• Welcome, Guest! We hope you enjoy the excellent technical knowledge, event information and discussions that the BMW MOA forum provides. Some forum content will be hidden from you if you remain logged out. If you want to view all content, please click the 'Log in' button above and enter your BMW MOA username and password.

    If you are not an MOA member, why not take the time to join the club, so you can enjoy posting on the forum, the BMW Owners News magazine, and all of the discounts and benefits the BMW MOA offers?

Salty Fog Rally 2012: What A Trip!

Time to roll. First stop is the painted rocks on the west side, across from the church, which depict pivot points in local Acadian history.

DSC03729.jpg


IMG_4611.jpg


P1050497.jpg


P1050495.jpg


The traditional group picture

DSC09202b.jpg


DSC09207.jpg


..... and off we go!
 
Referring back to the map at the beginning of this report, today we head for historic Louisbourg. 193 miles. First of three camp nights. Our journey travels north from Larry's river to the Trans Canada and, heading east, we ride to the gateway to Cape Breton Island: the Canso Causeway. And we are fortunate enough to be able to stop while the swing-bridge opens for a barge.


DSC09219.jpg


DSC09222.jpg


DSC09228.jpg


DSC09231.jpg


Maryoct2009297.jpg


Our immediate target today is the cable ferry that crosses to Little Narrows on the majestic Bras d'Or Lake.

IMG_4626.jpg


NOTE: We have negotiated a $1.00 crossing as opposed to the $5.00 for each bike :thumb

IMG_1409.jpg


[
DSC09237.jpg


IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC09238.jpg[/IMG]

DSC09244.jpg


DSC03787.jpg


NEXT

Following 223 to 216 and then, at mile 135, we move onto Chapel Road. This tiny road is a splendid place to stop and seemingly stand on the Bras d'Or Lake.
 
Last edited:
And, (for your readers, Bob) an important historic site: where the first "aeroplane" flight in the Commonwealth, occurred.

ho ho Rinty....great question (especially for our good friends south of the 49th because the question has a clear U.S. connection as well). The place that you suggest can easily be tucked into the Salty Fog itinerary. - Bob
 
I gotta figure out a way to do your rally; maybe rent a Versys from those guys down the road from you. That would be perfect for your Scotian roads.
 
Last edited:
Red line indicates travel thus far and the yellow shows our ride for the next hour

firstdaymap1.jpg


We ride 55 miles from the ferry, across Bra d'Or Lake and west on #4 to Rita's Tea Room and lunch.

LittleNarrowstoRitas.jpg


A right turn off 216 meanders down to the shore and across Chapel Road.

DSC03790.jpg
 
Last edited:
Lunch At Rita's...

Who' Rita?? This is only a recent glimpse of her singing her song Working Man with the Men of the Deeps (see Salty Fog Report 2011 for our tour of a mine). This song is almost an anthem in Cape Breton.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zAGs1K5IBaE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

IMG_3650.jpg


DSC09282.jpg


DSC09292.jpg


DSC09298.jpg


DSC09296.jpg


Rita comes out to the patio to greet us

IMG_3651.jpg


Mary goes back in to meet Rita

DSC09284.jpg


Onward to Louisbourg. You can almost feel the weather changing..:uhoh
 
Tis the season...

..bourbon season here Kentucky; that wonderful time between, say... Nov through
Jan when it seems to taste even better! Maybe its the fireplace lending ambiance,
but it all goes well with a 2012 Salty Fog trip report. I only sip during the picture's;
really. Hey Bob; that "quick peek", while it was entertaining... is not like when we
were younger, but it made me smile! Like that picture two back at Rita's with
everyone at the table and NOBODY touching the china & crystal! What a crew.
And the information board at the Little Narrows Ferry, stating "New" rates from
spring of 2002! With at least a dozen postings of warning information, yet the
Notice area is blank? Like Tom says, "even when your there, its amazing how much
you miss." Great folks again this year; now friends forever....
that's why I love Mary's Rally & your trip report!!!
Now, a toast to all and Seasons greetings.

