Most of you know that I was registered to race Halifax 101 this year, and most of you know it was canceled (I actually had the same thing happen to me with the Woodlands race - so I must be cursed this year). We decided to go to Halifax (from Vancouver) anyways and just enjoy the time. The BF and I rode from Halifax to Peggy’s Cove and back this morning. Beautiful sunny day, lows in the am around 10degC, climbing up to 20. Not too windy. What wind there was came at you from all directions… which was annoying. The shoulder is virtually non existent on these roads, and the chipseal is lovely for the fanny (NOT). While the scenery is beautiful and the ride challenging, it is just not safe to have 500 or so riders out here. The potholes and construction at the Rotary are insane. I can’t even imagine riding from Dartmouth over the bridge through Halifax. The number of HUGE tour buses at Peggy’s Cove are insane. I honestly don’t know how they could run this race safely in this location, on that bike course they had planned.
That said, I am enjoying my trip to Halifax. The BF and I will be at the Lower Deck pub tonight in case any of you locals want to link up (look for the crazy blonde haired wookie at the bar - it’s likely me).
I would love to see 101 succeed, but boy oh boy they were way too ambitious to plan a tri of that size for Halifax.
Statistically, this weekend each year is the most likely that a hurricane will roll past Halifax as well. 9 out of 10 years would have been shit weather…
Tonight (Monday): New Brunswick & PEI. Report…maybe…
Tomorrow (Tuesday): Cape Breton and the Glenora Distillery. Report to follow.
Status update: After an 8 hour session at the Lower Deck, we made it to the famous Pizza Corner for a huge slice and a donair. Yup…hands still smell like donair sauce this morning.
Hey AP - enjoy your trip. We spent a week in Nova Scotia this summer. I haven’t been there in 5 years (we used to go every year). Spent a day and a half in Halifax, but it wasn’t enough. If you’re looking for a beach to go to in CBI, head out to the beach at West Mabou. It will be before Glenora Distillery. Great swimming and the water is relatively warm. The beach at Inverness is nice too, but the Mabou one is better for swimming.
Tonight (Monday): New Brunswick & PEI. Report…maybe…
Tomorrow (Tuesday): Cape Breton and the Glenora Distillery. Report to follow.
Status update: After an 8 hour session at the Lower Deck, we made it to the famous Pizza Corner for a huge slice and a donair. Yup…hands still smell like donair sauce this morning.
YEEEEEEAAAAA-HEEEEEAAAAHHHH! That’s what I’m talkin’ 'bout!
Aww, shoot. You should have given me more advance notice. You are right, there is always a headwind.
A Tri of that size will work in Halifax, no problem, but I agree that I don’t think going to Peggy’s Cove is the right idea (at least not in peak tourist season). As far as a lack of shoulder goes, it really isn’t that bad, the drivers are generally pretty courteous around here. The Rotary is a huge mess, I don’t think that was anticipated when the course was originally planned. The road surface isn’t that bad though, is it?
When planning the course, I don’t know how much feedback the organizers solicited / received from people who have been putting on races in the area for years and know what the good routes would be.
Tomorrow (Tuesday): Cape Breton and the Glenora Distillery. Report to follow.
It is now EOD Wednesday. I can completely understand that you might not have been able to get out of bed before 14:00, but seriously - you’ve got 4hrs on me.
At the Halifax Maple Leaf lounge right now, enjoying the free-pour bar sorry for the delay but there is like ZERO connectivity all along the Cabot Trail… heck we didn’t have cell coverage for at least half of it…
Glenora was AMAZING. Great location. Amazing food. And the whisky? killer. We have 2 bottles coming home with us…if you play your cards right, you might get to try some. Cabot trail was great, but the weather was horrible… but back to Glenora, we are thinking it would be super sweet to book that place for a whole weekend, invite friends & family, hire a couple bands, and go nuts. Maybe in a few years…
Off to Montreal for booze & poutine & tortiere & tarte au sucre… Pics will have to wait, I forgot my USB cable
AP.
PS: Thyroid med at almost 2 weeks now; muscles slowly uncramping. I might be able to go for a run (gasp)!
Oh yeah and I forgot to add… where this distance of tri really should be is in Charlottetown, PEI. The roads are in great shape and have little traffic, and have just enough roll to them to not be considered flat. They love big clumps of visitors and accommodate them well. The local brew pubs are great. I would totally do a long course tri in PEI…
PEI would be good. Also Lunenberg / Bridgewater or Wolfville would make great spots reasonably close to Halifax (within a 1 hour drive). With Wolfville, there are some options to put some pretty good climbs on the route.
At the Halifax Maple Leaf lounge right now, enjoying the free-pour bar
Glenora was AMAZING. Great location. Amazing food. And the whisky? killer. We have 2 bottles coming home with us…if you play your cards right, you might get to try some.
Off to Montreal for booze & poutine & tortiere & tarte au sucre… Pics will have to wait, I forgot my USB cable
PS: Thyroid med at almost 2 weeks now; muscles slowly uncramping. I might be able to go for a run (gasp)!
Killer. Love the AC lounge, all things distillery related, and Montreal. The road to better health is a huge positive as well. Kick ass.
When are you back? I’m hoping to be off the DL by the time you return to action - if not sooner…
