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Nova Scotia Plus! 2025
  • Janice Guimond
  • Janice Guimond

Nova Scotia Plus! 2025

Sort of a convoluted itinerary, but a route of Denver for a night, Wyoming for four nights, and then on to Halifax, and Cape Breton for nine nights is how things worked out!
On the back end of the itinerary--a six day cycling tour on the Cabot Trail Read more
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  • Trip start
    August 2, 2025
    Janice GuimondNova Scotia Plus! 2025Traveler
    One of many beautiful murals in Edgewater
    Edgewater, with Adam's favorite brewpub in the background 🍻Walking around Sloan Lake - beautiful!Adam, Janice, TomFun to see the smiling faces of the Theis family in Adam's guest room 🤗Another Denver buddy, SteveTom, Janice, Steve, & Kary

    Denver

    Aug 2–3 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 55 °F

    We flew from Minneapolis to Denver, and had an excellent visit with nephew Adam. So fun to spend a night in his new house, enjoy an excellent dinner, a walk at Sloan Lake, and lunch in the Edgewater neighborhood!Read more

  • Janice GuimondNova Scotia Plus! 2025Traveler
    The Wyoming State Capital
    State Capitol DomePainted boots are all around the cityHistoric Train StationTom & a boot 😊Train StationCheyenne Botanic GardensCheyenne Botanic GardensCheyenne Botanic GardensCheyenne Botanic GardensCheyenne Botanic GardensCheyenne Botanic GardensCheyenne Botanic GardensCheyenne Botanic Gardens

    Cheyenne

    Aug 3–4 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 81 °F

    After our time in Denver, we drove to Cheyenne, WY. For a capital city, Cheyenne is on the small side. It was easy to get around, and we enjoyed our time there.

  • Janice GuimondNova Scotia Plus! 2025Traveler
    Hiking in the National Forest near Laramie
    Getting acclimated 😊. Keath, Deb, Janice, Penny......and Bob!

    Laramie!

    August 4 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 55 °F

    We drove from Cheyenne to Laramie, to the beautiful property of our amazing hosts Bob & Penny, for fun & games with our Arizona Carbles crew! Started out with a 3-mile hike to get acclimated to the elevation (~8,700').Read more

  • Janice GuimondNova Scotia Plus! 2025Traveler
    Gorgeous views as we climbed the boulders
    Justin during the climbView during the climbJustin at the rappelling siteMe in my harness before the descentGorgeous day in a beautiful areaJustin connecting the ropeMe on the descent!Working on my form/technique 😊Very fun, once I got over the initial anxiety at the topJustin & Bob at the bottomWhat a patient, helpful, and supportive guide! Thanks, Justin!!2Spot of our first rappel 😲

    Oohhh - Rappelling!

    August 5 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 73 °F

    Bucket list -- check! I have always wanted to try rappelling, and Bob was kind enough to arrange an outing to the fabulous Vedauwoo Climbing Area, with his son Justin as guide. Getting to the rappelling spot was somewhat of a daunting rock scramble. Justin & I made our way up the boulders, with Justin often providing a hand, knee, or shoulder to help me up a large rock, or over a rock crevass. We squeezed through boulders, crawled through openings...it was an adventure! Then we made it to the top, and rappelled down over two sections. Amazing!!Read more

  • Janice GuimondNova Scotia Plus! 2025Traveler
    All 8 of us! Tami, Nate, Penny, Bob, Tom, Janice, Deb, Keath
    Abandoned mine2Tom leading the way? 😉National Forest2View on the ascent1Another view on the ascent. Wildflowers in bloom 💐1Keath, Penny, & Bob1Penny & Bob -- so cute!🥰1Me & Bob on a snow field1Bob & his snow man 😄1The snow man2Ha!1More wildflowers on the descent2Small stone cabin at the trailhead

    The Snowy Range

    August 6 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

    Hiking day. The sky was hazy from Canadian wildfire smoke as we set out on our drive to the Snowy Range west of Laramie, but as we gained elevation and got to the trailhead ~11,000'), the sky cleared. Wonderful!Read more

  • Janice GuimondNova Scotia Plus! 2025Traveler
    Long view from the side of the house. The property goes to the far line of trees!
    Expansive view from the deckBright & beautiful dining roomNate & Bob on a rock outcropping in the 'back yard. 'Bob balancing on Cheers' teeter totter 🙂And Deb too!1Two games underwayCarbles board!!1Cheers running a sample course. It's a workout for Penny, too!Cheers doing the weave -- one of the most complicated moves

