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Thought I'd start another thread about the Western leg of my cross Canada trip cause of the overwhelming response to my East Coast thread, kidding.
5345 kms from Toronto to Vancouver, in nine days, arrived in Port Moody yesterday, Aug 31st.
Will be returning to TO through the States, but taking it a little slower, more meandering.
Start heading back on Sept. 6th or 7th.
Lots of great roads but the highlights came naturally in Jasper/Banff & through Golden/Revelstoke/Sicamous.
A great little side trip was going south on #1 at Cache Creek to Lytton and north on #12 to Lilloet.
Then taking #99 down to Vancouver.
Good Times!
On a side note, I'll need a new rear tire around North Dakota, anyone know of a good shop?
Found one, Scotts Track & Wheel in Glasgow, Montana, I ordered the tire early so it'd be there when I arrived.
Scott asked for a couple days heads up for putting the tire on, I called on a Wed. and showed up first thing Fri. morning at 9am, & back on the road by 10.
I found that when you're on a trip, sometimes %^& happens. I needed service three times and each time worked out great.
All three shops had me back on the road as soon as they could, awesome.
testing...
www.photobucket.com/west-1
Last edited by GAR; 03-05-2012 at 10:21 PM.
I spent just over two weeks back in TO after the States/East Coast trip, unpacking, cleaning, re-packing, catching up with maitenance, getting the expensive new muffler & adding a tank bag. I'd had the tank bag for ages, but never used it. I really did'nt think I'd need it for the East Coast trip, but after strapping down groceries, water & beer (all you really need for a trip) I was kicking myself. If you're debating about bringing one, put it on, very handy.
Tues Aug 23 2011
Toronto to Sault Ste. Marie 401W, 400N, 69N, 17W 725 km
Long day, riding from 10am till 7:30pm, got better on 69, then 17 along Superior, of course.
Checked into the Algonquin Hotel & got a private room w/ a bathroom for $50, not too bad. If you stay on a Fri or Sat, chances are there'll be a cover band playing at the bar downstairs. Great patio after a long day.
Good weather today, but everyone today is talking about rain tomorrow, we'll see.
Wed Aug 24 2011
Sault Ste. Marie to Thunder Bay 17W 678 km
Up at 7am at the hotel, had a great night here.
20 minutes outta town it poured with signifigant winds and hail, so I pulled over to wait it out, I could'nt see a thing. Worst storm I've ever been caught in, and it was over in less than 10 minutes.
Little bit of everything on the way, rain & sun, but mostly rain.
Another long day, checked into the Thunder Bay International Hostel, a great spot, my own room for $20. The hostel's main building is an old motel, couple other buildings for rooms too. I had no idea, but the couple running the place are legends in the hostelling community & well travelled.
Had a great night hanging out w/ an Aussie gal singin' Paul Kelly songs to each other.
Almost gave up a couple times w/ the bad weather, but pushed on through.
Thrs Aug 25 2011
Thunder Bay to Winnipeg Man 17W/1W 750 km
Up at 6am giving way to a clear sky, awesome. Clear all the way & hot. Stopped at a rest area and took a quick dip, much needed and refreshing, cold water, just the thing. 17 is a great ride along Superior.
Almost camped about 100k outside of Winnipeg, but figured I've done alot of camping, but never seen Winnipeg, so I pressed on to the huge hostel there.
Rode into town just as the sun was setting, Winnipeg never looked better! Really liked it here, it gets a bad rap, but it's a great place. Having the Jets back will make it even better. Everyone was pretty excited about that.
When I checked into the hostel I got a room w/ only two other guys who were in town for a wedding, and were already burnt out, bless her heart, I was bagged.
www.photobucket.com/west-1
Thanks for posting this. This is a trip I am considering. I especially like your posting the route taken, the departure and arrival times every day and the distance covered. Helps a great deal to put things into perspective for organizing such a journey. Keep it coming!
