Cabot Trail - Day 5 - Completed

It was not raining when we woke up! Not raining! Woohoo. Breakfast in the kitchen tent and we said goodbye to our campground host. Avoca Birch. The owner explained that Avoca means the meeting of waters (there is a river meeting the ocean there), and there are many birch trees.  She was very kind to us, and her new campground will be lovely as it gets finished. 

The ride was dry and quiet. Rolling hills and coastline, forest and flowers. 

We had one mechanical issue on Michele's bike, but it was fixed quickly and we were back on our way.  

We found ourselves at a Lobster restaurant for lunch, and as we sat there (keeping an eye on our bikes) we saw an old friend... The sun!

After lunch we had a brief stint on the Trans Canada Highway. We came upon construction. Which ended up a blessing as we were the last to go through and then we had the highway to ourselves for several kms. 

We left the highway and cycled the coastal road and some gravel, through Baddeck (ice cream stop!), and the sun shone down so hot we were melting. Crazy to go from so cold and wet to so hot, in one day.

We spotted two eagles watching the traffic go by, just as we approached Baddeck.

But no moose or bears for us this week. 

Finally, back to the Campground, back to our cars, back to where we started. Circumnavigation.  

We did it!

326 kms around Cape Breton,

4426 meters of climbing. 

Not much time for reflection just yet. 

A beautiful route, but not all bike friendly. 

A beautiful island, but every kind of weather in one week - incredible winds, inches of rain, too much fog and too much sun. All in 5 days. 

And bugs - mosquitoes and dear flies that are very hungry. 

We all move on from here, in our own directions. 

Blaine and Anne-Marie have already left for Peggy's Cove, and we will head to Maine (and then Boston) early tomorrow. While Michele and Allen head to PEI. 

One more sleep in the tent, and another great cycle touring trip completed. 

Sleep well.