2016 The Fundy Bay Fall Colours Ride

It all starts with a hearty breakfast, then a hearty lunch, followed by a... Perhaps you get the picture now, and might have an inkling as to why riding a motorcycle for 500 kilometres and 10 hours might not have an impact on my ability to fit into shrinking riding gear, although I will be the first to admit that while finding one is losing weight is a wonderful thing, the realization that ones heated gear no longer functions at peak operating efficiency can be bit hard to bare in this colder climate.

Mary's Point Road, Harvey Bank NB

Borden-Carleton PE to Alma NB

Google "My Maps" link to the route

The breakfast... Anna's Country Kitchen in Crapaud PEI...

Fuel for the riders, then fuel for the rides

We headed over the bridge then took a side cut down off of 16 where the bulk of the traffic is to be found, and skipped most of it on Route 955 through Murray Corner. A fun little route that bikers should be familiar with to get away from that trucker and tourist traffic on 16.

Once you exit Moncton itself, Route 114 winds its way along the shoreline of the Petitcodiac River, where the tidal effect of the Bay of Fundy is so great, that people have been known to surf on the river!

Route 114 near Lower Cape NB and the ride is getting interesting

Mountville NB

Just outside of Mountville NB, the road puts you right on the coast of the Bay of Fundy, and the view really improves!

Brian manages to keep up...

I'd taken the main road in to Alma many times, but wanted to explore a bit so guided by my Garmin 60cx I turned south off of the 114 onto the 915 towards Harvey Bank along Marys Point Road.

It turns out that it used to be used to build ships, and float them down the river into the bay at high tide. The fall weather and it's affect on the marsh made this place a feast for the eyes

Shepody Marsh NB

The town of Harvey Bank NB

They even built a lighthouse... For the tourists.

A road and a motorcycle gang. Perfection.

Low tide along the Shepody River

Marys Point Road overlooking Shepody National Wildlife Area

The wildlife area is just so beautiful and wide that I simply couldn't frame it properly, so you are just going to have to get on your motorcycle and go see it yourself.

915 South near New Horton

The surface of the 915 gradually got rougher, and with more patches and repairs, then faded away to gravel. I have to admit, there were a few rough potholes in one section with enough standing water that I was a bit nervous, but

when in danger or in doubt, 

stand up on the pegs and throttle out. 

 

Brian can't figure out why I've slowed down...

The 915 winds along Chignecto Bay and leads you to a wonderful access road to the Cape Enrage lighthouse and rock beach at the foot of Barn Marsh Creek.

Barn Marsh Creek seen from Lighthouse Road

Cape Enrage overlooking Chignecto Bay NB

Why was Brian constantly saying "A bit further back..."?

Rocher Bay NB

It's a lighthouse.

And another... Oops, same one sorry.

Rocher Bay on the rocky beach at Cape Enrage NB

Selfie time. I had no idea it would be this hard to get my big head into such a little shot!

While Brian can ride down onto the rock beach, my bike has enough room to u-turn

Looking north along Barn Marsh Creek.

The word is out, and other bikers know of this place

Long Marsh Creek as it winds it's way out to Rocher Bay

Share the road

915 heading West towards Alma NB

I'm really enjoying the views from the shoulder of the 915 and Brian is patient enough to allow me my time with the camera.

The 915 ends abruptly as it spills us out into the small town of Alma NB where fishing and tourism seem to be the main industry for the inhabitants, but they are especially good at the baking of sticky buns where I purchase a half dozen to take home to my Island family, and at fish & chips across the street at The Boathouse Restaurant.

The BEST fish & chips in New Brunswick!

How do you compete with perfectly done generous portions of fish over top hot hand cut french fried potatoes with a side of fresh coleslaw? All it needs is a cool iced tea with lemon and you are in business.

If you have ever owned a KLR then there is no need to tell you what is happening in these pictures. For the rest of you... You never need to change the oil on a KLR, but it is necessary to always top it off. Over and Over again.

Fill the oil 

and 

Check the gas

 

Apparently KLR owners feed a lunch of 10w40 to their bikes

We gassed up in Alma, you know, the only fuel station this far south... and headed into Fundy National Park which winds it's way into the hills with some rapid elevation changes that make for a fun ride.

Inland and away from the coast we started to see more of the fall colours that we had been expecting to see on this ride.

