I am planning a two week trip from South Central PA to the Atlantic Provinces of Canada. We are leaving July 2 and returning around July 16 -18. The first 6 days are set and reservations confirmed. I am seeking suggestions, advice, recommendations for reasonable values in hotel rooms.
A couple of nights in the Moncton NB/Charlottetown,PE,Amherst, NS area (Jul 9-11).
Another couple of nights in Halifax, NS (Jul 11 - 13)
another night or two in St. Johns NB (Jul 13 - 14?)

I am really looking to get away from the chains if possible. I find them to be like Mc Rooms and generally overpriced.
Would appreciate any input.
Thanks
Bill

I stayed at this place in Edmunston NB a few years ago, A beautiful place and spectacular scenery in the area.

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?cid=9399292997454380943&q=&gl=us&ved=0CGkQxgc&sa=X&ei=KjHtS9PuCIOeygSLzMj2DQ

Chris

Intruder - I hope when you come to Nova Scotia you come to Cape Breton and do the Cabot Trail. It is one of our gems and there are lots of bed & breakfast places as well as plenty of h&m's. You should contact NS tourism because they have a booklet just for bikers. Hope you have a great trip.

Hey bullseye and Redfox:
Thanks for your input. I have Cape Benton on my radar scope. Is this "Cabot Trail" a road? If so, where does it start and end? This trip is something I have thought about for twenty years or more. I am getting excited about all the possibilities. Just won't have time (money) to see everything.:(

Hi Intruder, check out the Cape Breton website...just google it. The little lady and I are going to be the same neck of the woods in July. Staying at the Trailsman Inn near Baddeck in Cape Breton around the 12th. Doing PEI and Nova Scotia as well.

Redfox, do you know the place ? And any suggestions on roads to avoid ? Really looking forward to the Cabot Trail.

Also do a search for the local B&B's. My inlaws were out there a couple years back and that's what they did. Said it was awesome! Yes intruder the Cabot Trail is "the" road out there. It's one of the must do's on the east coast IMO

Pancho: That looks like a great place with decent rates. I have booked there for the 11th and 12th of July. Maybe we'll see you.

Hi Intruder, just checked the holiday itinerary. We'll be at the Inn sometime on the 12th. Arriving in Sydney around 2pm and heading directly to the Inn. Check in, onload, and cruise some where for supper. My name is Lyndon and the little lady is Doreen. We ride an 2009 Monterey Metallic Blue. Maybe Redfox could guide us around. Hope to meet up....see you there.

Poncho:
Sounds great! As we get closer let's firm up some details. Our group will be departing on the morning of the 13th for Digby. By this point of our trip it will be nice to converse with someone that understands that more noise doesn't equate to better motorcycle.
Bill

Hi Bill, looks like we'll just have the one night together, too bad. We'll be in Annapolis Royal (near Digby) round the 18th. Have you heard of the Wharf Rat Rally? Also, Nova Scotia has a free motorcycle guide that you can order online. And all Canadian provinces have tourism websites that will send you free maps and guides. Until later.....
Lyndon

Inturder & Poncho - I am just picking up your posts now. We are on the road from Florida and do not get our email that often. Keep me in the loop as you finalize your plans and we will try to get togther. Poncho are you staying in Baddeck after you do the Trail or before?

Lyndon, I'm looking forward to this trip and to meeting you. We are leaving for Digby on the morning of the 13th.
Bill

Sounds good, fella's. We're staying 3 nights in Baddeck 12th-14th arriving late afternoon in Baddeck. Doing the Cabot trail 13th or 14th depending on the weather. Also, the Alexander graham Bell museum is on my list and as much cruising as we can fit in. The motorcycle guide is a great help. And then it's P.E.I ! Can't wait. Lyndon

Redfox and Poncho:
Our group will be in Amherst the night of Fri and Sat Jul 9 -10. Then moving to Badbeck (actually Nyanza) Trailsman on Sun 11th. Plan on the Cabot Trial on Mon 12th and then leaving for Digby on Tue. the 13th. It would be nice to hook up (even for a short time) with someone on something other than a Harley:-)

Let's stay informed.

