PEI TRIP SUMMER 2024

 “…it’s about the journey, not the destination…”

The Confederation Bridge connecting PEI to New Brunswick.

    The next two days will be primarily interstate or Trans Canada Highway. Today from North Rustico across the border back into the states, and then on to Bangor ME. The Spyder really excells at this type of riding. You just sit back, set the cruise control, enjoy the blue tooth radio and stop around 150 miles to gas up, and take a little break if needed.

This was another,  newer “board walk” in Cavendish.
Obviously Cavendish is a very active vacation spot.

    The trip from North Rustico to Bangor ME is around 360 miles. With any luck I should be in Bangor by 3 pm or so. A part of this equation is that I will regain the hour I lost on the way to Truro. The route will take me over the Confederation Bridge to New Brunswick and down to Moncton where I will pick up the route I took to  Truro back through St John to St Strephen where I will cross the border back into Calis ME, and then back to Bangor on Route 9. 

US customs in Calis ME crossing from St Stephen NB.

    I did arrive in Bangor at 3:30 and checked into my motel. Later find some dinner and then rest up for tomorrow. 

An overlook on Mount Desert Island

    The last day of the trip is around 600 miles, past Boston and New York, the down the entire length of New Jersey to Delaware. Leaving Bangor at 6:30 am traffic on I 95 is exceptionally light. In the first hour I fell in with three Gold Wings and rode with them past Augusta.

The sign is about the Bar Harbour Museum. 

    The fastest way south is to go right through Portland ME. Normally I avoid going through cities but it only to about 15 minutes to get through Portland. This route also saves quite a few miles. Stopping at 150 miles allows me to take short breaks, with a longer break at lunch. The big thing is to stay alert and focused.

    Once again I take the outer beltway around Boston, then west on I 90 to I 84 south right through Hartford CT. Continuing on I 84 to I 684 to Saw Mill River Parkway that brings me out right at the Governor Mario Cuomo Bridge. 

The Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge over the Hudson River.

    After crossing the Governor Cuomo Bridge I continue west to the Garden State Parkway. From here it is 144 miles down the entire length of New Jersey to the Delaware Memorial Bridge, and from there a half an hour or so home. Traffic is always heavy so you have to keep up with traffic and pay close attention. This is not a fun ride but it needs to be done to get home. In the end I pulled into my driveway at 6:35 pm, just about exactly 12 hours after leaving Bangor. A great trip that took only 1 week but full of contrasts of cultures and how people live from Delaware to North Rustico PEI. In the neighborhood of 2,000 miles. The bike was great on the trip, and now looking forward to the next adventure!

Near Seal Harbour on Mount Desert Island.