This is my Canada - Top 10's

Blogger roulette!

Packed already to go!

Started with Pamela from Spunkygirl Monologues, we're supposed to tag 3 people in our blogs showing some great places to visit in Canada. I was tagged by Claudia from Travelling Moms. Guess Ian will be writing about Canada!

Here we go!

First, find a friend, and start checking off the list at the bottom. I took my best friend, Damian, and did a bicycle tour in the maritimes. We flew to St.Johns Newfoundland and pedaled our little legs all the way to Ville de Quebec. Just a little over 2,100 km covered in a month.

10) Experience Canada's Day in St. John's Newfoundland

There's nothing like celebrating your country's birthday than in the newest province. On George St, the festivities happen. Ironically we saw a band from Hamilton, Ontario that we saw perform live just days before we started our trip!

The whole street was closed off and you pay a small cover to enter. At this point, do a shot of screech in every bar until you (attempt) to make it down the end of the street.

The next day, we started on our journey.

Onwards!

Having lunch with the road ahead

9) Find the most refreshing spring water you've ever had in your life

Damian refilling his bladder with some awesome water

Literally marked by a cardboard sign with a vague impression of an arrow directing us to a bay, we followed some worn down stairs to the rocky shore line. There, greeted us a spring water tap. We were skeptical at first, then we took a sip. Then we emptied our water packs and re-filled it with this spring water.

If someone wants to make money off how good this water is, find it out of St. John's, heading down the Irish Loop. It's like the pot of gold - go find it yourself!

8) Run flat tires with no extra tube

It was inevitable. And appropriately on a gravel road that went on for 3 km. We decided against carrying an extra inner tube to save weight and space, but we also didn't expect to run 6 snake bites.

First car down the road in 1.5 hours were some friendly locals who saved the day by giving us a ride in their pick up truck! 

I think next bike tour, we'll carry at least one extra tube.

Result of the 6 snake bites

Some awesome people gave us a lift

On the boat to North Sydney

We eventually made it off "the rock" that is Newfoundland. We wrapped around the Irish Loop and went into Argentia to take a 12 hour ferry into Nova Scotia.

There were lots of references to Lonely Island while on the boat.

7) Get lost in the Cape Breton highlands

The lonely road heading out of Cape Breton along the coast line

A quick rest before manning up to that mountain ahead

Cape Breton Highlands is one route that shouldn't be avoided if your ever travelling through the maritimes. It's so incredibly beautiful. There's only one road through it and many camping spots available. Take full advantage.

Definitely take some time up at "French Mountain" though. It's probably the best view there of the highlands.

6) Bike up incredibly steep hills

This was intimidating at first

Then we saw this

After North Mtn, we scoffed at this one

This guy was the worst

5) Hit up a music festival

Seriously partying something serious

Evolve music festival! We attended E-10 on the recommendation of a friend from Toronto who moved out East.

A serious party for serious party go-ers who seriously party's. You must seriously have fun.

First introduction to Rich Aucoin and his fun-tastic music! Which I found out later he did a few songs for Picnic Face, a comedy group which Damian and I both love.

Rich Aucoin heating up the crowd before night fall.

4) Find awesome people to host you

Kegs on motorcycles?!

Air rifles!

We met an awesome husband-wife duo who was going to get extremely angry had we not stay at their place upon leaving Evolve. They fed us dinner, did our laundry, toured us around to get to our next destination, fed us breakfast and let us play with their toys.

Oh gosh, their toys were so much fun! Kegs hauled by the end of motorcycles, air rifles, and puppies! They had a beautiful lovely pit-bull.

3) Be homeless - live out of a tent out of the panniers of your bicycles

Our weekly shower - if possible

Our weekly laundry service

There are certain things that we take for granted in life, especially living in the city in a first world country. Things like showering or laundry facilities. We came to a fast realization we're out of luck with a few luxuries.

We showered in rivers when we could and took every opportunity we had to wash our clothes, including in rivers - which didn't prove out to be the best idea. We ended up battling with this ITCH all over our exercise shirts when we put it on.

2) Kayak the Bay of Fundy

Sitting and waiting for the tide

This is probably the best tidal experience you'll have. You sit in the kayak with the ocean infront of you and wait for the tide to roll in. It picks you up and then you paddle away. You watch the tide come in for about 10 minutes before you can actually paddle away.

For about 2 hours we zigged zagged our way between the rock formations in the bay. Damian being the expert pilot got ourselves into the tightest cracks and out again. 10 minutes later, those cracks were under water from the tide. So do it fast.

1) Bike through the maritimes and enjoy the trials and tribulations

Literally biking through the Bay of Fundy

All in all, the least anyone can do is see some of the East Coast. However, a highly suggested and most in depth way is to bike it. You'll meet people you never knew were so kind, you'll have food that will blow your mind away, see scenery that you never even knew existed, and above all, experience and wonderful part of Canada that could not be otherwise experienced in any other way.

For the picture album of the maritime tour, check it out here. There are a few pictures that didn't make the cut onto the blog.

A broken chain with a pending T-storm

A very big P.S

I was very lucky to have my best friend with me. I learnt a lot about myself - especially travelling with others. The biggest lesson was learning to love a friend who will stand up to my crap. I wouldn't have had it any other way. Although this post is for the blogger roulette, I'm making a huge shout out to my buddy Damian who put up with my crap for a whole month. So uh... shout... out...?