it's free.

In short, avoid the 100 series highways and stay close to the coast. You can't go wrong with the secondary roads.

Maggot12 · 03-31-2013, 10:35 AM

Stay on the coast as much as possible, great roads, and not much traffic. If you have the time, turn right at Amherst taking the coast to Truro, stay on the coast to Windsor, kentville, digby, and Yarmouth, up the east coast to lunenburg and have some fish. Thru Halifax, and keep along the coast to Lawrencetown, Sheet Harbour and into Antigonish, cross the causway and go left along the coast to the Highlands...

Lots of great little towns along the way with fantastic places to eat. Peggys cove is a must to take in as is the swiss air memorial a couple kms away.

Collybus · 03-31-2013, 01:51 PM

Thanks for the leads!

CSF · 04-02-2013, 09:50 AM

I've posted this info before, but I think its worth posting again:

I'd really suggest going through Advocate Harbor. Almost right after you cross the border from New Brunswick you get off the highway and there's about 45 - 60 min of great riding on some twisty beautiful back roads to get to this little gem of a town. Make reservations at the "Wild Caraway" restaurant, the food is superb, very well priced and fresh from the wharf about 50 meters away and they have a B&B. There are also some sea side cottages to rent as well, great places for honeymooning. Take some time to see some of the area there, like the Cape D'or Light house or Red Rocks (Cape Chignecto park). There are some fantastic views. I don't think to many tourists have found this area yet either. You can then head towards Spencer's Island (a very small town, but check out the beach) and ride some very incredible back roads (about 1.5-2 hours worth) until you connect to the Highway which will take you to Truro - Where you can head towards Halifax (East) or Cape Breton (North) or if you go the other way (South) you'll can head towards the "valley".

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Tourism-g4...Vacations.html

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Revi...va_Scotia.html

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction...va_Scotia.html

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant...va_Scotia.html

DP-WU · 04-02-2013, 01:31 PM

LOTS of great roads through NH/VT/ME on your way up here. New Brunswick is a bit of a "drive-thru" province. Your best bet there is to pound the 100 series highway and just get it over with.

As mentioned the run through Advocate harbour is great. Through Springhill and down the back roads to Truro is better than the highway too...

Pretty much any of the coastal routes are decent. If you're heading for the Cabot Trail, make sure you take hwy #7 along the shore at least once. Decemtn pavement for the majority of it, decent scenery, less traffic, and more twisties.

As for the trail, when you come off the causeway, go right. Most tourist traffic goes left. It'll mean less traffic on your way around, and that you'll be on the water side all the way around, as opposed to the inland lane.

Decent roads can be found on the south shore down as far as Yarmouth, and cross-crossing across the province to the bay of fundy side.

fastredbike · 04-02-2013, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DP-WU

LOTS of great roads through NH/VT/ME on your way up here. New Brunswick is a bit of a "drive-thru" province.

yep, nothing to see in New Brunswick... at least that is true if all you do is "pound the 100 series highway and just get it over with"... nope, nothing to see at all...

Seriously? so many people make that mistake and miss a lot. But I get that it's hard to ride to all the places.

West Isles Foo Foo · 04-02-2013, 04:13 PM

Enter into Canada via either Eastport ME - Deer Island NB, or Lubec ME - Campobello Island NB. Small border crossings with no line-ups, great scenery, and a couple of small unique ferry rides. This is THE way to go....

R_Rick · 04-02-2013, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DP-WU

LOTS of great roads through NH/VT/ME on your way up here. New Brunswick is a bit of a "drive-thru" province. Your best bet there is to pound the 100 series highway and just get it over with.

Nothing to see in NS when you pound across it on the 100 series highways.

yellowknife · 04-03-2013, 10:51 AM

Masstown, Nova Scotia offers the best seafood pie sitting in seafood chowder that i have ever had.
The white things that look like potatoes are actually local to me Scallops. All located At Masstown market. Call ahead to confirm they will have some...

trunk hwy 2 from advocate harbour takes you to Masstown before reaching Truro. If you don't like seafood they offer other food but when in Rome...

Hope u have a great time.