Safe Riding
Bill

Hi there Intruder, sounds like you have a good trip planned out. The Cabot Trail is a must see for sure when comming to Nova Scotia but I see you plan on only one day there. I am from Cape Breton and one day will really be a rush to see it all, to say the views are amazing is not doing the area justice. There are several cottage, bed and breakfast places and motels in the area that you will be more than happy with. There are alot of people who do the trail in one direction then do it again in the opposite direction the next day but still say they rushed through it. If you are comming all this way I think you should allow 2 days for the trail. P.E.I. is alos a great place to tour , super clean and pretty and the people are great. There are senic view routes all through N.S. that will keep you off the boring highways and give you something to look at. If you need any more info on Cape Breton or the Annapollis Valley area of Nova Scotia I would be more than happy to send it to you. Have a great trip.

Dusty:
I sent your post on to my friend who is planning the route and areas for exploring. He has already told me to expect some changes based on your suggestion. Thanks

Pancho:
That sounds as if we will be in Badbeck for a third night. Stay tuned. Change seems to be the only constant.

Bill

Just to add to all the fun of planning, I notice you are heading to Halifax for day. You will be just over an hour away from the Annapollis Valley area where we have the worlds highest tides, 30 feet plus swing from low to high, I see it everyday and it's still a funny sight to see a fishing boat tied to the dock and sitting on the sand 30 feet below you and then at high tide it looks normal. I'm not trying to throw a wrench into your plans by adding more ideas but you should see this area also. We are planning a 2 week trip around Newfoundland this summer and my route changes daily as I work with a ton of Nefie's that keep adding to all the places I need to see. If you do get into the Valley area on your trip and would like a tour guide for the area, let me know and I'm sure I can arange a day off work to go play.

Hey Intruder, plans are certainly subject to change. Dusty has me considering doing the Cabot trial both ways. And Dusty, we'll be in Annapolis Royal around the 18th. Also, I live in St. John's and have cruised all over the island. When are you coming over and where are you planning to go ? The attached pic is of my bike with Shag Rock in the very far background, community of Whiteway, Trinity bay, NL.

That "subject to change" is a mild understatement. I just got off the phone with my buddy, Joe, who is planing the route and based on these discussions here, we are spending an extra day to do PEI and an extra day to do the Cabot Trail area (most likely both ways). Can't thank you fellows enough for all the input. We have never been to your area before and all of this has been really helpful.
Bill

When you guys get to Cape Breton you should give Redfox a shout, I see he's from ST. Peters N.S. and I'm quite sure he would also love to tag along, I know quite a few people from his area and better people you will never meet and we do love to show off Cape Breton Island. Redfox has some great riding areas around his place too. Hell, you should just move up for the summer , easier an the plans that way.

Poncho, we are planning to be in NFLD for the first 2 weeks in Aug. , I think we are going to over on the Argentia ferry and comming home on the Port of Basque boat. We have friends in St. John's , Badger, and Salmon cove we need to see and all have bikes so we are going to try to get together for a bit. Looking at our own plans , that also change daily, 2 weeks ain't going to get it all but that's all we can get for vacation. I have a 1500Aspy SE with trailer ( luggage on rear seat , wife in trailer :) ) I know we need to see Grosse Mourn park, my shop is full of Newf's and they all agree I need to go there but they all think I shlould go visit thier parents, brothers, sisters , 2nd cousins twice removed .............ect. . When you get to they Valley area, drop me a note and I'll see if I can't meet you somewhere and show you around, I'm easy to find too, I live on the old #1 hwy in Kingston.
Happy plan changing guys :)

Thanks. Dusty, I am in the process of rearranging the dates of all the previously confirmed reservations. I'll share the dates when I have them.
Bill

Intruder/Poncho - You guys sound a lot like my wife with all these schedule changes. For you guys, I think it is based on getting the best ride in, but for my better half, sometimes I think it is because of the way the wind is blowing or if there is a big, big sale somewhere.

Anyway, as you guys finalize your plans I will definitely try to make the trail ride with you. Keep me informed.

Intruder, I just went through PA on the way home. We were in Hershey for a couple of days. What a place and waht a story! I will never feel guilty about eating a chocolate bar again.

That's a similar analogy to the one I mentioned the other day as I was "rearranging" our hotel reservations. I mentioned that it reminded me of the military when we got "change 3 to the Bravo revision to the PERMANENT order #One". Tonight and tomorrow afternoon I am "finalizing" our accommendations,

BTW please don't mention sale, my wife will be with me.:)

This is the third "final" plan.

July 7, 8, and 9 in Amherst (To tour PEI from there. Three different days.

July 10, 11, and 12 at Trailsman in Baddeck (Nyanza) We are planning to take your suggestion to do the Cabot Trail both directions.