Robert
'02 Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird
'91 BMW K1 (sold)
The first point and click interface was a Smith & Wesson.
Will do Bob, I'm enjoying recalling the trip(s) & laying it out here.
Fri Aug. 26 2011
Winnipeg, Man. to Good Spirit Campground, Sask. 1W to 16W-Yellowhead, 47N to Good Spirit 564km
Good Spirit, kinda fitting after this day....
Spent the morning in downtown Winnipeg, downing coffee, watching the city come alive, and hitting a greasy spoon for breakfast. Freshened up back at the hostel, chatting w/ the two guys in town for the wedding, they were really interested in the trip, both recently moving to Canada from Nigeria and realizing for themselves just how big this country is.
I gassed up before leaving Winnipeg and decided to take the Yellowhead #16 since I wanted to go through Edmonton/Jasper/Banff/Vancouver.
Beautiful day, clear sky, got on the Yellowhead at Portage la Prarie. Heading North, I approached the only corner in the Praires
I honked, I waved at him to move over, I geared down, I went as far right in my lane as I could without hitting the gravel shoulder giving way to the ditch. Which at the time seemed like a pretty good option, you know the ditch, rather than the truck. I held my ground skimming the edge of the road, hoping for a good reaction from him, instead of bailing. He jerked it over at the last second, no joke, his front grill whizzing by inches from my shoulder. If he had a trailer on his rig, I would not be writing this.
This kinda shook things up for the day. I rode for another half hour. I watched him after we passed, he did'nt even slow down, let alone stop. It's funny, I slowed way down, seeing if he would. If he stopped I would have rode over, just to see if he was as scared @#%*less as I was.
That bend was at Macdonald, I pulled over at Neepawa to gas up and get myself together. I've had alot of close calls, we all have. This one was the closest yet. It did happen that fast, and it was "like a movie".
The roads in Saskatchewan were a welcome releif, no one around, and not much to look at. Everyone always says riding or driving through the Praires is boring, it does have it's charms.
Set up camp, had a couple cold ones staring into the fire wondering what if....
Sat. Aug. 27 2011
Good Spirit Campground, Sask. to Maidstone, Sask. #16W 596km
Hoped to make it to Vermillion, Alta. but came up short .
Left the camp at 9:30am, the sun and heat were getting the best of me later in the day. I pulled in to what I thought was a rest area, it turned out to be a campground, based on the honour system. $10 a night w/ envelopes provided for the $ and a slot to slip it into. I could'nt pass it up, so I rode into Lashburn for some dinner and supplies. Came back and set up where the sun would rise on the site.
Threw on the shorts & sandals right away and got settled.
Waved at a couple just pulling up, they were checking out the firewood situation. The campground offered some, but it was slim pickens. They had some of their own and just gave it to me, kindling, newspapers and firewood. They said they were going into town anyway and would pick up some more & made sure I had dinner. They returned and again made sure I was'nt hungry and invited me to their spot. Had a great night w/ Kevin & Kira from Lloydminister 'round the fire, as we were the only folks camping that night. Turned out I was'nt too far off from nailing Kevins accent/dialect. All this Saskatchewan hospitality hails from Springdale, NFLND. I narrowed it down to NFLND. He was going home for a visit in the Spring, had'nt been there for a while.
Halfway Park Campground on #16 Yellowhead at Maidstone, Sask.
Sun. Aug 28 2011
Maidstone, Sask. to Jasper, Alta. 16W, 692km
Packed up and left at 9:30am. Went back into Lashburn for some breakfast at the same place I had dinner the night before, but I was there 1/2 hour before they opened, he recognized me & knew I was camping & let me in and made me some eggs n bacon. Really nice of him, did'nt have to do that. Another example of good fortune on the road.
Caught my first glimpse of the Rockies just past Edson, Alta.
And it just got better. I chose a hostel at Edith Cavell Mt. The road up there was awesome, off of 93A. When I arrived at the hostel I joked w/ the staff sitting out front that I'd be right back, I wanna do that again!
