It’s a New Touring Season! - Where does everyone want to go?

By Jack Hawkins http://jackonabike.ca/

Summer is finally here, and this means that we cyclists are able to get out and ride. May’s been a great month for it. I have been out on a few rides - some short, some long. As I crank up the mileage, I’m on the lookout for places to go on some short tours.

National Parks in the area, such as Kouchibouguac stand out as possible destinations for overnight trips. For those of you who are more adventurous, perhaps a multi-day ride to the Fundy Coast, or maybe take a leap back into history - with visits to both the Acadian Village in Caraquet, and King’s Landing in Prince William, New Brunswick. Or, if the hustle-and-bustle of cities is more to your taste, why not do a “tri-city tour” of three of New Brunswick’s largest centres - Moncton, Fredericton and Saint John? Each offers something different - while maintaining that ‘city lifestyle’ that you (and I, admittedly) love.

Why not a trip to New Brunswick’s coastal location of Cape Tormentine - maybe use that beautiful location as a stopover on your way to a circumnavigation of Prince Edward Island! The Island is well known for tourist attractions such as Anne of Green Gables, and it’s quiet country lanes offer fantastic cycling all around the island.

Further afield, there are challenging, yet rewarding places to ride in the Maritimes, such as Nova Scotia’s legendary Cabot Trail, somewhere that I hope to be able to ride this year. The Cabot Trail boasts some of Nova Scotia’s most beautiful scenery, and while the climbs are incredibly challenging, so I’m told - it is well worth all the sweat and tears just for the vistas that accompany the hills.

If you’re looking to go outside of the Maritimes, then I wish you luck! What about those of you who are venturing overseas this summer? Or perhaps setting off on an epic, cross-country ride across Canada? Maybe you’re heading south, to the States (after the winter we’ve just had, I can’t say I blame you!)... What about those of you (like my friend Iohan), who set off from Alaska last month, and will continue his ride to Ushaia, Argentina in August. From there, he says he wants to go around the world. Are any of you taking off to ride around the world?

I want to know, where are you going this Summer? Where do you want to go? How are you planning your trip? Are you wild-camping, staying in hotels, or motels? Tell me all about it!

No matter where you’re going, or how long you’re gone for, I am sure that it will be an incredible experience. As travel often is, and as bicycle touring often is.

About the Author

Jack Hawkins is a freelance travel writer and touring cyclist. Originally from the UK, he swapped one seaside town for another in 2006, and has been living in Canada for eight years. Jack has always had a fondness for writing and after graduating from Bonar Law Memorial High School in Rexton, Jack decided to pursue a freelance writing career, and implemented his love of cycling into his work shortly after a chance-meeting in 2013 with a fellow Englishman who had cycled across Canada.

Jack currently writes for this webzine, but is also a monthly contributor Mike's Bike Shop's E-Magazine, "The Rider's Edge". He recently worked on and published a series of thirty-one articles for revered bicycle touring guru, Darren Alff, for his website: http://gobicycletouring.com/. Jack also writes articles, journals, gear reviews, and interview pieces for his own website - http://jackonabike.ca/.