We would like a suggestion for a nice but reasonable priced overnight in the Halifax area. We will be there on the 13th and then on to Digby for the 14th. Morning ferry to St. John on the 15th and then heading toward home. Any suggestions will be helpful. Except staying longer. Some of these guys have to get back to work:(

Thanks in advance.
Bill

Hi again Bill, I see you plan 3 days to tour PEI from Amherst N.S., the bridge crossing is 30-40 mins from there and each time you cross the bridge it will cost around 45 dollars ( you only pay to get off PEI , getting on is free. PEI is a real nice place, super clean and a little bigger than it looks. There are plenty of spots on the Island to stay as well. I'm not trying to screw up your plans again, just trying to help you get the most out of your trip.

Good thinking Dusty. I think at one time you said you were from Cape Breton? You must be a Scotsman from Inverness.

Intruder - Just to pick-up on Dusty's comment, if you stayed on the Island you would save on the daily crossing costs and also when you were leaving you could leave by the northeastern end of the Island by ferry which is the same cost as the bridge and you are closer to Cape Breton. It is about a 45 minute sail across. More decisions.

Hi Redfox, I'm from Glace Bay originally but now live in the Valley, been here since 95 with the Air Force. I'm quite familiar with your neck of woods though, we have land in Loch Lomond and friends from St Perter's and Grand River, some I'm sure you know. I think we must have Bill diven nuts by now with all our "ideas", but I think he'll have a good trip with some of our advise, at least I hope so. :)

LOL you can't be driving me nuts, that would take just a short putt. Really, you two, are giving me exactly what I asked for and I appreciate it. I am now working on finding us a place to stay on PEI instead of Amherst for July 7, 8, and 9th. I will also check out that ferry. Thank you both for this input. It is going to be an even better trip for us because of you. TY!

I am still looking for a reasonable place near Halifax for July 13.

Stay tuned. More to come. (I'm sure.) :)

Bill

Morn. Bill, if you check the Lower Sackville area in Nova Scotia (there's a Sackville New Brunswick too) there are tons on Hotel/Motels in that area which is only 10 mins. from Halifax, I'll check with a friend of mine who may know of one that has a biker discount also. If you cross the PEI bridge on the 7th then when you leave you could take the Ferry across to Pictou N.S. and that will leave you a 3 hour ride to the Cabot Trail. Halifax will be a 4 hour ride from the Trail and then Digby would be 2.5 hours using the highway from Halifax.
I see you have pretty much the same response as I use about being driven nuts, I usually say "it's a short trip", I'll stop adding "ideas" about 24 hours before you are due to leave. :) :)

Honestly, this is excellant stuff for an absolutely "know nothing" first time visitor. Keep it coming.
Bill

Intruder - How many people and bikes are in your ride?

For sure absolutely positive is, Joe, my long time friend of almost 50 years and my fantastic wife to whom I have been married to off and on for 47 years. There are two or three members of Joe's HOG chapter that are indicating a green light for the trip. I'm not exactly clear as to when we will know for sure. I am making room arrangements for three of us and passing along the information to the rest. So my best guess at this point is 2 bikes and the possibility of up to 5. Reading over this answer it seems as though I could run for office.

my fantastic wife to whom I have been married to off and on for 47 years.

Reading over this answer it seems as though I could run for office.

Intruder don't mean to hijack your thread but only a Pennsylvanian would make those two comments in the same discussion & not even think that it was wrong.:D:D:D:D

Have a safe trip & post some pictures.

I can see how that post could be misconstrued, however the two sentences are not related to one another.

I do, in fact, have a much better wife than what I deserve AND I used many words and six + lines of type and never really answered Redfox's question. Isn't that what our elected officials do? They use many words and never really answer any question.

Hello there again, I see it's been pretty quiet in here so I'm guessing you have you trip all planned out for good ( or you don't want more ideas to screw up you plane LOL). Have a good trip and if you need any info about my area let me know.

Jim

Hey Jim:
You guys have been great. We have an idea some things NOT to miss and we have saved a bundle of money from all of your input. As far as the planning is concerned, my buddy, Joe, has taken care of the route planning and I have been responsible for the overnight accommendations. That has worked out pretty well. As we get closer, I am hoping to meet up with some you locals to thank you personally and shake your hand.
Bill

Hey Bill, your buddy Joe must have patience to spare with your suggestions ! Looks like we'll have the 12th together. Are you still staying at the Trailsman Inn ? Lyndon

I look forward to meeting you and being able to personally thank you for all the help you and the others have been for this trip. (Maybe I can thank you over a Molson. One of my favorite imports. Oh, I guess it will be domestic there. Is it still as good?:) ) The closer we get to July 3 the more I am feeling like fossel92 when he was getting ready to depart on his 2010 trip. I'm ready. Now I just keep going over each detail, insurance, passports, packing, reservations and comfirmation, cameras and mounting, etc. you get the idea. I'll keep you informed.

