Nova Scotia

[jsven007]

Anyone ever visit Nova Scotia, Canada??

We plan to spend 10 days in Nova Scotia (August 14th-24th) riding the roads and enjoying the scenery. Nova Scotia appears to be very beautiful, an excellent place for a riding vacation. 2,500 miles+ of riding, I hope it doesn't rain!

Now I just have to hope my rear tire arrives, and everything goes as planned!

Any advice, do's and don'ts??
Need some good advice before we depart!

[Gixxer_Princess]

I heard that is a great trip. My boyfriend and I have talked about doing it but we just haven't had the time to get around to it yet.

Let us know how your trip goes. So then maybe next year we can make it up there!

Tara

[jsven007]

So far the plans look similar to this...

[stoinkythepig]

Never been there myself. I hear from friends that auto dirvers there have an odd habit of speeding up when you try to pass. It was recommended that one should overtake with lots of downshifting and aggresive throttle usage to avoid being stuck in the oncoming lane longer than expected.

Looks like a great trip. Hope you have fun.

Someday, I'd like to do the same.

[benVFR]

I went there for a week last May. 2 weeks is definitely a better plan.

I was planning to ride my motorcycle but the weather got so bad (snow) that I took the car and ended up going bicycling and hiking instead. I would have been screwed if I had rode cause it basically rained and snowed for the first 3 days and I didn't have electric clothes or anything at the time.

Taking the ferry is definitely the way to go. When I went it wasn't running and I had to drive up through New Brunswick. It was just too much driving and it was fairly boring.

The further south you go in Nova Scotia the flatter it gets, with less good twisties. I was mostly bicycling but I look for the same kinds of roads as I do on my motorcycle. The best stuff seemed to be roads on the coast. The interior has a lot of farmland and the roads seem pretty straight.

I didn't make it to Cape Breton, I ended up hanging out in Halifax for a couple days cause I was sick of driving so damn much. Just shacked up in a fancy hotel and at all the bars, etc.. (There is a Casino on the waterfront too) Things were REAL cheap due to the exchange rate when I went.

I want to go back to go to Cape Breton at some point. In some ways I was dissappointed though. In general it is flatter/more open than New England, but the sights to see are very much the same as around here. Cape Breton is supposed to be grade A twisties but dangerous and with chaotic weather. In general it is very remote up there and you can feel lonely, that's why I felt like hanging out in the city too I think.

You picked the right time to go though.

The drivers are excellent. It's like Europe. Everyone keeps right and no one gives you a hard time. Driving/Riding in Canada is fun as far as I can tell. I never saw a single cop the whole time except in downtown Halifax.

There are some people from sportbikes.net in Nova Scotia, I met up with someone to hang out one night even though I didn't have my bike. Also thursday night there is a bike night at Tim Hortons on the waterfront in Halifax. There is a huge sportbike dealership in Dartmouth across the bridge from Halifax.

Ben

[bemused]

ya might wanna PM hawk... he's recently been up there, too.

[legalspeed]

Advice:

Leave at least one hour early. The time change line is on the boarder where you cross (I've never been, friends have). Typically people forget this and miss the ferry/crossing whatever you run into up there. There is even a couple of hotels that do thier business because of this. Worst is you lose 1 day because you miss the ferry and wind up staying overnight.

Look into this.

Good luck, have fun,

-D&B

[jsven007]

It was recommended that one should overtake with lots of downshifting and aggresive throttle usage to avoid being stuck in the oncoming lane longer than expected.
Looks like a great trip. Hope you have fun.

Downshifting and aggressive throttle I reccommend also...I usually pass cars before they have time to react. Thanx for the advice, I will notify other riders.

The further south you go in Nova Scotia the flatter it gets, with less good twisties. I was mostly bicycling but I look for the same kinds of roads as I do on my motorcycle. The best stuff seemed to be roads on the coast. The interior has a lot of farmland and the roads seem pretty straight.

I was planning to ride my motorcycle but the weather got so bad (snow) that I took the car and ended up going bicycling and hiking instead. I would have been screwed if I had rode cause it basically rained and snowed for the first 3 days and I didn't have electric clothes or anything at the time.

Yup, our route takes us as close to the coast as possible. We are riding most of the major scenic trails/routes...cabot trail is rumored to be excellent.

It rains a lot in Nova Scotia...I guess our riding is going to be interesting. Hoping for the best.

Thanx for advice, hopefully we will see other sportbike riders and get to visit the bike night in Halifax!

[hawk]

I will say this about Nova Scotia, it is a motorcycle heaven. We did 800 miles in 2 days and I can't wait to go back. I will tell you that out side of the cities gas stations are few and far between so if your close stop and fill up.
I hope you like seafood, because they have some of the best places to eat were the fish is right off the mourning boat.
You will have a wonderful time.

[jsven007]

I will say this about Nova Scotia, it is a motorcycle heaven. We did 800 miles in 2 days and I can't wait to go back.

Discount Motorcycle Tire better deliver my tire on time. If it doesn't arrive before Thursday, I will be up a creek without a paddle.

I should of ordered it sooner, I ordered it Tuesday night (5th), anyone know how long they typically take to ship tires??

[squotty]

I did my honeymoon on Nova Scotia on a bike.

Its a very beautiful area.

Make sure to do the Cabot Trail, do it Clock-wise, then counter clockwise.

Not a whole lot of twisies in the south, but alot of nice scenery.


enjoy

[jsven007]

Discount Motorcycle Tire better deliver my tire on time. If it doesn't arrive before Thursday, I will be up a creek without a paddle.

I should of ordered it sooner, I ordered it Tuesday night (5th), anyone know how long they typically take to ship tires??

My tire is going to arrive Friday, things are not off to a good start

[SWEET_Z]

Originally posted by jsven007
My tire is going to arrive Friday, things are not off to a good start

Can always get a tire someplace else and return that one.

Good luck!

[jsven007]

So far I listed my needs as:

Clothes
Rain Gear
Canadian Money & Credit Card
Drivers license/Birthcertificate or Passport
Insurance card


I have not been to Canada since I was a small lad. Are there any necessary things I am forgetting? (besides the beer, women, etc., hehe).