Who: Don and Julie Riedel of Loveland
Where: L’Auberge Bed & Breakfast on the Island of Isle Madame, Arichat, located on the uppper peninsula of the island.
Best meal: It would be a mortal sin not to take time to enjoy the plethora of seafood available on this tour. We followed many a sign that pointed us down a one-lane gravel trail to lobster shacks serving food that is other-worldly in settings that a painter could spend a lifetime painting. The Lobster Kettle, a small gray-stained building at Neil’s Harbor, featured take-out orders with picnic tables on a high bluff overlooking the North Atlantic Ocean. We enjoyed mussels and lobster on a paper plate with a bottle of pinot grigio while enjoying a timeless view.
Best time to go: Our round trip of 7,067 miles took us three weeks from Aug. 1 to Aug. 22 to complete. We encountered only a half-day of rain, and that was in Vermont. Nova Scotia was clear and bright, with ideal motorcycle-riding temperatures in the low 70s. This is a very good time to travel by motorcycle in Nova Scotia; we did encounter heavy coastal fog at Peggy’s Cove, but it typically cleared by 11 a.m. each day.
Best travel tip: Nova Scotia encourages motorcycle visitors and publishes a tips-and-trips book especially oriented to travelers on motorcycles. The Cabot Trail, which traverses the very northern end of the island, has become a must-see for tourists driving motorcycles on unbelievable scenic roads that skirt the entire periphery of the coast. Visit novascotia.com/ride for an excellent starter website, and the publication “This is Nova Scotia, Canada’s Seacoast” available through that website contains numerous maps, destinations and places to stay. The publication divides the island into travelways, which helps in planning overnights. Don’t miss the Fortress of Louisbourg, the largest historic reconstruction in North America, which is a re-creation of a 1744 French town and fort. Another must-see is Peggy’s Cove, a picturesque fishing village with views right off a calendar. Proof of citizenship is required, with a passport the best option. For Canada customs, call 800-461-9999.
