Ride Day 6: Tying the Knot

 

Today we “tie the knot," or "close the loop," in nautical lingo, by completing our circle of Cape Breton Island on the Cabot Trail. We cross our outbound path when we pass through Whycocomagh. We’re now taking a westerly tack before we turn south toward the ferry that will take us to Prince Edward Island.

 

We really enjoyed Baddeck. It was great to spend a rainy Cape Breton day in a cozy apartment and recharge our batteries, both literally and figuratively. We had a leisurely ride today of about 75 km, so started relatively late, about 1000. It was looking pretty good, but still a bit cold.

We soon passed by Big Spruce Brewing, which through in depth research we've found to produce quite good products. More research is required to make any definitive judgments, though.

Big Spruce Brewing, just south of Baddeck

The weather kept improving all day

At Whycocomagh, where we tied the knot, we turned west and traversed a few km of the same road that we'd ridden a week ago. But not for long as we turned southward rather than north and passed through some milk cattle country, with several cheese creameries.

Skye Isle Creamery, Cape Breton Island

There are quite a few bald eagle nests along the Mabou River.

We are staying in Mabou tonight on the west side of the island. Mabou is super tiny but has a famous for its one pub, The Red Shoe. By all accounts it is a wild place with lots of revelry and Gaelic music. Unfortunately, it isn't open until mid-June. But it is famous because it is run by the Rankin Sisters, who are said to be pretty famous musicians. I've never heard of them, but that means nothing of course. You can see them here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N34ose53Pg8 

Famous due to the proprietors, the Rankin Sisters

Colorful closed restaurant in Mabou

We are staying at an Inn in Mabou that is run by a guy from the midwest. His niece is here from southern Texas and they are graciously making a big Mexican dinner for us. So just a brief post with one more addition. Throughout Canada there are signs with dual languages, usually English and French but sometimes English and Tlingit. But here, most of the signs are English and Gaelic and many people speak Gaelic as a first language.

Sign in storefront in Mabou

Good reading?

Capping off a sign issue, here are some other good signs we've seen along the way:

From Tom's Pizza, Baddeck

Most of the roads are really nice for riding. Some are a bit rougher...

I like this one a lot but had to think about it for a moment...

Until tomorrow.