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BeActiveLikeV

@beactivelikev.bsky.social
54 followers 20 following 105 posts

Sharing adventures, esp. bike trips, so more people can #beactivelikeV. Strong advocates for better bike infrastructure because a lack of it took V's life. BeActiveLikeV.ca

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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
A year before she died V called him "a keeper" and I couldn't agree more. We love to celebrate anniversaries and special days with bike rides (and coffee) whenever we can.
A selfie of two people who are riding their bikes. Both people are smiling and wearing bike helmets. There are trees in the background. A cyclist in a yellow helmet and a blue sweater. He is riding on a gravel trail with trees on either side..some of the trees are bright red.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Opa shared stories with them about her while sitting on a memorial bench in her honour in downtown Truro.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Today marks 8 years since V was killed while cycling outside of Truro. A preventable accident that took away an amazing woman, mother and about to be Grandma. This past weekend her two grandchildren (who call her Oma) moved to Canada from Australia. She would have been as thrilled! ❤️
An older male sitting on a bench with two children whose faces have been blurred. A placard on the bench reads "in memory of Veronica, 'V', McMillan. Play, Run, Swim, Have fun, inspired others!"
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Friends left a car in Chester for us. Very grateful to not be biking in this. Allowed us to have a relaxing day today.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
We biked there from Halifax. 82km mostly on the trail but there a few sections between Timberlea and Hubley that were fully closed. The trail conditions from Tantallon to Chester were great! Spotted two porcupines and a fox!
A trail blockage. The sign reads Trail Closed to All UsersA fox walking on a wooden platform admidst the trees.A large porcupine resting high in a small tree. A cyclist biking over a wooden bridge on a gravel trail.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
A birthday celebration with a gang of cyclists on Tancook Island. Couldn't ask for a better way to start a new decade.
A group of cyclists including two adults and five kids bike on a gravel road on a sunny dayMultiple bikes in front of a sign for Big Tancook Island. Sunrise over a cove. A yellow deck chair is in the foreground.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
And honestly, instead of scrolling lately I find myself exploring on Komoot and dreaming up new trips... Austria is pretty high on the list at the moment.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
Ten months later, we've finally written about our trip on the BeActiveLikeV blog. It was fun to go through notes and pictures and come up with a simple lesson we learned each day. But, it also made us really long to go back.... It's a long read with lots of pictures: beactivelikev.ca/2026/03/23/a...
beactivelikev.ca
A three-week bike tour in Europe
Three weeks, three countries, 1260km by bike, countless pastries,
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
This winter has been very stressful and this is how we've been dealing with it. The Railyard in Victoria Park is truly magical. Today's conversation... Do we have room in the shed for two more bikes..
The handlebars on a bike are in the foreground with a snow covered trail in the background. The trail is bordered by trees.A cyclist on a trail passing through a snowy field. It is dusk. Two fatbikes leaning against a bike rack and a post. There is a table and chairs to the right and the background is full of snow and trees. A cyclist who is facedown in the snow.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
Victoria Park on repeat lately. Best way to forget about life's stresses.
A woman in a yellow jacket cross country skiing in a snowy forest. A snowy trail crossing a wooden bridge.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
Another epic winter day in Victoria Park. A special place truly loved by V. The conditions were so nice that we did both a snowshoe and a ski! #victoriapark #truro
A woman in a yellow coat snowshoeing on a trail. There is a small black dog behind her. A wide snowy trail with snow covered trees on both sides. There is a person skiing in the distance. A person skiing through deep snow on a trail with snow covered trees on both sides. A bike rack that has "Veronica McMillan July 2018" engraved in the end.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
Agreed. But it makes me worried.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
BLT Trail Update: "After careful consideration, we determined that the current development model, the funding structure, and the shortage of volunteers no longer allow us to maintain the trail to the standard expected by the Province or the public." blttrails.ca/b-l-t-rails-...
blttrails.ca
B.L.T. Rails to Trails Letter of Authority Return - B.L.T. Rails to Trails
November 18, 2025 Department of Natural Resources and RenewablesGovernment of Nova ScotiaPO Box 698Halifax, NSB3J 2T9 Re: Letter of Authority 2004-036, B.L.T. Rails to Trails To whom it may concern, O...
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
Squeezed in one more bike trip before the snow comes. Two days, two very different rides. But a nice dry accommodation in Hubbards. Lots of waterfalls along the trail today. Fueled/warmed by The 5k Cafe, the Bike and Bean and The Gratto.
