Biking Nova Scotia: This bike tour will appeal to travelers who want to get in few more miles during the week, and see more of the province while they’re at it. Our Best of Both Coast Tour will have you cycling both the Lighthouse Route along Nova Scotia’s South Shore, and the Evangeline Trail which runs parallel to the incomparable Bay of Fundy.
We’ll start in the village of Hubbards and wind our way through several lovely towns, including Chester, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll never be far from the Atlantic Ocean, still plied by fisherman in brightly-painted wooden dories, working the nets just as their forebears have for generations. The Lighthouse Route is aptly named, for more than 20 lighthouses can be found along the roads that follow our rugged coastline.
The tour then makes it's way over to the Evangeline Trail and Annapolis Royal, the town that marks France’s formal colonization of Canada. Amazingly, Samuel de Champlain and Sieur de Monts would find the area little changed from the lovely coastline that they explored, and settled more than 400 years ago. It’s still beautiful and tranquil. No doubt that was a huge factor in Annapolis Royal being named the World’s Most Livable Small Town in the World in 2004. But this area is also an area of unwanted history, for it was here — in the land of Evangeline — that the British military expelled French Acadians who would not take an oath of allegiance. Now called Le Grand Dérangement of 1755, it changed the history of New France and Louisiana. The countryside remembers. As we cycle through the Annapolis Valley towards Wolfville, we’ll see the incomparable surge of nature in the Bay of Fundy. The tides here are the world’s highest, rising more than 54 feet in the Minas Basin.
Of course, no Pedal and Sea tour would be complete without incredible attention to detail. As you would imagine in a small province that nonetheless boasts more than 5,000 miles of coastline, seafood is our special bounty, and you’ll have the opportunity to taste the freshest seafood prepared both classically and inventively. Luckily, the mileage on this tour is high, so you’ll be able to eat well, without any guilt whatsoever!
Day one: (57 km; 1 km equals 0.62 mi)
After an early shuttle from Halifax to Hubbards, we will set off on a bike
ride around the Aspotogan Peninsula, a very pretty jaunt by all accounts.
See if you can spot the castle. You’ll pass through many quaint
villages and cycle by a handful of secluded, sandy beaches. After a tasty
seaside picnic, we’ll continue around the peninsula to Chester,
a comely village with historic homes, including the inn where we will
hang our helmets for the evening. Lodging: The
Mecklenburgh Inn
Day two: (54-70 km)
We’ll leave Chester for a trip off the beaten path, and cycle the
quiet country roads through Indian Point and Mahone Bay. Our destination
is Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where we’ll rest for
the evening. First settled in 1753, the town’s many historic buildings
and homes will delight anyone with an eye for architecture or a sense of
history. We'll stay at either The
Bluenose Lodge or The
Mariner King.
Day three: (90-100 km)
White Point beckons. We’ll take a scenic ride on an old cable ferry
to Lahave, and stop at the Lahave Bakery — justifiably treasured
by locals — for a delicious lunch. We’ll continue on to Crescent
Beach, Mill Village, and Liverpool before settling in to our lodge for
the night. Time permitting, we’ll stroll the beach or have a quick
dip in the brisk Atlantic before a sumptuous dinner. Tonight we stay at
either Quarterdeck
Beachside Villas or White
Point Beach Resort.
Day four: (120-130 km)
Obviously, we have a busy day planned, but please remember that our support
van will be close by for anyone who wishes to get to the inn early. We’re
heading across the province towards the gorgeous town of Annapolis Royal.
Tonight, after yet another feast, we’ll hazard a candlelit graveyard
tour with a natural storyteller. Monsieur Melanson will try to frighten
the bejeesus out of you, and you may feel the presence of a Bluenose
Ghost or two. You’ll even learn more about The
Hillsdale House, our home for the evening — a mansion built
in 1849 for the princely sum of $13,000.
Day five: (72 km)
You will be riding along the shores of the Bay of Fundy, home of the world's
highest tides. You will ride through Young's Cove, Phinneys Cove, and
Port Lorne as you make your way to Nictaux, your home for the night.
Numerous farm stands line today’s route, so be sure
to stop and sample fresh fruit probably picked that morning from a surrounding
orchard. A wonderful salmon pool near the inn will make for a refreshing
dip before dinner. Tonight we'll lay our heads at the lovely Falcourt
Inn.
Day six: (65-102 km)
We’ll be touring through the Annapolis Valley to Hall’s Harbour,
poised directly on the Bay of Fundy, which is home to the world’s
highest tides and the lobsters that we’ll enjoy over lunch. Our ultimate
destination is Wolfville, a gorgeous university town with lots to do. We'll
stay at either Victoria's
Historic Inn or The
Tattingstone Inn
Day seven: (20 km)
A short ride will find us on top the dykes, built by the Acadians
so many years ago to tame the Bay of Fundy's tides. En route, we'll visit
Grand Pré, the village immortalized in Longfellow’s epic
poem Evangeline. In 1755, the English expelled most Acadians
(Le Grande Dérangement) for refusing to sign an oath of loyalty, and
many Acadians being resettled in Louisiana, and becoming that region's
Cajuns. Our tour ends with a transfer back to Halifax, sad that our adventure
is ending, but glad to have made new friends.
Our self-guided Best of Both Coasts Tour
Best of Both Coasts Bike Tour
2008 Season
July 6-12 • August 3-9 • August
17-23 •
August 31-September 6 • September 14-20 •
Custom Groups Anytime
Pedal & Sea Adventures: our annual
sale
1) Is this your second tour with PSA? Let us know, so we can knock
$100 Cdn off the price, and send you a free PSA Jersey ($80 value).
2) If this is your third PSA tour, let us know so we can knock $100 Cdn
off the price, send a free jersey, and cover your bike rental!
For these great incentives, please let our staff know when you book!
Prices
$2099 Cdn (US prices depend upon the exchange rate)
20% single supplement
Hybrid Bike: $139 Cdn or
Road Bike: $179 Cdn
13% tax (HST) is added
Inclusions
• 6 nights accommodations
• 5 dinners, 5 lunches,
6 breakfasts
•
van support, guides, graveyard tour, snacks, & refreshments