YK

C-Stain · 04-03-2013, 02:09 PM

Link to the Report for the Ride that Yellowknife and I took a couple of years ago. The Cabot Trail is excellent, and a stop in Cheticamp at the Cafe Artisanale should be mandatory for a bowl of Fricot.

Fastredbike is correct as well. New Brunswick is much more than a Drive Thru Province. Stop and smell the roses along the way. Its worth it.

Nova Scotia Fresh Air Inspectors Investigate the Cabot Trail

G-Mac · 04-03-2013, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellowknife

Masstown, Nova Scotia offers the best seafood pie sitting in seafood chowder that i have ever had.
The white things that look like potatoes are actually local to me Scallops. All located At Masstown market. Call ahead to confirm they will have some...

trunk hwy 2 from advocate harbour takes you to Masstown before reaching Truro. If you don't like seafood they offer other food but when in Rome...

Hope u have a great time.

YK

That looks friggin awesome I missed that last time I was there......oh well guess I have to go back

squad314 · 04-03-2013, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DP-WU

LOTS of great roads through NH/VT/ME on your way up here. New Brunswick is a bit of a "drive-thru" province. Your best bet there is to pound the 100 series highway and just get it over with.

Repectfully.....Have you spent any time in NB or just "Driven-thru"?

brokenhat · 04-03-2013, 05:20 PM

Advocate Harbor along Bay of Fundy from Amherst, they call it "The Little Cabot Trail" and as a bonus, maybe 1% of the traffic and people. Have a great trip!

03-30-2013, 07:30 PM	#1
Collybus ^OP If it moves-drive it Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Quincy, Ma. Oddometer: 61	Seeking advice on riding in Nova Scotia I am planning a trip from Boston, Massachusetts up and through NS in late June. We'll be about 15 bikes. The Cabot Trail is our goal, but I'd appreciate suggestions on best roads to get there, places to stay, things to avoid, anything that people with experience in the area can offer. Many thanks in advance! __________________ 2011 Kawasaki Concours 1983 Suzuki SP250R 1974 Grumman Traveler

03-31-2013, 10:17 AM	#3
kelsow Studly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2004 Location: Halifax Nova Scotia Oddometer: 817	Check out the new site here, rideatlantic.ca http://rideatlantic.ca/yaf_topics7_F...-friendly.aspx Have a look to see if that is of any help. If you have any questions, ask away here or sign up there, it's free. In short, avoid the 100 series highways and stay close to the coast. You can't go wrong with the secondary roads. __________________ "Kelsow's helmet is so tight, it cuts off the circulation to his personality." Location: Doucheonia Ride: 2010 BMW F800GS Site: dualsport.ca and rideatlantic.ca

03-31-2013, 10:35 AM	#4
Maggot12 U'mmmm yeaah!! Joined: Feb 2010 Location: Barrie Ont Oddometer: 1,610	Stay on the coast as much as possible, great roads, and not much traffic. If you have the time, turn right at Amherst taking the coast to Truro, stay on the coast to Windsor, kentville, digby, and Yarmouth, up the east coast to lunenburg and have some fish. Thru Halifax, and keep along the coast to Lawrencetown, Sheet Harbour and into Antigonish, cross the causway and go left along the coast to the Highlands... Lots of great little towns along the way with fantastic places to eat. Peggys cove is a must to take in as is the swiss air memorial a couple kms away. __________________ Maggot Don't sweat the petty things; Pet the sweaty things !!!

03-31-2013, 01:51 PM	#5
Collybus ^OP If it moves-drive it Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Quincy, Ma. Oddometer: 61	Thanks for the leads! __________________ 2011 Kawasaki Concours 1983 Suzuki SP250R 1974 Grumman Traveler

