Shediac

Brian and I arrived on camp just after noon. We had shortened our ride by 13 km by taking the main road. There is always a downside and that was another flat tyre - caused by a fine shard of wire from a truck tire. These types of flats are quite common in highway riding.

We stopped in Shediac for lunch and I had scallops wrapped in bacon. The town is obviously a tourist stopping point. Their claim to fame is the warmest swimming beach north of Virginia. Not sure I'm willing to test that claim, even in the middle of a Canadian summer.

The campsite has us tenting 250m away from the truck - not ideal. Somehow the campsite owner thinks that having us tent literally in the middle of a playing field is ideal.

My tent is the orange one. Taken from the campsite where the truck is.

Dinner tonight is pulled pork sandwiches, beans with butter and pumpkin soup - followed by chocolate cake, vanilla pudding and fresh blueberries.

Tomorrow we rode to Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island. We have to cross Confederation Bridge by shuttle. Look it up on Google if you've not seen the bridge before - quite the feat of engineering being 13 km across the strait.

Shediac

I've reached the Atlantic! So technically I've now already crossed the continent - though we have 5 riding days left. This photo taken on the foreshore at Shediac.

Salisbury

A brief update from the road. Brian and I have abandoned the designated route and are riding to Shediac along the Trans Canada highway. It has a wide shoulder and easy grades. The proposed route was a goat track that would take all day. 

The distance today is 107k but I suspect we will only do 90.

The day is a beautiful with a strong tail wind. Talked by Skype with Liz in London today and she's off to the musical Matilda tonight.

Frederickton to Sussex

Started out at 5.45 to head to a cafe in the city which opened at 6am. All joined on waffles with ice cream and strawberries or bacon and eggs.

I rode with Jim and Mike for the first 50 km on the flat but dropped back on the hills. 

Have been riding by myself and quite enjoying it despite the hills.

Am now in Sussex at the 125k mark with about 15 to do to camp. Am using the free wifi at Tim Hortens to do the blog.

The day is cloudy and quite warm, we really have had good weather. 

Only 6 riding days left now.

Frederickton

The tour has reached Frederickton after 4 fairly long days of 150km each day. Yesterday we did 170. I think it's fair to say some of us are starting to feel worn down and looking forward to the end.

We have eight riding days to go, three to Charlottown in Prince Edward Island where we have another rest day, and then 5 to Saint Johns.

The organizers have had to alter the last few days riding because the ferry from Sydney at the end of the Cape Breton Peninsula to Agentia on New Foundland has been cancelled. It ran into the wharf in fog some days ago and is out for repairs.

So, we are taking the ferry from Sydney to Port Aux Basque on New Foundland on the south west coast of the island. This means an 800km bus ride across the top of the island so they can drop us off 100km out from St Johns to finish the trip.

Anyway today is our rest day. Didn't start out well as I had to sleep on the floor of a mates room last night when my electronic door key didn't work....still, I have had plenty of rougher sleeps in the tent over the past 2 months!

Will wander down into town shortly and see if I can find some free wifi- we are again staying in university dorms with no wifi.

Probably only sporadic wifi from here on as we are a long way from big cities and towns.

Heading into Frederickton

A 162km day. Me about to have morning tea at a Canadian institution.

Lac Baker to Clearview

Another long day but I'm only part way through. Having a burger at Burger King at noon in Grand Falls.

Last night was quite cold and when we started this morning it was only 6 degrees. Like riding in the Rockies! Here is a picture of the lake beside our camp.

The day is beautifully fine though with a strong tail wind. We've done 97k with another 60 to go.

Here is a photo of the group taken in Ottawa a few days ago outside Parliament.