After two days of camping without a shower, I was ready for one. Turned out there's no electricity or running water here, ah well.
Did'nt matter, the spot is just as good as the ride in, great night around the fire.
www.photobucket.com/west-2
Mon Aug 29 2011
Jasper to Banff, Alta. 93A/93S 310 km
Left the Edith Cavell hostel at 10am, took the awesome road down to hook up w/ 93A. Stopped at Saskatchewan River for gas & lunch, WAY too expensive.
I kept an eye open for a lake to take a quick dip & stopped at Herbert Lake, waited for a lull in the tourists and jumped in. Much needed, I had'nt had a shower in three days, got busted as I was drying off at the semi-secluded spot by a couple from Germany. Turned out they rode back home & could'nt blame me, was a really hot day too.
Took six hours to make it to Banff. Lots of stopping & picture taking. Rode around Banff for a bit and started losing daylight, so I checked into the hostel, HI Banff Alpine Centre, on Tunnel Mountain Road.
There is a resteraunt and a bar attached. As you'd guess hotels are expensive here. $37 will get you a bed at the hostel. Hung out w/ an American guy there for some mountain climbing and a local guy who turned out to be an absolute ****** bag.
Tues Aug 30 2011
Banff, Alta. to Chase, BC, 1W 462 km
Up early and had breakfast. It was pretty rainy and cold so I went back to the room for some more sleep and wait for it to clear/warm up a bit. I was sharing the room w/ the local guy and a couple others.
Long story short-turned out the local guy bounced around hostels and lived in his car, had a bit of a rep, and was barred from a couple other hostels. He took my helmet after I was sleeping after breakfast and placed in the laundry room w/ lots of obcenities and the like written in magic marker all over it. I was furious and he was nowhere to be found, gone for the day. I brought it up w/ the manager and he refunded my $ for the nights stay and apologized saying that was the last straw for the guy. He was gonna be barred from there too.
It cleared up so I hit the road, Golden/Revelstoke/Sicamous was fantastic. Spent the night at a motel in Chase and had a pizza delivered from town! Nice to have a motel room after a string of camping & hostels.
Wed Aug 31 2011
Chase to Port Moody/Vancouver 1W to Cache Creek, 97S to Lytton, 12N to Lilloet, 99S through Whistler/Squamish 575 km
Left the motel in Chase at 9am and arrived at Port Moody at 7pm. Another great day riding on fantastic roads through the mountains. Stunning. Staying w/ my sister and her husband, five year old nephew an one year old neice. My nephew was all over the bike and a barrage of questions about the trip.
Spent six days in Port Moody before heading to Vancouver Island.
www.photobucket.com/west-3
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To insert pictures into your Ride Report, there are two ways to do it:
Copy the URL and click on the "insert image" icon, select "from url", paste in your url, then uncheck "Retrieve remote file and reference locally" then click "OK" to submit.An even easier method is to create IMG tags and paste the URL between them (omit the *):
[IMG*]http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg628/gar40/west-1/eastwest336.jpg[*/IMG]
becomes this:
Photobucket shares the php IMG code, so just copy and paste that where you want to see your pictures.
Thanks for sharing. I intend to ride out that way, perhaps 2013.
Ride Reports and other drivel
'08 Suzuki DR650E
'04 Kawasaki KLR 685 (For Sale)
'05 Honda VFR800a Interceptor (SOLD)
'01 Suzuki Bandit GSF600s (what the deer left of it)
'94 Suzuki GS500E (SOLD)
MC Instructor www.LearningCurves.ca
Thanks Ronnie that looks way better, but I'm afraid it's still a bad case of user/end/operator/error over here.
Tues Sept 6 2011
Port Moody to Tofino, Vancouver Island 270 km
Left Port Moody at 9am for the 10:40 ferry to Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, lotsa bikes on the ferry. Clear skies and the forecast called for more. Around four hours from Nanaimo on #4 to Tofino w/ a stop in Port Alberni for gas, banking ect. #4 is awesome.
