Cabot and Viking Trails June 6-27 2016 All about the wind

All about the wind...the Newfoundland part

This was a wonderful trip of Cabot and Viking Trails...quite a lot of advance planning...planning distances and accommodation...and the shuttle back to the airport...understanding that St. Anthony airport is 50km from St. Anthony and one shuttle goes from the airport south to Deer Lake.

The Cabot Trail weather was not always great...in fact a couple of very cloudy days (and some rain) however coming down the east side it did get better.  Managed to do a couple of very long days.

The Viking Trail was all about the wind....an amazing and wonderful experience.  More remote that Nova Scotia and no traffic to speak of.  We cycled North with the wind at our back and did over 100 km on each of three consecutive days.  One marvellous day of hiking in Gros Morne Park and the next day a short but very windy cycle ride.  I would say that I got blown off the road at one point,  steered off the road at one point and walked for quite a distance as I could not manage the wind.  What an amazing way to experience the force of the wind...days of it behind you and this day with it either against us or going sideways...sideways when I got blown off and walking when going straight into it.  Newfoundland is one friendly remote place and I really liked it.  The Cabot Trail seemed more touristy and nicer weather would have made it more memorable.  A couple of long days of cycling and good challenges.

The accommodations all worked out fabuously well and we enjoyed meeting some of the owners and sometimes the clients...I do like b&b's.

The fish was tasty and some of the menus rather plain.  Hard to get ingredients such as salad items in Nfld especially.  Fun the day that I got whitebait from the fishermen at the dock.  I wanted to buy it and it was spilling everywhere loading it for shipment to Boston. They gave me a plastic bag of fish to cook!  Of course Liz had her fill of lobster and crab on this trip.

Quirpon was a real highlight going out to this island to watch the icebergs in iceberg alley.  We enjoyed the old home with wonderful accommodation and comraderie and great meals.  We walked one end of the island to the other and back.  We watched the icebergs move, change position and our angle change as well.  We watched them from morning till night as the light changed.

  

St. Anthony was another highlight as we enjoyed the icebergs in the bay at sunset.  Our host was so excited about them that she insisted on driving us there to see them.  Incredible...and a wonderful walk down towards the water to get closer.  Two incredible experiences!  Wow...days to remember.

Sheppard's b&b was another special home...with singing by the host to wish a good day in the morning.

A better copy of the info below is in my mail program under Nfld/NS notes...from Liz

Nova Scotia Newfoundland June 6-27, 2916

Westjet, Arrive 1:3dpm,

Holes total about 2600.00. 60 1300.C0 each (I SGfimal&d Ouirpoon al 450.00 for the night)

June 6 (Monday)

35 -40 km Irarti airport to North Sydney

Chambers Cues! House (reu;. 04 King Street, central North Sydney

Cheryl is the owner. 602-704-7301.006-490-6453. Lost her hubby in 2002. House hull bl antiques. InAMA.

65.00 oil in, 2 beds, breakfast nd.;BH Pay by cash or cheque

AMAZING,

June 7(Tuesday)

50 km to Baddeck, Bad-deck Heritage House BnB. 121 Twining Street, 4 rooms (2 queens. 1 king]

LiZ and Dick .Walking distance from into, centre and nightly ceilidh.

40 hr. cancellation

115.00 plus tax = 102.00 (Bl)

Paid oh Paypal HHBE1085, 1577-6711 -7081 -1586 (pd March 12.) 902-295-0219. In AM A hook.

VERY1 GOOD

June 8 (Wed)

52 km to Margaree River,

Margaree Riverview Inn, up on a hill. 2 star only, looks dean hut-Simple, 1 ridge and collee maker. 21 045 Highway 16. 902-248-2940. 009-490-5151.

Conf. 4 630001446 (8471), Cancel before June 5?6 midnight

69.00pi u£ 1 7 % lax tor 2 d hi beds. approx. 72.00

No restaurant/food onsite but Thera is a Coop in Margaree Forks, right at the intersection/ lork. Booked March 12. In AM A book.

NOT Great but OK (Or the price.

June 9 (Thurs)

45 km to Cheticamp.

Auberge Bay wind Suites, 15299 Mam Street. 902-224-0900.4 star, 1 26.00 all in For a queen suite (wow), on the boardwalk, wMh a microwave and mini Irog.. queen bed and pullout sofa. Waterfront restaurant, pub fare, lighthouse.

Booked online with bbOLihg.CphV # 089473251(5075). In AM A book.

Ih Cheticamp is Velo Max Cycling Company i' we need any Supplies/advice. Excellent iron and location. Fabulous restaurant upstairs.

JunetO-11 (Fn. Sal)

76 km to Dmgwall/73 to Aspy Bay Dingwall population is 5500.

