Nice is Nice

Day 93. Pugwash to Summerside. 79 mi. 5637 miled TTD 2,714 ft vertical. Weather perfect.

Likely, I should not start a blog entitled. “Nice is Nice,” and then complain once more about Nova Scotia. But I can’t help myself. As you can see from the sign, this is the Sunshine Trail. They should be embarrassed to have labeled this road with no shoulder a bike trail. Okay, now I can move on because I’ve actually moved on, and I’m no longer in Nova Scotia.

After leaving Pugwash, Nova Scotia, this morning, I pedaled North along the coast, which was beautiful. The air was cool and pleasant, and the riding was easy on gently rolling farmland near the coast. It was very nice. There was a lovely little park where I stopped to enjoy the rest of the baked goods I bought from a wonderful bakery in Pugwash. One of the items was a lemon bar covered in cranberries and frosting. I’m sure it was incredibly healthy and low in calories, just like all the food on this trip.

With good weather and easy roads, I was near my planned destination before noon. I decided to stop and smell the roses. There was a French Bistro. Although I had no idea what half the items on the menu were, my AI friend quickly determined that tartine was a type of spread and an open-faced sandwich. I ordered a lobster and prawn tartine along with a Caesar salad. I also had a Coke, a San Pellegrino, and water. When another waitress came to my table, she asked where the other person was because of all the drinks. I paused in this nice location, with a nice meal, considering my future, or at least the rest of the day. The food was five stars, and the atmosphere was very nice.

It was such a beautiful day, and I had a tailwind. More importantly, I couldn’t stand sitting in a motel all afternoon in an area that was pretty unpopulated with little to see and not much to do. I pushed on and soon found myself back in New Brunswick. Not only that, I was on the New Brunswick trail. Shockingly, New Brunswick hadn’t closed all its trails, unlike its neighboring province, Nova Scotia. I even saw four-wheelers come up and down the path, slowing or even stopping so I could pass. In other places, like Idaho, where I’ve ridden on four-wheeler trails, they blazed past, throwing rocks, dirt, and dust in every direction. How nice to be in New Brunswick.

Now, the NB Trail did have a rather miserable stretch of sharp palm-sized rocks as its base. I got a little frustrated, but I realized that if this had been the GNBR (my original route), I would not only be frustrated but also angry. As I considered this, I realized that part of my problem with riding the GNBR was having to ride specific places rather than choosing where I wanted to ride. Clearly, Tim’s suggestion for my “freedom ride” was a good direction for me.

Soon, I found myself at this nice little rest area, which also served as the pickup point for the Confederation Bridge to Prince Edward Island. Of course, it was in the middle of nowhere. There was no one around. And yet the door was open, it was air-conditioned, there were seats to rest in, and yes, very nice flush toilets.

I made the call in the Superman phone booth and waited patiently for about an hour and a half. I didn’t waste the time because I used the flush toilets repeatedly just because I could, and the water from the sink. I used to wash my bike by repeatedly filling my water bottles while I waited. Hopefully, they don’t use video surveillance to send me a water bill.

Despite regulations requiring me to sit in the back of the double-cab pickup, behind the police partition, I had a very nice conversation with the gentleman driving me across the bridge. I learned that his daughter was soon to be married to her fiancé from Australia. He also told me about some of the crazy incidents on the bridge, for which they literally had to patrol all day, every day, to keep it clear, since it was only one lane in each direction and had a small shoulder on the side. I was extremely grateful not to be pedaling across the bridge.

Once on PEI, I stopped at a Subway where a very nice worker not only made my sandwich but also let me fill my water bottle at the soda fountain for free. I visited outside with a French-speaking couple, but he spoke English and discussed my ride with them. They were very nice and complimentary. Then I pushed off for the last 18 miles of the day and my motel in Summerside. Thankfully, I found shoulders on the roads I had to ride on, unlike an unnamed province (no, really, I’m over it), and eventually rode on the Confederation Trail, which will be my route with my family for the coming week. I am excited to see them.

I often remind my best friend that likes attract. Perhaps the nicest part of this ride has been working to be nice, helping people smile, engaging in conversation, and serving. I’ve been wonderfully blessed to have far more nice reciprocation from others.