Hi.
The trip was great - I did it in 5 days but I think 10 days would have been perfect. The roads are perfect for cruising on a motorcycle; I did not have a complaint about any of them. I took some side trips off the beaten path and those roads were picture perfect as well. Prince Edward Island is very nice, and I'd recommend it to anyone, but I did feel a little bored after a day or two there, but that just may be me. The highlight was probably riding the Cabot Trail, which is a loop that I think was 180 miles long. I met up with another rider who was from Ontario and we took off and ended together, as well as meeting several times during the ride. The reason we didn't do the entire length together is because every single foot of that road was an opportunity to pull over, look around, take some pictures and talk to other "tourists".
Shameless plug alert!! I stopped at a place called the Cove Motel late one evening and the receptionist took a look at me and said, “You’re a motorcyclist? That's an automatic 10% percent discount!" It is an awesome, clean, picturesque and friendly place - a definite yes if you have to decide whether or not you want to stay there!
Excellent scenery, good food, friendly people, great roads, etc. but the most memorable parts of any trips I have taken are the ones that present a hardship that has to be overcome. So, I think the most memorable part would be in northern Maine, late at night on a two lane highway with only tractor trailers to keep me company. To top it off, it was pouring down rain, up to 3" per hour I was told, absolutely no light on the road and the exits were about 20 miles apart. Only a few exits had hotels, so those were all booked (supply and demand). I was standing in a little lobby, soaked to the bone, boots full of water and physically shaking from the cold. I looked down at the floor to see an 8 foot wide puddle forming around me as the sleepy eyed, warm and dry receptionist told me they were booked up. Overcoming the mental challenge of walking back out into the freezing (45 degree) cold, pitch black, pouring rain night, getting back on the bike and heading out to the flooded, unlit road was very gratifying to overcome. Of course, it wasn’t gratifying at the time, I’m talking a week or so later! There is also the physical challenge of staying on the road, avoiding hidden potholes and negotiating curves that come suddenly upon you, while at the same time watching out for animals on the road and convincing your cold shaking body to hold on the handlebars.
Of course if that is not to your liking, I imagine (but don't know for sure because I don't normally do it) you could plan out your trip to just ride during the day, reserve a camping spot or hotel/motel room in advance, and bring a little bit of food with you. You can wing the part about what to look at and what to do while you're there because the possibilities are just about endless. I'd say that if you see a sign in front of a little restaurant the claims to have the best fried clams in the world, by all means, pull into the little gravel parking lot, find a seat outside at one of the picnic tables and have them prove it to you!! What’s the worst thing that could happen, you eat a pint of the second best fried clams in the world?
If you do go, have fun, take your time, keep the "must do" list kind of short and enjoy! Maybe you should take a few Canadian dollars with you too, cuz you never know when the bank may shut down your debit card due to charges all over the place that look like a stolen, travelling card and some places just don't take American dollars.
Stay safe!
Glenn
