Salty Fog Rally 2012: What A Trip!

:type [SIZE="4"]On the week of September 2nd to the 7th the [COLOR="Red"][B]Salty Fog Riders Rally[/B][/COLOR] covered the 500 miles from beautiful and sunny Larry's River, Nova Scotia to and around Cape Breton Island. This was year [COLOR="Red"]five [/COLOR]!!:thumb After a two day stay (for those who chose to arrive on the Early Arrival Day - they all did) relaxing in Larry's River, this hardy group of adventurers ventured forth and experienced a variety of weather patterns. While this limited some aspects of the ride it also provided many pleasant opportunities. These opportunities will be described later in the report.

However, for today I present a modestly assembled 'quick peek' at that week. Next: [I]The Report[/I] [/SIZE]


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That is an awesome "quick peek"!
Can't wait for the full report.:lurk
Thank you Bob and Mary

BRAVO! Well-done, Bob! I'lll tell ya though, the rain in Maine was just the same!

Looks like you all had a super fun time, except for the gully washer. (70 mm !)

[QUOTE=NickDC;840620]That is an awesome "quick peek"!
Can't wait for the full report.:lurk
Thank you Bob and Mary[/QUOTE]

On its way Nick and "your welcome". What a great time even though the weather challenged us all a wee bit eh? Stay tuned :lurk - Bob

[QUOTE=tommcgee;840641]BRAVO! Well-done, Bob! I'lll tell ya though, the rain in Maine was just the same![/QUOTE]

... but our elevation and coastal embrace tended to make for a 'wicked ride' at times. But the grinnin' never seemed to dampen! :clap - Bob

[QUOTE=tourunigo;840746]... but our elevation and coastal embrace tended to make for a 'wicked ride' at times. But the grinnin' never seemed to dampen! :clap - Bob[/QUOTE]

Oh I dunno, my gear soaked through too. :bluduh

[QUOTE=rinty;840680]Looks like you all had a super fun time, except for the gully washer. (70 mm !)[/QUOTE]

A super time indeed Rinty ... but that fickled and pesky weather kept the group out of Meat Cove. Well, all except three adventurous GS members who turned in a stellar performance riding to that beautiful edge of the earth.... even in the face of raging rain and winds.... and then joining us at the motel in Pleasant Bay (:brow oops, that story is for later) - Bob

[CENTER][/CENTER][B][SIZE="6"][FONT="Fixedsys"][COLOR="Red"]Salty Fog Riders Rally 2012[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B] [I][B][SIZE="4"][SIZE="5"]THE REPORT[/SIZE][/SIZE][/B][/I]

[SIZE="4"][B]PRELUDE:[/B] [B]This year was the [COLOR="Red"][B]Salty Fog Riders Rally[/B][/COLOR] fifth year (2008 skipped due to house renos). It has come a long way from the original concept envisioned by the late Paul Bachorz and me back in 2006. Paul convinced me that a rolling rally would be a unique way to introduce riders to Atlantic Canada generally and Nova Scotia in particular. Numerous phone calls and emails cooked up the design and an implementation strategy. He pointed out that Mary and I had the perfect Base Camp ? in the Acadian fishing community of Larry's River and our proximity to Cape Breton Island was ideal for a leisurely four day, 500 mile ride. The Salty Fog Riders Rally was born in the late summer of 2007. [/B]
[/SIZE]
[IMG]http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd244/tourunigo/may28ToJune2128.jpg[/IMG] [I]Paul 2008[/I]

[SIZE="4"][B]Today this little rally covers six days: two in Larry's River and four on the road. Camping nights now take us to historic Louisbourg, a scenic KOA near the beginning of the Cabot Trail and, weather permitting, camping in Meat Cove for the [B][I]Edge of the Earth Gathering[/I][/B] (aka our group). The three campgound managers have been enthusiastically supportive and accommodating to us over the five years (KOA now two of those five years) and we recommend them all for your own individual travel on Cape Breton Island.
[/B]
[B]This year's ride again had some surprises, a few new opportunities and a challenge or two but lots of laughs, food, riding, food, live theater, food, varying and sometimes furious natural beauty, food, lively conversation, food...... It was a wonderful time with, again, a great group of riders and new friends.[/SIZE]
[/B]
[B][SIZE="4"]THE PLAN:[/SIZE][/B]

[SIZE="4"][B]Officially the rally starts on Labour Day Monday but we have now built in an Early Arrival Day on Sunday. This year all participants took advantage of this and were able to take kick back and enjoy the abundant sunshine, warm temperatures, community activities, significant relaxation and :eat:eat:eat:eat:eat:eat:eat:eat

The route over the next week looks like this:[/B][/SIZE]

[IMG]http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd244/tourunigo/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202011/Ride%20Report%202011/saltyfog2011Route.jpg[/IMG]

[B][SIZE="4"]Bird's view of Larry's River[/SIZE][/B]

[IMG]http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd244/tourunigo/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202011/Ride%20Report%202011/LRPHOTO.jpg[/IMG]

[B][SIZE="4"]Getting there.... a few signs[/SIZE][/B]

