I got back home around 10:30pm last night. It was a long, hot day and I was just so tired of riding at that point, every mile seemed harder and harder. I slept well though, and quite late this morning. It felt good to wake up and not have to ride.
I am working on a trip report but it will take a while. My first goal is to get the paperwork completed and submitted to the Iron Butt Association for the 48-10 certification. Then I can start collecting my thoughts and writing them up in some understandable manner. However, for now here is a take-away from this ride: 13,600+ miles in 20 days! Not bad, huh?
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Back in the USA
I am staying the night in the Red Roof Inn in Hamburg, NY. Nice room with a big bed. I am sure I will sleep well. I was listening to the weather radio and there is a front moving in that is going to be intense but not last long. They are calling for 35 knot winds, heavy rain, lightning strikes and possibly hail. I didn't think I could get south fast enough and, really, not in any shape to try. One more day of riding. Can't wait to get home. Seems like I have been gone forever.
Today was relatively uneventful except the oncoming semi (on a two lane road) that decided to put his right side off on the dirt shoulder just as he was getting to me. I am always scared the oncoming driver will over-correct into my lane. He didn't but sent up a big dirt cloud that I had to ride through as he was going by me. He's on the "fecal head" list for now.
Speaking of semis, I found the Canadian drivers to be well behaved and professional. If you were caught behind them for any length of time at all, they would throw their left blinker on to let you know it was safe to pass. The first time this happened I thought the driver was passing something in front of him so I held back until I realized what he was doing.
It was slow going coming south on the east side of the Great Lakes on route 11. Once I reached North Bay the rode opened up to two lanes divided all the way into Toronto. It started raining in Toronto and has been raining since. Not heavy, just enough to be annoying.
I caused another border crossing incident. I was expecting the border gates to be backed up but they weren't. In fact there seemed to be like 15 lanes open with hardly any traffic so I had to pull off to the side (with my four-way flashers on) and dig my passport out of the zip lock back in the fairing pocket. An Agent came towards me with his flashlight and wasn't happy. Sheesh.... He's just doing his job so I have no complaints.
Well, as I type this I hear thunder so this was probably a wise decision. Off to bed now.
Today was relatively uneventful except the oncoming semi (on a two lane road) that decided to put his right side off on the dirt shoulder just as he was getting to me. I am always scared the oncoming driver will over-correct into my lane. He didn't but sent up a big dirt cloud that I had to ride through as he was going by me. He's on the "fecal head" list for now.
Speaking of semis, I found the Canadian drivers to be well behaved and professional. If you were caught behind them for any length of time at all, they would throw their left blinker on to let you know it was safe to pass. The first time this happened I thought the driver was passing something in front of him so I held back until I realized what he was doing.
It was slow going coming south on the east side of the Great Lakes on route 11. Once I reached North Bay the rode opened up to two lanes divided all the way into Toronto. It started raining in Toronto and has been raining since. Not heavy, just enough to be annoying.
I caused another border crossing incident. I was expecting the border gates to be backed up but they weren't. In fact there seemed to be like 15 lanes open with hardly any traffic so I had to pull off to the side (with my four-way flashers on) and dig my passport out of the zip lock back in the fairing pocket. An Agent came towards me with his flashlight and wasn't happy. Sheesh.... He's just doing his job so I have no complaints.
Well, as I type this I hear thunder so this was probably a wise decision. Off to bed now.
Friday, June 4, 2010
In Hearst, Ontario
I am in the Queen's Motel in Hearst for the evening. The Night Manager who checked me in was very pleasant. We had a nice long chat about what I was doing. I gave him the URL to this blog so maybe be reading this now.
I left Kenora this morning and headed to Thunder Bay. It took much longer then expected due to road construction and road conditions. Sometimes the roads were good for a long ways but then other times there were miles of crappy road that were just fatiguing.
In Thunder Bay, I stopped at the Harley Davidson shop and picked up a t-shirt for Joe (if he wants it - kinda expensive). While there I had a conversation with a Harley rider. Turns out he was American and in the Air Force. I think he said he left from Indiana and had camping gear and a fishing pole. He was on his way back home.
The ride from Thunder Bay to here on 11 was both good and bad. Lots of construction and bad sections of road but with a very nice view of Lake Superior and other lakes along the way. The road winded and twisted along the lakes and it was quite a nice view. I enjoyed it, when I wasn't being beaten to death. Cars and trucks seemed to fare better then me, of course they have four or more wheels with independent suspension. There were several parts (transition - old road to new pavement) with little to no warning that I thought would blow the seals out of the forks.
Dale called but I wasn't able to talk long because I had just pulled in for gas and needed to pay for it but I appreciated his phone call and advice about upcoming lodging and fuel locations. Sorry Dale. I also heard from my parents and it was good to hear from them.