A cyclist in an orange vest on a gravel trail through the forest. The sun is shining brightly. A cyclist in an orange vest on a gravel trail with puddles. The sky is grey and an inlet can be seen on the right. A dome accommodation in the forest. There are bushes and Adirondack chairs out front.  View from the inside of the dome of the white piping structure. You can see the Adirondack chairs. There are a lot of raindrops on the windows.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
And these are only the people that are killed. There are probably so many more who've had their lives changed through injury, trauma, fear, etc.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
There's also Veronica McMillan (colchesterfuneral.frontrunnerpro.com/book-of-memo...) and Toby Hennigar (www.jonesfamilyfuneralcentre.ca/obituaries/1...).
colchesterfuneral.frontrunnerpro.com
Veronica "V" McMillan
MCMILLAN (Overmars), Veronica Maria It is with heavy hearts that we announce the tragic passing of Veronica McMillan, 59, of Truro. She died on July 29, 2018 after being involved in an accident whil...
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
There was a Barricade Ahead sign. And it honestly wasn't a trail.. lots of signs of foot traffic but it was pretty overgrown.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
Worst part was the 2km on the gravel shoulder of Hwy 7 connecting the two trails. Google maps did show a trail option so we tried it on the way back. We succeeded but don't recommend it. Good potential though 🤞
A narrow trail through the forest. There is a cyclist in the distance. A crumbling railway bridge surrounded by colourful trees. A cyclist standing with a bike on top of a concrete wall. There is a ladder to her right and colourful trees all around. A cyclist on a narrow grassy trail in the woods.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
Beautiful ride along the Gaetz Brook Greenway and the Musquodobit Trailway today! Pleasantly surprised by 5km of fresh hard packed gravel on the latter.
A cyclist on a gravel trail on an autumn day. There is a bright red tree on the right.A cyclist on a gravel trail passing through a field with a few red trees. The gravel trail looks brand new.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
And downloadable GPS tracks are on Komoot: www.komoot.com/collection/3... And I'll gradually add more info on the Blog: beactivelikev.ca/2025/09/12/t...
beactivelikev.ca
The Blue Route
A work in progress to map the Blue Route and share experiences that we’ve had on various segments. We won’t ride all these ourselves, because we don’t feel safe doing so.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
I've been making some progress on some maps of the Blue Route that are actually useful. For an overview, the Google My Maps shows trails vs paved shoulders vs roads. Is it likely incomplete because it is really difficult to find this info! Help if you can! www.google.com/maps/d/u/5/e...
google.com
Blue Route Nova Scotia - Google My Maps
Blog: https://beactivelikev.ca/the-blue-route/ Full GPS tracks available here: https://www.komoot.com/collection/3835318/-blue-route-nova-scotia Details: The Blue Route is a provincial cycling network...
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
We recently went to Shediac for a weekend with family. Threw our bikes on the car and we were pleasantly surprised by some bike trails and slow streets. There is honestly no better way to explore. Also: the chocolatines at Adorable Chocolat are better than most we had in Europe 🤯
Cyclist on a wooden bridge passing through a first with coloured leaves. Chocolatines and coffee from Adorable ChocolatBikes at a red bike rack with a lobster design. A two way bike path on the side of a road next to the ocean.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
We rode a section from Hantsport to Gaspereau area in the spring. We thought "the wineries are closed so it won't be that busy". We were wrong, and the cars went fast!! Ended up using gravel roads through farms to get back to Grand Pre.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
Comments and others experiences are welcome!
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
Digging into the Blue Route details was difficult. The PDF map on blueroute.ca is a grany PDF! So, we've started to make our own to share: beactivelikev.ca/the-blue-route/. It's in progress! But, we hope that we can (1) provide downloadable maps, (2) highlight what sections are safer than others.
beactivelikev.ca
The Blue Route
A work in progress to map the Blue Route and share experiences that we’ve had on various segments. We won’t ride all these ourselves, because we don’t feel safe doing so.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
Finally found some time to respond to a recent press release about funding for the #BlueRoute. The email is my opinion and highlights that there have been at least 3 fatalities on the Blue Route or similar roads. And that the improvements made are not improvements. docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com
Blue Route Email
Dear Mr. Sean Fraser, Mr. Kody Blois and Ms. Melissa Sheehy-Richard, I am writing to you all concerning quotes that you made which were included in the press release on the Blue Route funding release...