Set up camp at Bella Pacifica Campground for two nights, a nice change as it's been one night stands camping. Cleaned up and went to the beach.
Wed Sept 7 2011
96 km
Great day on the Island, I wanted to check out Ucluelet & the guy working at the Gas n Save in Tofino suggested going for lunch at the Black Rock Resort there. Very swish place, great patio, veiw, and a lunch wo'nt break the bank, though a dinner would!
Rode around town and walked a bit of the Wild Pacific Trail. Headed back to Tofino stopping at Long Beach, Incinerator Cove & other spots. Picked up supplies in Tofino & spent the rest of the day at the beach on the campground. I'm not much of a beach guy, but this place was almost magical, something different about it.
Thrs Sept 8 2011
Tofino, Van Island to Port Moody-ferry again 246 km
Up at 5:30am, made coffee and packed up. Really nice ride w/ the sun coming up back to Nanaimo for the ferry. Back in Port Moody in time for a beer w/ my brother in law before we picked up my nephew from school.
Fri Sept 9 2011
Port Moody to Osoyoos
#5E through Chilliwack #3E at Hope, through Princeton to Osoyoos 404 km
Left Port Moody after saying my good byes at 11:30, five hours to Osoyoos, really hot, even in Sept.
Stayed w/ a friend in Osoyoos, dinner at a posh resort, and hung out w/ her family afterwards at their condo at said resort. Can get used to this! Osoyoos is gorgeous. Lotsa vineyards, lotsa wine.
Capped it off w/ a visit to one of the town pubs, the Sage, and called it a night.
Sat Sept 10 2011
Osoyoos, BC to Oroville, Washington 97S 20km Arrgh!
Terrible day, I was having trouble starting the bike yesterday & wrote it off, blaming the heat...
After I cleared customs at the border the bike would'nt start again. Got her going after a few bump start attempts. Pulled into a gas station on 97 to get some water, leaving the bike running, still really hot. A little further down 97 the bike just went flat. I coasted into a bars parking lot. Everyone there was very helpful with one of the guys going to his place not far away and brought back a battery charger. Charged it for a while and started up again, went flat again in front of one the motels in Oroville. The motel's owner was very helpful too and was familiar w/ bikes too. We did some troubleshooting and charged the battery again. His metre said the battery was OK, but it was'nt holding any power.
He gave me a good rate for the night, figured I'd get a new battery the next day when the shops open.
Sun Sept 11 2011
Oroville, Tonasket, Omak, Wash to Kettle Falls, Wash 97, 20E 248km
Thankfully the bike started up just fine in the morning and I made my way down to Omak in search of a new battery. Got one at Ace Hardware, switched them out and hit the road thinking problem solved....
Headed East on 20 through Shermans Pass, much cooler and more comfortable through the woods.
Camped on the Columbia River at Kettle Falls.
www.photobucket.com/west-4
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Mon Sept 12 2011
Kettle Falls, Wash to Bonners Ferry, Idaho 20E to Tiger, 20S along the Pend Oreille River 2E at Idaho, 2/95N to Bonners Ferry 286km
Left the camp at 10am. I decided to take #2 accross the States. Really nice ride along the Pend Oreille River. The only real short term destination was Glasgow, Montana where my new rear tire was at the bike shop waiting for me, as I was getting closer, I kept the shop owner up to date for when I'd be there.
I made it as far as Bonners Ferry, Idaho and the bike went flat yet again, would'nt start after gassing up.
Lucky for me there is a tractor/atv/bike shop on the main drag, Boundry Tractor-Yamaha, with two very experienced guys there. My new battery was a quick fix masking the real problem, that being the stator and/or regulator. It was too late to order the parts that day so Brian & Don ordered the parts first thing Tues morning for delivery Wed morning hopefully. They were convinced it was the stator, but ordered a regulator also, just in case it was fried too.
