Maine to Fundy (8/3/23 Thu)
With my focus on the web mapping software, I only fit in an evenings pre-trip bike check. Annes 650 needed nothing. My 1050 got a front brake fluid change and a new front tire.
After my late night I wasn't quick to rise Thursday morning, but I expect Anne was surpised that I did at all. We began with a leasure start to the day. Before leaving I realized I should book us on the Cape Bretton Island to Newfoundland ferry. Problem. A week ago the overnight ferry had space on both the Saturday ferry crossings we wanted. Neither Saturday had room for us or the bikes this morning.
The return trip could occur one day later, on Sunday. This was doable. Making our leasure four day trip home into the usual 3 day trip. But the first open ferry to NL was noon on Monday. Arriving in NL around 2300. Not ideal, a better choice to take the Monday late ferry and arrive Tuesday 0700.
After a bit of thought I purchased our Sunday return tickets. Planning to arrive on our desired Saturday travel day asking to get on the next available ferry. Expecting the worst case would still be buy Monday tickets to NL.
With half of the required tickets purchased we started riding around 0930.
By the time we reached the Canadian boarderI I felt good about my new Longo seat. I don't think lthe Sargent would have been as comfortable without the Sheepskin cover. I still have the Sheepskin with me to try out after a few days riding.
During today's ride Anne had some irritation with her ear plugs. So we stopped to change them out with another type. She liked the ones I've been using from Tractor Suppy. She always wanted the smallest available for her tiny head (and matching ears), but mine seem softer to her now. Maybe I really am a princess? But I have company.
During the earplug stop I happened to look at my rear tire in bright sunlight. The main center tread blocks on the tire seemed to have dry rot round the base of each knobby. Ny first thought was that this would soon result in catastrophic failure. Especially at the highway speeds that we would be traveling at. Then I considered all the highway I'd traveled on with them so far. Eventually I realized these cracks would not go through to the inside, as there are layers of steal belts between the inside and tread. So I expect the worst case is that I loose a tread lug and expose some of those inner layers to the road. That would be very obvious on inspection, and probably even something I would feel while in motion. So I choose to not wory about it for this trip. But now it's definitlely getting replaced before Colordo. In the two days I'm home.
Once in Canada I wanted to find a TD ATM for a cash withdrawal. On the way to the ATM we passed a tank landmark next to an IceCream shop we stopped at a year ago. So now I know a few things in Sussex, NB.
As day turned into night we made the call to stop at a closer campground. We had previously used one in Fundy Provential Park on Wolfe Lake. So we picked a prior waypoint and started down the Fundy road as it got dark. A number of road construuction sections later I passed by a Moose in ditch only feet from our travel lane. It startled and ran along the road with me a bit. I panicked and started ranting moose positions over the comm gear. Worst case scenario running through its my headof it hopping into the road behind me and infront of Anne. Anne responded, oh, that's nice I finally got to see the moose up close. Not at all the warning I was trying to send. But certainly the best receipt of the information I could have hoped for. She says it was still grazing when she passed.
Eventualy we reached Fundy Wolfe Lake View and setup in site #20. Ther office had already closed. The entire campground very different that we remembered it from 15 years ago.
At midnight I met Ron the securityguard. He was very nice. Took all our information and answered my question. This was a new campground, not Wolfe Point. Ron was very nice, even if I did have to crawl out of bed and get dressed to meet him.