Pincher Creek, Alberta

Day 6, July 8, 2013, 433km

 

More riding through the prairies, so not much to see or do, plus some very strong head winds all day. I know something is a brewing and sure enough around 3pm the weather turned real nasty near Fort MacLeod.

I was lucky to make it into a Tim Horton’s because a torrential downpour with hail came down with some wind gust that would have blown me off the road.

When I pulled into Timmies another couple of bikers that I did meet at Gull Lake came in and together we waited for the storm to pass, and with all of us trying to get some weather updates one of the ladies was getting mad at her new I-pad, she says I'm on the Internet but nothing works.

Lucky I'm a bit of a tech guy and explain that she has to open a browser first and agree to the terms before it will work, so I guess that's why or paths did cross again, she probably would have figured it out at some point in time, but just the same.

 

Made it to Pincher Creek, Alberta today and I am staying with inmate Albertabob, he has offered a spare room for the night and I won't say no to that.

 

Albertabob and me.

 

Next stop somewhere along the Rocky Mountains towards Prince George, BC.

Gull Lake, Saskatchewan

Day 5, July 7, 2013, 812km

 

Last night while being tied up between two large trees with my hammock I had a freaky thunder storm with light show and some real heavy downpours that did make me wonder what if one of these trees did get hit what would happen to me. Luckily nothing happened but I did keep an eye out for any weird shit because you never know on the prairie. Everything stayed dry under the tarp and this morning the sun is out, so back to riding.

Had I stayed on the road for another 50km I would have made it to a rest stop and another just 25km further, so what’s up with this, two in all of Manitoba and both beside each other, go figure.

I thought Manitoba was bad with rest spots but then Saskatchewan has that beat hands down, they have these way off the road spots and you can stay there for a fee, I did stop to look at a few and some you would have had to pay me to stay there, finally fond one after riding until it was dark in Gull Lake, it is run by the city and for only $10, very clean and used by a lot of bikers.

Not much to see out here, just battling strong head winds all day, and that's not very good for the gas mileage, so the reporting on the budget will have to be done some other way, because when you ride some long distances the gas used will throw things off. The budget is for 250 km per day or about $18 worth of gas and the rest $32 for food and lodging, most likely I will do a quarterly (50 days) update or so.

 

The one nice thing about riding on the prairie is you can see what kind of weather is coming so you can wait for it to pass by, or gun for it and hope you pass.

Next stop Lethbridge, Alberta and a stay with inmate albertabob.

 

Sydney, Manitoba

Day 4, July 6, 2013, 576km

 

Riding into Manitoba is like someone hit it with a hammer, totally flat, what a difference from the Ontario side that is nice and hilly with lots of curves and then here absolutely nothing. Drove through Winnipeg and started looking for a rest area to camp again, but none to be found for the next 150 km's, I guess Manitoba wants you to go and take a camping or so. I pulled into one and asked first, how much, $25 says the owner and me how about $15 it's only a hammock, the owner "alright that will be fine and do you want to take a shower with that", holy cow this guy wants to negotiate for a shower, so I tell him it's $15 and I do want that shower or I'm heading back out, alright he says. Looks like this is going to be fun for the rest of the trip, bargain hunting or get ripped.

Fond out that Super Tenere doesn't like regular gas much, only after two fill-ups, because they had no super it started making a noise like you would hear when the oil is out on the old rod cam lifter engines (ticking), not constant but at certain revs, makes me wonder if I should bring along some octane booster or not, any of you guys have any experience on that matter please let me know.

Did come across this cool airplane planted in the middle of town, reminded me of a show called Sky King that I always did watch as a kid

 

Thunder Bay, Ontario

Day 3, July 5, 2013, 863km

 

Somehow motorcycle riders always attract people, so while I was in Sault Ste. Marie two older gentleman come at me and say, “hey where you going” and me Inuvik NYT and I'm trying to decide if I should go south of lake Superior or North, the two guys "North of course because it's the most scenic".

Well they were right it is a very beautiful ride and reminded me of the California Pacific Cost Hwy 1 at some spots and a must do.

 

Made it past Thunder Bay and about 350 km before the Manitoba border when I decided to look for a spot to camp and fond this transmit tower in the middle of nowhere and thought that would be a good spot. Well here is another sticky note to self, unless you bath in Deet don't do that, I don't know how in the world you would be able to set-up camp and not be eaten up first.

