Day 8: Bible Hill to Murray River

91 km (57 miles) – Total so far: 776 km (482 miles)

Today started for me with two questions, that I pondered over at first light in my campsite at about 4:45 am. Someone may be able to help me answer them. Firstly, is it true that mosquitos are attracted by bright colours? I wear an orange shirt, it’s comfortable and traffic can see it, but have I made a foolish error? Secondly, why keep the hot sauce in the fridge? Every place I eat I request it, and it always comes out extremely chilled with an icy cover to the bottle (usually Tabasco or Franks).

In the end I made a shrewd choice of camp, about a kilometre out of town in the bit of grass behind an elementary school. There were a few mosquitos, but a good site certainly. From there this morning just another kilometre out to a Tim Horton’s chain restaurant for coffees, and then away.

On other journals on CGOAB I had read bad things about Route 104 so followed the Old Pictou Road, Route 4. I very much recommend this. It’s a climb out of Truro to Kempton and maybe a bit further, but a great road, forested and away from 104 much of the time with very little traffic. Some of the riding around Mount Thoms was amongst the best yet. Then there is a fast descent into Pictou, probably pretty much downhill with a good surface for the last 20 km.

One can be given to doze at times when cruising at 14 – 15 mph through such wonderful scenery. I am reminded of the early hours of the morning on our last push into John O’Groates several years ago. we rode non stop in two relay teams, and the team that took over rode several minuets still basically asleep. no one had slept for getting on four days. Doze briefly here though, before rudely awoken by the smell a rotting raccoon roadkill. You can say what of like about roadkill, he fact is it saves many lives. A significant reason I came to Canada was the stories of the early adventurers and explorers. Albeit, much further north. One of my favourite books is How To Stay Alive In The Woods by Bradford Angier. It has been a major resource for me over the years leading kids outdoor trips. He demonstrates how to fashion sun glasses out of bark, and he suggests that if you are hungry, what better than a fresh roadkill. Squashed so the meat is lie a burger. If you are vegetarian, simply choose a vegetarian animal, such as a rabbit. Use the contents of its stomach, edible vegetables in a delightful saliva sauce. More on early explorers in future days.

The PEI ferry is very busy. Perhaps because its free in this direction, and they are trying to increase their population. I haven’t seen many tourists around at all in Nova Scotia, but I think that’s more to do with the choice of my route. My plan is to head to Murray River, and then Charlottetown tomorrow.

Distance 71.1 km to Caribou Ferry Terminal plus 20 km = 91.1 km Max Speed 50.5 km / hr Riding Time 3 hrs 15 mins + 50 mins = 4 hrs 5 mins Average Speed 21 km / hr or 13.3 mph Departed at 8:45 am Arrived at Caribou at 12:15 pm, left ferry at 2:45 pm arrived Murray River 3:35 pm