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
We rode 180km in 3 days on the Confederation trail, in PEI National Park and on quiet roads. We sought out coffee shops for pastries and dairy bars for ice cream. We sometimes rode fast to work out stress and catch sunsets. We also rode slow with some little friends who biked 20km! Such joy! 2/2
A cyclist crossing a wooden bridge over a river with beach and forest in the background. A cyclist on a paved separated bike lane with a white centre line. There are views of cliffs on the right hand side and a black truck on the road next to the bike lane. An adult cycling riding behind two young cyclists . They are on a gravel trail in the woods. Two kids on swings while wearing helmets. There is a view of the Northumberland Straight. To the left, there are two adults sitting in adirondack chairs with bikes scattered throughout.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
V had anxiety and being active was one way she managed it. She passed that on to me. My chest pain and shallow breathing showed up last week for the first time in years. Likely due to anger about bike lanes, a woods ban, climate anxiety, etc. So we went to PEI to ride our bikes in the woods! 1/2
A cyclist in a yellow vest biking through purple wooden barriers on a gravel trail. A cyclist in a yellow vest biking on a paved road with large rocks on the right and lobster traps and colourful buildings on the left. There are no vehicles on the road. Two people sitting in red adirondack chairs watching the sunset. They are wearing helmets and there are bikes leaning against the railings. A cyclist in a yellow vest biking on a gravel road through a field with cylindrical hay bails scattered throughout.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
Riding with this group helps us stay connected to V's amazing community. They really embody the #BeActiveLikeV lifestyle, by just getting outside, moving, and trying new things! This year we ranged in age from 6 to 70ish! Not everyone knew V directly, but we are all connected to her in some way!
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
Yesterday we rode the Salt Marsh Trail in memory of V, exactly 7 years after she was hit by a car while biking near Truro, NS. It has become an annual tradition to ride the final route she ever completed. We chat, we ride, we toast, and some swim. It is always a special day! Wish she could join us.
A group of about 25 people posing for a photo on a boardwalk with a beach in the background. The words "Salt Marsh 2025" are at the top of the photo in block letters.A lineup of a red drink in small glasses with a beach in the background.Four cyclists on a trail in the forest. There are two children and two adults. Two cyclists (V's daughters) riding on a gravel trail with grass and water on each side.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
Great ride out to Lawrencetown last night. We've never seen so little wind on this trail. We got a little lost in the twists and turns of Cole Harbour, but found a nice alternative to Pleasant Dr. for getting to the Salt Marsh Trail. Downloadable GPS: www.komoot.com/tour/2362383...
A gravel trail with boulders and water on each side. There is a cyclist in the distance. The sky has white and pinkish tones and the water is so still that it is acting like a mirror.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
They were everywhere! And now just imagine those bells ringing through the hills. It was literally like a post card!
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
Overall, the trip was incredible. It was such a privilege to bike for 6-8 hours a day and see so many new places. We were able to fully disconnect from our day to day lives and just live in the moment. Logistics and weather were sometimes hard, but created lots of memories! 6/6
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
We brought one bike from Canada. Flying with a bike added some stress, esp. with a missed connection, but it was only $100 and so nice to have our own bike. Travelling with bikes on trains was convenient but harder than we expected - small or no elevators & crowded trains. 5/6
A large blue suitcase and a cardboard box with a bike in it on an airport luggage trolley. Two bikes handing on a train. There is another bike on the left that is not hanging. Two bikes and two people squeezed onto a small elevator. A smiling man in a sea of bikes on a train.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
We mostly camped, but our tent leaked, and then a brand new tent also leaked, so we sought out many different kinds of accommodation. Cheap roofed options were plentiful in France, we did a Warm Showers stay in Switzerland, one AirBnB and two nights with friends and family. 4/6
An elevated canvas tent with a steep set of stairs leading to the opening. There are clothes hanging on the lower level. Two bikes in front of a large canvas tent. Another tent and a trailer can be seen in the background. A small green tent is on the left and a picnic table covered in a tarp is on the right. A gray tent is in the foreground and in the background there is a long roofed area that has many things hanging off it.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
We fueled our bodies with daily pastries and coffees, several kilos of local cheese and saucisson, local produce, and plenty of ice cream. Cafes and markets were everywhere, even in the middle of the Swiss alps! 3/6
A coffee and a pain au chocolat sitting on a table. Saucisson and cheese wrapped in paper. Two smiling people eating ice cream bars. A fromagerie called Le Sapalet. There are images of goats and cows on the building and two bikes leaning on it. On the window there is text indicating "en self service" and the sign out front indicates that it is open 24/7.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
We mostly followed established bike routes -- Via Rhona in France, the Lakes Route in Switzerland and parts of EuroVelo 5, 6, 8 and 15. We planned and tracked our trip using Komoot and we've created a collection with all the rides, comments and photos. 2/6 www.komoot.com/collection/3...
komoot.com
Europe Trip 2025 | Komoot
A compilation of all the kilometers we did on our three week trip to France, Switzerland and Germany in May-June 2025. It was often beautiful, sometimes stressful, and usually fun. Our bodies held up ...