 

The weather started looking bad and some thunder clouds started there show and tell so I pulled into a rest stop that had this nice covered shelter that was made to withstand just about anything. Was just able to set-up under it and am I glad I did, the storm hit with a wham thunder lightning all around and a real heavy downpour, after that fell asleep like a baby cradled by the wind in my comfy hammock, life is good.

 

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Day 2, July 4, 2013, 480km

 

Made it to Harmony Beach Camping about 35 km past Sault Ste. Marie, with no free camping spaces out here and $30 to hang up my hammock wow. I guess next time I will look a little longer for a laid back spot before pulling into a camping. At least I now know not to do that again unless you really have too (sticky note to self lol), but hey I did have a beautiful sunset.

 

Sherpaguy told me about a sticky note thread out there and some of the notes that were posted on it, plus some made himself along the way on his trips, this was way to funny not to mention, so if you have some time look it up.

The cost for day 1: gas $37 for 529 km's and $10 for food ($47), it's below the $50 I'm trying to go for per day and we will see how this works out for the rest of the trip.

 

Day 2: gas $30 for 456 km's, $14.30 for food and $30 for the camping ($74.30), not good, will need to do better.

 

 

North Bay, Ontario

Did leave Rockland, Ontario going over Ottawa on June 29, 2013, 251km to Kingston, in order to care of my wife and then make the last preparation for my trip and prep my bike.

Day 1, July 3, 2013, 490km

Finally on the road and super excited to get going on this long trip. Decided to take the road over Algonquin park to North Bay where I had contacted inmate sherpaguy for a sleepover. They have a place just outside of North Bay and what a lovely family to stay with.  Expecting that I would have to pitch my tent they offered a nice comfy place inside and was treated to dinner. The following morning they had breakfast ready and had made a lunch to boot, just WOW. This was a great stay and the story's he had were even better.

Gear and Bike

Post #2

 

The last few days have been hectic to say the least, getting all my gear ready and tying up business ends so that my two sons can take over one side of the business and my wife the other. So then of course like clock work Murphy's law did take over and the wife ends up in the hospital.

 

Luckily all is well now and she will be release on July 2. Departure will be a little later then planned but hopefully on July 3 if all goes well, I will make sure all is really good before I go because I don't need any bad karma to go along.

 

And as promised the bike and gear list;

 

I decided to go for a 2012 Yamaha Super Tenere XT1200 this after a lot of research and some test rides, I guess time will tell if this choice was good, so far after 14000km's I'm very satisfied with it, and as for the additions I have modded the windshield (made it longer), added heated grips, Givi crash-bar and side racks, Garmin AMPS rugged mount, tool tube, hatchet tube, cup holder (great for holding all kinds of little shit), ABS off switch, riding lights, highway pegs, 2 water bottle holders, Dirt-Skins on front shocks, Mitas E-07 Dakar tires, home made rear fender splash guard and bash plate, also set the stock seat position to front side high and rear low plus a sheep skin to make this somewhat bearable, and 2 Pelican storm 2600 side cases with modded attach plates for more strength (found out it was to weak during dump test).

 

Riding gear: Shark Evoline 2 helmet, Tour Master transition 2 jacket, Rev-It Cheyenne pants, Triumph Tri-Tex boots, Tour Master Dri-Mesh gloves, long leather gloves, light leather jacket, Icebreaker under garments.

Electronics: Samsung phone, Garmin Montana 600 GPS, Acer netbook, Polaroid action camera, and a HP camera (don't laugh it was free).

Camping stuff: Tarp, hammock, jetboil, and 2 sleeping bags.

Two 60 litre dry sacks, back pack.

Spare parts:
Rear brake pads
Spark plugs (4)
1ltr deferential oil
Couple of mini fuses.

Tool List:
Monkey wrench Channelock 8WCB WideAzz
Lightweight Pass-Thru Socket Set with SEA and Metric socket rings M10-M19, 3/8-3/4 and adaptor with extension for Torx, Screw, and Hex bits.
Tough, Double side screw driver
Small Needle Nose Vise Grip with wire cutter
OEM sparkplug wrench
Leatherman
3/4 inch rood connector nut (for S10 axel)
M5-M8 Allen keys
M10-M19 Offset Box Wrenches
Electrical tape
Large Zip Ties
Small tube Axel grease
Loctite blue
JB Weld
Tire plug kit
12V Tire pump with pressure gauge

The above is just a short list, there are lots of other little things and  I will try to make a complete list towards the end of the trip and let you know what worked and what not.

Many thanks to all of you coming along.