Major news for those who want to escape the winter blues; come to Moncton for the Atlantic Motorcycle & ATV Show from Feb. 10-12th, 2012. Be sure to stop by our booth and fill out a ballot for a chance to win a 4-Night Getaway along Nova Scotia’s beautiful Eastern and Northumberland Shores. This package valued over $1,000 also includes your registration at Sherbrooke’s Rally that Gives! See poster for details:

2012 is going to be a great year in Nova Scotia;
featuring many interesting events.

Halifax will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic with the Titanic 100 centennial project; both a wake and commemoration of recognition and respect.The Titanic is the most famous ship in history and perhaps the ocean’s greatest legend.

The Titanic struck an iceberg at 11:40 p.m. on April 14, 1912 and sank less than three hours later, about 590 kilometres south of Newfoundland, killing 1,522 passengers and crew.

Halifax played a huge role in the search and rescue effort for survivors, launching three boats: the Mackay-Bennett, Minia and Montmagny. Of the Titanic’s victims, 150 are buried in Halifax – in the Fairview Lawn, Mount Olivet and Baron de Hirch cemeteries – which the Nova Scotia Museum says is the largest number anywhere in the world.

Halifax has connections to the Titanic – no other place in North America has: the 3 Titanic cemeteries, it’s 24 Titanic sites including the recovery locations, the morgues, locales for the 1997 movie, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic’s exhibit and the Titanic scientific exhibit at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, which has done ground-breaking research on the Titanic.

For interesting facts and video about the Titanic visit: www.history.com/topics/titanic

For more detailed information on the Titanic 100 events scheduled in Halifax, visit www.titanic100.ca

Halifax will also host the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge this summer from July 19-23rd. This is a wondorous event with these majestic vessels docked along the restored waterfront. Tour the ships dockside, speak with the crews and enjoy seafaring history.

The Tall Ships Festival features the best in Nova Scotian seafood, wine, music, art and film. Don’t miss the Parade of Sail as the ships circle the harbour before departing for other ports of call in Nova Scotia, including the Eastern Shore, Cape Breton and the South Shore.

For more info on this sailing event up the Atlantic coastline visit: http://www.sailtraining.org/tallships/2012atlantic/index.php

We have lots of local festivals happening all around the province
and 2 of the best motorcycle rallies around:

Cape Breton BikeFest from August 3-6th, 2012 in Sydney, Cape Breton; and the
Wharf Rat Rally from August 29th-Sept. 2, 2012 in Digby

Stay tuned to our website over the next few months as our rally schedules are updated, and be sure to order your new 2012 edition of Motorcycle Tour Guide Nova Scotia; available for shipping in the spring.

If you have your bike in a warm and dry location, you can fill those boring evenings with a little maintenance and maybe install a few gifts Santa might have brought you under the tree. Either way it’s fun to take the time to check your bike over when it isn’t sunny and warm outside, and you can take your time to do the little things you put off all summer.

We are busy getting the new guide for 2012 ready to go to print and want to remind all clubs to get us your information for your upcoming rides, rallies and events; to be sure you are in the guide. This service is free and your event will be posted on our websites and in our seasonal newsletters too!

If you have a great photo you want to submit, send it along with the location, and your name and it may be in the 2012 guide.

Did you take a great ride here in Nova Scotia you want to brag about? Send me the story & pics and we’ll put it up on the website.

Next, get on the waiting list for next years guide now, and beat the rush in the spring. As soon as it is printed, it will be in the mail to you.

Any questions, we’re just a phone call away at 1-866-250-7777; or email me at wnesbitt@accesswave.ca

See you in Moncton at the Atlantic Motorcycle & ATV Show on February 10-12th. Be sure & drop by our booth and full out a ballot to win a “Weekend Getaway to the Sherbrooke Rally That Gives”! More details coming soon.

Take care, Hug a biker & See you on the road

It’s easy and you can vote right now for FREE online at this link:
http://www.new7wonders.com

or Canadians can text FUNDY to 77077 at a cost of 25 cents per text vote.

Stand up and be proud..and be counted

We are so lucky to live in this beautiful region and now is our chance to let the world know just how wonderful it is. You probably played on the beaches of the Bay of Fundy as a child…and most likely have taken your own children there.