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
We spent 21 days cycle touring in France, Switzerland and Germany! It was challenging, beautiful, stressful and incredible! We did 1240km by bike and many more by train. We will provide more details on the blog over the next few weeks because we definitely learned A LOT! 1/6
A cyclist in a yellow vest standing on a road with lush green mountains in the background. The sky is gray with thick clouds. A row of colourful half-timbered houses along a canal in Colmar, France. A reflection of the houses can be seen in the water of the canal. Two bikes leaning along a railing in Lucene, Switzerland. The chapel bridge and downtown areas can be seen in the background. Two people wearing yellow vests and helmets smiling in front of two cows that appear to be looking at the camera.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 18/05/2025
Trying out a new way to map the rides we do. Komoot is very popular in Europe and is a nice way to combine pictures and mapping. We will still do blog posts, but they will always be a bit more delayed. Here are the rides we did in Montreal: www.komoot.com/collection/3...
komoot.com
Montreal | Komoot
A missed flight connection (by 10 minutes), meant spending two unplanned days in Montreal. The weather had a little bit of everything including thick fog, sunny breaks, intense thunderstorms and some ...
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 18/05/2025
Took the bus to Dorval today and then rode back to the city and rode back along the Lachine Canal to the Atwater Market. Thanks for the suggestion -- it was great!
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
And then this happened... Thunder and lightning at the same time, flooded roads and a leaking roof. But still grateful for the roof. Now drying out in the library.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
We went from downtown to St Helens island, then walked around for a bit and then picked up another bixi and rode the formula one track on Ile de la Nôtre Dame
Cyclist riding on a two way bike lane through on a tree lined streetA cyclist riding across a bridge on a bike lane on a foggy day.A cyclist riding on a wide road with grandstands on either side. There could be flames out the back of his bike because he was riding so fast past me. A wide gravel trail through the forest with benches on one side.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Unexpectedly in Montreal for 36 hours. What should we do? Particularly interested in checking out local attractions by bike.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 21/04/2025
I think it was Argyle St. There was also one on Smythe St. Both connected two segments of the cross town connector (a multiuse path).
A street map of downtown Fredericton showing a coloured path
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 21/04/2025
This was the only annoying thing... Cars still had priority at all intersections.
A stop sign on a trail that explicitly says bikes and pedestrians stop for cars.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 21/04/2025
It was. And so well signed that we literally just followed it across town without really looking at the map.
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 20/04/2025
Totals: - Day 1: 40.6 km along Fundy Trail Parkway, 889m of climbing. - Day 2: 17.6 km in Fundy National Park, 377m of climbing - Day 2: 9.7 km along Sussex Nature Walkway, 54 m of climbing - Day 3: 62.7km in Fredericton, 360m of climbing. We will post more details on the blog soon. 5/5
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 20/04/2025
Then today we were blown away in Fredericton, literally and figuratively. Great bike infrastructure for a small town. Paths along the river, new cross town connector trails, a car free bridge, good signage and great pitstops for fuel. Strong headwinds, some mud and a few flaws, but so enjoyable. 4/5
A cyclist riding along a gravel path next to a wide river. If you look closely you can see whitecaps indicating that it was windy!A cyclist riding through a muddy narrow trail. Of 64km there was less than 2km of challenging terrain like this. An old railroad bridge converted to a pedestrian and bike bridge. The picture shows only one cyclist but it was busy all four times we crossed. A new two-way cords town bike path on a residential street..
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 20/04/2025
The road to Point Wolfe Campground in Fundy National Park was also closed so we enjoyed another hilly car-free ride on Day 2. We were pleasantly surprised by a covered bridge and gorge views! Then there was a a gap in the rain so we did a 10km ride along the Sussex Nature Walkway. 3/5
A cyclist in the middle of the road on an overcast day. A steep hill looms ahead of them. View of a cliff along the Bay of Fundy from the top of a hill. A cyclist riding through a red covered bridge. A cyclist stopped on a car free bridge as part of the Sussex Nature Walkway
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BeActiveLikeV @beactivelikev.bsky.social · 20/04/2025
The Fundy Trail Parkway is a 30km road along the Bay of Fundy. It offers spectacular views and challenging hills! It is closed to cars in the winter, but we were told by staff that we could bike or hike at our own risk. The quiet and remoteness made us anxious at first, but what an experience! 2/5
A cyclist on the other side of a gate saying CLOSED. The road is wide and there are trees on both sides. A cyclist in the middle of the road at the top of a hill. There is a view of some cliffs and the muddy Bay of Fundy in the distanceA sign showing a car and a trailer going downhill. THe sign indicates a 16% grade in 300m.A cyclist doing switchbacks up a hill that has a 16% grade
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