There was beautiful scenery all along our route today on the Cabot Trail. Don, one of my Canadian colleagues, says that the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia is rated as one of the top three scenic drives in the world, along with Big Sur in California, and a route in Italy. I don't know the source of his information, but the trail with its majestic vistas is truly a thing to behold, as you will see in the photos that follow!
From a bay out into the Atlantic while riding the Cabot Trail.
A farmer's message to help us keep things in perspective here.
The Trail is well marked.
We liked this sign, because its graphic highlights our cycling road.
I did not mention that the Cabot Trail is in a Canadian National Park.
The flag of Nova Scotia, flying below the Canadian flag, appropriately bears the Lion Rampant symbol of the flag of Scotland.
"Although the national flag of Scotland is the blue and white 'Saltire', there is also a second, quite different, flag which is called the 'Lion Rampant'.
The 'Lion Flag' is often considered the unofficial national flag and referred to as the 'Royal Flag of Scotland'.
The 'Royal' term applies because this flag historically, and legally, belongs to the monarchy (or royalty) - more specifically to a King or Queen of Scotland.
As there hasn't been a Scottish King or Queen since the 17th Century, it now belongs to Queen Elizabeth II. It's a more colorful and dramatic flag than the Saltire, and may be a little more memorable because of that." https://www.scottish-at-heart.com/lion-rampant.html
More beautiful scenery.......
The Highlands
Roadway was quite good in most places.
Grand-Etang Harbor
More natural beauty from the Cabot Trail
A church in Cheticamp, a town on the Cabot Trail. The stone work is similar to churches we saw in Scotland.
More grandeur.
We later rode on the ribbon of road as seen in the distance below.
French Lake, one of the highland lakes.
Yet more majesty....
This geodesic dome serves as lodging for tourists visiting the Cabot Trail. I also saw a "village" of tiny house accommodations.
I found this cloud formation interesting. It resembled packing "peanuts".
The first significant sustained climb of the day was on French Mountain. I estimate it to be in the 6-7% grade range for 1,400 ft of ascent. This happy cyclist sported a grin after climbing it. He was disappointed that there was no sign for a photo after ascending the challenging North Mountain.....shucks!
And finally, on a bay of the Atlantic, we camped at day's end.
It was an extremely difficult day of climbing, probably the hardest on the entire Tour du Canada. Grades on the Cabot Trail are steeper than either those in the Rockies, or on the Canadian Shield north of Lake Superior. I managed not to have to walk on a climb up North Mountain with about a mile of 13-14% grade and lots of 11 % for a total ascent of about 1,400 ft. Had I not strengthened my legs during the nearly 4,800 miles we have ridden across Canada since June, I would not have been able to do that.
Another day of hard climbing tomorrow! Come back to see whether the grinning cyclist was able to stay mounted or reduced to walking part of the trail. No shame in that, mind you!
Jim:
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying your photos. That area Is definitely scenic. I'm especially enjoying your floating head selfies.
-- Dan G
The beard is for the right amount of scruffiness in the selfies. Have to keep up the scruffy city reputation of Knoxville. And I'm preparing to be screeched in St. John's.
ReplyDelete