View from Hideaway Campground

It was cloudy when we left camp. Our route was a hilly one along the coast. My legs were still pretty sore from yesterday which made even the smallest of hills feel like mountains. In reality the hills weren’t too bad and we just took it easy.

We soon came to Neil’s Harbour. Not only does it have the best name but in my humble opinion is the prettiest harbour on the Cabot Trail.

Neil’s Harbour

Neil’s Harbour

We cruised through Ingonish and soon we were starting the climb up Smokey Mountain. The climb wasn’t too bad but the descent was fairly steep with lots of switchbacks.

View from Smokey Mountain

In Wreck Cove we stopped for some chocolate milk to go with our PBJ. I was tempted buy the ice cream but Yukon Greig arrived and mentioned that he had seen a sign for a bakery about 15 km further down the road. I decided to postpone dessert.

Sure enough a little further down the road was a bakery. A coffee and an oatcake made the perfect dessert. Cape Breton oatcakes are the best!

Elaine, Danny

Further along we arrived at the Englishtown Ferry. It took longer to load and unload the ferry than it took to make the short crossing. In fact if you lowered the ramps at each end you could almost drive straight across from shore to shore.

A short distance past the ferry, up a steep hill, was our campground for the night. Our ride today was 106 km.

Tonight was the night to transfer our belongings from the truck that had carried our gear all summer to a van and trailer that would complete the trip to St. John’s. The van and trailer had just finished duty as the support vehicle for the Tour Atlantic. We also needed to pack an overnight bag to take on the ferry with us. At the ferry terminal in North Sydney we will load our bikes on top of the van and trailer and board the ferry as foot passengers.

Evening briefing

Bud briefing us on the ferry trip

Today was also Elaine’s birthday. Following an evening meeting at which we were briefed on the ferry crossing, and dinner, we had birthday cake.

Myra delivering Elaine’s Birthday Cake

It was a somewhat strange feeling setting up our tents this evening for the last time. It really brought home that our ride was rapidly reaching its conclusion. Tomorrow night we are on the ferry and the next night we will be in St. John’s.