Day 9-Sat July 9/16

Hello everyone

Today I have to make it to Charlottetown to book my flight back home. When I was leaving the campsite, I asked the front desk person how many kms. to Antigonish and she says don`t you know where you are, here we go by time and it is a half hr. car time which means 90 mins. by bike. That`s good to know the next time I`m in Nova Scotia.

I arrived in Antigonish and they are hosting the annual Highland games parade. I found a Tim Horton's and I had my breakfast meal. The weather is holding out as far is rain is concerned. I was talking to a gentleman and he was telling me he runs the annual Cabot Trail relay run. That is cool.
I am taking the scenic route along the Northcumberland  Strait. This is called the sunrise trail. I am heading to the ferry at Caribou. Lots of nice houses along this route. I had to get on the Trans Canada for about 12 kms. and then exited to the ferry. I reached the ferry at 3:45 pm and missed the ferry by 1 hr. The next ferry is 6:15pm and will land at Woods Island at 7:30pm. It is 60 kms. to Charlottetown, so I know it will be a long day. I have already done 133 kms..I have prepared the bike with bike lights and wearing my nylon jacket so I don`t want to lose any time. I` m off and the sign says 59 kms. to Charlottetown. After about 5 kms. I was getting warm so I removed the jacket. By 8:45pm it was getting a little dark and I have only passed 1 motel at around 8:30 pm and that would put me too far from Charlottetown. At 9:15 pm I decided the first motel I see I am pulling over and calling it a night. At 9:45pm it is so dark I can`t see what is on the road and cars passing into my lane. I was getting a little nervous. At this time I was 21kms from Charlottetown and now there must be a motel coming up soon. It is now 10:30pm and I am crossing the bridge to Charlottetown. I stopped in Tim Horton`s and asked if there is a motel around here. Just down the road there is a Best Western. I ordered a BLT and a small hot choc. Life is good. I rode today 192kms.and the total ride is 1,210kms plus to the airport. I did not enjoy the last hour of riding and I feel very lucky nothing bad happened.

I`m on the phone with WestJet and the wait time is 30 mins. so I started a bath with the phone on speaker and I didn`t have to wait very long so I am talking while soaking. First bath in over a week. Life is good. All they had was a 6am flight so I tried Air Canada and I got a 2:20pm departure and arrive in London at 5:30pm. I can sleep in and have a nice breakfast and another bath.

This ride was a very challenging ride and I am glad it  has come to an end. I have missed Hon and my family very much and thank you for all the nice comments. I will do tomorrow`s blog about the flight home soon.

I am in Charlottetown in a motel having a bath.
Today`s ride- 192 kms.- Total- 1,210kms.

Mike

.