On the trail again

The Confederation Trail was calling. I had fallen off my bike and hurt my ankle so I stayed off the bike until I felt 100% better and that took three weeks. Meanwhile the last section of trail, in the far eastern side of the island, was the last part of the 273 kilometre trail we had yet to complete. My husband and I were doing both directions and we had 46 kilometres left. My ankle had to be in great shape to finish this quest.

We started in Souris,

a branch off the main trail, rode to New Harmony where we had finished our last ride and headed east. This section of the trail was well groomed, taking away the challenge of the previous time when I had fallen. There was a challenge however. 

The previous day there was a short but severe thunder storm with torrential rain. The water on the trail was not dried up the next morning when we started. The water splashing up made us and our bikes filthy and it was slippery in several areas.

This part of the trail has sections which are under a thick canopy making one feel bathed in the green glow. 

Shadows dance along the trail as well, one of my favourite experiences.

We arrived in Elmira, riding beside an old section of rail bed 

as we cycled to the end of the trail. 

Nearby the old train station looked on, having seen thousands complete the trail now and the rail back when.

An old caboose is in great shape 

and the children’s play set provides the engine.

Back in Souris, we enjoyed lunch at a local restaurant to celebrate our completion of the trail. We enjoyed the meal but we enjoy our own fare and picnics just as well, sometimes better.

Souris is a pretty community by the sea. The old lighthouse stands its vigil in the outer part of the harbour 

while along the shoreline, above the cliffs, apple trees with small fruit, have roots dug in for this year at least.

Having cycled the main Confederation Trail, now we will ride the areas we particularly enjoyed and some branch lines. We look forward to autumn colour on the trail before long.

Go west

On a rare sunny day among many unfit for cycling, my husband and I headed west to complete this portion of our tip to tip island cycling adventure for this year. The Confederation Trail runs across the island and this western portion being closest to home is the easiest for us to complete.

We drove to Alberton and parked at the library which is in the old train station. 

The building is a surprise to my husband and I since we rarely see anything other than sandstone on the island. This fieldstone building is restored beautifully to its 1904 condition. One can almost hear the old steam engine chug into the station.

The trail is on the verge of erupting into green. It will add another layer of beauty soon.

Maintenance work made this section of trail a pleasure to ride, as smooth as new pavement. We passed a drum roller, a groomer and crew busy at work.

An old concrete culvert, dated 1923, now sits beside the trail, having done its time under the old tracks.

Marsh Marigold is in bloom now. The yellow blooms remind me of buttercups.

At Tignish, a place with a name I love, we reached the western start of the trail.   

On our return, we had lunch at the site of the memorial to the worst train wreck in island history. Two trains collided and four people died during a winter storm in 1932.

Lots of robins, blackbirds and Song Sparrows filled the trees. The birds are quieter now than earlier this spring. I saw a bird among the trees and watched for several minutes as my husband rode on. It was another familiar bird, a Black-capped Chickadee. I don’t have much luck with ‘new to me’ species. However I like this photo.

Such is spring in eastern Canada.