Riding in the tracks of the Terribly Slow and Wobbley

On the way to Halifax, I stopped in a factory that makes pewter jewelry and tableware. Pewter is a metal alloy made mostly of tin with small amounts of other metals such as silver, copper, and antimony mixed in. It, along with gold, is the only metal that can be bent (remains malleable) without hardening from being bent. Other metals become very hard after being bent a few times and must be heated to soften them up. If you've ever watched a farrier shape a horseshoe, he pounds on it and then reheats it several times. Pewter doesn't ever have to be reheated.

They demonstrated how they cast jewelry. This is the pot with the liquid pewter.


They pour the pewter I to a rubber mold that spins in a centrifuge.


They then pop the molded pieces out of the molds.


All the excess, unwanted bits are re-melted down.


Shortly after the pewter factory, I stumbled on a rails to trails path.


This path follows the old Halifax- South Shore Railway that ran until the mid nineties. The train was called the Terribly Slow and Wobbley by the locals. It ended up being the longest off road path I've ever ridden at over 45 miles long.


There was a long trestle bridge to cross.


Along the way, I passed through the lovely village of Chester.


I glimpsed this sign on a downhill heading into town. I did a double take after I misread it as 'Vandals. Hair Removals'.


The harbor was very pretty. There's another drumlin.


The trail got a bit rough For a while testing my riding skills on the fully loaded touring bike. The scenery was quite nice.


Another bridge.


An old train depot.


And, the best camp site of the trip so far.

Location:South Shore of Nova Scotia