Oh, if it truly was summer in Summerside, but instead it is a dismal, dreary day, the temperature is around 48 degrees, and it rained most of the day. This is Day 2 of our trip. On Day 1 we were picked up at 8:45 AM, June 12th, in front of our hotel, zipped around the corner and picked up 4 more passengers from Ottawa. The day was cloudy with a promise of 100% rain starting around 11:00. As we road West to the North Cape it began to rain, then it began to pour, then it began to blow. The driver suggested we start in Tignish instead of going to the North Cape. The other four thought that was a very good idea, but, Oh No, the Smith’s aren’t about to let a bit of hurricane type weather deter them from any tip of a country. After all they went to Barrows, Alaska in June with snow falling as they landed onto the barren tip. Barrows is the furtherest most tip in the United States.

Back to North Cape, we got dropped off at a small building, grabbed our bicycle gear and ran to the building, getting almost soaked before we started. We had our trusty ponchos in our packs, plus raincoats, rain pants (or I had rain pants), rain ponchos for our gear, and hats so we were prepared. Of course, the bathroom is through the gift shop so we killed an hour waiting for the rain to abate. By killing an hour, I mean we bought two really fabulous rain jackets that looked like you could go out lobster fishing in a storm in them.

Finally, we set out after putting on jackets, vests, rain paints (for me, Shap had shorts), my camel back on under my jacket, Shap with rain jackets for his camera bag on his back, and rain jackets for our bike packs, adding to the attractive outfit, a helmet on top of our rain hoods, and gloves. I felt like a kid in a too big snowsuit. Off we went, down the road. Why is Shap turning around and going back? Of course, he forgot his coffee. For the ten miles to Tingnish, rain and wind poured down on us, then onto the Confederation Rail Trail with 30 miles of non-stop rain, red mud everywhere and two wet riders.

Doesn’t it sound wonderful to ride a rail trail? Imagine straight paths, with interesting scenery, no traffic, farmlands, brooks. wetlands? Now think of it with pouring rain, mud, (red mud not brown), mosquitos, and mile after mile of closed in trees. This was not my leisure ride, stopping at seaside restaurants, and long vistas to the water. Definitely not, just miles of the same thing over and over again. Finally we arrived, 40 miles later, never stopping along the way to a very nice resort hotel with a hot tub. After a dinner with about 50 golfing buddies, I took two Tylenol, rubbed evey inch of my body with Arnica, took a 1/2 an ambien, two Tums for my leg cramps and fell asleep.

Day three we woke to more pouring rain. We meet the other four bikers in the restaurant and they recounted their experience leaving from Tignish, running out of power, and getting completely soaked and dirty. They were opting to take the taxi to Summerside. But what do 80 year olds do? We ride, oh yes, those younger seniors are not going to smoke us. Off on the Confederation Rail Trail for the second day of rain, red dirt, and miles of the same boring scenery. One bright spot was finding a lady slipper that is the country’s flower and a bunch of cows laying down, munching away as if they were having dinner served in bed.

I think after this trip I will be done with rail trails. I should know the train never goes through interesting places but I had my hopes. Tomorrow 31 miles, a relief from the 49 today. And who ever said it was easier to bike West to East as it was downhill going East. Beats me, they definitely lied, it was all gradual uphill which is fine if you are 20 years old. Well here are some pics along the way.