[benzamg]

We're heading up to Nova Scotia... I don't know yet what area we'll stay in but we need to do the Cape Breton Drive! Anyone like to join us for a day of motoring up there?



Post here or on nemini thread http://nemini.org/Forums/viewtopic/t=2825.html if you might be interested in meeting up/joining us.

[Senior]

We just returned from a trip to cape Breton and around the Cabot Trail. The roads within the National Park are quite good, but some of the Provincial roads leading to/from the Park are in poor shape or under construction. However, the Trail is worth the effort as the mountain roads are great, the views spectacular. The best accommodations are for the campers as the National Park has excellent facilities (take a tent). There are several good beaches and the water is quite warm this time of year. If you are on the well-healed side the Keltic Lodge is top notch. Great food with both formal and informal dining. To really get the most out of your drive I would suggest you go north after crossing the Canso Causeway. You will come almost immediately to a traffic roundabout, the first turn off will head for Sydney, the second to Beddeck, and the third is northbound along the north shore. This is a scenic drive on rather small curve laden roads. This will terminate at A very unique French village called Cheticamp. This is a good place to eat, and good accommodations are there. Heading in same direction you will come to the National Park. The mountains come rather fast with French Mountain, Mount MacKenzie and soon North Mountain all having great climbs and twisty downs. My Cooper loved it. The downward curves are posted for 30 km/h and I had no problem at 100 km/h. After North Mountain you can leave the Park and drive Eastward along North Mountain to some remote fishing villages. This is an option you might enjoy. Coming back to the Park you now swing West and there are beaches and camp grounds and great ocean scenery. Be sure to go into Black Brook and Ingonish which comes just as you leave the Park. You are now approaching Beddeck from the East side so can either drive across country to the Canso Causeway, or far better, turn towards Sydney and be sure to visit Fort Louisburg which is a real must see. The drive from there to the Causeway is very scenic and lots of places to eat and stay. Try out Rita McNeil's diner which is near St. Peters. Above all enjoy the ride, we sure did.

[benzamg]

Thanks for the tips; we're back home now.. but I'm sure we'll be heading up there again in a year or so. Some of the roads were pretty torn up; but it was only for a small section.

We said "Its a niiiiice day out", grabbed lunch and dinner sandwiches from Atlantic superstore; threw in the cooler and headed out of Halifax.... We took the Canso Causeway and headed onto the Cabot Trail.... My Wife's new MINI reached 1200 miles just as we were reaching the Nat'l park and some nice twisty mountain roads... By Sunset; we were back at the Causeway and headed back to Halifax... A Delightful day of motoring!

I've posted some pics of our Journey for anyone interested here:

http://mug.ods.org/gallery/08202005Halifax

[Senior]

You certainly took some unusual photographs of food and drink in Halifax. I would never have thought of doing that, but I'm not artistic. Your photos of the Cabot Trail were great as well and put mine to shame. I took one of Black Brook beach which turned out Ok so I'll include ithere, and hopefully we will see many more Minis going over the Causeway, "boy"