Karl's adventure began with a strenuous bike ride along sandy roads to reach Acadia Mines, a thriving mining town that had been operating three local mines for over 50 years, producing more than 2 million tons of iron ore. During the 1880s, Nova Scotia underwent a significant bridge-building phase, resulting in many iron bridges that are still in use today.

Sadly, the bustling town Karl visited underwent a drastic transformation just 20 years later. The available amount of iron ore from these mines was not as substantial as expected, and it proved difficult to extract. By 1924, the mine operations ceased entirely due to a combination of global steel price drops, mismanagement, and a devastating fire that destroyed a large part of the town.

Although renamed Londonderry, little remains of the once-thriving mining town, with only some remnants of coke ovens, a small interpretive center showcasing mining artifacts on the former Londonderry Iron Works, and a few of the original Truss Bridges scattered throughout the Province.

One of these bridges, the Tatamagouche Truss Bridge, is always a sight to behold. Built-in the early 1900s, it is now a part of the TransCanada multi-use trail system, ironically connecting Canada coast to coast. It's tempting to think that if Karl had waited a few years to embark on his journey, he might have had the opportunity to ride his bike across the bridge made from the iron of Acadia mine.