    Carbles, etc. 😃

    August 6 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    Have to document the game play too! We played Carbles for a couple of hours each night. Adding some pics of Bob & Penny's property too. Penny is an amazing dog trainer/show-er, and she has a very cool setup in a large 'barn' where she and Cheers train. Impressive!! 🐕Read more

  • Janice GuimondNova Scotia Plus! 2025Traveler
    Halifax airport arrival
    1Halifax Citadel1Halifax Citadel1Halifax waterfront (view to Georges Island)Halifax Waterfront1Economy Shoe Shop (restaurant/bar)1Cheers!1'Economy Shoe Shop'1We were craving a salad, and found a great one!1Our apartment (green building with four windows) above the Flower Shop32 mile bike ride to explore the city and surrounds

    Halifax

    Aug 8–11 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    After 15 hours of travel, we finally made it from Denver to Halifax! There are no direct flights from Denver or Minneapolis, so we knew it would be a two-flight day. But...on our first leg from Denver to Toronto, Air Canada stopped in Minneapolis to re-fuel 😠. That delay caused us to miss our connection in Toronto. Fortunately, we were able to get re-booked on a later flight, and arrived at our apartment in Halifax at
    about 1:00am. So...from Laramie at 6:30am to downtown Halifax at 1am...a long day, despite the 3 hour time difference. SO glad we made it same day though. Limited time of just two full days in the Halifax area = a full itinerary that we didn't want to give up!    Read more

  • Janice GuimondNova Scotia Plus! 2025Traveler
    1Welcome to Lunenberg
    1Lunenberg Waterfront1Lunenberg WaterfrontLunenberg Waterfront1LunenbergLunenberg1LunenbergLunenberg1Bayswater Beach1Bayswater Beach1Bayswater Beach1Bayswater Beach

    Lunenburg & Bayswater Beach

    August 8 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    Lunenberg is a historic town ~90 minutes west of Halifax. It is designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO -- considered the best example of a planned British colonial settlement in North America, as it retains its original layout and appearance of the 1800s.
    Bayswater Beach Provincial Park, along the south shore of Lunenberg County, has a great white-sand beach that is walkable (easily, I proved, in tennis shoes while Tom relaxed and napped 😊).    Read more

  • Janice GuimondNova Scotia Plus! 2025Traveler
    1
    1Peggy's Cove1Peggy's Cove Lighthouse1Peggy's Cove LighthousePeggy's Cove Lighthouse1Yup...another one1Just one more 😊1Peggy's Cove1Peggy's Cove2Peggy's Cove video

    Peggy's Cove

    August 8 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    Peggy's Cove, about 45 minutes west of Halifax, is a beautiful cove in St. Margaret's Bay (Peggy being a nickname for Margaret). Of course, I thought of my sister Peg the whole time there 🤗 -- even though she is not a Margaret 😉. Beautiful spot!Read more

  • Janice GuimondNova Scotia Plus! 2025Traveler
    Van & trailer...for shuttling to Baddeck, and for van support for the week.
    Our first tour with 'Pedal & Sea Adventures.' So far they have been great!Ha! They are even artistic 😊😊 Happy to be getting the tour underway. Cindy & Lorin behind us, smiling too 😊Welcome to Baddeck!Old Post Office in BaddeckOld Post Office - love this building that is now a small art gallery.Alexander Graham Bell museunAlexander Graham Bell museunThe loop in the upper right is our cycling routeAlexander Graham Bell museun

    Let the Cycling Begin 🚴‍♀️

    August 10 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    Sunday morning, we checked out of our Halifax apartment and met up with the other cyclists and guides. There are only seven riders on this tour (I was expecting 12 or so), and we have two guides (Coady & Jane). We loaded up in the van and drove about 4 hours to Baddeck, on Cape Breton Island. Had time to explore this seaside town, including a visit to the Alexander Graham Bell museum. Our dinner at The Telegraph House was exceptional. Other than bike fitting, no riding on Sunday. The weather has been excellent. Nova Scotia is enduring a drought, so while they need rain, we are loving the sunshine! Due to fire danger, Parks Canada has closed all of the parks in this region, out of an abundance of caution (and to redeploy staff elsewhere). Doesn't affect our tour much, but the locals aren't too happy about this. Fine is $25,000 (gulp!). We are cycling the Cabot Trail, a scenic 185 mile loop road around the northern tip of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. It's renowned for its stunning coastal and highland scenery.Read more

