Solo trip from Toronto

[shanekingsley]

I am no longer in that area but I looked it up.

The 351 and the only one I could find, is that the road that runs into Shawinigan? There is a road running off the 351, Chemin St. Francois and Rte de la Promenade that is paved according to Street View. It looks deserted and 88 kms long running through the woods.

So many roads, so little time and unfortunately all of them are not in my backyard.


View attachment 74150

That road is the road through La Maurice National Parc. It’s $10 to go into the park and it’s an amazing road. The speed limit is slow and there can be a lot of visitors to the park, but I’ve always managed to enjoy myself on it.

The roads leading to and from the park are also really good, including the 351 & 349 as a combo.

To the OP - I rode the park road 2 years ago on our way out to Natashquan and then again last year on our way back from Gaspe. Would highly recommend it and the nearby roads as part of a trip into La Belle Province.

Post in thread '2023 Ride Report - North Shore of St. Lawrence'

Aug 18, 2023

So each night we think about what we want to do the following day. It's a nice way to travel instead of pre-booking each day in advance of leaving for the trip. We look at the weather and make adjustments to maximize riding in the good weather and what kind of distances we think make sense. In looking at places to stay, originally I was hoping to stay in Tadoussac , but the motels were all $200+ per room. All we need is a clean room, with a shower, comfy bed, wifi and if there are restaurants or other things nearby then it's a bonus. Since we are trying to cap the room prices at...

• shanekingsley

• 

Post in thread 'Ride Report - 2024 Nouveaux Angleterre et Gaspe'

Oct 19, 2024

Day 6: Rimouski QC to Montebello QC



Looking at the weather forecast and radar, we can see that the rain will be falling pretty hard in Rimouski until around 1pm. The storm is moving slowly from the west but isn't that big, so if we start riding west, we'll hit the end of the storm around 3 hours into the day, somewhere near Quebec City. Our original plan was the hug the backroads of the south coast for as far as we could toward Quebec City, but since it's raining pretty hard and foggy, there's no point in taking all the slow backroads right now. We decide to take the main...

• shanekingsley

• 
• 

 

[MCT]

I love the ride up Portelance Rd (dirt) and 144 from Sudbury to the 101. Portelance needs an adv, 144 is for everything else.

Just wondering but is that the road that starts in Capreol and runs up to the 560 further north. No problems with dirt but then I used my KLR 650 to do the Trans Labrador back in 2003 when it was ALL dirt from Red Bay to Manic Cinq.

 

[Gaoler]

This thread is beginning to give me "tingles".

My problem is learning to slow down...
Every time I've gone to BC it turns into an endurance challenge.
Penticton BC to Medicine Hat in one go?
"Sure, why not?"
1000km days are cool. But you don't really see much Lol

 

[guzzirider]

I mean a piddly 400 km afternoon ride on back roads is one anyone can do. I cannot see going on a tour if the rider cannot handle that. Some of my day rides are 650 kms and they are not on 400 series highways. And this on stock seats, and yes, even on my sport bikes back then.

I can do 600-700 km a day if I have to but I would rather do 300ish.
Are you saying I am a disgrace to motorcycling and should stay home.
I once met a couple who where having a wonderful time doing 100km a day driving from
Montreal to Vancouver.
The pairs weight was over 500 lb. and they where on 90cc Honda Cub.

 

[MCT]

I can do 600-700 km a day if I have to but I would rather do 300ish.
Are you saying I am a disgrace to motorcycling and should stay home.

I never even implied that. The OP is taking his first motorcycle tour and discussed a seat gel pad or something like that on a Ninja 1000. That bike is not what anyone would consider uncomfortable and you can do some good miles on it per day.

 

[Mad Mike]

Just wondering but is that the road that starts in Capreol and runs up to the 560 further north. No problems with dirt but then I used my KLR 650 to do the Trans Labrador back in 2003 when it was ALL dirt from Red Bay to Manic Cinq.

That’s the we road. It’s a gravel logging road, there may be shallow water crossings and spring washouts. The washouts are usual fixed by now, so Capreol to Shining tree should be good.