[IMG]http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd244/tourunigo/Photobucket%20Desktop%20-%20RPWEBERCONSU-PC/DSC09021.jpg[/IMG]

[SIZE="4"][B]... and the Larry's River Base Camp looks like this (easy to spot from the other side of the river):[/B][/SIZE]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/P1050473.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/P1050480.jpg[/IMG]

[B][B][SIZE="4"]And familiar sounds keep coming over the dirt hill....[/SIZE][/B][/B]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/IMG_1732.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/IMG_1733.jpg[/IMG]

[SIZE="4"][B]The road becomes the gathering place where greetings and conversation seem to traditionally gravitate to...[/B]
[/SIZE]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC09057.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/P1050465.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/IMG_0216.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/IMG_1812.jpg[/IMG]

[B][SIZE="4"]...lots more to come so[/SIZE][/B] :lurk

[SIZE="4"][B]Laura stakes out the perfect gathering point (off the road) up on the hill overlooking the river and community.[/B] [/SIZE]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC09036.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/IMG_1773.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC09043.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC09040.jpg[/IMG]

[B][SIZE="4"][B]as music drifts out of the barn...while a food-feast is gathering at the house... a community event is happening at the river: the yearly Labour Day Parish Picnic Boat (tiny) Race begins. Our boat, Salty Fog, is in the running.[/B][/SIZE][/B]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/P1050466.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/P1050470.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC09031.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/P1050472b.jpg[/IMG]

[SIZE="4"][B][I][COLOR="Red"]We didn't win....[/COLOR][/I][/B][/SIZE] :scratch

[B][SIZE="4"]A visit to John's Village Grocery is becoming a tradition ..... over 60 years in the business in Larry's River. It's amazing what he has in that little store and if he doesn't have it there's a good chance you don't need it![/SIZE][/B]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/IMG_4619.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC03677-Copy-Copy.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd244/tourunigo/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202011/BobsPictures749.jpg[/IMG] (Salty Fog Archives 2011)

[B][SIZE="4"]Some relaxing walks/hikes/photo-ops[/SIZE][/B]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/P1050501.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/P1050510.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/P1050512.jpg[/IMG]

[B][SIZE="4"]... and in no particular order, a bit of 'food porn' ......what?!....no pictures of those hams and that wonderful homemade lasagna??? I was slack in that picture taking![/SIZE][/B] :eat

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC09754.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC08915.jpg[/IMG]

[SIZE="4"][B]Mary's hand picked wild blueberries and blackberries just picked...[/B][/SIZE]:thumb ... note beer.

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC09766.jpg[/IMG]

[B][SIZE="4"]And the soup that gave Three Bowl John some notoriety in 2011[/SIZE][/B]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC09751.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC09180.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC09098.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC03725.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC09195.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC09080.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC03712.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/IMG_1837.jpg[/IMG]

[B][SIZE="4"]Fresh ground organic coffee in French Press[/SIZE][/B]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC09097.jpg[/IMG]

[SIZE="4"][B]...and check out that wool Tea Cozy made by our friend Joanne![/B][/SIZE]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC09115.jpg[/IMG]

[SIZE="4"][B]Our Year Five award winner Ron cuts the cake.....[/B][/SIZE]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC09088.jpg[/IMG]

[SIZE="4"][B]As the first day's meals conclude...[/B][/SIZE]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC09192.jpg[/IMG]

[SIZE="4"][B]NEXT: A bit more relaxation before the ride[/B][/SIZE]

[B][SIZE="4"]Our first Tech Session ...[/SIZE][/B]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC09117.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/IMG_1845.jpg[/IMG]


[B][SIZE="4"]some prizes[/SIZE][/B]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/IMG_0210.jpg[/IMG]

[B][SIZE="4"]And Ron wins our grand prize of one of Mary's paintings[/SIZE][/B]
[SIZE="4"][B]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC09187.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/IMG_1770.jpg[/IMG]


some relaxing[/B][/SIZE]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC03710-Copy.jpg[/IMG]

[B][SIZE="4"][B][B][COLOR="Red"][I]Base Camp Accommodations[/I][/COLOR][/B][/B][/SIZE][/B]

[SIZE="4"][B]Nick's lodge on the hill[/B][/SIZE]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC09160.jpg[/IMG]

[B][SIZE="4"]The view from Wayne's tent[/SIZE][/B]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/IMG_3605.jpg[/IMG]

[B][SIZE="4"]Another choice was Mary's Art Studio on the second floor of the barn[/SIZE][/B]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/IMG_4607.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC08929.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj217/BobandMary/Salty%20Fog%20Riders%20Rally%202012/DSC03707-Copy.jpg[/IMG]

[B][SIZE="4"]...and the final night in Larry's River begins; tomorrow we ride[/SIZE][/B]

[IMG]http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd244/tourunigo/Photobucket%20Desktop%20-%20RPWEBERCONSU-PC/DSC08882.jpg[/IMG] (Salty Fog Archives 2011)

[B][SIZE="4"]NEXT: ON THE ROAD[/SIZE][/B]

Even when you're there it's amazing how much you miss.