Day 5 - Arrival to the Rock

Took of Wednesday morning at 7:40AM, 2.5 hours from when I woke up… It was still dark and I started packing, with a bowl of noodles and a cup of coffee…

Really, rode to North Sydney at Cape Breton Island non-stop, only for gas, and, in Antigonish, Nova Scotia,, to exchange the currency… For 400 US dollars they gave me roughly 500 CAN dollars. Money is pretty cool

Passed Cabot Trail and on to the port… Few pictures from the ride.

While waiting for the ferry loading, at the terminal, looked at the information board showing two times, Port Departure and Port Arrival. Apparently, well, I already knew that, Eastern Canada Provinces are one hour ahead of Eastern Time Zone, and in Atlantic Time zone… Newfoundland is in it's own zone - Newfoundland, - 30 minutes ahead of Atlantic… Isn't it cool? 

I'm on my cell phone data Hot Spot wifi, ferry about to dock…

Here is some more pictures

Getting money exchange in Antigonish

This french speaking fella been shining his bike for 2 hours

Here is my cabin

Gotta go, see you...

Day 4 - quick update

There is no update as I'm on ferry with no wifi and loosing cell reception

Day 3 - hello Nova Scotia...

Well, here is what I had for dinner last night

I woke up at 5:40AM and got up... Usually I snooze... Well, it took me 3 hours to have breakfast and coffee before I could take off... I did it at 8:40...

Since I had to ride by land, I chose US9 and went for it... I don't know, 400 miles? 

Before leaving US, entering Canada, I stopped by Duty Free store... Got some rum for the road ahead...

There was a line through the border, about 5 cars at front of me... When it was my turn, I turned my GoPro on and went for the window... Well, usual questions, and then:

- Are you videoing it?

- Yep...

- Turn it off, please...

- OK...

Pause... "Don't post it on Facebook"

- OK

OK, I'm in Canada now... Riding, and here is a thing for future tourists, if you see exit on a highway saying there is a gas station or whatever, it doesn't mean it's just off the highway... It means, once you take the exit, you may need to ride/drive another 5-10 miles to a town.. Just watch out...

Entered Nova Scotia

Went to the Welcome Center to get maps and suggestions for camping.. 

I'm camping now at Amherst Shore Provincial Park.. It's similar to US State Parls, but better...

Office has wifi internet hot spot (where I'm sitting now, being eaten by mosquitos). Hot showers and bathroom, or all together... 

Here is what I'm having for dinner tonight

...and, if you forgot to remove oxygen absorber, don't worry about it

I'm not having any nice coffee/breakfast tomorrow - I'm getting up, packing and going - cannot be late for that ferry I have reservations for and paid for..

Before that, I still have to find a bank and exchange US dollars to CAN dollars...

Canadians will take US dollars, - 1x1 rate... Here is example. It's usually $9 dollars to fill up the tank... In Canadian currency, it's 14 dollars... They'll tell you, it's OK, we'll take US dollars, 1x1...

Good night

Day 2 - Good Bye ferry, Hello Camping...

I'm camping at Megunticook Campground near Rockport, ME... I missed the ferry going to Nova Scotia by 5 minutes... Since it's an international ferry, there would be too much time to process me in time for departure... Well, I waved the catamaran good bye...

Well, the ferry was supposed to be a convenience of not riding around by land but use shortcut and end up in Nova Scotia a night before, an option, which I really considered but couldn't achieve due to different circumstances...

It's dark, I'm sitting by the tent site table, smelling mixed firewood smoke and marijuana coming from neighboring campers.. Hate both smells...

I rode near 500 miles today, taking helmet camera video, which, I'm not ready to download now... Exhausted... 

Well, my camping gear, such as tent and sleeping cot, never been tested... 

The tent is a motorcycle tent for Solo Riders (Solo version, original was/is bigger), and accommodate the rider and its horse... We'll see how we sleep together...

Well, good thing about it, is, that I can almost stand straight up inside vestibule and sleeping area... 

Another good thing, in case it rains, I can do everything inside tent and pack the tent last - something I'm lucky in - packing in the rain in the morning...

I like camping luxury, you know, with showers, electricity, and tap water by the tent... Even though I can charge all the electronics in the bike, everything, I still bring extension cord and lamp...

By the way, here is the cot, ultra lite. 

Well, it's up side down...

I'm onto having sone dinner and then going to sleep - I really need to wake up, AND get up early...

Good night!

Day 2 - the chase for the Nova Scotia ferry

Stayed at friends house in Phily... Good times. Due to taking back roads, didn't really advanced far and was about 100 miles west of Philadelphia when he called. Got there just after 10PM...

Took off at 5:30AM or so and routed GPS to faster track to Portland... Which took my just to the end of PA Turnpike... Just had gotten on it and pay booth 100 yards from where I entered. 

"Ticket," - attendant says

"What ticket?"

"$42.30 for the whole length then"

Well, had to call supervisor and receive form to disputes within the next 10 days.

So, just beyond the booth, New Jersey starts and its Turnpike... Came to ticket booth and freaking things won't dispense me a ticket.. Had to get off and jump and wave to trigger sensor... Phew - ticket got spewed.

Later... Have to get back on the road.

Day 1 - Departure

Family left south, I'm about to head north

Explorer preparation, in progress...

Here is some work that has been done since beginning of the planning process.

2-gallon Rotopax jerry can for Trans-Labrador Highway

Tube to transport tent rods separately from tent

Working on custom strap system to tie on sleeping pad and tent

Had to cut down rain cover for modified height tank bag

Reactivated SPOT Personal GPS tracker and secured holder