July 16, 2014

Neither my route nor schedule is fixed or preplanned as I’ve mentioned previously. I have a general sense of where I’m going but beyond that options abound. As someone who’s not particularly keen about the unknown or unscheduled, I have to be intentional or deliberate about maintaining the impromptu. Ironic isn’t it? Not preplanned, choosing a path sometimes requires some interesting divination.

There are multiple guides to help discern the journey but none can definitively say this is the way you should go. And frankly such a direct answer would make the path unappealing, lacking in certain adventure. Today is a good example. I had the option of either heading for Hopewell Cape on the Bay of Fundy to see the worlds biggest tidal changes or head to Moncton; the former a bit of a detour but both options would be a long day. I examined the text but it offered multiple possibilities; and so you start interpreting the signs. Highways with no to few side roads and only a few small villages usually spell a difficult journey. Towns and cities began on agricultural land, i.e flat land, so the terrain will probably by more hospitable and it’s always nice to have options for food and water. The most direct route isn’t necessarily always a good idea as it may mean the road goes over the mountains instead of around. Mike has some stories there about the roads I’ve lead him down.

So next you consult the oracle Google Maps, which is a highly unreliable guide at best but has her uses. The problem is she has no compunction about taking you down a gravel road if it’s the shorter route and she will suggest every path marked as a bike path regardless of the conditions. I learnt to follow her judiciously as she’s lead me into some real sticks. Sometimes you can summon the experiences of souls who have passed by before. If your goals or destinations match up, they can be very insightful.

What I was able to discern is that it will be a long day any which way I choose. No readily accessible accommodations exist for a cyclists between Fredericton and Moncton. I eliminated Hopewell since the tides are off by half a day for my schedule. Not much to see in the middle of the night and don’t want to wait around until lunch the next day. The bit of good news I received was that the TransCanada has very generous shoulders and as a major highway the grades more gentle even if it’s still hilly. So into the rain I ventured, praying I was on the right path.

Road Report: 174km
I took the 105 out of Fredericton to Jemseg where I got onto the Transcanada. The 105 is a decent way to get past traffic buildup around the city and it only has local trucks, which are few and far between. The TransCanada is what it is but a very bountiful shoulders make for a reasonably decent ride.