 

[PrivatePilot]

That road is the road through La Maurice National Parc. It’s $10 to go into the park and it’s an amazing road. The speed limit is slow and there can be a lot of visitors to the park, but I’ve always managed to enjoy myself on it.

We rode through that park last year as part of our trip up the James Bay Road. Personally, and I believe my riding buddies were on the same page, I found it incredibly underwhelming compared to what it was hyped to be. I guess I'd been comparing it to something like the Cherohala Skyway or whatever in my head, but in reality, it was just a slightly twisty road through a forest with hardly any views at all.

This was probably the best outlook/view on the entire loop, and even that was mostly obscured with trees.



If it was convenient as part of a bigger trip I guess I'd ride it again, but to go out of ones way to get there like we did, heck naw.

My problem is learning to slow down...
Every time I've gone to BC it turns into an endurance challenge.
Penticton BC to Medicine Hat in one go?
"Sure, why not?"
1000km days are cool. But you don't really see much Lol

<raises hand>

Thankfully I have a sorta kinda photographic memory - I can ride past something scenery wise and enjoy it (and remember it) the same as if I stopped and started at it for 10 minutes, and I get bored pretty quickly doing stuff like that, so I'm usually happy just seeing things as I ride along.

I once met a couple who where having a wonderful time doing 100km a day driving from
Montreal to Vancouver.

That's fine if you're retired with all the time in the world. Not so much when you're working within tight vacation allotments.

When my wife and I retired I suspect we'll end up travelling by RV a lot, and yeah, there might be days or weeks where we never move at all, or days where we only go a few km to the next area to explore, but spending 50+ days to travel a few thousand km (much less return), that's only for the retired crowd, and presuming they're staying in hotels every night and eating out 3x a day, only for a select few who can afford to spend an entire summer travelling like that as well.

 

[guzzirider]

The thing I don't like about this site is a lot of members think their way is the only way.
But I really appreciate those members who attach a "like" to my posts even though it may not be there style of riding.
I salute anybody who just goes out and has fun their way.
To each there own!
And by the way that couple I mentioned in a previous post where in their 30s and did not stay every night in a hotel and
eat 3 meals a day in restaurants.
Driving around in an Uber Cage is a whole different life style than motorcycling.
And that's not a bad thing.

 

[Gaoler]

Then there're those days when you go out for an hour and don't get home for six...

 

[MacDoc]

think that qualifies as more than slightly twisty. Perfect pavement when we were there and zero traffic - was much fun....my conclusion .....yur spoiled

 

[PrivatePilot]

my conclusion .....yur spoiled

You’re probably right. I’ve been lucky to have been able to ride so many epic roads over the years that even some good ones seem meh now.

 

[Jay Alexander]

This thread exploded - thanks for all the responses. Been busy last week or so and haven't planned much.

At least one person gave a great point about endurance in the saddle, and I do plan to take a couple day-long rides to get a baseline for how I feel. The longest I've ridden lately at a time is maybe 2 hours. Early 20s, I know I could last a lot longer without discomfort. It feels like a serious pain needing to pack so much, while trying to travel as minimally as possible.

The politics I avoid, and don't care much for that - it wouldn't stop me from heading south. My bigger concern is our weak dollar, and how far it'll take me here vs in the US.

 

[PacoT]

Any links on that? My original Airhawk is really showing many miles of travel and the cover is falling apart in the tropics and new cover is stupid expensive. Figure I can grab a knockoff for the cover.

KEMiMOTO Coussin de siège de coussin d'air de moto pour BMW F650GS F700GS F800GS ADV F800R K1600GT K1600GTL pour MT07 MT09 R1 R3 pour Versys 650 pour TENERE 700 pour NC700 NC750 CB125R - AliExpress 201355758

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

At least one person gave a great point about endurance in the saddle, and I do plan to take a couple day-long rides to get a baseline for how I feel. The longest I've ridden lately at a time is maybe 2 hours. Early 20s, I know I could last a lot longer without discomfort. It feels like a serious pain needing to pack so much, while trying to travel as minimally as possible.