On the way from Longlac (Long Lake) to Hearst, the sun started to set and I was worried about big wildlife in the roads so I got behind a flat-bed 18-wheeler for quite a ways. Then it started to get cold and I couldn't take it any more so I had to pull off and put on my heated vest. I did my best to catch up to the flatbed but he was quite a ways ahead. While trying to catch the truck, a big female moose came from the other side of the road and crossed in front of me. It was still dusk so it wasn't hard to see her but I had to get on the brakes pretty hard. She seemed unconcerned. Man, she was a big girl. I eventually caught up to a SUV and then we both caught up to the flat-bed about 20 miles outside of Hearst. I didn't see any more moose. Frankly one was one too many.
I will be continuing on Route 11 with a brief stop in Quebec on the way south. It will feel good to make it to the border, cross over and then continue south to Virginia Beach. This has been on long trip.
Oh, before I forget - I need to clarify yesterday's post about the cost of the room. I called four hotels in the Kenora area and one had no vacancies and the other's were even more expensive. So, the Comfort Inn while expensive (yes I am cheap and I also think a good night's sleep can be found on top of a picnic table in a rest stop) was the best value I could find. As I was leaving this morning, Pamela (I hope I remembered your name correctly) approached me in the parking lot and wanted to know if I was the guy that blogged about the cost of the room. Evidently she can see what websites people go to. Not sure how that works exactly but since they are an open wireless hot spot they must be practicing a modicum of due diligence on illegal activity on their Internet connection. Anyway, Pamela was very nice and we had a great chat in the parking lot about this ride. She wanted to know a lot about it and had been reading some of this blog and said she would read the rest of it. So, Pamela, if you are reading this - my thanks to you and your staff. I had a very pleasant stay and hope that I have atoned for the comment posted yesterday.
Night all. Off to bed.
I left Kenora this morning and headed to Thunder Bay. It took much longer then expected due to road construction and road conditions. Sometimes the roads were good for a long ways but then other times there were miles of crappy road that were just fatiguing.
In Thunder Bay, I stopped at the Harley Davidson shop and picked up a t-shirt for Joe (if he wants it - kinda expensive). While there I had a conversation with a Harley rider. Turns out he was American and in the Air Force. I think he said he left from Indiana and had camping gear and a fishing pole. He was on his way back home.
The ride from Thunder Bay to here on 11 was both good and bad. Lots of construction and bad sections of road but with a very nice view of Lake Superior and other lakes along the way. The road winded and twisted along the lakes and it was quite a nice view. I enjoyed it, when I wasn't being beaten to death. Cars and trucks seemed to fare better then me, of course they have four or more wheels with independent suspension. There were several parts (transition - old road to new pavement) with little to no warning that I thought would blow the seals out of the forks.
Dale called but I wasn't able to talk long because I had just pulled in for gas and needed to pay for it but I appreciated his phone call and advice about upcoming lodging and fuel locations. Sorry Dale. I also heard from my parents and it was good to hear from them.
On the way from Longlac (Long Lake) to Hearst, the sun started to set and I was worried about big wildlife in the roads so I got behind a flat-bed 18-wheeler for quite a ways. Then it started to get cold and I couldn't take it any more so I had to pull off and put on my heated vest. I did my best to catch up to the flatbed but he was quite a ways ahead. While trying to catch the truck, a big female moose came from the other side of the road and crossed in front of me. It was still dusk so it wasn't hard to see her but I had to get on the brakes pretty hard. She seemed unconcerned. Man, she was a big girl. I eventually caught up to a SUV and then we both caught up to the flat-bed about 20 miles outside of Hearst. I didn't see any more moose. Frankly one was one too many.
I will be continuing on Route 11 with a brief stop in Quebec on the way south. It will feel good to make it to the border, cross over and then continue south to Virginia Beach. This has been on long trip.
Oh, before I forget - I need to clarify yesterday's post about the cost of the room. I called four hotels in the Kenora area and one had no vacancies and the other's were even more expensive. So, the Comfort Inn while expensive (yes I am cheap and I also think a good night's sleep can be found on top of a picnic table in a rest stop) was the best value I could find. As I was leaving this morning, Pamela (I hope I remembered your name correctly) approached me in the parking lot and wanted to know if I was the guy that blogged about the cost of the room. Evidently she can see what websites people go to. Not sure how that works exactly but since they are an open wireless hot spot they must be practicing a modicum of due diligence on illegal activity on their Internet connection. Anyway, Pamela was very nice and we had a great chat in the parking lot about this ride. She wanted to know a lot about it and had been reading some of this blog and said she would read the rest of it. So, Pamela, if you are reading this - my thanks to you and your staff. I had a very pleasant stay and hope that I have atoned for the comment posted yesterday.
