Tag: motorcycle touring

We woke up in Baddeck, NS to forecasts of possible rain, so we headed out early. We stopped in Antigonish, NS once we were out of Cape Breton for breakfast and to buy some RainX for the windshield. We had still not experienced any rain, but the skies were black. We enjoyed eggs Benny and a fresh breakfast burrito at the Prissy Pig and great coffee to fuel our adventures to come.

We got on the bike again, geared up in our rain suits ready for whatever Mother Nature threw at us. We were driving on the main highway 104 as it started to pour. The rain gear seemed to be working, as long as you had it zipped up all the way and all the Velcro shut. We saw a sign with a gas pump, so we turned off thinking we would fill up quickly and get back on the road. Well, in Canada, if you don’t see the gas pump from the road, don’t turn off, because we ended up driving backwards almost to Pictou for gas ( probably 15km). In a downpour. So, we fueled up, looked at the map, and looked more direct at this point to travel route 6 to Amherst. In a downpour. Oh, and RainX only works when you are going 65mph. Anyway, the views would have been beautiful in nicer weather, along the Northumberland Strait. Seaside homes, farms, rolling terrain. Sorry, no pics because we were in a downpour. We got to Amherst and stood under the overpass for a little break.

We stopped for gas, reapplied RainX and headed for New Brunswick. We got a bit of a break there as the rain subsided through most of the province. We had no traffic until we hit St. John during 5:00 rush hour and through construction. We were stopped about 20 minutes there on a steep incline which Jeffrey likens to holding a 800 lb thigh master while you simultaneously grip the clutch and the brake. Our plan at this point was to get back to Bar Harbor. The B&B we stayed at before had our room available, and the thought of soft lavender scented sheets and a warm shower was heavenly by this point in the trip. We had another 10 minute wait at the border, and then we headed toward Bar Harbor, of course looking out for moose as was warned by all.
We drove on 9 as it was getting dark, amidst drizzle. Jef kept having to stand up to look over the windshield as it was covered in raindrops. We should have trusted the map, we were cold and sick of the rain. We passed 193 which looked like a marked, paved road suitable for night driving in the rain. But no, Garmin was also tired, wet, and seeking revenge on this eve of Friday the 13th and sent us down 179. A pitch black lake road, 20 miles in the pouring rain with the occasional truck coming at us with their brights on. No markings on the road. On a motorcycle. In a downpour. 20 miles in 40 minutes, maybe more. That took us to Ellsworth, where we saw signs of life again, and headed to the Canterbury Cottage. We rolled in 830ish Bar Harbor time, where we met Tim out front. It had stopped raining, and he suggested a great place for us to eat, as we hadn’t eaten since Antigonish this morning. We got through it mostly dry, despite all the rain. Both our gloves were soaked, a little dampness in our shoes, due to riding through puddles, but the gear passed the test!! What a day!! Whew-ha! J&M