Today was a very long, scenic, hilly, and dare I say, hot and humid day, although not as oppressive as two days ago. The first picture is sunrise through my motel window. After 35 miles or so there is a leg breaking killer climb over Smokey Mountain. It only gets up to about 1,000 feet, but the grade is very stupid with an 80 pound bicycle. I had to walk a few bits. Someone needs to show the Canadians how to dig tunnels (and in the United States too). There are names of places on the map along this stretch, but no stores, except for the odd pottery or quilt shop.
There is a little inlet of the bay around the Ingonish area and then you finally enter Cape Breton Highlands National Park, only to leave it again a few miles up the road. This happens many times along the Cabot Trail. The road is well maintained in the park and the next section in the park going north was very scenic. I turned off the main road and got to Neil's Harbor where I heard there was a good restaurant, the Chowder House. I was hoping I could find a room here too as I was 64 miles into the ride. There were no rooms although I could have pitched my tent on the restaurant property, I kind of wanted a shower.
Here I had a choice of taking the main road or a back road to South Harbor with a campground, but another 15 miles. I ate a couple meals of very nice crab and chowder and after consulting with the help there I made the fateful choice of taking the back road. The girls at the restaurant said the road was a little winding, but not too hilly. Lesson learned; never get directions from someone who doesn't ride a bike. The road was up and down steeply for the entire 15 miles. I made it, got my shower, and the last two photos are my campsite and the view. My 5th night camping. I might be getting the hang of this touring thing.
Route;
Pictures;
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