As neither of us relished more time than necessary on the highway, we crossed over the Trans Canada Highway and made our way back towards Port Elgin and the Confederation Bridge on a number of lovely little roads, and Brian was politic enough not to laugh when I had to do a u-turn on a private road to get us back on track and headed home.

What, lost again? Maybe you should bring a map next time, Ron.

Lovely little back roads of New Brunswick

I think this one is taking us in the right direction...

Relief! Home as the sun sets, and riding straight into the fog and a bit of drizzle

2016 Alma and the Bay of Fundy

Well, Sunday threatened rain, but it also threatened a weekend without a serious ride, as my brother and his wife were visiting from Ontario, and Saturday was their last day with us on the island.

I'd asked if the boys were up for a ride, along with our friend Mike on his Suzuki Bandit 1250, and Mike offered up Alma as our destination so early Sunday morning I heard a knock at my door as my sister asked me if I was still planning on joining them for a ride. It happens, sometimes you take a back seat and let others do the planning. Wendy made us all breakfast before we rode out to meet Mike, but I left a few minutes early as I needed some cash in my wallet so I could pay the 18.50 toll to get off of the island.

"Meet me at the Irving at 0945"

We few, we happy few.

Borden-Carleton PE to Alma NB and return

 Okay, so what if it was closer to 1015? Mike knows us.

Please may we leave the island?

It's free to come to the island, but they charge you $18.50 to leave by motorcycle, and those two guys on the end? The one on the Triumph Scrambler and the KLR? It's their first time riding a bike across this bridge. :)

Tyler got stuck behind a slow mini van for the entire trip across the Confederation Bridge, all 11kms of it.

 Have a look on the map and you will see that the Confederation Bridge is located at the end of a pretty straight stretch of road. It's darned straight and chock full of RV's and other tourists, along with a smattering of tractor trailers... But none of them take that gem of a road, the 955 along the coast. You won't be dragging your knee on it, but it's a lovely twisty windy bit of road that meanders along the coast and hooks back up with 15 to Moncton further to the North West. Enjoy!

Mike on his Bandit

Ryan on his Mom's Bonnie

Dad on his Beemer

Nate on his borrowed KLR

Tyler on his Scrambler

Somewhere on the road to Alma

Once you get over the Petit Codiac or "Chocolate River" in Moncton onto the Riverview side, it's pretty much one road that leads you straight down to the Hopewell Rocks, The Bay of Fundy, and Alma NB then up and over Fundy National Park. The ride South is the fun bit, and takes you through a few small towns, and along the coast where the world's highest tides have a great impact on the rivers and streams. If you time it right, your ride will be near low tide so you can swing into the National Park at Hopewell Rocks and really see the sights they have to offer. It's a busy park, so if you don't mind colder weather, you will find it not nearly as busy after Labour day in September.

I'll not forget this street name...

You know you're home when you see your last name on street signs instead of wanted posters.

My ancestors were United Empire Loyalists and settled around New Brunswick, and thoughtfully named some mountains, streets after us, then went on to populate the province. :)

The pictures just don't do this justice.

Sorry gang, there are many more shots of this area and the coastline in my other albums that are hot linked at the bottom of the page. 

Downtown

We got stuck behind some slower moving bikes that didn't have any rearview mirrors

Sigh, all we need is a good stretch of road to pass three bikes at the same time (they aren't leaving enough space for a single pass)

We made it!

Nate got taken up by the local constabulary for excessive speed, his defense was to show them the KLR and all charges were dropped.

Up and over the park!

Add caption

Tyler loses it, and BRAPPPPP! He's in the lead!

But, it's a Triumph and was blowing oil past the rings, or maybe he fouled a plug... :P

When we hit the Transcanada 1, we got hit with some sprinkles of rain, and I had to stop in Sackville, so when they stopped roadside to gear up, I waved adieu and took off towards Moncton. Slabbing it back saved me riding in the late afternoon rain for the most part, but it was a bit boring so I'll leave you with these two shots.

Rain clouds over Moncton

Can I sneak by? Yes!!!!

 And it was back to the island for a nice hot cuppa after filling my tank, but alas, the rain came and I tossed my tea and headed for home.

I took more pictures of the gang, as I've ridden out this way four or five times in the past couple of years, so search this blog for 'Alma', 'Fundy', and 'Hopewell' for more.

Cheers!