Welcome to the Newfoundland Bicycle Tour! Join us for what will certainly be a tour of discovery and adventure. This tour of Newfoundland's Great Northern Peninsula will not be an everyday bike trip. It will be an excursion of rugged landscape, basic amenities, and occasionally challenging elements. Those who accept nature's challenge will be richly rewarded. To some, the Newfoundland Bicycle Tour will be a challenge, a goal and the satisfaction of completing it. To others, it will be a chance to renew and strengthen friendships, or to make new ones. For a great many, it will be the chance to explore an exotic location. For everyone, it will be an opportunity to see Newfoundland as no other form of travel can. For everyone, it will be perhaps the most inexpensive, not to mention fun, vacation of the island available.

We've planned this trip with adventurous cyclists in mind. The Newfoundland Bicycle Tour preferably should be more than a first bicycle trip. We will have seven full days of cycling, one partial day of biking before our transportation back and two rest/activity days. The tour will have an average 70 km (43 miles) per day. You can bicycle this amount in five hours or less of actual biking, leaving plenty of time for sightseeing and relaxing. Options will be available for extra cycling each day. Terrain on the western part of Newfoundland ranges from flat to rolling. Our days in Gros Morne National Park have several small mountains. These are challenging, but feasible, even for moderate cyclists. With the assistance of our support vehicle, we can offer a worry-free tour.

Participants on the Newfoundland Bicycle Tour will explore an area with frontier-like conditions, with long stretches of wilderness. Everyone will find plenty of food. All our campgrounds will have warm showers, n between. Known as "the rock", Newfoundland is forested in its interior, but quite rocky and barren along the coast. Often there are barrens, with vegetation and conditions resembling Canada's north. Winds can be strong. The prevailing direction is from the south, and strong tailwinds are expected for almost every day. Our tour is an exploration of Newfoundland's Great Northern Peninsula. We begin at the inland town of Deer Lake. We start off by going westward. Soon we will find ourselves crossing the rocky tablelands of Gros Morne National Park. We will take two days to explore the park, view its magnificent fresh-water fjords, and perhaps walk up Gros Morne itself!

Turning northward at the ocean, we negotiate the park's immense fjords. Our route then moves along the coast. We will spend several days winding around numerous bays and harbours. Once we get in sight of Labrador, we turn north-east and continue to the tip of the Island.

Although sparsely settled, people have lived along this shore for over 9,000 years. Several important archaeological sites will be available for us to explore. Once reaching the very northern end of Newfoundland, we will visit the Viking settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows.

Our tour ends at the only town found on our entire route, St. Anthony. We will no doubt spend our evening there with a wealth of stories from our tour. Early in the afternoon there will be a return shuttle to Deer Lake (included with tour registration).

The Newfoundland Bicycle Tour will be a friendly event, with a great deal of socializing. Along the way, we will learn about Newfoundland's long history, discover its rugged beauty, and experience what makes it distinct. This is a tour which will be both spectacular and memorable!

Friday, July 2 - Deer Lake to Trout River
Saturday, July 3 - Trout River to Rocky Harbour
Sunday, July 4 - Activity Day in Gros Morne National Park
Monday, July 5 - Rocky Harbour to Cow Head
Tuesday, July 6 - Cow Head to Hawke's Bay
Wednesday, July 7 - Hawke's Bay to St. Barbe
Thursday, July 8 - Optional day ride to Labrador
Friday, July 9 - St. Barbe to Pistolet Bay
Saturday, July 10 - Pistolet Bay to St. Lunaire
Sunday, July 11 - St. Lunaire to St. Anthony

Friday, July 2
Deer Lake to Trout River 87 km (54 mi.)

We begin our tour at the inland town of Deer Lake. We start off by going westward. By late morning we will reach Gros Morne National Park. Taking the southern option of the two routes into the park, we will cross the "tablelands", rocky barrens formed by the wearing down of very old mountains. The far end of the road at Trout River offers us an incredibly spectacular vista.

Saturday, July 3
Trout River - Rocky Harbour 42 km (26 mi.)

Today we return through the tablelands to take a boat crossing to the northern side of the park. After a ride from Norris Point to Rocky Harbour, there will be time for a short hike, a swim at the pool, or perhaps some photography at the Lobster Cove lighthouse

Sunday, July 4
Activity day in Gros Morne National Park We will take a day to explore the National Park, viewing its magnificent fresh-water fjords, and many pleasant trails.

Monday, July 5
Rocky Harbour to Cow Head 54 km (34 mi.)

Turning northward at the ocean, we negotiate the park's immense fjords. There is plenty of time today to take in some exploring. There are several short hikes, as well as boat tours of the fjord at Western Brook Pond.

Tuesday, July 6
Cow Head to Hawke's Bay 102 km (63 mi.) Enjoy the spectacular coastal scenery. There are several scenic look-offs today, as well as an ecological reserve. The prevailing tailwinds are usually very strong at this point.

Our campground offers a boardwalk, which crosses typical island marshes and follows an active salmon river.

Wednesday, July 7
Hawke's Bay to St. Barbe 88 km (55 mi.)

We wind around numerous bays and harbours. People have lived along this shore for over 9,000 years. Port au Choix National Historic Site is the location of one of the most important archaeological sites concerning the history of aboriginal people. The lighthouse stands at the furthest point west on the peninsula. It offers spectacular photography. 

Thursday, July 8
Day Ride to Labrador (various distances). Today we take a boat ride to Labrador. The icy channel between the island and the mainland is home to whales, seabirds, and occasional icebergs.

