Riding the Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia

My dad called it "the trip of a lifetime." It was a long way, but it was very worth it. If we make it up that way again, we'll definitely give a call first. I'd also bet that we'd fly into Halifax and rent bikes! Thanks for designing the shirts and making them available. I wear mine with pride. Micah Maziar

Micah and Mike Maziar from NW Ohio. Look at that sky! Always the best trip ever when the weather is good! Micah has a cool website with this and other trips documented on it - http://lcchoppers.com/about-lcc/

Mike and Micah's V-Tourers

Nice shot from Micah here. I think this is just past Cheticamp if going clockwise. Don't you feel like nailing it around that hill/turn? It's going to be a long winter...

Mike Maziar. Looks fairly calm and collected for a guy experiencing his 'trip of a lifetime'! Wonder if he got bugs in his teeth?...

Danny MacArthur, Don Gosse, Mark Pomeroy, Paul Arsenault and Marc MacArthur. We all went around the Trail, stopped in at Ingonish. I told everyone that this was the only place to obtain one of the famous Cabot Trail T-Shrits, and demonstrated the one I had on. It didn't take much convincing and everyone bought one. Unfortunately it rained the entire day, but we were dressed for it and still enjoyed the ride. (Don Gosse)

Sheri and her hubby from Liverpool New York sharing a 'first time' motorcycle experience with their good little buddies, formerly from Haiti. I don't suppose they would have seen 96 cubic inch displacement back home. The two bigger 'kids' were on the Cabot Trail this summer and loved it. Took lots of scenery shots, but I had to get the shot of home to see them:)

Hang on tight! First ride! Is he hooked? Will we see him on the Cabot Trail riding his Harley someday? The first time on a bike is a moment a lot of us will never forget.

Ralph Decoste showing Garrett Juurlink his cool new bike

Triumph from Greenwood, NS belonging to an wounded vet from Afghanistan... sore wrist but can still twist the throttle.

This is John Turnbull from Dominion, Nova Scotia. He got his bike the same year as me but drove twice the miles... I'm jealous! He lives an hour from the Trail so we should all be jealous.

Local Sydney Boys having a nice meal. Lots of locals on the Trail in the fall.

When you see Cape Smokey, Stop! Going Counter Clockwise? Stop when you see this view, there is a little pull off on the road. Wait like I am, then burn out right infront of the first vehicle that comes along. Get 4-5 minutes behind traffic in front so you can enjoy the climb. Awesome!!!

Englishtown Ferry with more shirts!

Route 19 with Garrett Juurlink, Big Brother of Greg who shot the video at the top. Garrett is the bigger brother because he's older and his CBR has more displacement.

This is a track of me leaving my house in Arisaig, going rte 19 up, and highway back, to and from Coastal Waters Restaurant to deliver the shirts/have fun on the bike. This track was 6hrs, 55minutes of 'moving time'.

Click on the pic to see a high res shot of the rack on the back of this truck. This is what you don't want to hit while riding and I encourage you not to ride in the early am or evening.

Danny Cummings from Lavon, TX. Danny took some cool photos and I'm putting one on a postcard that will be made available to all bikers at the Coastal Waters Restaurant for the 2012 riding season. First Postcard is free, second is $5,000 (want all bikers to get one, instead of one biker taking 10...

Melissa Dulong, Jessica Dulong, Ronald Dulong, Casey Dulong, and David Tibodeau proudly wear their Cabot Trail T-Shirts at the Digby Wharf Rat Rally. Melissa had to take everyone around the Trail just to get the shirts! Thanks so much for the support!

Cabot Trail Riders at the 2011 Digby Wharf Rat Rally.

Grace is getting her license in 15 years and 10 months... then she is going to ride the Cabot Trail! Having fun launching my new www.canadabymotorcycle.com project at the 2011 Digby Wharf Rat Rally.

