I packed up my bike in the crisp 10 degree morning and thought about what lay ahead for me. I decided to go into Amherst to get Jules looked after as it was really only a few extra miles from the PEI turn off. I wanted to be sure she was in tip-top shape before hitting the island.

I waved to the fella a few doors down then ducked back in to grab my coffee and wandered over to visit. I learned Rick, retired, was visiting people in Fredericton with his wife. When he asked where I was from he exclaimed, “Wow! You’ve come a long way!”

“I certainly have,” I replied.

“Where you headed?” I told him PEI, then on to ride the Cabot Trail, and then on to Yarmouth to visit family before turning for home. He shook my hand and congratulated me. We visited for a while longer and he told me about having lived in Calgary, visited the Yukon and we talked bikes for a spell. I finished my coffee and bade him farewell. I enjoyed the visit and it was a welcome introduction to my day.

After gassing up, I was once again on my way. The air is much cooler now and I was missing the 30 degree temps from a few days ago. The traffic was light, the tunes were happy, and gradually the day warmed up to 16 degrees. I learned something today; do the hard stuff first. Yesterday 16 felt frigid. But if you start out before the day warms up, 16 ends up feeling comfortable.

I was wary of every road construction sign and each of Petunia’s frequent warnings of road closure ahead. Rick let me know I was headed for rough terrain for a “good long stretch” before Moncton. He wasn’t kidding! The road was rippled from paving machinery; you know those endless grooves parallel to the lane before they actually lay down new pavement? Yeah. Those. You’ve seen them before. They’re the ones that come right after the road signs of motorcycles wiping out.

That went on forever and most drivers don’t care, or don’t know how that kind of a road surface impacts a bike. Thankfully a white SUV adopted me and kept a respectful distance behind. This prevented others from racing up behind me to bully me into a faster speed than I wanted to ride on that shit. When the lane opened up and I moved over, my Guardian Angel did too. The speed demons raced past and we carried on at a respectable 90 km/hr. My Guardian Angel turned off at Moncton and I carried on over a much improved road surface.

I passed the turn off to PEI and shortly after that I passed the “Welcome to Nova Scotia” sign. And then it hit me. The tears came fast and my helmet physically lifted when my cheeks broke into what must have been a million watt smile.

I ACTUALLY DID THIS!!!

Hitting Nova Scotia felt like home. It felt like every good thing I’ve ever experienced in my life all happened again in a millisecond. It felt like holding my babies. It felt like chocolate. It felt like Brown Eyed Susans. It felt like Sunflowers. It felt like friendship chasing away loneliness. It felt like laughter with loved ones, starry nights, and sunshine-y days. It felt like being held when you’re exhausted. It felt like being lifted up. It felt like running barefoot in the sand. It felt big. It felt electrifying. It felt like nothing I’ve ever felt before.

I rode my motorbike across the second largest country on this PLANET! I rode my bike across the continent!!!!!

When I jumped back on Jules after her makeover and headed for the bridge, the tears still streamed across my cheeks. PEI. A bucket list dream come true! I looked out over the ocean and was grateful I was on a bike so I could see over the bridge. As I gazed into the distance, it felt like anything was possible for me now!

I chose to go towards Summerside. No particular reason came to mind, it just felt right. I chose the Shine Motel. Again, no reason. It just felt right.

I dumped my gear and headed back out on my bike to explore. I didn’t get far though. I came across a busy little area and parked. I ate some food, listened to a very talented musician in the square, and did a bit of poking around.

I found Anne with an E almost immediately. Although she was $25, I knew she was just what Jules and the gang needed.

I strolled back to the boardwalk to listen to the fella sing. He really was talented. I was overcome again. It’s so hard to describe what I was feeling. It was all beautiful, wonderful, joyful feelings. When I was eating, the tears fell and I didn’t care to stop them. Now they are back. All I can say is that I was so full of joy that it was spilling out through my eyes. It wasn’t sadness. It wasn’t exhaustion. It was pure joy. I wandered away to look out over the water. I could still hear the music, but at least now I could let the tears run their course in private.

The next shop I wandered into was the silversmith. If you know me, you know I like to buy myself an adventure ring to commemorate my experience. Melodie was the silversmith today and I told her what I was looking for. She immediately took me to the ring she had just placed in the display as I crossed the threshold to the shop. She had only just finished making it when I walked in so I was truly the only person to touch it outside of herself! I tried it on, but it was too small. No problem. She resized to my gargantuan 61/4 and now it’s a perfect fit! I’m not a photographer (clearly), so it’s mostly cut off in the pic below. It green sea glass in an artfully crafted silver setting.

Back on the bike, Jules and I tried to get close to the coast. With road closures on the #11, however, we had to detour. Eventually we returned to the highway, but with evening traffic heavy with folks going home after work, I couldn’t pull off for any pictures. The roads are very narrow! It reminds me of the roads around Pembroke, N.S. I could hear Dorothy’s and Chantal’s voices as the driver behind me, “Tourists!” followed by much laughter. I can’t wait to see them soon!

Anyway…when I finally had a quiet stretch, I headed off the beaten path. The road narrowed even more and was heaved from cold weather and likely larger vehicles. Not knowing where I was going, but seeing blue on my GPS screen, I continued on. If I had to turn around, I was going to have a hell of a time maneuvering over the massive heaves in this little road!

Soon the lane widened and fishermen were parked with just enough room for me to turn around so I could point back the way I’d come. This might seem like a small thing, but I don’t normally attempt sketchy tight turns if there’s a chance I’ll get myself in any kind of trouble when I’m alone. The boats were all still out, so who knows how long it would be before help arrived if I needed it! Even with all of this in my head, it FELT right to stop there.

I walked down to the beach. I collected some red sand to take home. Thankfully I hadn’t tossed my ear plug canister! I meant to a dozen times, but somehow it kept appearing in my pocket. Now I know why. I walked in the water. I wanted to throw my head back and holler, “I DID IT!” but the beach was lined with homes and I didn’t want anyone coming out to see just what I did in their back yard. This was my moment and I wasn’t interested in sharing it just yet.

I stood there looking out at the ocean and just let all the feels come. It was as though the water was asking for my tears, “Let me take everything you’ve been carrying Deanna. You’ve carried it this far, let me take it now.”

As my tears fell into the North Atlantic, I felt lighter. Maybe this trip has been more than crossing off a bucket list event. Maybe it’s been about tossing my luggage into the sea and letting go.