Cape Breton and Cabot Trail Summer 2014

I finally got to get to Cape Breton on the bike and see what the Cabot Trail is all about.  I decided it was time to get it done as I have been wanting to ride CB for a long time. Especially since I had bought a new motorcycle and it would be a good time to see how it did on a longer trip.
A new Suzuki 650 V Strom was the steed and it proved to be a very capable ride with lots of power and comfortable to ride.

That picture is in front of Gilbert's Cove lighthouse in Gilbert's Cove. A nice little spot close to home.




The route taken was around the back roads as much as possible. Sometimes you have to make time but I try to avoid the larger roads. These first few pics are from near Arisaig, NS. The small speck is the lighthouse down there.

This is the lighthouse in Arisaig, NS. It was closed at this time as it wasn't tourist season anymore. But on the upside you always have these places to yourself at this time of year!

                                   This is looking down the shore from the lighthouse.
Back onto the bike and along the road to Cape George lighthouse which is along the 337 highway. It's a really nice spot and has a great view of  St. George’s Bay. Cape Breton Island and Prince Edward Island can be seen on a clear day. The lighthouse sits atop a high cliff and guides vessels into St. George’s Bay. The original lighthouse was erected in 1861 and was destroyed by fire in 1907.  The present lighthouse is the third one located on this site which was built in 1968. Interpretive panels are on site.

                                                                     The lighthouse.

                                          The view from beside the lighthouse. 

Then off from there along the 337 and into Antigonish. St. Francis Xavier university is there and so it's a university town. But I didn't stay, just went through along to the camp site at Linwood campground. 

It's an OK place to camp. Nothing that stands out as great but also not a bad place either. The showers and washrooms were clean and the owners seemed nice enough. Still $25 for a patch of grass. Which I think is a lot but it seems to be the going rate.  So set up the tent and such and was ready for the night. It was quiet and quite empty but I figure that it was due to the season. Anyway I would give it a recommend.

I had a few hours to kill so I took off on the bike and looked around the local area. I went down Cape Jack Road. It appeared that the weather has taken a toll on the road and it's shorter than it used to be.

                                                        The view on Cape Jack Rd.

So went back to the camp site and settled in for the night. The next morning I was off pretty early and set off towards Cape Breton.

In St. Peter's there is a lock system and I looked around and took a pic or two. Nice place, very rural and small. The picture is the Saint Peter's Canal.

 

This is the view from the lighthouse back towards St. Peter's. Nice.

The lighthouse is in the park. It is Battery Provincial park. You can camp there and stay if you want. It looks nice but I wasn't staying so off I went.

 

 This was taken beside a small convenience store I stopped in at. The lady was very nice and we chatted for awhile, as is typical with rural NS. It's some kind of display for charity, you donate and get your name on a trap and it goes to a children's hospital I think it was. It is located in Lower L'Ardoise, NS.

 

This was taken along the 247 highway, well road really, it's so quiet and small. I don't know exactly where as the camera's GPS didn't lock and I didn't get that data. But it's along the 247 at least. 

 



                           Just a nice scenic bridge, narrow 1 lane, so watch for traffic coming.

 

A sample of the nice winding road along rural Cape Breton. No traffic to speak of at all. I only met 1 car in the hours I was on this road. Nice!

                                                                 Just a nice view.

 The terminal in Sydney. A cruise ship was in and tourists were milling about. I didn't even run over any! It was getting hot and I removed some layers here and got more comfortable.

 On the way down to the Englishtown ferry. There are several nice viewpoints along the highway, and it's nice to stop and have a look. Great views and relaxing atmosphere. These pics are taken on the 105 on Boularderie Island.

The Englishtown ferry. It only holds a few cars and is only a minute or two across the river. It's $5.50 unless you have a card and then it's only $1.50.

               Englishtown ferry beach area. Some fishermen were here trying to catch something.

Along the coast for a great drive with twisty roads and elevation changes. A motorcycle treat. This is Cape Smokey looking along the coast back from where I came.

                                         Another Cape Smokey view.

 

                                               The lighthouse at Neils Harbour

                                                                   Neils Harbour itself.

                                         Looking back  along the road going into Meat Cove. It's pavement here but it changes to dirt about halfway and it is a bit more rough until Meat Cove. It's rough gravel and has some very tight turns, but is doable for most any bike I would think as long as you pay attention to the surface as you ride.

TAA DAA....Meat Cove! A fire was made finally with the help of copious amounts of cardboard. There wasn't much small kindling but it went finally. I know this is off kilter, but hey pretty good for my smart phone.

The camp site in Meat Cove. The V Strom sitting pretty and getting a rest after a long day. She performed very well and was comfortable to ride. Great mileage at around 55mpg.

 Looking into Meat Cove from the road in. Meat Cove is that little open spot with some objects in it.

                                                         Sunrise in Meat Cove

                                                                   Another view.

                                 A view off the crazy camp site out on the point in Meat Cove.

        Meat Cove beach area. You can walk down here and go along the beach if you desire.

 Now some views along the trail as I head down along the coast on the West side of the Trail.

                                The nice curves before one of the rest stops, or scenic look offs.

                                                               Some more great scenery.

             A view along the coast. There sure are some stunning views along here.

                                      Looking back towards the last photo location.

                                                         Sure is rugged coast line!

A lighthouse on the way out of Cape Breton. This is in Cheticamp. You have to go onto Cheticamp Island and along a dirt road though a pasture full of roaming cows. You can't get too close as there is a fence around the lighthouse.

 

                                                        Stone along the Cabot Trail.

                                                   Looking back towards Cheticamp.

                                               The Glenora distillery. It is a great place if you like scotch. Apparently single malt in a traditional style. I know one thing, it aint cheap!! 
                                                         http://www.glenoradistillery.com/

That's most of my photos of Cape Breton. I then just headed out along the 19 and then home along the 7, which I have documented in other blog posts. Thanks for looking  I hope you get to Cape Breton one day, it's a great ride!!