Canada ’ s Home of Aviation
35 WINTER 2025 VOL . 06 / ISSUE 01 SNOWGOER . COM
36
Crossing one of the branches of the Margaree River .
Shari challenging Floyd to a dual with trail saws .
Canada ’ s Home of Aviation
John was unable to come with us on the ride , but he arranged for then SANS President Russell Burgess to pick me up in the morning for a five-hour trek north across the province and into Cape Breton .
With a friendly face hidden beneath a Santa-like white beard , Russell told me the province contains 2,500 miles of trails , but he questioned my decision to travel so far away from Halifax . He said the trails were arrow-straight and wide open , and lamented that I ’ d be missing the many excellent , wooded trails in the countryside outside of the city . As the kilometers added up , I strongly hoped I hadn ’ t made a poor choice .
We stopped in the village of Scotsburn to pick up Floyd and Shari Cock — beef farmers and fellow SANS members who were joining our ride . A few years back they rode their Ski-Doos all the way across
Canada , and they were excited to show off their favorite trails , which they ride several times per winter . Perhaps Cape Breton wasn ’ t such a bad idea .
Our drive ended at the Auld Farm Inn Bed & Breakfast on the outskirts of Baddeck , along the unfrozen shores of the massive Bras d ’ Or Lake . The town is known as the former summertime residence of telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell . Today , Baddeck is a touristy junction that draws a trickle of snowmobilers during the cold months . Area business owners hope to increase its visibility in the snowmobile community .
Our warm hosts at the Auld Farm Inn — Jan and Glen Vickers — moved from the UK to Nova Scotia in 2009 to take over , remodel and operate the bed and breakfast . They welcomed us to town and showed us to our comfortable rooms , while our final group members arrived and settled in .