  • Janice GuimondNova Scotia Plus! 2025Traveler
    1Lake O'Law (Jane taking a dip)
    1Lake O'Law1The Margaree River1Ross Bridge over the Margaree River swimming hole1Jeff, Cindy & Lorin in the swimming hole2Tom cooling off in the Margaree River. Sunny & mid-80's this afternoon.1Pedal & Sea branded beer -- very refreshing! 🍻1Left to right: Lorin, John (Boulder, CO), Tom, Cindy & Jeff (D.C. area)2Guides Coady & JaneChristine (New Jersey)2Enjoying a cold one1Tom feeding an apple to Igor, a donkey on the property 🙂.1Ha! I love the creativity & cute graphics!1Jane jumping from the bridge into the swimming holeThe 29-mile route (~2 000' elevation gain)......and the 11-mile loop to a swimming hole & back1The evening's entertainment 😊.

    Cycling Day 1

    August 11 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    So fun to be back in the saddle! Monday we cycled from Baddeck into the Margaree Valley. This first section is inland rather than coastal, but dotted with lakes and we followed the Margaree River for much of the route. We rode 29 miles before lunch, then 11 miles after to round out a 40-mile day. After a refreshing shower, we gathered for happy hour and dinner, followed by a Scottish/Irish musician in the Lodge (and Tom & I got in a couple of games of cribbage).Read more

  • Janice GuimondNova Scotia Plus! 2025Traveler
    2Another gorgeous day!
    1Pretty coastal view1Coady with a cookie1Scenic sculpture in a cemetery on our route.1Funky art gallery1Funky art gallery1Welcome to Cheticamp1Cheticamp1Cabot Trail signage1Cheticamp waterfront3Snow Crab legs sure take a lot of work!Today's ride1Cape Moene1Music at the Doryman 😊

    Cycling Day 2

    August 12 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F

    Today was an easier day -- 32 miles and ~1,400' elevation gain. We started inland (Margaree Valley) and biked into the Cape Breton Highlands, then up the coast with beautiful views, to Cheticamp (an Acadian settlement where most residents speak French -- English too, fortunately). Dinner was on our own tonight, and we were fortunate to nab a window table at the Harbour Restaurant so we could watch the sun set over the water. Afterward, we met up with some of the others for live music at the Doryman. We are getting our fill of Scottish/Irish music 😄.Read more

  • Janice GuimondNova Scotia Plus! 2025Traveler
    2Beautiful!
    1Sweaty!1White Point1Bay at White Point1White Point Bay1White Point Bay1White Point Bay1Stack of lobster traps at White Point Bay1Cooling off (Cabot Strait, Gulf of St. Lawrence)1Houses have a wooden box at the end of their driveway for trash/recycling. These two are more fancy!1The views keep coming!1Happy to be out cycling!1More coastal views1😄1Tom at Happy Hour1Happy Birthday, Jeff!1White Point Bay1White Point. Trail closed 🤨.

    Cycling Day 4

    August 14 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 73 °F

    After a challenging ride yesterday, today felt easy. We logged 30 miles, and about 2,500' elevation gain. Very scenic ride mostly along the coast. Because of the wildfire danger and subsequent park/trail closures that were put into place a week ago by Parks Canada, the main road isn't quite as busy -- a small silver lining, I suppose. Last night and tonight our lodging is in Dingwall, and the property is adjacent to Dingwall Beach, with hardly any people. Such a great site. 🏖 Tomorrow is our last day of the tour, so we had our final group happy hour and dinner tonite. It has gone so fast!Read more

  • Janice GuimondNova Scotia Plus! 2025Traveler
    1Little lighthouse 😊
    1Gazebo with a view1Starting point of today's ride1Donning our Pedal & Sea socks 😄1Awaiting our turn in a construction area1Atop Cape Smokey1Cape Smokey1Cape Smokey1What goes up must come down...1Thank goodness the uphill was much more gradual. 12% is steep!1Ha! Someone's driveway was lined with stone creations 😊1Lunch spot on our last dayFinal route - 25 miles, ~2,200'15So long, Nova Scotia!!

    Cycling Day 5 - Finale

    August 15 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    Our Cabot Trail tour has come to an end ☹️. Started the morning with a 25-mile ride to round out the week. Lunch at The Clucking Hen (ha!), followed by a 4-hour drive back to Halifax. No evening flight options to MSP, so we spent the night in Halifax. Had a nice dinner just the two of us, and debriefed our tour 😊. We were very happy with Pedal & Sea. They really took care of us, and the itinerary was great.Read more

    Trip end
    August 16, 2025
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