I need help,road trip from Niagara Falls to Parrsboro Nova Scotia

[fj johnnie]

    I am planning a trip from the Niagara Falls area to Nova Scotia area from July 20 to 28. There are 6 riders already confirmed for the trip. What I need help with is route planning. We plan to travel through the US entering at the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie and following only FJ roads. Does anyone have suggestions for routes? Roads to avoid? Anyone interested in tagging along? We are booking hotels in the next two months and renting a house in Parrsboro Nova Scotia for three days to use as a base camp. The plan is to take three days to get to Nova Scotia which is approx. 2300 k.  Doing day trips from there. Having a few BBQ's then visiting Boston via the coastal roads. We will spend  one night in Boston. Then two more days on the road to return to Niagara on the following Sunday. Any and all advice is welcome. Interested in tagging along? If so PM John

[markmartin]

http://goo.gl/maps/rT8hm

The only part of this route that I'm familiar with is from I-93 in New Hampshire to Calais Maine.  I've included the rest of the map just for the sake of looking at the total seat time for the trip. 

After crossing over I-93 in central N.H., this route will bring you over the Kancamangus Highway through N.H. It's a nice scenic and twisty road. As for going through Maine in a relatively efficient time, I'd suggest the route shown.   The section from Bangor to Calais is know as "the Airline" because of it's hilly and twisty path. More like sweepers really.   It's been straightened out and improved (for trucks) in the last 20 years but still the way I'd go if I were planning your trip.

There are more interesting ways to get through Maine, but you'd never make it to Nova Scotia in 3 days.

[fj johnnie]

 Greetings Mark. Thanks for your response. That was one of the roads we had picked for our route! We did do a street view and it sure looked like a nice section of highway. It's too bad I must work at some point, because there are too many roads and too little time!!!

[Tiger]

  Hey Johnnie, Nova Scotia, especially Cape Breton, is a great part of the world for some fun touring

I'll be out, once again, on Cape Breton Island this August, as I did last year

Two days there and two days for the return with several days of great riding, great weather, and lots to eat and drink and the Thunder in the Highlands Biker Rally in between 

I left Erin Ontario and headed East on the 401, on to Quebec and crossed the border just on the corner of Vermont & New Hampshire...one man post with no delays...turn left out of customs and follow your nose to New Hampshire which is approx' 10 miles...and then onwards and upwards. We stayed in a great motel for the night and headed out the next day stopping at Disart/Dizarts/Dysarts(?) Restaurant in Bangor Maine...great food, clean as a whistle, dead cheap with a good gas bar!!
We headed North from there and crossed the border at Woodstock NB and took the highway across NB, NS and on to Cape Breton.
The way I intend going in August is to cross the border at Calais/St Stephen, run up to St John and take the ferry across to Digby NS...home of the Wharf Rat Bikers Rally!!! 

The return journey was a back track to Woodstock and ran highway, stopping at Plymouth over night, a coffee stop at a friend place just outside of Syracuse and running back over the border via the Lewiston bridge

Whatever route you take, I'm sure you will enjoy it...

John.

[paulfj03]

This looks to be an awesome trip, John!!

The Maritimes, Cabot Trail, and Newfoundland on the bike is definitely on my bucket list!!!
With a posse full of FJs? ... Looks like good times!

Hey Johnnie, Nova Scotia, especially Cape Breton, is a great part of the world for some fun touring
I'll be out, once again, on Cape Breton Island this August, as I did last year
take the ferry across to Digby NS...home of the Wharf Rat Bikers Rally!!!  
John.

Hey John (Tiger), I believe the Digby scallop fest is in August (1st week?) as well, if you like seafood...
Amazing tide, too.

[Tiger]

Hey John (Tiger), I believe the Digby scallop fest is in August (1st week?) as well, if you like seafood...

LOOOOOVE sea food...(hate fresh water fish ) Its about all I eat for two weeks while I'm out there

The people, the scenery and food are terrific...pavement quality can be a bit 'IFFY' at times, just adds to the excitement eh!!!

We'll be there sometime mid August ('ish) for Thunder in the Highland four days bike rally. The organisers do a great job...Organised rides around the island, visit to Louisburg Fort (an Ontario biker couple got married their last year!!), a day at a native Indian village with eats and a trip in a war canoe!!, stage with live bands/singers, etc throughout the weekend, vendor village, etc, etc.