Don gave me a lift w/ all my gear to the Carraige House Inn, checked into my own little out building called the Boat House. Kinda like holing up in my own little one bedroom apartment w/ a kitchen, for a couple nights, right accross the street from the Safeway. Sat on the deck w/ a couple cold ones and took it all in.
Tues Sept 13 2011
Bonners Ferry 0km
Spinning my wheels, slept in till 8am! Stopped by the shop after breakfast, the parts we'rent in yet but they were confident I'd be back on the road sometime Wed, the next day. I walked down and explored the town, had a nice chat w/ the ladies at the visitors centre, caught up w/ e-mails at the library and found the Kootaney River Brewery-Yay! Great beers & food. Checked out the casino and made my way back to the motel. Cleaned my leathers and treated my boots, killing time....
Wed Sept 14 2011
Bonners Ferry to Brownies Hostel on #49? East Glacier Park, Montana following #2E 377km
Up early again, called Brian at the shop, still no parts, but they'll be there today. Checked out of the motel and left my gear in the lobby, bummed around town some more. Got the call at 2pm that the bike was ready to go, w/ the oil change and some new plugs. Thanked Brian & Don and finally hit the road again heading for Glacier. Saw a couple bears through the park, great ride, w/ the Band's Accross the Great Divide runnin' through my head.
Getting dark and colder, made it to Brownies Hostel at 9pm. Cool place, used to house loggers & was a brothel too.
Thrs Sept 15 2011
Brownies Hostel, East Glacier Ntnl Pk, Montana to Saco, Montana following #2E 471km
I was getting my new rear tire in Glasgow, Montana so I wanted to stay somewhere nearby. I was to be there first thing in the morning, called a couple motels in Glasgow and they were charging nearly $100 a night. When I stopped in Malta, rooms were $70, but they had camping right next to the railroad tracks, I could watch the grain go by, no thanks.
I caught a glimpse of an old funky motel sign at Saco, Montana, thinking it was closed for sure-you see alot of old motel signs w/ old closed motels-stopped and checked it out. Kinda looked like they were renovating a large open area on the main floor when I peeked in the stoefront window.
There's a bar a couple doors down so I went and asked them about the motel. The bartender just called the woman who ran the motel to check in another guest, she'd be there shortly. While we were waiting for her, the bartender invited the woman waiting for a room too, and myself to their "free feed" that night. It was a pot luck kinda dinner. Sounded great.
An ideal spot, 45min outta Glasgow at $35 for the motel and a free feed. It got better. I went to the grocery store for a few things and a guy outside the store told me to get their beef jerky made by the butcher there "best in the State" he said. It was the best beef jerky I've ever had, went back for more to stuff in the saddlebags for a good snack.
The motel has two floors w/ a patio/deck on the 2nd floor. The only other guest at the motel joined me up there with her dog, watching the sun go down. Her husband was working on a house nearby and she came out to meet him over the weekend.
The "free feed" was awesome hanging out w/ the couple from the motel and meeting tons of folks from town.
Saco was a real highlight on this trip, glad I stopped there.
www.photobucket.com/west-5
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Fri Sept 16 2011
Saco, Montana to Rugby, North Dakota, along #2 612km
Arrived at Scotts Track & Wheel, Glasgow, Mon. at 8:30am, Scott rolled up 15 min later and put on my new rear tire. Did'nt take him long.
Back on the road past Williston, ND the wind on #2 was cold and relentless riding hard at what felt like a 45 degree angle. I'd about had enough at Townes, but there are'nt any motels there. A woman at the gas station suggested Rugby or Devils Lake but rooms are hard to come by w/ their recent flooding, oil workers and construction. Called a hotel in Rugby and got a room.