04-02-2013, 09:50 AM	#6
CSF Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2012 Location: Ontario, Canada Oddometer: 114	I've posted this info before, but I think its worth posting again: I'd really suggest going through Advocate Harbor. Almost right after you cross the border from New Brunswick you get off the highway and there's about 45 - 60 min of great riding on some twisty beautiful back roads to get to this little gem of a town. Make reservations at the "Wild Caraway" restaurant, the food is superb, very well priced and fresh from the wharf about 50 meters away and they have a B&B. There are also some sea side cottages to rent as well, great places for honeymooning. Take some time to see some of the area there, like the Cape D'or Light house or Red Rocks (Cape Chignecto park). There are some fantastic views. I don't think to many tourists have found this area yet either. You can then head towards Spencer's Island (a very small town, but check out the beach) and ride some very incredible back roads (about 1.5-2 hours worth) until you connect to the Highway which will take you to Truro - Where you can head towards Halifax (East) or Cape Breton (North) or if you go the other way (South) you'll can head towards the "valley". http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Tourism-g4...Vacations.html http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Revi...va_Scotia.html http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction...va_Scotia.html http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant...va_Scotia.html __________________ http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=833904

03-30-2013, 07:42 PM	#2
CanadianX Oh!? That is deep. Joined: Dec 2010 Location: Ontario Oddometer: 766	Jump on the dualsport.ca page or google NS Dualsport, Kelsow will have plenty of good advice for you, or PM him here on adv, he likely has several tracks also C-Stain, also here on adv can probably give you some good tips he did a RR on running the Cabot.

04-02-2013, 01:31 PM	#7
DP-WU Adventurer Joined: May 2011 Location: Canada's Ocean Playground Oddometer: 15	LOTS of great roads through NH/VT/ME on your way up here. New Brunswick is a bit of a "drive-thru" province. Your best bet there is to pound the 100 series highway and just get it over with. As mentioned the run through Advocate harbour is great. Through Springhill and down the back roads to Truro is better than the highway too... Pretty much any of the coastal routes are decent. If you're heading for the Cabot Trail, make sure you take hwy #7 along the shore at least once. Decemtn pavement for the majority of it, decent scenery, less traffic, and more twisties. As for the trail, when you come off the causeway, go right. Most tourist traffic goes left. It'll mean less traffic on your way around, and that you'll be on the water side all the way around, as opposed to the inland lane. Decent roads can be found on the south shore down as far as Yarmouth, and cross-crossing across the province to the bay of fundy side.

04-02-2013, 04:13 PM	#9
West Isles Foo Foo Adventurer Joined: May 2010 Location: Chocolate Cove NB Canada Oddometer: 97	The East Coast ADV Gateway to Canada Enter into Canada via either Eastport ME - Deer Island NB, or Lubec ME - Campobello Island NB. Small border crossings with no line-ups, great scenery, and a couple of small unique ferry rides. This is THE way to go....

04-03-2013, 10:51 AM	#11
yellowknife Is In Canada Joined: Dec 2009 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Oddometer: 633	Exit 12 - hwy 104 or nova scotia trunk hwy 2 Masstown, Nova Scotia offers the best seafood pie sitting in seafood chowder that i have ever had. The white things that look like potatoes are actually local to me Scallops. All located At Masstown market. Call ahead to confirm they will have some... trunk hwy 2 from advocate harbour takes you to Masstown before reaching Truro. If you don't like seafood they offer other food but when in Rome... Hope u have a great time. YK __________________ New France New Scotland (Nova Scotia)

04-03-2013, 02:09 PM	#12
C-Stain Unreasonable Joined: Jul 2009 Location: Middleton, NS CANADA Oddometer: 2,263	Link to the Report for the Ride that Yellowknife and I took a couple of years ago. The Cabot Trail is excellent, and a stop in Cheticamp at the Cafe Artisanale should be mandatory for a bowl of Fricot. Fastredbike is correct as well. New Brunswick is much more than a Drive Thru Province. Stop and smell the roses along the way. Its worth it. Nova Scotia Fresh Air Inspectors Investigate the Cabot Trail __________________ TransLab a Go Go 2011 Nova Scotia Fresh Air Inspectors Investigate the Cabot Trail "Second star to the left and straight on till morning” ― James T. Kirk

04-03-2013, 05:20 PM	#15
brokenhat n00b Joined: Oct 2009 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Oddometer: 8	I second..... Advocate Harbor along Bay of Fundy from Amherst, they call it "The Little Cabot Trail" and as a bonus, maybe 1% of the traffic and people. Have a great trip! __________________ Matt 2012 Versys 650 Nova Scotia

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: .
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode