Nova Scotia Trip Report - Day 13 Sandy Cove to Brier Island

Nova Scotia Tour

Day 13 Sandy Cove to Brier Island

Tiverton Ferry
The ferry to Tiverton

I got up early and checked the weather forecast. I decided to go to Brier Island.

Shirley told me that while the people here are outwardly friendly to tourists, these towns are isolated close-knit communities. When an outsider moves in, it takes a long time for the newcomer to be fully accepted into the community.

Shirley made me a nice breakfast. I said goodbye to Shirley and Rob. I rode about 10 miles to the end of Digby Neck at East Ferry. Here I took a small car ferry up across the narrow straight to the town of Tiverton on Long Island.

In Tiverton, I stopped at the Tiverton Islands Museum and saw various relics of life on the islands. Included was a photo album showing the history of the Ferry. One photo showed a fishing boat pulling a scow containing a Ford Model T

A short distance later I came to a trail head and parking area for the Balancing Rock Trail. I walked about a mile to see the Balancing Rock.

I continued to Freeport at the end of Long Island. The wind really picked up. This was the worst wind of the entire trip. It blew straight into my face.

Balancing Rock

Brier Island Ferry
The Ferry to Brier Island

A couple came over to talk to me while I was waiting for the ferry to take me to Brier Island. They said they were touring cyclists planning a trip to New England. They were very interested in my BOB trailer. They showed me a map of New Hampshire. I pointed out some of my favorite roads in the White Mountains.

Western Light

Arriving on Brier Island, I stopped for lunch. After lunch I rode out to a small lighthouse at the Coast Guard station. The wind blowing straight off the Gulf of Maine was incredible. When the wind blew my bike over, I decided that I didn't want to camp that night. Yes, I could have done it. But, I knew from my experience at Mount Denson that it would not be pleasant. Setting up my tent and cooking dinner in a howling gale would be especially miserable. Instead, I got a room at the Brier Island Lodge. I suppose that makes me a wimp. But hey! This is my vacation. My touring motto "If isn't fun, don't do it".

I left the trailer in my room and set about exploring the island. I battled the wicked headwind down a bumpy dirt road out to the Western Light.

Heavy surf on Brier Island
Surf

The wind was really whipping up the surf. I was very careful not to get too close.

I love to visit old cemeteries. It's amazing what you can learn about the lives of ordinary people who lived a long time ago by reading the stones. I saw a grave for a 20 year old fisherman who drowned of the coast of Newfoundland in the 1800's. I remembered what Shirley told me about the nature of these island communities.

West Port Harbor

I rode back to the Brier Island Lodge where I ate my supper in the restaurant. The dining room had large windows overlooking West Port. It is a very pretty harbor. I contemplated my 2 remaining days in Nova Scotia. I had a lot of miles to cover to get back to Yarmouth.

My total mileage for the day is 34.8

Continue to Day 14.