I loved it so much I wanted to do it again and share it with friends.There’s lots to write about: the lovely people we rode with and met along the way, the rugged beauty of Newfoundland, the hills, the wind, the rain. It was hard and challenging and rewarding. You’ve got to want to travel this way. You have to think the rewards outnumber the hardships. And you’ve got to train and get ready and make cycling fitness part of your life. That’s true for all of us.
I had expectations and it worked out wonderfully. I got to ride without having to be with any other riders. I was able to just enjoy it all without worry.
Very helpful crew, nice quiet roads, interesting things to see along the way, and an ideal size of the group. I wish the maps were more detailed so we could actually follow them on the road.
I hope to join another tour next year.
My first ride, Baja, Mexico was done in the 80’s. The second goal was the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. I rode this in July. The opportunity was Gary Conrod, (www.atlanticcanadacycling.com) who conducted a tour of the trail as part of his schedule of rides.
Gary runs well organized but hands off tours. He trucks your luggage, arranges for campgrounds, and supplies a simple route sheet. The rest is up to you. The cue sheet gives one word directions (left, right) at local landmarks. One day he used an actual sentence… “Left, Listen! We Said Left! Don’t Go Up The Hill”. You get the idea. A unique feature of the cue sheet is that it locates the first and last restaurant of the day and a likely stop for lunch (if they are open). And for those eating in camp, the location of a store where you may put your bagged purchase in a bin provided. Gary will then pick it up and bring it to camp for the end of the day. Ice cream is not a good purchase.