These 3 Quebec riders all got Temp Tattoos at the launch of my new clothing line (Nova Scotia only, so far) www.canadabymotorcycle.com On location at the Digby Wharf Rat Rally

Bette and Tad on Baddeck Beach

Bette & Tad all suited up for the ride... looks like a comfy one!

Tadd writes me a nice note..."Hi Dan, Here are some pictures of our amazing trip to Cape Breton! Your web site was extremely helpful!!. Curves of Cabot Trail were awesome. We went on the Sunrise Trail over and back to Cape Breton, did the RT 19 to Inverness, went Bras d'Or Lakes over to Little Narrows, Cabot Trail clock & counter clock wise, in and out & up and down. Nine days of B&Bs, beaching, hiking, eating & riding!!! Went by your shop in Antigonish and ate @ Coastal Waters...sorry didn't buy at T. Ripped it to Meat Cave. Best stay was at Little Tittles B&B in White Pt (stayed 2 nights) On the way home followed the Acadian Trail up and down to Moncton then down the Fundy Coastal Trail to St Andrews - back into the States down RT 1 to Portland ME and west to NH...2,575 miles of pure fun...with one sprinkle of rain!!! Yes, some early AM fog. Best, Tad and Bette N."

A couple local boys with a friend from Manitoba - Go Jets!

Had the pleasure to Ride with Belt Drive Betty on her Share the Ride, Share the Road Awareness Conga. Click the photo to see her website. Here she says 'hello' to another couple of bikers.

After watching a hockey game (don't ask) we say our goodbye's till next year when Belt Drive Betty rides Newfoundland.

This guy from Cape Breton bought this bike in BC! Click on the pic for a high res photo and check out the tank. How cool is that!

Couple friends here from Ontario and Nova Scotia - Did the Trail for their second straight year. As you can see in the picture, they're fine products of the Mabou Beauty Salon!

Danny Cummings from Texas writes..."I took this picture with a Panasonic DMC-LZ5 in Scenery mode. This was taken over my Helmet shooting backwards. From front to back are: Danny Cummings taking picture, Kerry Turner, Michael Savage, Rick Hawksley and Alisha Turner. Alisha cannot be seen since she was directly behind a bike. And as a side note; we had an awesome time while we were there. The ride day was 6th and stayed at the Harbourview B&B and Motel, 209 Granville Street, Port Hawkesbury. I highly recommend these folks. You live in a very beautiful place. I would like to do it again!

Francois and John, Quebec (Maybe Chicoutimi) John had a really nice Crossbones and Francois had a lot going on with his bike as well. No windshields...they're tough to do it... Here they are riding through my community (Arisaig). Nice riding along the ocean here coming from Amherst. Upon entering Nova Scotia, avoid route 6 as it is too slow. Stay on highway until rte 245 of the Sunrise Trail, in Sutherlands River. Then take Rte. 337 to go around Cape George - awesome!

I don't know where these crazy buggers were from. I could hear them laughing all the way across on the ferry. If you know them, let me know and I'll get their names up here.

See the land in front of me? ...then the land behind the boat? That is how short the cable ferry is. Go to "Planning your Trip" to read about the ferry.

This young fella is from Ingonish. He gets to zip around the Trail all the time, so let's all be jealous.

Alain et Lise from Tasse, Qc. I really enjoyed meeting these two. See how they posed for a nice photo? Alain had a huge bag that went sidways across his saddlebags to store all their camping gear. Lise had 3 sets of driver pegs on her bike. When they go on a ride, it's weeks, not days...camping all the way. Here they are at Whidden's in Antigonish (my hometown).

Jeff, Bill and Joanne on a ZRX-1200, and two Suzuki GSX-R 750's. I was in my truck to take some equipment up to Coastal Waters. It pissed rain all day. I saw these wet, sorry creatures at the intersection, wondering if they should take the ferry. I told them it was half an hour faster by ferry, so that's what they did. I kept telling them how nice the heater was in my truck and they almost made me swim across the channel! I skammed them out of some ferry tickets and share the story under 'Englishtown Ferry' in the "Planning your Trip" section of the site. Great people, from Ontario. I hope they come back some time to see this place in the sun.

