Distance: 83km
Elevation: 800m
Another day in the rain. It had rained all night and the falling raindrops had been really noisy on the tent. I caught a good 9 hours of sleep nonetheless.
I had a standing breakfast during a rain break and packed up. I said goodbye to James, the host of the place. He had been a GM in a car dealership in Toronto for 16 years before. During Covid he realized that he wanted a change in his life and had bought this place together with his partner.
I hit the road 9am. It was raining again. I had my full rain gear on but with the headwind and the climbs I soon was wet from sweating and a bit later I got also could.
After 50km I came through First Nation Territory. It’s always easy to spot: A combination of a gas station, tobacco and cannabis sales and a casino. Everything with high taxes on it because business on First Nation territory is tax free.
I had my lunch with home made sandwiches, coffee and coke and focused on the next steps after finally reaching Fredericton. I realized that there was no direct way from Fredericton to Moncton as expected – unless I wanted to cycle on an Autobahn again. This was definitely no option.
Also, I realized that the Trans Canada Trail was really a thing here. In other provinces it was more like a concept or it had escaped my attention.
Anyhow – here, it was a real thing with trails, roads, signs and everything. Even Komoot knew about the TCT.
However, following the TCT to St. John, New Brunswick, meant two days of additional cycling and my schedule would slide further.
Maybe, I really needed to invoke my backup plan and take a different ferry to Newfoundland? That would give me time to explore Prince Edward Island, the smallest and allegedly most beautiful of all Canadian provinces.
There was more rain predicted for the day so I booked myself a motel room in Oromocto.
When I arrived there after only 83km, I was frustrated for not having achieved more today.
However, there simply had been nothing else like a campground or motel between this place and St. John which was my destination for tomorrow.
As it started to rain again, my frustration got better and I went through my evening program of washing and drying clothes, charging batteries, blog writing and dinner.
According to the weather app as of tomorrow there should be no more rain but rather sunshine and warm weather. Well, let’s see what tomorrow brings.