Night all. Off to bed.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
At the Comfort Inn, Kenora, Ontario
Today was a long day. I am beat. Sleep will be welcomed tonight. The room is nice but very expensive (relative to what I have been paying).
Coming across Saskatchewan, there were critters all over the place. They looked like big rats, or small squirrels but with a rat-like tail with a bit of bushy fur on the end. They hopped like squirrels but would stand up on their bag legs to look around. I was thinking they were prairie dogs; however I thought that prairie dogs were lager. Can anybody help me out on this one? They were a nuisance!
Roads were mostly good, except the stretch from Moose Jaw into Regina. I think a couple of my fillings came loose. The roads in Alberta are far superior to Saskatchewan.
After crossing into Ontario and before getting here, there was a 20 or so mile stretch that I counted 14 deer close to the road, but not so close as to be an issue. Joe LaGrave, I will show you on a map where that section is and you can come up next year and hunt them. The locals aren't doing a good job of keeping the numbers down. I WON'T even chide you about shooting Bambi's father!
Off to bed. Thunder Bay in the morning and then North Bay after that. I think I am going to pass on Quebec and get that some other time, so I may be crossing at Toronto/Buffalo and then working my way down through PA (close to State College) and keep dropping south.
Coming across Saskatchewan, there were critters all over the place. They looked like big rats, or small squirrels but with a rat-like tail with a bit of bushy fur on the end. They hopped like squirrels but would stand up on their bag legs to look around. I was thinking they were prairie dogs; however I thought that prairie dogs were lager. Can anybody help me out on this one? They were a nuisance!
Roads were mostly good, except the stretch from Moose Jaw into Regina. I think a couple of my fillings came loose. The roads in Alberta are far superior to Saskatchewan.
After crossing into Ontario and before getting here, there was a 20 or so mile stretch that I counted 14 deer close to the road, but not so close as to be an issue. Joe LaGrave, I will show you on a map where that section is and you can come up next year and hunt them. The locals aren't doing a good job of keeping the numbers down. I WON'T even chide you about shooting Bambi's father!
Off to bed. Thunder Bay in the morning and then North Bay after that. I think I am going to pass on Quebec and get that some other time, so I may be crossing at Toronto/Buffalo and then working my way down through PA (close to State College) and keep dropping south.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
In Medicine Hat, Alberta for the night
Slow day today in terms of forward progress. I came down through the Jasper National Park and I could barely go 10 miles before I had to stop and take pictures. The scenery was unbelievable. The Canadian Rockies are something to behold including the wildlife. I saw a bear, female moose, 3 mountain goats/sheep (the ones with the curled horns). One let us spectators get close enough to take a picture. He seemed very unconcerned by our presence. In a place called Bow Lake, I was at an elevation of 2050 meters (I have my GPS set to metric measurements just because it is easier so you do the math on this one) and there was snow along the roads. Bow Lake itself was covered with ice. That was pretty interesting to still see that on the first day of June, at least for me.
I am just west of Saskatchewan and then Manitoba after that. I would like to reach Thunder Bay, Ontario if possible tomorrow. That would be a SaddleSore 1000 within Canada (more then 1,000 miles in 24 hours). The land is very flat here, much like Montana and North Dakota. Lots of farm land and cattle. At least I am now on two lane roads with a divided highway and a 110KPH speed limit so I feel like I can make decent time. We shall see how tomorrow goes, although right now it looks like rain tonight. Hopefully not.
Once in Thunder Bay, I will most likely take Highway 11 over the top of the lakes and not go through Sault Ste. Marie. I hear the latter is slower going and I am now looking for quickest and fastest way home, although I still want to touch Quebec before heading south.
Time for bed. Many thanks to all who are still reading this and tracking me.
I am just west of Saskatchewan and then Manitoba after that. I would like to reach Thunder Bay, Ontario if possible tomorrow. That would be a SaddleSore 1000 within Canada (more then 1,000 miles in 24 hours). The land is very flat here, much like Montana and North Dakota. Lots of farm land and cattle. At least I am now on two lane roads with a divided highway and a 110KPH speed limit so I feel like I can make decent time. We shall see how tomorrow goes, although right now it looks like rain tonight. Hopefully not.
Once in Thunder Bay, I will most likely take Highway 11 over the top of the lakes and not go through Sault Ste. Marie. I hear the latter is slower going and I am now looking for quickest and fastest way home, although I still want to touch Quebec before heading south.
Time for bed. Many thanks to all who are still reading this and tracking me.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
In a Hotel for the night.... no parking lots or picnic tables...