Markland Coastal Beach Cabins in Dingwall. (1-855-072-6048), Reservation #10876395. 002 Dingwall Road. Made March 3 tor 2 nights. Cueen bed and sofa bedftme bedroom cottage/

loghouse. Booked March 4. Logroom and continental breakfast, 125.CO >:2 nights plus lax = 293.00 {2 nights).

39% deposit at lime ol booking, gone For good so don't cancel. In AM A...

Incredible room and great restaurant lor dinner, breakFast good too.

Day trip north Oh the 11th: Dingwall to Meat Cove is 32 km (Didn't do this as we were absolutely pooped From the day before and the weather was precarious. J

June 12 (Sun)

54kTn to IngOnish Beach

Skyline Cabins, 37759 Cabot Trail. 302-265-2055lull cabins with a kitchenetle. Centrally located in the village.

119.00 plus tax (130.00) 'or a lridge and 2 dbI beds (not sure we have a kitchenette though. Irk AMA

Spoke to Doreen Burke

June 1 3 h Mon !■

91 km to Mew Harris/Boularderia area, slaying at Kelly's View Motel rigtil m New Harris

CANCELLED this and went back to North Sydney to slay with Cheryl Chambers again, a longer ride by 22 km bul worlh it to be sure lc catch the Ferry very serious about being there 2 hours in advance., 783 Hwy 105. 902-674-2473. 866-E79-79S7. 3 Start. In AMA. lOr 92.67 all in but no breaklasl. 2 double beds and a Cohee machine in room. Next morning we can Cycle 10r 22 km to lerry terminal and 15 km along the rbule we will Find a Tim's. The restaurant in New Harris
beside the hotel not one until 10:00am so no breaklasl possible there. As we cycle into New Harris we should possible grab dinner en rbule. The restaurant In NH closes at 3:00 pm
wonder IF that's the case on a Sunday and i' it's too early in the Season.

June 14 {Tuesday]

Noon lerry in Sydney. 6-8 hours On lerry to Fort Aua Basque. Paul Basque Hotel. 3 Ikm from the terminal .4 Star, 2 Grand Bay Road. 709-695-2171. Reservation #055211

94.99- plus lax (111 .OOJfor 2 dbl. beds on first floor, breaklast included (I think), but we leave posable too early next day anyways.

This hotel was Only OK but we arrived very late, Tim's across the street lor breaklasl the next morning. Restaurant closed by the lime we got there.

June 15 (Wed.)

Shuttle bus to Deer Lake 42.00 cash only, DHL Coastlines, leaves Irom Marine Atlantic at 8:00 am. Be there 20 minutes betOre at least. Arrives DL at 12:33 pm.

Deer Lake Co Wiltondale is 25 km. on Rle. 430. address is #2. 430 north.

Staying at CHd Lincoln Cabins (also called Bonne Bay Cottages], Bonne Bay Road and VT {Wiltondale). 1-308-453-2572, or 709^53-2572. White cabins with brOwn/red decks.

1 [T3.0O plus tan (128.00)IOr a ana- bedroom cabin, Luann.

Vtrv Cuts lull Cottages. Luann andCarter met in Barry ON a lew years ago. She is Iran tiara

Norris Faint, I hay holidayed here and laved 11 sa bough! the cabins. No rest. nearby sa we ate a biggar lunch in Dear Lake balara Cycling lhara.

June 1 6 (Thursday)

A sleep ul mbi'hill than glide on dawn into Rocky Harbour. 3B km.

Staying 2 nights with I Bashar s Nam (57) and Sue at Baltam Braak Callages

1 25.00 lor a 2 bedroom. Email Irani May 5. Great Cabins, lull kitchen. Fish market aut their driveway 10 the lelt so we cooked bath mg his seaload.

1-966-$22-2236

June 1 7 (Friday)

Hike CraS Marne was lha plan but the lop is claSad tar ptarmigan nesting until July1 st Sa

instead we went la the Lobster Cava Lighlhause site nearer town. There is construction an the roadway lor a Few kms on either Side OF RK, rough bumpy ride especially Iram RH la the CM hike. Another reason to not bother retracing Our steps la hike there., alsa weather was not great. The CM Discover Centre In near RH is a great place to slap Far into.

Bottom BraOk Cottages a 2nd night.

June 1 8 (Eat.)

Rocky Harbour la Caw's Head (47 km.) but the Ijord boat trip is en route.

Stay al J andJ BnB which is a Small house with 4 rooms just dawn the road.

We have la eat breakfast at the Shallow Bay Motel. I tiad dinner there and it was great. This is where we Oheck-in then head dawn the road to small house maybe 3 houses Iram hotel but w L’ have 2 seas lor 11C.0C. There s abr cl a y'ccery store in ttns I own Fv1os‘ lour busses come here Sa book ahead. There were 3 busses there the night we were there, there's a dinner
theatre that draws the crowd also ownedfrun by the hotel Sa that's why the draw plus there's not much else along Ihe road lor miles.

