Day 63 Saturday, July 10, 2010 Distance 46.17 km. Time 2 hr. 55 min. Total so far 4446.44 km. We are getting near another time zone change because it's getting lighter earlier every morning. Once we wake up, we decide to go so at 7 am we walked our bicycles carefully down the steep, dirt driveway of the Englishtown Ridge Campground. A short peddle brought us back to Hwy. 105. I was thankful for the smoother pavement but not thankful for the faster, noisier traffic. We have enjoyed the last couple of days on the Cabot Trail with traffic going slower and more cautious of us even though there was no edge. We didn't realize that we had to climb another mountain but didn't mind too much as it was early even though it was warm and damp. The grade wasn't too bad as it was on the main road. At a viewing area going up Kelly mountain, we met Kip and Matt taking a short break to check out their very decorated car. They are from Philadelphia heading to Newfoundland and eventually across the country up to Alaska. They are only about 5 days in and totally enjoying their trip so far. Our downhill had nice long runs of less grade followed by sharp turns. From the next viewing area , we could see the big bridge across St. Patrick`s Channel. Crossing the bridge brings you to Boulardarie Island. All the stores were still closed as it was early and I was getting hungry as we were out of food after our granola bar breakfast. We continued on and met Eric, 40 who was out for a bicycle training session for triathlons. He planned to ride to a lake, have a swim and then ride back again. He said he might pass us on the way back but never did probably because the water felt so good. We arrived at North Sydney, and found the Arm of Gold campground right away. It is on Lake Bras D'or. It certainly is a pocket of gold as every camper that takes the ferry stays here and some leave their campers for a while and only take their vehicles across. After setting up under a tiny canopy meant for a small picnic table, we cycled 3 miles into town to the Sobey`s grocery store and tried to buy 3 days supplies. While there, we met a cyclist who just finished his cross country trek from Vancouver to Newfoundland. He punished himself, averaging 150 km. per day and wouldn't let me take his photo because he looked so emaciated. He said he would never do Hwy 17 again as there is no edge and he also said that the sun never shines in Newfoundland and the winds go in circles there - a couple of minutes on your back and then right in your face. At the campground, we befriended Madison, 16 and Sami, 12 who are here with their brother and father from Massathusetts to go to NFL to bury half of their grandmother's ashes. We experienced a real surprise in the evening as about 80 old cars, trucks and even an ambulance pulling older trailers paraded in slowly to fill the whole middle row of the campground. They belong to a club that is going coast to coast so they will be coming through Sault Ste. Marie in a few weeks. We talked to Richard and Anna from Edmonton, who are part of this group. They didn't all fit in the ferry so more are coming in at 1 am.
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