If you are DT Toronto, you can borrow my FakeHawk for your baseline trips . I will not be using it until mid-June, so you can decide if it's right for you before committing to purchasing one from AE.

BTW, that reminds me that I need to patch the original one. Does any of you have any tips for patching one of these seats?

 

[MCT]

The politics I avoid, and don't care much for that - it wouldn't stop me from heading south. My bigger concern is our weak dollar, and how far it'll take me here vs in the US.

Exactly. The issue is our worthless Canadian dollar thanks to the mismanagement of our government.

I wanted to go through New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine to NB and NS, but motels, (forget about grossly overpriced B&Bs) are a deal breaker.

 

[MCT]

It feels like a serious pain needing to pack so much, while trying to travel as minimally as possible.

Think about it, and not like someone that thinks they need the kitchen sink and generate a "check list" that after a trip or two can be modified as you go along and get experience. Besides, "check Lists" prevent you from reinventing the wheel every year as in "what did I bring last year?".

Depending where I am going, I have three "check lists"...
Canada
USA
Europe where I have spent up to 6 weeks touring with only my side cases and an empty top box.

 

[shanekingsley]

This thread exploded - thanks for all the responses. Been busy last week or so and haven't planned much.

At least one person gave a great point about endurance in the saddle, and I do plan to take a couple day-long rides to get a baseline for how I feel. The longest I've ridden lately at a time is maybe 2 hours. Early 20s, I know I could last a lot longer without discomfort. It feels like a serious pain needing to pack so much, while trying to travel as minimally as possible.

The politics I avoid, and don't care much for that - it wouldn't stop me from heading south. My bigger concern is our weak dollar, and how far it'll take me here vs in the US.

Riding in the US may hurt from a currency exchange standpoint, but the gas is cheaper, the motels are cheaper and the food can be cheaper depending on where you eat. Over the last 5yrs, my trips across Quebec or over to BC cost a bit more per day than my trips down south riding to and from the Smoky Mountains.

If you don't care about riding in the US, then I can't recommend the riding in the Virginia's enough, as well as the New England states.

For packing - it's only a week trip. Travel light, bring your credit card and have fun.

 

[Gaoler]

Think about it, and not like someone that thinks they need the kitchen sink and generate a "check list" that after a trip or two can be modified as you go along and get experience. Besides, "check Lists" prevent you from reinventing the wheel every year as in "what did I bring last year?".

Packing.... It's a steep learning curve
Two years in a row I ended up mailing my excess packing back from BC to my home
'Subsequent years I managed to not over pack, but man... It's one thing standing in your garage trying not to forget anything... It's another to be on your ride wondering... "Why did I bring all this ####?"

 

[Gaoler]

.

If you don't care about riding in the US, then I can't recommend the riding in the Virginia's enough, as well as the New England states.

For packing - it's only a week trip. Travel light, bring your credit card, TRAVEL INSURANCE CARD and have fun.

FIFY

 

[shanekingsley]

FIFY

Very true!
My travel Visa covers me pretty decent for emergency medical, but not everyone's card does.

 

[MCT]

Riding in the US may hurt from a currency exchange standpoint, but the gas is cheaper, the motels are cheaper and the food can be cheaper depending on where you eat. Over the last 5yrs, my trips across Quebec or over to BC cost a bit more per day than my trips down south riding to and from the Smoky Mountains.

I keep an Excel spreadsheet on my travel expenses simply because on the forums I am on, riders want to know what everything costs.

As for motels being cheaper in the US, they will likely be cheaper the further south you go just as it is for gas pricing. But when I looked at going through the Northern New England states to NB and NS, I looked at mom & pop motels and they were as much as they are in Canada plus you had to now add a 40% exchange rate.

I have complained about motels and hotels being a gross rip-off in Canada in the past. To use your second example above, back in 2003 on my tour in the Alps and my tour of Eastern Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador, it was cheaper per day to tour the Alps (which included airfare and expensive gas) than to tour Eastern Canada. Go figure and this in Canada where gas, utilities, labour is cheaper than in Europe where everything is expensive. Good old Canadian greed!