Breakfast Ride - Boats ,Trains and Motorcycles, 24 JUNE 2012

Eleven bikes and 14 riders meet at Lock 17 Restaurant, Burritts Rapids for a leisurely breakfast. While there we informally celebrated the 80th birthday of our oldest chapter member Claude.
The Big "80"




Claude is still on 2 wheels








After breakfast, we had a three part plan. Firstly, we headed to nearby scenic Merrickville to attend a motorcycle event which featured show bikes and vendors.












Secondly, we were traveling to just outside of Perth to accept a Blue Knight's vest and helmet from the wife of a former deceased member of our chapter. Art last rode with Ontario II during the late 1990's and passed away in July 2011. He requested that the helmet and vest be returned to our chapter after his passing.
Our newest chapter member Paul and his wife Trudi just happened to live in the area so Paul led us on a scenic route to the destination. However he also was able to introduce some various forms of transportation. First were boats transcending a canal which also gave us the opportunity to guard against the elements by donning our rain gear as we waited.




Digging out the rain gear.












A VIA passenger train temporarily impeded our progress. Paul also mentioned we would see a WW II plane perched on a post later in the day. We did, as we passed through Smiths Falls.




June passed the BK vest and helmet to Yves, our Chapter Quartermaster.




The Third objective was an ice cream stop in scenic Westport.




At long last, the ice cream.




The weather forecast was relatively accurate. We started the day with temperatures in the mid 20's and then experienced light rain in the mid afternoon. After completing our plan, we again got out the rain gear and returned to our respective homes along the way. We had an 8/9 hour day and covered about 350 K. Thanks to our Ride Captain, Stu for arranging the day and Paul's assistance with local directions and the unscheduled transportation theme.

Blue Knights Friendship Weekend - Digby, NS - 15/17 JUNE 2012

David B. and I attended the BK Friendship Weekend in Digby, NS via New York state, Vermont, New Hampshire with an overnight in Bangor, Maine. The second day took us back to Canada via the Calais, Maine/St. Stephen, NB border crossing and then to Saint John, NB to take the 480 foot Princess of Acadia ferry to Digby NS. It was a 72 K voyage taking 3 hours.

The Digby event included a Friday evening hospitality gathering to meet Blue Knights from Newfoundland to Virginia for the first time and to renew old acquaintances. Saturday started with a police escorted ride along the Bay of Fundy to the historic and scenic town of Annapolis Royal. After this ride, David and I along with Mike of NY II (Da Bronx) took a scenic ride south along the Bay of Fundy to Yarmouth. Saturday evening include a great group meal followed by a dance, auction for charity and some awards. Sunday morning was a breakfast, goodbyes and departure.

After the Digby event, we continued along coastal roads to Truro on our way to the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island. We stayed in scenic Cheticamp which is on the edge of the national park. The ride around the Cabot Trail which passes through the Cape Breton Hylands National Park is considered one of the best motorcycle rides in North America. We meet some of the Blue Knights who attended the Digby event going in the opposite direction. We stayed overnight in Amherst, NS which is on the border with New Brunswick. The return trip took us along the east coast of New Brunswick and then across the southern portion of Quebec's Gaspe Peninsula with an overnight in Rimouski, PQ and back to Ottawa. The trip took 7 days and covered 4094 kilometers wit several more hundred for David.

We stopped in Rumsford, Maine for a photo op.




















In the line waiting for the Ferry from Saint John, NB to Digby, NS.




David considers a sou'wester in case it rains like last year.




Our aged ferry, the 480 foot Princess of Acadia.




The entry to Digby basin.




Getting ready to unstrap the bikes and disembark.




Saturday's Police escorted group ride to Annapolis Royal.




60 bikes parked on the Annapolis Royal wharf.








We visited the farmer's market and craft fair next to the wharf.




Lighthouse on the main street.




Arial view of Annapolis Royal and Fort Anne. Annapolis Royal was settle in 1604 while Fort Anne was created around 1700 and used by both the French and English. Fort Anne is Canada's first National Historic Site.



Monument to honor Lt. General Timothe Pierre DuGuast, Sieure de Monts an explorer who visited the area in 1604 and founded the first settlement of Europeans north of the Gulf of Mexico.








The Officers Quarters.




The West Battery which held gun powder and was also used as a prisoner lockup known as the Black Hole.




Guarding the Basin entrance.




The Moat. Dry at the moment.




The ocean side entrance to Fort Anne.




The Town Crier.




The Police escort bike.




A Bay of Fundy harbour at low tide. The Bay of Fundy has the highest tides in the world which can vary by 50 feet between low a high tide.












Digby on Saturday night just before the fireworks.








Blue Knights long johns with the optional rear button flap.




Glenora Distillery near Inverness, NS which produces Glen Breton single malt scotch.




Mouth of the world famous Margaree River, salmon fishing river.








View just south of Cheticamp, NS on the Cabot Trail.




Entering Cheticamp.




The church in Cheticamp.




Cheticamp harbour at dusk.




Sunset




The next morning as we leave Cheticamp.




French Mountain on the Cabot Trail north of Cheticamp. A great twisty ride.




Black Cove near Ingonish on the Cabot Trail








Ingonish Beach.




We met 8 Blue Knight's bikes who we met in Digby, going the other way near Ingonish.
























Keltic Lodge at Ingonish Beach.








The Englishtown Ferry along the Cabot Trail.




Seal Island bridge as seen from Kelly's Mountain near the Cabot Trail.




A close up view with David in the foreground.




Shediac, NB, the lobster captial of new Brunswick. David did manage to have a couple of lobster meals while in Nova Scotia.




It is big








The River on the Gaspe Peninsula.




Scenic cover bridge.




The former Canadian submarine located near the Empress of Ireland memorial, Rimouski, PQ.