Start: Halifax, 16:00, or Hubbards, 17:00, day one. Finish: Halifax 17:00, day six 2012 Guided Dates:May 20-26; Jun 3-9; Jun 17-23; Jul 1-7; Jul 15-21; Jul 29-Aug 4; Aug 12-18; Aug 26-Sept 1; Sep 9-15; Sep 23-29. Add your own dates Self-Guided Dates: You Choose! We confirm within 48 hours. Best months are mid June to late September. Our most popular first adventure, this is a moderately easy, 6 day ride, close to the water and through small villages including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lunenburg, with quiet beaches, and a hike to an isolated coastal park on the last day. Nova Scotia's South Shore is traced by quiet roads that allow cyclists to wind through a coastal paradise. Friendly people, fishing villages, secluded anchorages, boat builders, antique shops, artists’ hamlets, and beautiful white sand beaches all conspire to make this a relaxing active experience. This is Freewheeling Adventures’ home, and there are many secrets we love showing you along these shores. The best part of Nova Scotia's Lighthouse Route is that it so frequently follows the water’s edge. Quiet roads skirt myriad white-sand beaches, and there are many hidden coastal treasures. It is perfect for a gentle bike ride. Friendly people, fishing villages, secluded anchorages, boat builders, antique shops, artists’ hamlets, and beautiful beaches all contribute to the feeling of being in paradise. This is our home, and we love showing you the secret swimming holes, little-known cafes, and fantastic rides along obscure coastal stretches You can dine on lobster, swim in warm lakes or the cool ocean, feel the warm sand between your toes, and appreciate the cooling sea breeze in your hair. There are two nights in the UNESCO heritage township of Lunenburg, whose uniquely crafted architecture reflects skills of numerous shipbuilders and fishermen whose lifestyle built the town. You will cross the cable ferry to the beaches near LaHave; you can soak in the pool after your activities in the university town of Wolfville; and can venture on foot to two of the most spectacular headlands in the province. This is a perfect introduction to Nova Scotia’s coastal charms, and will show you why many visitors return again and again. This adventure is a perfect introduction to Nova Scotia, bicycle holidays, and Freewheeling Adventures. We look forward to showing you where we live! Note: You can extend your ride by another six days by adding the Fundy & Glooscap Bike trip. The last day of this adventure overlaps with the first of that. There is a 5% reward available for combining the two. Highlights: Hubbards Cove sunsets; Aspotogan peninsula beaches; the scenic approach to Mahone Bay via Indian Point; dinner and walks in “downtown” Lunenburg; the LaHave cable ferry and bakery; the lighthouse in Liverpool; Cape Split; Bay of Fundy; Acadian dykes to Grand Pre Tour Itinerary Day 1: The adventure begins with an optional 16:00 pickup in Halifax, for a transfer to Chester. Otherwise, meet in Chester at 17:00, in time for introductions. Tonight you will enjoy a traditional lobster supper. Lodging: Mecklenburgh Inn, Chester or Anchorage House & Cottages, Hubbards. Day 2: Cycle up to 78km/49 miles. Shorter options available Riding around the Aspotogan Peninsula – a famous route for recreational and racing cyclists from nearby Halifax, you will pass through traditional fishing villages of Blandford, Aspotogan and Northwest Cove, and by the beach at Bayswater, and can make extra side trips to see where the biggest whaling station in Eastern North America used to operate in "New" Harbour; to gaze at the distant lighthouse on East Ironbound Island; and to see one couple’s fantasy – a fairytale castle that inspires myths and tales. Return to your waterfront village to explore independent evening dining options. BL Same lodging. Day 3: Cycle 46km/29 miles, plus options. Short route begins at Martin’s River. Longer route begins in Chester. Extra ride includes Blue Rocks and Stonehurst Enjoy a delicious breakfast and prepare for one of Nova Scotia’s most interesting rides. You will begin on an abandoned railbed with beautiful bridges, and the wonderful variety of wilderness and open vistas of the sea. You will then hop off the trail to ride our favourite stretch of coastal country road anywhere. From here to Lunenburg, the pavement seems built for bikes to follow the shoreline. It’s hard to choose between savouring them slowly or speeding to Lunenburg in time to explore the wonders that make this tiny but bustling town a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fortunately, a mid-day highlight is the village of Mahone Bay, where there are hidden coffee shops, proud artisans, cafes, beautiful boats, and a maritime village feel that makes one inclined to linger. BD Lodging: Alicion B&B; or Smuggler's Cove Inn, Lunenburg Day 4: Cycle 41km/26 miles, plus options; or seakayak to the seal rookery This is a rich ride, with side trips to delightful places, including seacaves reached through tunnels at The Ovens Park, fine beaches around Kingsburg and Rose Bay, and of course the sweet-smelling bakery reached by a cable ferry. Return to Lunenburg in time for an independent dinner. If you prefer to paddle, this is one of the best seakayak experiences in Nova Scotia. You will meander through many islands – both inhabited and wild, and will be visited by dozens, maybe hundreds, of seals. BL (There is a supplemental fee for seakayaking but lunch is provided). Same lodging. Day 5: Bicycle 66km/41 miles. Cross the LaHave cable ferry early this morning, and stop at the sweet-smelling bakery to help your guides select options for lunch. Stop to see Fort Point Lighthouse before enjoying another of the best coastal rides in Nova Scotia. Passing through several seaside hamlets: Broad Cove, Vogler's Cove, Little Harbour, Cherry Hill Beach, and Beach Meadows, you will finish with a delightful picnic lunch near the lighthouse in Port Medway, before a transfer to Wolfville, where you will spend the next two nights exploring near the Fundy coast. BLD Tattingstone Inn; or Victoria’s Historic Inn, Wolfville Day 6: 14km/9 miles hike. Ride available for non-hikers. A four hour hike takes you to Cape Split, where you can wander along the precipices hundreds of feet above the Bay of Fundy, whose waters are transformed by the strong tides into a tapestry of eddies, whirlpools, and whitewater currents. Eat a delicious lunch overlooking the expansive views of sea and sky before savoring the hike back to civilization, and the choice of several excellent dining options in Wolfville. BL Same Lodging Day 7: 15km/3 miles warm-up walk, and 15km/9 miles ride. Longer ride available: 75km/46 miles. Optional inner tubing. Walk on the Acadian dykes to Grand Pre, to see how early farmers controlled the tides to their advantage. Visit the Acadian site of Grand Pre, about where Longfellow’s Evangeline was written, and learn why Acadian culture has influenced so much of the world. After a picnic lunch, spend the afternoon riding between wineries that have been established here to take advantage of the amazing sunny microclimate. Optional inner tubing down the Gaspereau River, through apple orchards toward the sea, or swimming at Lumsden’s Dam. Long ride option: Ride through Port Williams, Canard, and Canning to Hall’s Harbour, for tide-watching, appreciation of how fishermen have adapted to the huge tides, and for a freshly-cooked lobster lunch. There are two 800ft hill climbs. Late afternoon transfer to Halifax. BL "Nova Scotia is a beautiful part of the world – I have always wanted to travel here, and now have many reasons to return". (Miki B. KS) Notes: Guided Cost: $2265 (per person, includes 7 days, 6 nights, 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners, luggage handling, full-time guide, van support, maps and route notes). $125 per person for optional seakayaking on day four or day six, includes equipment rental, accessories, private guided excursion. Must be requested ahead of time. Please call for details 
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