Experiencing the highest tides in the world, strolling our beaches, enjoying the fabulous sunsets on the water, or getting up close to a whale have become such a part of our everyday life…we forget just how exceptional our home is.

To see some Canadian celebrities having fun with mud from the floor of the Bay of Fundy visit:
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/10/25/canadian-stars-love-bay-of-fundy

Then click on the next clip (RMR: Rick Goes Whale Watching) for some laughs as Rick Mercer & Measha Brueggergosman go whale watching from St. Andrews-by-the-Sea. This clip is great and you will see Right Whales – an endangered species – only around 400 left in the world, frolic and even mate during the clip. These rare whales come to the Bay of Fundy each year to feed, socialize and find a mate. How awesome is that!

There is also a clip (Vote For Bay of Fundy) that will show you the fun of tidal bore rafting!

So VOTE right now.. and get your friends & neighbours to vote too!

On August 5th, 2011, the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge™ will present the world’s greatest long distance endurance motorcycle event.  This year’s event will begin in Phoenix, Arizona and travel through all forty-eight contiguous States and Canada to Nova Scotia.  The route will travel 10,000+ miles and will require passion and determination to complete.  The Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge is open to riders of all Harley-Davidson® motorcycles.

These brave-hearted souls were permitted to start from any checkpoint or end at any checkpoint and still earn a place on the Hoka Hey roster along with a Challenge coin and number. However, riders cannot win prizes unless the entire route is traveled within the rules of HHMC 2011 - but - by becoming a Hoka Hey Challenger; their name will be immortalized.

Important to remember, this is not a race but a challenge of endurance, navigation and wit. Riders must drive safely, respect other participants and obey all laws in both the US and Canada. AND the riders must sleep out of doors each night, with a lean-to or tent permitted.

No contact with their family, friends and/or sponsor except at designated checkpoints; but cellular transmissions are permitted in between. If the rider has a breakdown, no roadside assistance is permitted from anyone. The motorcycle may be transported for repairs, BUT must be returned to point of breakdown before rider can continue the challenge.

Forget the GPS or any other navigational electronic device, riders are to use the maps supplied between checkpoints, keep all gas receipts and provide access to the approved tracking device installed on their motorcycle prior to the event.

This is a true challenge of rider and machine, braving the elements, and seeing North America up close and personal from Mesa, Arizona to Sydney, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia – all within an 18 day time limit.

It’s 10,000+ miles and  $500K in prizes & awards for the top 25 finishers.

This is serious riding for serious riders, so as the first finishers arrive in Cape Breton Island and you have a chance, go shake a few hands and congratulate those riders on a job well done.

For more information visit the official website at: http://www.hokaheychallenge.com

You can track the riders progress on the interactive map as their journey brings them closer to Cape Breton Island.

Basically only V-Twin Harley-Davidson motorcycles are permitted; limited to a 6.2 gallon fuel tank with NO auxiliary tanks or cans permitted. Entry fee is $1,000 with all travel expenses and additional costs the responsibility of the rider (or sponsor if they have one).

Riders must report to designated checkpoints and if the rider has a breakdown; no maintenance or repairs can be performed by friends, family or sponsors

If you are a Touring Rider Program member, you should have received an email from me with your download code to receive the app for FREE. If not, please drop me a line and I will get the code to you.

Our guide will also be available at the iTunes Bookstore shortly, so if you would prefer the guide for your eBook reader, just let me know.

And for those members who would like a digital guide for their home computer, complete with the ability to bookmark and make notes… drop me a line and we will gift this to you instead of the app or ebook.

For the latest newsletter, just click link below:

2011 August Newsletter

August is jam packed with rallies, concerts, festivals and celebrations … so there is no reason to be bored and sitting at home. Many events are free and just a short ride away.

Make the most of our long summer days and warm evenings, it’s what we have waited all winter for.

As always, you can contact me with any questions by email at wnesbitt@accesswave.ca or toll free at 1-866-250-7777.  If we’re out and on the road, leave a detailed message and we will get back to you.

Hope to see you in Cape Breton at the Thunder in the Highlands Rally this weekend, and the All Bike Drag Races on Saturday at the Sydney Airport.

Ride safe and often!

Harold & Wendy Nesbitt

July has been a great month to enjoy anything outdoors and no matter where you ride you can smell the sweet aromas of backyard BBQs, gardens in bloom and freshly mowed lawns.