Sat Sept 17 2011
Rugby ND to Bena, Minnesota 479km
Another cold morning riding. The plan was to stay tonight at a hostel at Lake Itasca in Minn. but no one answered the phone there after a few calls. Not a big deal, but it was only 2pm when I got near there, so I pushed on. I stopped for gas at a cool little campground/cabin place around 5pm near Bena and took a cabin for the night. Winnibigoshish Camp w/ great staff. Another cold day.
Sun Sept 18 2011
Bena, Minn. to Iron River, Upper Penninsula (UP), Michigan 497km
Left Bena at 9:30am and it rained pretty much the whole way to the UP of Mich. Great roads and scenery though. Kinda fell into a groove w/ the colder, wet weather and just kept riding. I was tired by 5:30 so I took a cheap room at Iron River. Hit the grocery store for some dinner, snacks, beer and a pasty (whatever that is) for breakfast tommorow, all for $20, gotta love travelling through the States.
Cranked up the heat in my room and dried out all the gear.
Mon Sept 19 2011
Iron River, Mich to Harrisville, Mich #2 to the Mackinac Bridge 23S along Lake Huron 601km
Kind of a bittersweet day today, knowing I'd be home the next day. Felt like I could do this for a lot longer, riding around, meeting great folks, visiting places, the open road blah, blah, blah! Guess all good things must come to an end.
That pasty was terrible by the way. Loved the UP though, even got to see DJ Fontana's bar. He was Elvis Presley's drummer!
Followed #2 to the great Mackinac Bridge hooking up to 23S along Lake Huron, a great ride along the shoreline. Overcast all day, followed the rain, again, love that. It cleared up by the time I checked into Big Joes State Park Motel at Harrisville w/ a great bar next door for some dinner. Hung out w/ a crew of guys from Bay City who were in town doing some mold removal from a nearby property. The motel parking lot turned into an impromptu patio w/ a few cold ones. Good times.
Tues Sept 20 2011
Harrisville Mich to Toronto 23S, 23/75S (whoops) to Bay City, 25E/S to Port Huron, 402 at Sarnia, 401 to Toronto 736km
Up early again at the last motel on the trip, packed up while chatting w/ the owner. Lotsa bikes on the road and I got stuck behind around 30 of them going really slow. I stopped for gas and did'nt see them again.
I missed the turn for 13S and ended up on Interstate 75S and hated it, was'nt for long though, got on 25E/S at Bay City, much better.
Warmed up in the afternoon w/ clear skies. Crossed the border at Port Huron/Sarnia joking w/ the Canadian Customs guy after he asked what I bought I said "food, lodging, water & beer, where would I put anything else?" explaining the trip, camping gear etc. Hit the 402 to 401 to home. I did it, could'nt believe it. I rode coast to coast accross Canada & the States. Something I've always wanted to do.
Perfect. You don't by chance have a GPS file for this route, do you? I'd love to see some of the roads you took the lazy way. We could work out a deal. I'd post them into this thread once I had the plot.Originally Posted by GAR
Ride Reports and other drivel
'08 Suzuki DR650E
'04 Kawasaki KLR 685 (For Sale)
'05 Honda VFR800a Interceptor (SOLD)
'01 Suzuki Bandit GSF600s (what the deer left of it)
'94 Suzuki GS500E (SOLD)
MC Instructor www.LearningCurves.ca
edit
Last edited by GAR; 04-16-2012 at 08:23 PM.
Last series of pics
Big thanks to RottenRonnie for the quick photo tutorial, looks like I should do some editing!
www.photobucket.com/west-6
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Sorry, no GPS files. I brought an old cell phone w/ a talk/text roaming plan and a now well worn Rand McNally North American Road Atlas.
Here's the total kilometres
Toronto to the Maritimes thorough the States, including NFNLND, and back 8 725 km
Toronto to Vancouver through the Provinces 5 345 km
Vancouver/Tofino via the States to Toronto 4 864 km
Total kms 18 934
The States/East Coast ride report is here
http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforum...ast-Coast-Trip
I went out there first, then the West Coast.
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