I participated in the Fall Colours Rally around Barry's Bay this past weekend by Rally Connex.
It was the first organized event I've been to in...quite a while. As expected it was well organized and consisted of multiple GPS routes for pavement, gravel and off road with the off road routes ranging from easy/moderate trails to extreme/difficult enduro trails. It was a very professional, well put together event with a good turnout. I think it was mostly off road riders, and more dedicated dual sport participants than large adv riders.
Being on my Moto Guzzi V85TT I did a day of paved 2 lane then a day of gravel which consisted of lightly travelled backroads and forest access roads. There were at least 6 routes to choose from for all categories, so I chose the ones that kept me to the east of Algonquin and away from the masses searching for fall colours.
The destination for my gravel ride was Baron's Canyon on the far eastern edge of the park. I figured it wouldn't be as busy as the easily accessed parts along #60 as it's at the end of a long gravel (but smooth) forest access road. I was wrong. I stopped at the gate to talk to the attendant because the park website won't accept motorcycle license plate numbers. She was as surprised as I was and printed my permit and made a note. She told me that day permits for the entire park were sold out and everywhere I stopped the lots were full. It always amazes me that people go into the silence of nature to experience the beauty and proceed to BLATHER LOUDLY TO THEIR TRAVEL COMPANIONS.
On a seasonal forest road heading to the park access road I found myself facing a shallow water crossing. I walked along for 20 or so feet (ALMOST all the way across) and seeing the base beyond was gravel, I decided it was fine for my street bike, and it was for about 25 feet. Then both wheels sunk about 6" into the gravel. It could best be described as a puddle full of marbles. No chance of powering out of it, so I didn't bother digging it in deeper. I was about 15 feet from obviously solid ground.
OF course the first thing I did was panic, but only for a couple minutes. I had noted occupied cabins a couple hundred meters back, and it was only a couple km to the forest access road. I put down the side stand (accessory foot added) and it supported the bike so I stepped off. It was heavy and hard to move but it was doable, though it was going to be slow going. Fortunately a local came by on his ATV and helped me push the few feet out of the loose gravel. He told me he helped another rider the day before, found an SUV stuck there mid week and another guy a week ago who slept in his car in the same place.
While riding away, I recalled that if I was on my 1090 KTM I wouldn't have been able to step off so easily with it's towering seat height. At the same time, I probably would have been going a hell of a lot faster and not got stuck anyways.
The evenings and the ride home were cold, with the temp showing 5 degrees when I left Sunday morning, but it was a nice weekend of riding. I hadn't spent that much time up there for many years, and at that time it was strictly off road.
