It's All in the Story

Looking north from the Inverness beach and golf course.

This tour, like all tours, brings surprises, insights, and appreciation. The tour of Canada’s Atlantic Provinces is no exception. I’ve visited Canada multiple times in my life and noticed subtle differences between life in Canada and life in the USA. Our slow pace has allowed us to appreciate and absorb the unique cultures and lifestyles of the region, especially in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia where a short distance separates Inverness - where we left this morning and which feels like Scotland, with English as the primary language—and Cheticamp, where we arrived this afternoon, where French is the primary language and the architecture and lifestyle reflect our experiences in Quebec.

Typical coastal house of Cape Breton

Throughout this journey, we have witnessed the power of story. We’ve met artists, writers, hotel receptionists, fishermen, laborers, entrepreneurs, students, and Canadian travelers, all sharing unique stories and perspectives about their homeland. What stands out most to me is the common theme of people not locking their doors. This reveals a genuine sense of trust, safety, and freedom anchored in each of the local communities we visited.

Dancing Goat Bakery in Inverness, Nova Scotia

Another highlight is the pride people have for their country, region, and local town. This pride is authentic, mostly free from conceit or fervor and filled with appreciation and love for their home. The stories we hear offer a snapshot of the lives of the people we are fortunate to meet. Each day, we are gifted with personal vignettes that inspire us to appreciate, respect, and learn more about the places we are cycling through. The synergy from these stories and the daily ride leaves us with a genuine sense of awe at the end of the day.

Today, we officially started riding the Cabot Trail. With the wind at our backs, we rode along the coastline. We are excited about this segment of the journey, which promises vivid natural landscapes, wildlife sightings, the steepest climbs of the ride (yikes!), and, of course, those surprising and interesting stories we are fortunate to encounter along the way.