We’ve got lots of things to do this month in Nova Scotia, so there is no reason to be bored. Download this month’s Newsletter and take a glimpse at the festivals and events on page one and then all your motorcycle rallies are featured on page 6. In between you will find all the current discounts offered to you as a Touring Rider Program member from our many sponsors.

2011 July Newsletter Print off a copy and start making some plans for an afternoon getaway or a weekend blast.

We’ve just returned from an awesome 3-day trip to the Northumberland Shore and the Pictou Lodge. I will post info of our trip and pictures when I return…yes we’re on the road again…this time to the Atlanticade in St. Andrews-by-the-Sea in New Brunswick. If you are in the area, we will be at Kingsbrae Gardens Saturday from 5-8pm as co-partners in hosting Nova Scotia night.

All VIP members to Atlanticade have free entry to the event and tickets are available from the Atlanticade registration area.

Visitors will enjoy live entertainment by Lisa Doucette and Thomas Saulnier; enjoy tasty White Point Seafood Chowder provided by White Point Beach Resorts and other  Nova Scotian foods served up by Taste of Nova Scotia. Representatives from areas across the province will be on hand to answer and provide information on your travel needs and provide information upcoming events in Nova Scotia.

It will be a fun and relaxing evening with great food & music, so drop in and sample our hospitality!

Hope to see you there.

2011 July Newsletter

The upside to all the rain we received in May is the lush, green colors everywhere you ride. With the aromas of fresh apple blossoms and cherry blossoms in the air, it is a great time to be outdoors.

Rally and festival season is upon us with lots to do every weekend and in between. So take a look at our Newsletter and maybe try something new. Between communities celebrating their heritage with local festivals, outdoor concerts, and traditional lobster suppers; there is something for everyone to enjoy.

2011 June Newsletter

Local motorcycle rallies and runs for June are found on page 6 (last page), along with a reminder of the larger rallies scheduled for the summer.

Remember your Touring Rider Program membership entitles you to all the discounts listed from our sponsors, so if you haven’t joined yet….sign up today and start saving on your travels. And if you are attending an event in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island, we have affiliate sponsors there who will give you a discount with your membership card.

Our new 2011 App and Digital Guide are in production and should be available later this month.

To any member: If your vacation plans are soon and you wish to receive the 2010 App for your iPhone or iPad, drop me a line at wnesbitt@accesswave.ca and I will gift your account at the iTunes store with the 2010 version to use until the 2011 release.

If you would like to follow us on Twitter, we will be tweeting all summer (@ForBikers) beginning with our adventures at the Americade in New York. If you are attending the rally, drop by and visit us at the Lake George Forum, Booth #1.

If the postal strike occurs and mail service is disrupted, we can arrange to have your Touring Rider Card available for pick-up at a tourism centre at Amherst or Digby (if crossing on the ferry). So you can still join if visiting from away and collect your membership card upon entering Nova Scotia.

Any questions please call us toll free at 1-866-250-7777 (US & Canada). If we are out “On the Road Somewhere” leave a detailed message and return phone number and we will get back to you; or drop me an email at wnesbitt@accesswave.ca

Till next time stay safe, ride hard and ride often.

Our new guide is hot off the press and we are filling requests as fast as we can, so hold tight and it should be in your mailbox within the next 1-2 weeks.

Our first Newsletter of the season is ready and you can read it on line, or download it to keep on your bike. All our sponsors to date are listed along with their discounts to Touring Rider Program Members, so start making your reservations and saving money.

The last page lists all the events happening in May and remember you can check our Rally and Event section on the website anytime for the latest information.

2011 May Newsletter

Our new Apps, E-Book and Digital Guide are all in progress and we will announce them as they are finished. More information to come on how to claim your free edition if you are a Touring Rider Program Member.

Great turnout at the Bike Blessing in Truro last weekend. We are in the midst of relocating our Photo section as our current host is closing business, so we hope to have this resolved soon and update our photo library.

Some new events are taking place this month, so check out the schedule and you may find something you like.

Don’t forget the annual Ride for Sight has relocated to Trenton this year and are celebrating 30 years of Supporting Vision Research in the fight against blindness. It’s easy to become a fundraiser and for every $50 you raise you will receive a ballot in the draw for a Trip for 2 to the Las Vegas Bikefest! Get your pledge forms at www.rideforsight.com or call 1-800-461-3331 for more information.

