Confederation Bridge to Prince Edwards Island Canada

 

The Confederation Bridge is a box girder bridge carrying the Trans-Canada Highway across the Abegweit Passage of the Northumberland Strait, linking the province of Prince Edward Island with the mainland province New Brunswick.  Opened May 31, 1997, the 12.9-kilometre (8.0 mi) bridge is Canada's longest bridge and the world's longest bridge over ice-covered water.    

The speed limit on the bridge is 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph) but can vary with wind and weather conditions. When travelling at the speed limit, it takes about 12 minutes to cross the bridge.

Tolls apply only when leaving Prince Edward Island (when travelling westbound). The toll rates since January 2022 are $50.25 for a two-axle automobile and $8.50 for each additional axle. Motorcycles are charged $20.00.

Construction took place from October 1993 to May 1997and cost Canadian 1.3 billion. 

July 10, 2021 - Pintler Veterans Memorial Scenic Highway

Rode about 150 miles on the Pintler Veterans Memorial Scenic Highway. Between Anaconda and Drummond, MT. Beautiful Georgetown Lake about the middle of the ride.

The mountain views along the ride were awesome. 

This is Silver Lake. 

The reservoir impounds the North Fork of Flint Creek.

We did see many great homes along the lake. Lodgepole pines enclose Georgetown Lake and the surrounding mountains, providing a home to abundant wildlife including moose, elk, white-tailed deer and even bighorn sheep.

Georgetown Lake is a large mountain lake spanning close to 3,000 acres at an elevation of over 6,000 ft.

The lake assumed the name of Georgetown when the dam flooded the area known as Georgetown Flats.

We did climb up and down one exciting mountain with several switchbacks where the speed limit dropped to 20 mph. 

Anaconda is the end of the byway. 

This sign was spotted on the Southern end of the highway. 

July 9, 2021 - Pioneer Scenic Highway near Butte MT

We rode about 150 miles today on the trike. Left Rocker, MT (near Butte) at 8 a.m. this morning. It was 57 degrees! When they tell you to watch for rocks and stock in the roads in Montana, they really mean it! Very scenic ride. We liked it so much when we reached the southern point, we turned around and retraced our route back to the coach. The Big Hole river followed the road for a while. There were also lots of high elevation meadows. Even had a ski resort on the route.

Southwest Montana's Pioneer Range is separated into the East and West Pioneer Ranges by the Wise River and the Big Hole River along the Pioneer Scenic Byway.

You need to be alert for range cattle along the route. These guys were telling me "You're not getting anything for your Trike", You have too many miles on it. I think they got that quote from George Dunn!

Some other neighbors we ran into during our trip. 

Our trike is nearing 30,000 miles.

A sign near the South entrance to the byway. 

The route bottoms out on the Southern end of the 47 mile ride. 

Some great photos of the Wise and Big Hole Rivers.

Kathy photographs our route on her cell phone before we depart the coach.  She is always prepared. 

The cattle did look like they were all healthy.  

I tried to ask them how I looked on the trike. They only stared at me.  All in all a very nice ride.  Weather was extremely nice throughout the day.  

July 5, 2021 - Flathead, Swan, Salmon and Seeley Lakes

On July 5th, we decided to head north on 93 out of Missoula up to Bigfork. We took 35 on the east side of Flathead Lake when we reached Polson. Then we headed further east and picked up 83 south which was also beautiful. 83 runs alongside Swan Lake, Salmon Lake and Seeley Lake all of which were gorgeous. 

Still seeing some snow on the mountains. By the way, Glacier National Park's west entrance was only a few miles further north. We have already visited Glacier on another trip so elected to avoid the crowds this time.

Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi in the lower 48 states, with over 200 square miles of water and 185 miles of shoreline.  We did see some very nice homes along our ride North. 

Some photos of other lakes on our return route on 83 South.

Overall a very nice trike ride.  We traveled 236 miles.