As my wife is a 'Caper', we have lodgings sorted out

Everyone should have Cape Breton Island on THEIR bucket list...Come one, come all and experience Cape Breton hospitality at its finest

John.

[fj johnnie]

 Rode the Cabot Trail in 87 on my first FJ. The 1986 ambulance machine. It is one fantastic ride. This is why we are going back. It should be on everyone's bucket list. Okay everyone in the east at least. The people are fabulous, Fort Louisburg is an awesome place to see. Two lane twisties as far as you want to go each day. What more could one want? Also there are few Tim Horton's so no need to stop every twenty minutes!!!!!

[paulfj03]

    I am planning a trip from the Niagara Falls area to Nova Scotia area from July 20 to 28. There are 6 riders already confirmed for the trip. What I need help with is route planning.

A good start to the trip would be heading north of Lake Ont, east along the 401 through a small town called Napanee!!

[fj johnnie]

 Napa Knee sounds more like wine country. Isn't the 401 one of those boring six lane super slabs that just make you want to go 160k just to get it over with? Really trying to avoid 4 lane roads all the way there. You could always drive  out to the beautiful Niagara area and tag along. I said Niagara not Viagra. That stuff is different. Okay?

[markmartin]

. ...stopping at Disart/Dizarts/Dysarts(?) Restaurant in Bangor Maine...great food, clean as a whistle, dead cheap with a good gas bar!!
..
John.[/size]

http://goo.gl/maps/AsP0P

I modified the map to include a stop at Dysarts truck stop.  I agree, it's very good place to eat and get fuel, a shower, or any convenience items. It's about 2 miles off your route if you do go up Rt. #9, and you can make an easy loop to get back to #9 after eating etc. without having to back track.  

Mark M

[paulfj03]

Napa Knee sounds more like wine country. Isn't the 401 one of those boring six lane super slabs that just make you want to go 160k just to get it over with? Really trying to avoid 4 lane roads all the way there. You could always drive  out to the beautiful Niagara area and tag along. I said Niagara not Viagra. That stuff is different. Okay?

Okay. Viagra it is!    yeah... heading from the viagra region would be a long hard drive...    I think I like the 'knee' region better already
We will definitely head to the beautiful Viagra region for a good ride sometime soon!!!  


Love to take a week and join the tour....., but.... *sigh*


 

[CanDman]

Did the exact same rip 2 years ago.....went into Lake Placid...did the Aderondac....amazing roads!!!! then vermont..... did a ferry run on this stretch and ended up in White river Juction for the night....then on to Maine....ended up in Bar Habour for the night....man that place was jammed with tourists.....it was my birthday...met some folks from Qubec and had fun taking the rust off mon francias... what a night !!The next run was the biggest...I was hoping to take the ferry from Bar Habour into Nova Scotia but the service had been suspended.... doh ...ended up going all the way up and around through NewBruswick and into Halifax. The next day I took a ferry into PEI....spent the day rounding the island...sort of......then on my way to Cape Breton. I ended up in the coolest little town quite by accident. I was running low on fuel and stopped at a corner store who told me to double back to Beddeck for gas....I rode back about 10 K.......and made a turn...rode down a hill and ended up in the coolest little harbour town. It was 6 pm and packed with people,so I decided to spend the night. The local Bar was having a live band there....man what a night....anyways.....the next day did the Cabot trail and headed back home through New Brunswick and Quebec....5000 K and 9 days later........wheew....what a ride !!!!! Love to do that again  ......but of all the roads I did.......the stretch through Lake Placid and into Vermont and Maine were awesome awesome awesome...wow......wish I had my GO PRO then...Have a gread ride....
CanDman 

[anson45]

Route 20 across the top of NYS is almost too straight. It was the major east-west route until the thruway was built in the '50's. It has less traffic, a lot of four lane sections, a Bass Pro Shop, lots of small towns, and misses a couple of big ones. The only problem I see is ending up in Albany, but that can be avoided. It's one of my favorite rides.
Good luck,
Anson

[fj johnnie]

 Thanks for all the help so far!!!!!!!