Remarkably different from Newfoundland, Labrador's coast is treeless and extremely rugged. We return back to the island in the late afternoon.

Friday, July 9
St. Barbe to Pistolet Bay 128 km (80 mi.)

We turn north-east along the top of Newfoundland. A long lonely stretch of Newfoundland's northern interior barrens lies between us and Pistolet Bay. The vegetation and conditions here resemble that of Canada's north. A diversion allows us to go to the far northern tip of Newfoundland. This, the longest day of our tour, goes through a wilderness area, will very services along our route. The usual prevailing tailwind should lessen the effort in rounding the tip of the island. As done every day, and again for this long day, we will be offering rides in our support vehicle for anyone desiring to shorten the distance. We camp in an attractive forest setting.

Saturday, July 10
Pistolet Bay to St. Lunaire 54 km (33 mi.) Today we go to L'anse aux Meadows, site of the discovery of Viking life in North America. A UNESCO world heritage site, we will experience what life was like 1000 years ago. We stay in the traditional Newfoundland fishing village of St. Lunaire It is our last night together - let's party!

Sunday, July 11
St. Lunaire to St. Anthony 33 km (20 mi.)
Transportation from St. Anthony to Deer Lake

Our last day. It is on to St. Anthony, and the end of our tour. Today we take arranged transportation back to Deer Lake. Note: The transportation from our end point of cycling at St. Anthony back to Deer Lake is included with your registration. It leaves St. Anthony early in the morning and arrives in Deer Lake in late afternoon. We manage to get a few hours of cycling in before departure.

Last Day Transportation Note: As noted above, the transportation from our end point at St. Anthony back to Deer Lake is included with your registration. We may not arrive at Deer Lake until late afternoon, do not book an early flight out.

An optional ACC shuttle to Nova Scotia leaves the next morning from Newfoundland. Contact us well in advance if you may want to be part of this option.

Accommodation
Our trip will be a tent camping adventure. It is possible for non-campers to attend. A limited number of Bed and Breakfasts and motels are along our route. If indoor lodgings are from our supported list, we will assist with the transport of their gear to and from our campsites. Due to the popularity of the area, early reservations are strongly recommended. Upon request, a listing of motels and Bed and Breakfasts will be sent with confirmation.

Meals
Each cyclist can have their own choice of dining. Some prepare meals at our campsites. Participants buy food daily at designated spots and we transport it to the end point. There they will find stoves, cooking equipment, and cutlery - no need to bring any of that gear to the tour. Others prefer to enjoy as many restaurants as the route allows. We will provide a list each day of what you will find along our route.

Baggage System
Each morning you will bring your baggage to our truck. You are then free to ride at your own pace. Your bags will be waiting for you upon your arrival at the next campground or indoor selection.

Tour Support
During the ride, our support vehicle will be at your service if you need a lift or other assistance. Maps and information materials will help guide you along the way.

Preparation and Equipment
We will carry whatever you feel you need to enjoy the tour. You must supply your own tent and sleeping bag. We will not subject your gear to weighing scales or bag limits. We ask, however, that you do not overdo things- (please - no TVs!)

Entry Form
Due to the small size of some campgrounds, the number who can take part is limited. When we receive your entry, you will be sent confirmation and tour details. Our Participant Form is below. It requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print. We can also fax, email, or mail you registration forms.



(Adobe Reader required for the forms is free from the Adobe Web site)


Entry Fee
Tour entry is by way of personal cheque, PayPal, money order, or wire transfer.
PayPal registrations are by way of emailed invoice. Contact us by email and we will send you an invoice which takes you to the secure PayPal site.

U.S. participants: Currency rates are valid until the date listed. Note that U.S. "green" domestic postal money orders cannot be used in Canada.

Deposits - Getting on Board - To secure a spot on one of our trips a $200 deposit is required. Full payment is due 60 days prior to the day of departure.

Taxes - All taxes are included.

Cancellations
Canadian or US Registrations
prior to 60 days: Cancellations made prior to 60 days before departure will receive a refund less $100. A credit of $50 will be given toward a future event
30 to 60 days: Cancellations made 30-60 days prior to departure will receive a refund less $200. A credit toward a future event will be given of $100.
less than 30 days: Cancellations made less than 30 days before departure have no refund. Credit toward a future event will be given of tour value minus $100.

Euro, Sterling, Other Currency Registrations
Calculations are made using adjustments in Canadian currency with the value of the currency involved at the date incurred.

Cancellation of Event
Atlantic Canada Cycling has never had a cancelled event in its eighteen years. We do, however, reserve the right to cancel any scheduled tour. In this event you will receive a full refund of any money paid. We will not reimburse any related expenses incurred as a result of the cancellation of a tour. Purchase of travel or vacation insurance is recommended.

In the unlikely event circumstances beyond our control prohibit departure (severe climate, war, strikes, civil unrest) you will receive full refund of any money paid. Again, in this case we will not reimburse any related expenses incurred as a result of an event cancellation and purchase of travel insurance is recommended.

Applying for the Tour
Tour entry is made by cheque or money order through postal mail. PayPal is also available. We can hold a place for you for two weeks if you give us notification. You will be notified immediately if the tour is filled.

Participant Form and Waiver
All participants must complete a Registration Form and a Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk, Waiver. Cycling and the travel experience around it have risks. It is important that you acknowledge and accept these risks before joining. Please read the Waiver carefully and make sure you understand it before signing.