I left from Hyder, AK this morning and it has been an absolutely gorgeous day. I definitely like coming out of Hyder down to Prince George during the day instead of at night. 37a and 37 are beautiful roads. Gorgeous scenery and the road surface is as smooth as a baby's butt. It was hard not to open the throttle up and let that big 6-cylinder engine run. Yes, I know... cops.... but there weren't any. I have seen two RCMPs the whole time I have been in Canada and that was in Prince George. I guess the rule up Hyder way is run as fast as you want and there will still be someone who wants to pass you.
I stopped in Prince George for an oil change. I went to Canadian Tire and they were still holding my oil that I reserved before starting this trip but they wouldn't change it or let me do it myself in the parking lot because of environmental issues. However, Guy (and if you pronounce his name the way you think you should, you are showing your lack of Parisian culture (it's "Gee") oui oui - was very helpful and made some calls to motorcycle shops for me. ALL of the metric places are closed on Sundays and Mondays. The only place that was open was the Harley Davidson dealership and they said to send me over.... WOW! I got there a few minutes later and talked to the manager (Len) who also works in the service department and he said "I don't know if we are we have filters for this bike." I said not to worry because I had everything with me to do an oil change except a funnel and a catch pan. He asked me if I change my own oil and I said yes, several times. He said the bay is all yours, shout if you need something. So there I was changing my oil inside a HD service department much to the amusement of some of their customers. Everything went smoothly. I made a bit of a mess on their floor but cleaned it all up. I asked Len how much I owed him and he said "well we really didn't do anything but we did make our facilities available to you". I agreed and asked him how much. He asked me how much I thought was fair. I said, "No sir, not my call - it's your place", so he charged me a 1/2 hour of labor and I agreed to buy a t-shirt so he said the deal was fair. So, Joe LaGrave, if you are reading this, you have a t-shirt coming your way if you want it. All in all, the folks at the HD dealership were extremely nice. Harley owners in Prince George are well-served.
I pulled the bike out of the service bay and rode around front to pay and get a t-shirt. Like a goober, I left the key in the ignition with the lights on. No harm because it wasn't that long but when I came out there was a guy checking the bike out. I made some comment about the silliness of leaving the lights on and he commented that he thought the bike was running.... I damned near wet myself from laughing. (For those who don't get this.... Goldwings are quiet, Harleys are generally louder, so he got me good on that one).
Well, off to bed and getting an early start tomorrow. I have been told that when I get to the Jasper National Park, I need to get off the Trans-Canada and run down through what is called the "Ice Roads" which will then drop me into Calgary. I understand the scenery is quite nice. I think I will give it a shot.
I stopped in Prince George for an oil change. I went to Canadian Tire and they were still holding my oil that I reserved before starting this trip but they wouldn't change it or let me do it myself in the parking lot because of environmental issues. However, Guy (and if you pronounce his name the way you think you should, you are showing your lack of Parisian culture (it's "Gee") oui oui - was very helpful and made some calls to motorcycle shops for me. ALL of the metric places are closed on Sundays and Mondays. The only place that was open was the Harley Davidson dealership and they said to send me over.... WOW! I got there a few minutes later and talked to the manager (Len) who also works in the service department and he said "I don't know if we are we have filters for this bike." I said not to worry because I had everything with me to do an oil change except a funnel and a catch pan. He asked me if I change my own oil and I said yes, several times. He said the bay is all yours, shout if you need something. So there I was changing my oil inside a HD service department much to the amusement of some of their customers. Everything went smoothly. I made a bit of a mess on their floor but cleaned it all up. I asked Len how much I owed him and he said "well we really didn't do anything but we did make our facilities available to you". I agreed and asked him how much. He asked me how much I thought was fair. I said, "No sir, not my call - it's your place", so he charged me a 1/2 hour of labor and I agreed to buy a t-shirt so he said the deal was fair. So, Joe LaGrave, if you are reading this, you have a t-shirt coming your way if you want it. All in all, the folks at the HD dealership were extremely nice. Harley owners in Prince George are well-served.
I pulled the bike out of the service bay and rode around front to pay and get a t-shirt. Like a goober, I left the key in the ignition with the lights on. No harm because it wasn't that long but when I came out there was a guy checking the bike out. I made some comment about the silliness of leaving the lights on and he commented that he thought the bike was running.... I damned near wet myself from laughing. (For those who don't get this.... Goldwings are quiet, Harleys are generally louder, so he got me good on that one).
Well, off to bed and getting an early start tomorrow. I have been told that when I get to the Jasper National Park, I need to get off the Trans-Canada and run down through what is called the "Ice Roads" which will then drop me into Calgary. I understand the scenery is quite nice. I think I will give it a shot.
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