Bill

Intruder & Poncho - I just went around the Trail today to get some accurate distances for you. I included a side trip to Meat Cove which is a nice drive but it has 4 Km of dirt road. Are you guys on bikes or trikes? I was on a bike and it was fine for me but not everyone likes dirt roads. You guys aslo mentioned going in both directions. If it were me, I would do it both directions in one day. Distance would be about 512 km or 320 miles and that is with the detour to meat cove one way. Below is my time mileage chart that may be of some help.

Oops - Charts don't work well!!!!

About seven hours with the detour to Meat Cove. It was well packed and not a bad ride but it did have big hills and sharp turns.

Send we your email and I will send the chart. My email is marcandnancy@gmail.com
What are the dates you guys are going to be here?

Redfox and Poncho: you have mail.
How far from the Trail to St. Peters?

Bill

It's around 2 hours from the trail to ST.Peter's, If you are going there it would be advised to go west back to Port Hawkesbury then east to St Peter's, there has been heavy road construction on the 104 HWY on the east side of St. Peter's , something I forgot last summer and had to through it on the bike. It's too bad cause it's a real nice drive. I can't say I agree with Redfox, sorry bud, with doing the trail both ways in one day. For you guys who have never been there , there's alot to take in and after comming all this way I would hate to see you rush and miss something. I was told the Traveller's Hotel in Bedford is a good spot to stay near Halifax for bikers, you can park the bike right by your room window, I did not get any rates though. Have a good trip up Bill.

Bill - St. Peter's is about 90 minutes from your Motel. When I went around the Trail yesterday it was a none stop flight so you would have to add extra time for stops so Dusty could be right again but he is wrong about the road from Sydney to St. Peter's. The road was under construction last year but this year they are not doing anything. The drive along the lake is nice. I will try to make the trip over for the first day you go around the Trail.

Just in the way of keeping you fellows informed.

Yesterday, Tuesday, my wife and I were on the second day of a "shake-down cruise" on the Wing just to make sure everything was working and our equipment checked out as best we could before departing on our much anticipated visit to the north. On US 250 about 45 miles from Elkins WV, we come into contact with a suicidal deer. It literally threw itself into the right side of our fairing while we traveling at 65... ok maybe 70 MPH. Damaged the right side of the bike pretty substancially including busting the Tip Over Sensor bracket It wouldn't start and I ended up trailering it home to PA.

I was really concerned that I might not be able to meet our departure date of Sat. July 3.

Took it to the shop this morning (I was already scheduled for a Pre-trip inspection with an oil change, new tires, and highway peg installation. They discovered the errant sensor and worked up another invoice for the insurance work. It looks as if we are still going to make the Sat departure even though the Wing will not be as pretty as I would have liked. It will have to wait until after the trip for the "new" stuff. Tomorrow, they will let me know the complete word on my travel status.

BTW, not that I would hold a grudge, but I am happy to report that the last time I saw the deer, she was serving AS dinner for a very large Hawk. That was when I went to get the bike onto the trailer from the side of the road.

Hope we are meeting soon.
Bill

The big thing is we are all glad you are Ok and can still make the trip, the Wing can be fixed easy enough, hell mine was an insurance bike when I bought it. Any way, hopefully that's the only mishap you have to deal with on your trip. Have a great drive up and I hope to see you on the road.

Glad to see you are OK. Must have scared the sh** out of you guys. Like Dusty said, surely this will get the monkey off your back and your trip will be everything you hoped for and more. I wonder if you were riding a Yellow Wing if you might have scared it away. See you soon. Ride safely.

It is true that we are VERY thankful for the outcome of this incident. Thank you all for your good wishes. Maybe if the deer had been a yellow deer we would have been scared off:) I just hope that the final report from the shop later today is positive.

Bill

Bill, check your PM's

Hi all. The little lady and I really enjoyed our meet with Redfox and Intruder in Baddeck. Can you believe we didn't take a picture ? Doreen mentioned it while riding the next day. Hope you guys ride safe and hopefully, we'll see you on the road again. You have a place to stay in St. John's whenever you want. Cheers and check out the pic Doreen took of me on the Cabot Trail and one of her in her rain gear. Poncho