June 1 & (Sun)

■1C km to Daniel's Harbour. Stay at Enlenle Cardiale Inn with Annie and Paul.

We CANELLED this al noon that day as we road with tailwinds 10 them so quickly. They were very goad about it, no problem Or penality. The place is OH the highway a km or So but right ah the Ocean and absolutely beaulilul but no grocery stares nearby or restaurants. They do serve dinner there 10r about 22.CO a meal.

2 beds, ocean view with hearty breaklast lor 11 5.00- plus Lax. Great reviews. We are in a remote area so I took Annie's advice and requested dinner Far 22.00 each/no shelllisb Far Susan. I
cancelled Ihe Bennett House (105.00 all in)May B aS it had bad reviews, rtibre lor hunters.

June 20 (MonJ

61 km to Hawkes Bay. Slay at Ihe Torrent River Inn, 1 Bo water Drive, 709-243-5225.

Contirmation # 410. King bad Far 149.64 all In. Originally I had booked the 19th . then changed il(May&J to the 20th. Millie.

BASIC motel room. II did have a kitchen but nothing mare than a convenience store in town so it was useless.

The salad at Ihe Pizza Delight attached to the motel though was incredible.

NEXT day: Flowers Covb.

Wb are Hying with Che tailwinds, doing just over 1 CO km a day 10r now 2 and likely 3 days straight.

Called last minute to the only BnB mentioned on tho Viking trail.ca website balled French Island BnB. Harold and his wile Maggie, both retired teachers.

Very good value 04.00 with a great big brOaklast. Could see ihe lighthouse from the bedroom. There was only One restaurant in town on the highway witti again tons Ol fries so we asked H we COuld cook dinner and they ollered Id do it for us lor 12.00 each. It was basic be I very good and not deep-lned.

June 21 (Toes.)

ALL TH IS CANC E LLED AS WE WE RE C YCLING HO FAST

Shuttle day to Sr. Anthony's airport, expected t arrive about 0:00 pm. Cel driver to Call ( at

Plum'S Point approximately) Danny's taxi to meet us there and he will lake uS the last 50 km. to St. Anthony’S.

Staying at Lynne's BnB (70.00 I think, Susan washer main oonlaot initially, then we gave her my inlo in May) in SA 709-4 54-2677. We are also with her on the Z3rd.

INSTEAD: Called day belore and got last room at Hillsview BnB 12 km south ol L'anse aux Meadows.

Incredible place. Rooms lovely. BreaklaSt was just OK. CoOd restaurant just a shod walk down Ctie road whicti was good because 10 cycling back into de Criget was about 4 km up and down hills. We didn't realize the Bnb was quite that lar from town.

June 22 (Wed.}

B km. to Ouirpoh ("CarpOon" ^Island Lighthouse piok up point. We gel a boal/zodiaC (here to the island. They agreed to store Our OikeS before we Cross oh the boat, carrying Our panniers.
We Crossed over ar 10:30 when the returned lolhs from the night belore so had a Full 24 hours there. Great weather. We were luoky. Hiked Hie entire length Ot Ihe island. Icebergs out the
window and all around but not as big as were were about to see in St. A.

June 23-(Thursday]

3B- km to St. Anthony bul we tiad time to explore L'Anse aux Meadows (north 5 km. beyond where we catch the boat to Ouirpon. Stay at Lynne s BnB lor 70.00 with an amazing full
breaklasl. She rushed uS down the Street to See the 3 huge icebergs ion the bay incredible even lor the locals. Dinner at the end ol Chat streel/dead an, last building in the town called Lighthouse Cafe. I think. Very good.

June 24 (Friday)

Shuttle with Danny's shut He bus (35.00 each] to ST. Anthony airpod then another shuttle From St. Anthony airport to Norris Point (55.00 with bikes),then Ferry (8.00) al 12:30 to Bonne Bay/ WoOdy Point.

Stay r g 2 nights a: Blanchard House (112.00 all in with oreak'asl included) with Ivy Re c-

Cooper. She owns Crocker Cabins also but that 18km away and Ihe Granite Cotlee shop. BH is right in WP. can't Find ah actual address, pale greert 2 storey though. "Once in WP drive through 2nd slop sign, turn right, I am Ibe 5-6lh house nr the right. Parking in the rear.Cheokin alter

1 .Ruby is ihe housekeeper. Back door open i' not there". Call 451-3236.

June £5- (SlL]

Blanchard HOu£e again.

June 2G {Sunday)

Only 1-B km IrDfn Woody Point 14 Trout River.

Sheppard'4 BnB. 4 alar. V j,0C ground Floor, Bl , room 43 with a double and a twin not available unle£4 a cancellation.

1 Sheppard's Lane, a cape cod dark brown 2 storey with veranda. 45-1-7590. DOrit end Torrt Sheppard.

June£7 (Monday)

9:00 am shuttle bus {63krt1}to Deer Lake. Cornerbrook. Flight to Calgary.