Some days feel like many days and today is one such.
After a 10 km climb out of the park I was greeted with a real live bike trail. The north shore trail I believe. 25 gorgeous kms of hard packed surface between bright green trees along the river. New Brunswick momentarily redeemed itself to me (pic 1, trailhead with my chocolate milk and stale gas station muffin on the table behind me).
This trail continued through Fredericton but at the city limits google insisted I veer right on to another trail that I was to be on for 51 km towards Chipman. I made it about a mile and bailed for the highway. I adjusted my plan for the day to another town as a result.
As I pedaled I thought this isn’t what I want to be doing for 2 days. Long rides on highways through barren stretches of New Brunswick hoping to find food and places to stay. I pulled off the highway and called a bus company to ask about their bicycle policy.
I am now on a bus headed for Moncton. I’ll arrive at 10pm and then have a 30 km ride (downhill!) to Parlee beach provincial park.
I had a few hours in Fredericton. I treated myself to a really good meal at a brewery (pic 3, RustiCo pizza and caesar). Then I walked through downtown which was a great way to spend 7 minutes. Otherwise I hung out in the smoking area outside the bus terminal. I’m not even going to get into that part.
I like this new plan a lot. I never intended this ride to be a New Brunswick tour. I will now be in PEI tomorrow evening and will have an extra day there, like the original plan before I learned I had to get off the train 200 km sooner than I thought. Here’s hoping the confederation trail is a good one!