May is Motorcycle Awareness Month in Nova Scotia, with rides promoting  safety and to remember fallen friends all across the province. So remember stay alert, motor vehicle drivers are not used to seeing us on the road since last summer and extra caution will save YOUR life.

Stay safe everyone and let’s get the rubber rolling!

2010 was a busy year for us and a time to reflect on how we can improve our services to riders and expand our reach to all motorcyclists and visitors interested in vacationing in Nova Scotia.

Receiving our Max Award of Excellence for the creation of our NEW App in Toronto at the North American International Motorcycle Supershow, January 2011

With the increasing costs of printing and the high demand for our guide, we are constantly faced with the fact that we simply cannot print enough guides to meet requests. Every year thousands of riders have been placed on a waiting list for the next year’s issue when the supply is exhausted.

Our solution to this dilemma was to expand our travel guide into both digital format for your personal computers and create an App for the iPhone, iPad and iPod. With this innovative solution we have become the FIRST complete travel guide to any province in Canada available at the Apple iTunes store.

Now you can actually travel with Nova Scotia in the palm of your hand.

Rest assured we will still continue to print our guide as before, but now riders will also have the option to go green and paperless.

Both the digital book and apps are efficient and easy to use; and because of our compact guide size the individual pages are easily read on your iPhone, iPad or computer. And with Yudu Media’s new technology; there is no waiting for images to upload – full pages appear instantly on your device.

The guide is easily navigated and fully linked to the table of contents, index and individual maps. All our advertisers are linked to their websites for reservations and additional information. Now riders can pre-plan and arrange their vacations with ease before they travel, even if the guide is out of stock and not available for shipping.

With our 2011 Touring Rider Program, all members will receive a printed copy of the guide, an app or digital version of the guide; monthly newsletters during the Spring, Summer & Fall with the latest deals and events for that month AND the bonus of saving 10-35% OFF with our sponsors across Nova Scotia.

We want to thank all our 2010 Members for your kind letters and comments after your trips to Nova Scotia. We are glad that your membership in the program saved you money and filled your tank for another day of riding!

If you wish to join our 2011 Touring Rider Program, membership is quick and painless. Just visit our website http://www.motorcycletourguidens.com/touring-rider-program and you will receive your membership card within 1-2 weeks and the printed guide as soon as it is off the press.

Your seasonal monthly newsletters will be sent beginning in the early spring and your free app or digital edition will follow as soon as they are available for download.

Remember the membership card is good for the entire year, so you can save with your spring tune-up at sponsor dealerships AND if you are attending a motorcycle event, or touring anywhere in Atlantic Canada, the card is accepted in all Atlantic provinces for your accommodations at Choice Hotels (Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, Clarion & EconoLodge).

So if you are attending the upcoming Motorcycle & ATV Show in Moncton, New Brunswick; from February 11-13th, you can save on your hotel and it covers your entry to the show. That’s how easy it is to start saving the whole year long!

Just think of the possibilities and ways you can save…here’s to a great 2011!

As always if you have any questions or concerns, please contact us toll free at 1-866-250-7777, or email us directly at mtrcycletourguid@accesswave.ca

We are still blessed with lazy and warm summer temperatures, but now find relief in cooler nights for sleeping. And after this years exceptional hot and humid summer, this is appreciated by local Nova Scotians.

This is the season of berry picking (and the blueberries this year are HUGE), sweet and tender corn for corn boils, and crisp fresh apples right off the tree. It is also Wine Festival time so head on out and take part in a grape stomp or visit a winery for a sampling of their latest products.

It is a great time for riding too, less traffic on the road and the bikes seem to like it a little cooler also.

There is lots of time for a weekend adventure and remember Gord’s Ride 4 the Cure, a Breast Cancer fundraiser, takes place this year from September 17-18th in Sydney, Cape Breton. Pre-registration is required so sign up and join 1,000 or so of your friends to ride the famous Cabot Trail for this great cause. More info at http://www.ride4thecure.ca

Hope to see you there or somewhere over the next few weeks as Mother Nature starts to work her magic and our landscapes transform into a multi-coloured wonderland!

#4 September Newsletter