three bowl john..... Red 04R1150R
 
As I mentioned, you can almost feel the weather changing. Onward to Louisbourg. An historic town mostly famous for Fortress Louisbourg. We have always been warmly welcomed by the Louisbourg Camp and RV Park right in the center of town on the waterfront. Excellent facilities and gracious hosts! This is the route from Rita's:

RitasToLouisbourg.jpg


Not far at all and we are ready to set-up tents by mid afternoon. Enough time to have some brew..... walk for yet another delicious meal at the Lobster Kettle ..... and then walk to live musical theater at the Louisbourg Playhouse ..... and then relax at the campground group meeting room for more drinks and conversation.

 
Registration...

DSC05547.jpg


Bob with manager, Mary, and a visitor; Mary even loaned us her car to pick up ice. Great hospitality here!

DSC09365.jpg


The Group Room...

DSC05549.jpg


The camp site...

DSC09314.jpg


DSC09313.jpg


DSC09317.jpg
 
"I vagely recall the ride.... but I sure remember the food"

... And the nice folks we met during our travels. Good fortune for us that chose to ride the Salty Fog during 2012; truly a fine time and somewhat
of an adventure...:brow

Tis the season... Merry Christmas all

"three bowl" / travel'in john
 
"three bowl" 2 Bob... "three bowl" 2 Bob... over!

.... the New Year is nigh; any words of wisdom from the winter blustery maritime coastline? Come in Halifax...roger, over-n'-out!!!
 
.... the New Year is nigh; any words of wisdom from the winter blustery maritime coastline? Come in Halifax...roger, over-n'-out!!!

Sorry for the delay.... a few items requiring immediate attention over the past few weeks but now back on board. "so, where was I"? - Bob
 
With set up complete and a 'beer run' accomplished it's time for a fine meal before heading for the live musical theater at the Louisbourg Playhouse

SaltyFog055.jpg
(Salty Archives 2009)

A great meal on the waterfront overlooking the harbor...

DSC09323.jpg


...and no matter how hard that lobster prayed, Nick enthusiastically proceeded

DSC03804.jpg


DSC09327.jpg


Following the meal we hurried over to the Playhouse for some excellent live music in-the-round.

IMG_0220.jpg



IMG_0218.jpg


DSC03811.jpg
 
Leaving the Louisboug campground the skies had already turned and sent clear indicators that all will bond with their rain gear for the next while. More about that shortly. With the air carrying little more than a heavy mist, most went to see the historic Louisbourg Lighthouse before moving on to the Marconi Museum and then to the KOA campsite in North Sydney. The lighthouse is "an octagonal concrete lighthouse decorated with neoclassical architectural features was built in 1923. The tower is a twin of the Georges Island Lighthouse in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Louisbourg lighthouse was destaffed in 1990. The lighthouse is a popular lookoff point and in 2008 became the start of a coastal walking trail. Interpretive plaques mark the ruins of the previous lighthouses. " (Source: Wikipedia)

IMG_1420.jpg


Next stop was the Marconi Museum in Glace Bay. The Parks Canada site - http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/ns/marconi/visit.aspx says that "here you will learn about the life and work of Guglielmo Marconi, the Wizard of Wireless who proved it was possible to send messages across the Atlantic using electromagnetic waves instead of wires.The site consists of the Visitor Centre and the remains of the original Table Head station. All texts are in English, French and Italian. "

DSC03833.jpg


DSC03834.jpg


DSC03835.jpg


Moving on, the rain gets much more serious and this changed some of the camping plans at the KOA. However, being a very adaptable and creative bunch, negotiations with the KOA manager (Jason) assembled us all into camping cabins for the night. Laundry facilities gave the dryers a real workout!

P1050538.jpg


....... this is a copy of the local newspaper referring to the weather system that we were riding in!

DSC09759.jpg


DSC09760.jpg
 
Last edited:
Back
Top