Week long camping trip on my Sport Classic

[zeeede]

So some of the folks in the sport classic forum are watching my "Planning a week long..." thread for ride updates, but I figured I'd start a full ride report here.

I bought an '07 Sport 1000 as a dealer left-over July 1 (hard to believe it's only been 6 weeks!). I needed to take some vacation time or else I'd start losing it (there's a limit you can accrue where I work), so I decided to take the new bike camping.

I left from Boston Massachusetts early on the morning of Thursday, August 14. Here's the bike loaded up:




The first night I planned to camp at Acadia National Park in Maine.

I left my house around 6 am, got half an hour away and realized I forgot my passport, so ended up not getting a start 'til 7. I dodged the edge of rush hour around Boston and had a smooth ride north. I took the highway to Portland and then the coastal route (route 1, I think), north from there.

The coastal route ended up being a big tourist trap, with lots of slow-moving traffic. It's nice if you're touring with your wife on a goldwing, but if you're looking to twist the throttle, skip it.

Anyway, made it to Acadia in around 5 hours, set up camp, and went to explore. I stayed at the Seawall campground. Highly recommended.

Camp:


Welcome to Acadia:


The beach:


Southwest Harbor:


Mount Cadillac:


I love it when I see these signs:

[zeeede]

That night I wanted a camp fire, but had to get wood to the site somehow:


Day 2 and I woke before dawn, broke camp, and was on the road by 6 am. I ended up making a wrong turn in the park, so I had a chance to terrorize the wildlife on tourist-free roads. If you find yourself in Acadia, the Park Loop road is all fresh blacktop, and there's no tourists on it at 6 am (hint hint).

Finally got myself righted, headed on up the coastal route to the Border Crossing at St. Stephen's:

Canadian border crossing was a breeze. Hopped on Canadian Route 1 and made time for Fundy National Park, camping stop 2. My low fuel light came on 2 exits before Fundy, but given how much population was around Acadia, I figured there was gas at the exit. I figured wrong, but a local give me directions to the nearest gas station (12 km away). I made it without running out though.

Set up camp in Fundy. I stayed down in Point Wolf Campground. It was on the opposite side of the park from where I came in from the highway, so I took the scenic route through:


The bridge to Point Wolf:


I set up camp and set about exploring again.

Low tide at the Village of Alma:


Saw an abandoned house:




And later on an abandoned garage:


A cool church:


The fog started rolling in while I was headed toward Cape Enrage, so I headed back to camp:

[zeeede]

I woke early again on Day 3 and Bombed my way north through the morning fog. Original plan was to head to Halifax, NS, but I was making such good time, I turned north and headed up to Cape Breton and the Cabot Trail. I made it from Fundy to the town of Ingonish in 5 hours flat. Needless to say, I was interperting those 110 km/hr speed limit signs using the wrong units ;-)

Along the way, I stopped for gas, and this guy pulled in next to me:



I wanted to run the Cabot Trail counter-clockwise (that way I'd be on the outside), so I headed north to the Black (?) Cove Campground in the Highlands National Park about 10km north of Ingonish. Got myself a site, set up, and headed out north to explore the towns not on the trail.

While I was out, some Squid on a Kawasaki crotch rocket passed me, so I thought I'd let the Duck unwind. All of a sudden, I heard "THWAP", something hit my right leg, and I smelled burning rubber. Shoot - a blowout. No - apparently my hugger came loose:



Continued on my way, and took a few pics:



When I was around 50 km from the Campsite, it started raining. Ugh. I had left my rain gear at camp, 'cos it was sunny when I left. The rain blew in quick. I stopped for a Crab Burger (yum) at the closest restaurant and waited it out, then rode wet roads home with a wet ass.

When I got back to the campground, I went for a quick swim here:


Then the rains came down again, so I set up my hammock in a picnic shelter. I met 2 guys and 2 girls from the other side of Nova Scotia who were camping for the night. One guy had a guitar, so we had a grand old time around the campfire until the Park Rangers reminded us about quiet hours.

[zeeede]

Day 4, this morning, I woke up early in again and could hear the rain hitting my tent, so I avoided getting up for as long as I could. Finally broke camp around 8 am, put the water proof liners in my riding jacket and pants, and headed out to do the Cabot Trail.

I didn't stop for many pictures because it was wet and miserable, but I got a couple:




Headed up around the Cabot Trail and then south toward Halifax. It was miserable going, and I didn't want to stop 'til I got off Cape Breton, so I nearly ran out of gas, but I made it over the Causeway and stopped for a hearty breakfast and fuel at the Irving gas station.

With the bike and my stomache refueled, I decided to head toward Halifax. The rain stopped while I was having breakfast, so the rest of the ride were dry roads and soggy clothes (so much for the waterproof liners).

I made it into town here around 2 in the afternoon. I was so friggin' wet and miserable, I decided to treat myself to a hotel room. I found my way downtown to an information office, where they hooked me up with a room. Normally $115/night, but the guy at the information place was from NH originally, and he knew a guy working at a hotel, so he got me the room for $80.

I checked in, did laundry, took a shower, and went to explore. I caught the last few acts of the International Buskers (street performers) Festival, had a quick dinner, took a drive past the Citadel:



And caught the sunset:


Now I sit outside of a closed Coffee shop stealing their wireless and debating whether to drive back down New Brunswick or take the Cat Ferry across from Yarmouth to Bar Harbor and camp at Acadia again. I'm leaning towards the Ferry because I want to explore southern Nova Scotia too, but we'll see.

The nice thing about traveling by myself is I can set my own pace and do what I want to do. The other perk is I'm not in any of the pictures. Here I am 5 minutes ago, photocredit: some passerby:

[John]

Very good, haven't been to that area via ride tales. Looking forward to your next installment. Sounds like the Duc was performing well as a touring machine. However, what about the wind blast with no windscreen?

Was that Bullwinkle in the back of that pick up? Kind of gross if you ask me. Don't tell me Moosemeat tastes like chicken, I'll bet it tastes gamey. I'd rather have a Top Serloin.

[zeeede]

Originally Posted by John

Very good, haven't been to that area via ride tales. Looking forward to your next installment. Sounds like the Duc was performing well as a touring machine. However, what about the wind blast with no windscreen?

Was that Bullwinkle in the back of that pick up? Kind of gross if you ask me. Don't tell me Moosemeat tastes like chicken, I'll bet it tastes gamey. I'd rather have a Top Serloin.

Bullwinkle it was. I can't say that I've tried Moose meat, but I guess it's all the rage in Bumf#ck Canada.

The wind blast is pretty good if you're doing anything upwards of 90. I think before I make another trip I'm going to pick up a little fly screen so I have something to tuck in behind on the long highway blasts...

[Bly]

Thanks for the pics and writeup zeeede. I love seeing bike tours in other people's countries. Ditto on solo rides, you are free to set the pace and the route.

[Bill_Anderson]

Thanks for the report and photos. I look forward to the next chapter.

[chefsolid]

Great report, Makes me go out and ride!

Keep them coming dude!

[John]

Originally Posted by zeeede

Bullwinkle it was. I can't say that I've tried Moose meat, but I guess it's all the rage in Bumf#ck Canada.

The wind blast is pretty good if you're doing anything upwards of 90. I think before I make another trip I'm going to pick up a little fly screen so I have something to tuck in behind on the long highway blasts...

Your tankbag really helps as well, acting like a pillow during the long runs. Seems to me a throttlemiester would help too.