And here are our Ontarians, all dry & happy.

Shane Kelly Rides his Can Am Spyder to the top of Cape Smokey

Uncle D atop Cape Smokey. This Photographer/TV/Web Personality is most famous for capturing Canadian Girls with his camera. At this point, he is most interested in some fuel 'cause he just made er up ol' Smokey. The next few photos are from Uncle D. By clicking on this photo you can see that he needs a vacation because of how hard he works at his website (warning - explicit content and high risk of career envy)

Remember, just click on the photos to see a high res shot

What a Day!

Nice shot of the Rider Glasses available at the Restaurant. Thanks Uncle D, for the cool shot.

Enjoying some Keith's at the Coastal Restaurant. So good on a hot day.

So many bikers missing the restaurant... This is right on the side of the road across from the restuarant. When you see this, step on the brakes and follow the arrow.

Greg Juurlink flying his CBR instead of his Military Helicopters

Time for a bite to eat - some nice Goldwings at Coastal Restaurant

This is my work (where I print the Cabot Trail T-Shirts) here with Ron Irving, Massachusetts

Wing and a Valkerie, these boys from, I forget, but its 1600 miles away from the Trail!

Welcome to Cape Breton - This is a very well known bridge to all Cape Bretoners. If work or life took them anywhere else in the world, they would long to read this welcome message. Once you pass under the sign, you'll realize why they longed for home so much. Ron Irving shows his excitement for reaching Cape Breton.

We were seeing these kind folks from Rhode Island all day long. Hope to see you all in Bangor/Sanford in September!

Rhode Island again, driving past the "Wait for traffic Pull-off" just before Cape Smokey

Rhode Island folks approach the first mountain climb, Cape Smokey. North and MacKenzie Mountains are waiting after lunch!

Had a Cold Keith's Red Draft (you have to try one) with the guys from Rhode Island. That was my distraction so I was able to grab the ladies for a shot...looks like I'm being closely watched!

Tonnes of Quebec Riders every year. My close friend Greg admires the Brand new FZ8...beautiful machine.

And here the 2 brothers from Quebec are leaving the Coastal Restaurant and Pub. They left quite fast, their bikes sound amazing under fire!

New Brunswick and NS, I think. Cheticamp Coffee stop.

Road Glide. He's spent, stopping at next motel....

Wing and Trailer arrive in Cheticamp.

Wait for us! Tugging the trailer over the mountains. Oil change when you get back!

Nice modified Harleys Here, they must be pretty knacky! From Quebec

From Montreal with 4 weeks to travel Nova Scotia by Motorcycle. Cool paintings of all his past dogs on the tank of his bike. Pretty swanky little trailer too!

Met Ettore, Rich, and Jim from Pennsylvania at the PEI Ferry, taking them to my place in Arisaig for a coffee.

We all meet and get ready to do the Mini-Trail (around Cape George, rt 337 I think)

What a day! Let's slow the trip down a bit and try what they're doing!

Ettore with my kids, Anna and Alec, having some fun fishing lobster.

Jim, Ettore, Rich. Lighthouse in Arisaig

Aarrrrggghh! Don't let this happen to you on the climbs! Click on the Cement truck for a YouTube video that has me yapping about the Trail on June 7, 2011.

Getting Close...Look for Anna!

Beatrice with her cool Swiss-German Accent - Aberdeen Motel. My bike with the first load of shirts for this year - I deliver them all by bike!

Davy and Connie from Georgia finally find dry weather...under a roof. Crappy spring on the Cabot Trail - They deserve an award for finishing! Nice trailer!

Ocean, hill, ocean, hill, moose...awesome! Thanks Davy

Michel & Maryse, Montreal, QC, Canada, try to smile. Intense wind in Cheticamp caught Michel's tank bag and jammed it in between his handle bars and tank - close call. Terrible weather for their trip - they must come back!