Day 32. Back in the saddle… and it feels good😊

Digby to Bridgetown, Nova Scotia

9/18/23. 42 mi. AIS: 3:45. 10.8 mph. Elev. 1929

Beautiful sunrise in Digby and we left our 3 day layover town heading south along the Annapolis Basin and eventually along the Annapolis River valley.

First stop was a little artist community and indigenous community named Bear River. It was a very small village with art studios dotted along the country road and even a winery. A few homes are on stilts because of the tidal flow up the Bear River.

We spent the first 42 km of our 70 km day in what I called “Mostly crawling Upsy and Sprinting Downsy”. I guess this is good to get me prepared for Cabot Trail. I’m climbing in my easiest of spinning gears very slowly to the top but still spinning…(fortunately), to descend very, very quickly down within 10-20 seconds! Over and over and over for 42 km. (25 mi). We did have to walk one very short and steep climb out of Bear River.

The tidal basin was beautiful to look out upon so it kept me going. The temp was cool 50* this morning and the clouds moved right in.

We stopped at a German Bakery /Restaurant for a mid morning treat. It was good but turned out to be incredibly pricey!! Note to self: next time ask the price of these goodies before buying!

The terrain changed dramatically after the town Annapolis Royal… now we were going into the river valley and the road was far less hilly. I could ride in my middle chain ring the remaining 30 km. (18 mi). We scooted right along. Big wide river valley. Pretty views.

Stopped at the Acadian Cultural Community Center for a picnic lunch. The owners were there working on the property so we had a visit and they showed us inside. If you’re Acadian, they have a big celebration with food and music on Acadia day in August. If your last name is Hebert or Thibodeau, you are an original Acadian from the 1600’s in Nova Scotia! That’s what he told me anyway. He was a Thibodeau. Acadians were the first European settlers to come to Nova Scotia. They were from western France.

We’re at a campground tonight in Bridgetown. Have a little cabin because… guess what?… yep, it’s going to rain again all night! It’s nothing special but will be dry when we wake up in the morning. Easier to cook breakfast and pack up! It’s Monday and besides Tim Horton’s the only food open is a takeout pizza joint. It’s a quick 2 minute ride so that’s what’s for dinner tonight.

While eating pizza on the cabin deck and watching the glassy river in front of us, the water suddenly started moving very slowly in a big undulating, twirling motion. This lasted a couple of minutes and then the flow reversed its direction and began moving upstream. I have never before witnessed the exact moment when the tide changes the flow of the river. It was interesting and also made such a beautiful motion. I wish I had known what I was witnessing enough to capture it on video.. rats.

Litter…or lack thereof

I’ve been mulling this post for a few weeks now. When you travel slowly all the odds and ends and litter alongside the road are very noticeable. In my past rides I’ve pointed out roadkill, unusual objects and just trash along the road. On this ride in Canada there is noticeably LESS litter than I’m accustomed to in the good ol’ US of A!

Let’s begin with Quebec… litter was almost nonexistent. Now this could be because we were on trails most of the time. Cyclists don’t carry a lot of extra items and usually it is pretty secured on your bike. No cups of pop, beer cans or bottles, wrappers, fast food boxes and bags, charging cords, rubber tires, diapers… you get the idea! But for the 3 days we were on highways, we still rarely saw a piece of litter. So high five to Quebec!

New Brunswick. We were on highways the entire time and still saw very little litter. Occasional Tim Horton red paper soda cups. Few and far between. Kudos to NB too!

Nova Scotia. There is definitely more litter but it’s almost ALL Tim Horton’s red soda pop cups! Maybe because they are paper it’s less bad? Biodegradable, right? What you never see here or in the other 2 provinces are aluminum cans (beer, white claws or pop) or plastic soda bottles! Why? Because they are valuable. They are worth $$. We have seen people that collect cans in the cities. Houses will put their cans out for people to pick up.. just like garbage day. I’m just guessing that maybe that had something to do with the lack of roadside litter.

That’s my two cents on litter. Btw… Canada does not have pennies. If the price is 1.43… they just drop the pennies. Good idea I think. That’s another subject😊

Tomorrow…

Might have a little rain to start. Goal: Kentville 70km. (45mi) Campground. Bicycle shop to check our chains.