Pedal and Sea Adventures

My wife and I recently completed the Cabot Trail on our tandem with Pedal & Sea. The trip was a 10! We really had no idea, but Cape Breton Island is one of the most beautiful, spectacularly scenic places we have ever visited – and we get around. I have photos that you would swear are from tropical islands – the ocean is crystal clear and brilliant blue, all seen from fantastic vantage points along the CTrail. And it is no exaggeration to say that the Cabot Trail is one of the most scenic routes on the planet! There are simply jaw-dropping vistas all along the way. Cliff drops to the sea, mountain views that are stunning, sunrises off the northern part of the trail (Markland Beach Cottages), and sunsets from Margaree, Cheticamp and Pleasant Bay. There are bald eagles all over, whales and seals out in the water and moose and tons of birds and small wildlife throughout the island. Viewing these features from a car blows your mind, but doing by bike gives you more time to enjoy the beauty, see and experience the details, and stop whenever the urge strikes. Pedal & Sea set us up at some great places. In a couple instances they didn’t look like much from the outside but P&S has selected innkeepers that make you feel at home, and provide great information and great breakfast. We especially enjoyed: • The local flavor from the Yacht Club (surprise fab food from “Stand Up and Stuff Your Face” – really!) and the Silver Dart Lodge in Baddeck • Dancing Goat Café at the end of Day 1 • The Cabot Links Resort in Inverness - #9 Golf Course in the world! Well worth the trip! • The Acadian culture in Cheticamp – it is surprising that the whole island is Gaellic/Irish/Scottish except this little fishing village. • For the New Agers, visit Pema Chodrin’s place at Gampo Abbey near Pleasant Bay • Music – EVERYWHERE! 😊 • Walking the beach and the Dining Rm at Markland Beach Cottages. There’s NOTHING in this little town, but the chef at the resort absolutely rocks, and he filled our tired bodies with some killer meals. • Keltic Lodge is what I’d call a Grand Hotel. Been there forever, couldn’t be a better location. Another world class (#53) golf course for those interested, and view and views and views – great food too ! The cycling was epic. The 2 big climbs are on the day in the Highland National Park . The climbs are tough and long. This is what you train for! The downhill runs are epic and the roads are in good shape. There was very little traffic when we did the trip. A significant portion of the roads have little to no shoulder, but drivers here actually heed the road signs and are courteous to cyclists! P&S has portions of the route that are off the beaten track and definitely bring some local knowledge and flavor to the trip. The routes are magnificent but the majority of the trip is hilly. If you’re not ready for that you could be disappointed. But if you’re up for a cycling adventure – this is the trip! Pedal and Sea set a great package up for us. We went early in the season and did a self-guided tour. They hauled all our gear from place to place each day – we got instructions from them and found our way easily around the island each day. Dana was also very responsive to a situation that required us to miss a day of riding. He found local transportation that drove us to our next inn – and that’s not easy when you’ve got transport a tandem! Dana and his team were helpful at every turn prior to, during and even after the trip was complete. Being on a self-guided trip we needed to feel supported, as we had never visited the area before, and we certainly did feel that way. We loved the trip. We worked hard, we ate a ton of great food, we heard more great music than you would believe and perhaps the most memorable part of the trip – the people of CBI were the warmest, kindest, most thoughtful folks you can imagine. We’ll do another Pedal & Sea trip!

I am so happy to have discovered this Canadian company, Pedal and Sea Adventures. Having now participated in three of their biking/boating trips, I think I have a fair idea of how great they are. The boats, the bicycles, the guides, the food, the safety, the thoughtfulness, the reasonable pricing -- I can't say enough about how appreciative I am that they care so much about providing a top-notch experience.

My experience was wonderful with Pedal & Sea. I completed the Lunenburg Tour as a self guided tour & I could not have been happier the whole week. I was picked up on time, had a chance to see Peggy's Cove on the first day, just a beautiful day that day, got some great photos & videos. The tours were well laid out, directions easy to follow, I never got lost & most of the trips were well within my capabilities as a bike rider. I was able to spend quality time in each location I traveled too, I met some fabulous people along the way & collected some great memories. I can't wait to pick my next trip, the hardest part will be deciding where to go.

Our bike and boat tour of Croatia was...in a word "fabulous!". I really don't think it could have been any better. Pedal and Sea make it easy for us to navigate and experience the islands, countryside and culture allowing us to hit the highlights and optimize our fun. It was the perfect balance of friendship, fitness and adventure. We travelled as four couples but also met new friends on the boat. The biking was a great way of seeing the specatular views and enjoying the weather - and made the meals and relaxation after sweeter still. This trip is a bucket list item for sure!

Had the 'trip of a lifetime' while cycling the islands of Croatia with Pedal and Sea. The guides were top notch - they demonstrated their knowledge and passion for the country, and skillfully accommodated the varying cycling abilities of the riders. The crew was friendly and looked after our food, beverage and 'hotel' needs. Croatia is an exceptionally beautiful country and our cycling routes took us to breath taking vistas and ancient towns steeped in history - all around a feast for the eyes. Pedal and Sea exposed us to the 'must see' sights in Dalmatia, as well as to local, 'off the beaten path' authentic Croatian experiences. Pedal and Sea is customer focused and clearly committed to optimizing the experience of their guests. I would recommend taking a holiday with this company anytime.