How not to start a cross-Canada trip

domekrome · Post by **domekrome** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 12:32 am

1) Speed on the Bow Valley Parkway, in a construction zone. Say goodbye to $264. 110 in a 70. The Mounties were out in full force today, holy poo.
2) Enter Calgary not realizing it is Stampede weekend, spend an hour looking for a hotel room.
3) Enter the ramp going down to the secure parking on the wrong side, and drop your bike trying to enter the access code. Break turnsignal lens, and scratch the magnesium valve cover on your BMW boxer.

I wish I could say that this was "priceless" but it isn't. Tomorrow I try for Winnipeg - wish me luck

If all goes well, I will be in St. John's, NL next Saturday.

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 1:49 am

Good luck.

Hopefully that's your bad luck all used up..and you have all good luck from now on.

Ride safe.

DJ

RiftonRoadster · Post by **RiftonRoadster** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 6:20 am

Quick - get out of Canada right now - it's dangerous, what with all this stampeding, ramping and construction.

I'm just jealous about the St John's thing.

I'm determined to make that my next big trip - maybe next year.
Post a report with some pics along the way
Good Luck
Peter

Hiker · Post by **Hiker** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 7:08 am

I'd drop my bike, pay $264 and sleep outside to be on the Bow Valley parkway. (But bag Winnipeg, I'd be on the way to Jasper on the Icefields Pkwy...

Best of luck for the rest of your trip!

Hiker

Post by **LonestaRR** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 8:36 am

Sorry to hear about the drop of the bike and the expenses. But the trip sounds great.

I'm flying to St. John's NL on July 31 then heading east towards Deer Lake and Corner Brook Aug. 1. Just sort of wandering across NL. I've looked online for a place to rent a bike and can't find anything. If you happen to come across a place ANYWHERE in Newfoundland that will rent a bike can you send a PM and let me know the particulars. Or just leave your bike there and I'll watch over it for you until Aug. 8.

Be safe.

domekrome · Post by **domekrome** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 8:39 am

Thanks everyone. This trip should be heaps of fun, and I'm only be slightly facetious.

The last 3 times that I did the Parkway I was able to average 140-150 kph, not this time.

Hiker, I will be doing the Icefields on my way back to Vancouver, in about 3 1/2 weeks. It is one sweet road, and the scenery rocks.

Check out http://flickr.com/photos/kromedome for some pix of my ride, as well as rides over the last year and a half.

domekrome · Post by **domekrome** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 8:42 am

Kristi wrote:Sorry to hear about the drop of the bike and the expenses. But the trip sounds great.

I'm flying to St. John's NL on July 31 then heading east towards Deer Lake and Corner Brook Aug. 1. Just sort of wandering across NL. I've looked online for a place to rent a bike and can't find anything. If you happen to come across a place ANYWHERE in Newfoundland that will rent a bike can you send a PM and let me know the particulars. Or just leave your bike there and I'll watch over it for you until Aug. 8.

Be safe.

Sorry Kristi, I don't know of any bike rental places, I will check with my uncle when I get there, and PM you if there is anything. It's too bad that our paths won't cross, I will be leaving St. John's around the 27th, and will need my bike to do so.

Enjoy your time there, you will be amazed by the hospitality.

Post by **dwayne** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:40 pm

Kristi wrote:Sorry to hear about the drop of the bike and the expenses. But the trip sounds great.

I'm flying to St. John's NL on July 31 then heading east towards Deer Lake and Corner Brook Aug. 1. Just sort of wandering across NL. I've looked online for a place to rent a bike and can't find anything. If you happen to come across a place ANYWHERE in Newfoundland that will rent a bike can you send a PM and let me know the particulars. Or just leave your bike there and I'll watch over it for you until Aug. 8.

Be safe.

Kristi, you don't want to drive East from St. Johns the next city East of there is Lisbon Portugal. You want to go West, DON'T GO EAST from St Johns!!!

Post by **dwayne** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:41 pm

domekrome wrote:
Kristi wrote:Sorry to hear about the drop of the bike and the expenses. But the trip sounds great.

I'm flying to St. John's NL on July 31 then heading east towards Deer Lake and Corner Brook Aug. 1. Just sort of wandering across NL. I've looked online for a place to rent a bike and can't find anything. If you happen to come across a place ANYWHERE in Newfoundland that will rent a bike can you send a PM and let me know the particulars. Or just leave your bike there and I'll watch over it for you until Aug. 8.

Be safe.
Sorry Kristi, I don't know of any bike rental places, I will check with my uncle when I get there, and PM you if there is anything. It's too bad that our paths won't cross, I will be leaving St. John's around the 27th, and will need my bike to do so. Enjoy your time there, you will be amazed by the hospitality.

Yaaaaa, us Goofy Newfie's can be a fun bunch.

domekrome · Post by **domekrome** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 12:09 am

Made it Winnipeg, MB today, One heck of a long day. 1300 kms.

domekrome · Post by **domekrome** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 12:30 pm

I did Winnipeg to Wawa (1150 km), Sault Ste. Marie was too much. I was soo nervous about the moose, as I rode until midnight.

Yesterday, I did Wawa to Montreal (1200 kms). The last 160 kms were without a low beam, and a very narrow swath of light ahead of me. I piggy backed on a truck heading this way, letting them run interference on the deer front. Been hanging out downtown today, waiting for my bike's tune-up to be completed. I actually caught up with the BMW Demo session here. They suggested that I might join them on a ride; I said no thanks, need a break.

I met a few, and saw alot of, Rally goers - BMWMOA Nat'l coming up. One fellow was going Nashville-Anchorage-Vermont - holy cow.

Sorry, not many pix were taken in the last two days, so nothing until I get to another waypoint.

Tomorrow I ride for Saint John, NB, then I am off to North Sydney to catch one of the ferries to Newfoundland, on Friday.

Post by **LonestaRR** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:53 pm

dwayne wrote:Kristi, you don't want to drive East from St. Johns the next city East of there is Lisbon Portugal. You want to go West, DON'T GO EAST from St Johns!!!

Right, I knew that!

Honestly, I really knew that! It's this Mac computer, sometimes it types East when I type West.

Have fun Jason. It sounds like you need to catch up on some rest though.

Post by **dwayne** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 7:24 pm

Kristi wrote:
dwayne wrote:Kristi, you don't want to drive East from St. Johns the next city East of there is Lisbon Portugal. You want to go West, DON'T GO EAST from St Johns!!!
Right, I knew that! Honestly, I really knew that! It's this Mac computer, sometimes it types East when I type West.

Have fun Jason. It sounds like you need to catch up on some rest though.

Funny, my Mac doesn't do that...although it does have a nasty habit of posting stupid stuff after I've been drinking.

domekrome · Post by **domekrome** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 1:50 pm

Had my 40,000 km service done a little prematurely in Montreal, and then rode to Riviere du Loup for the night, 5 hours riding.

Yesterday, I rode from there to Sydney, NS, 1045 kms. I hate the Trans Canada Highway. Have been resting since last night, and will spend the next 14 hours on the ferry to Argentia, Newfoundland. I then get to see my grandmother, first time in 5 years, and some other family members - yay. Then I will begin my return journey - 2 weeks to get home. A much more reasonable pace.

I will hopefully update my pictures tomorrow night, for those interested.

I haven't decided if I will be coming back through Argentia, or via Port aux Basques.

Post by **dwayne** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 1:58 pm

domekrome wrote:Had my 40,000 km service done a little prematurely in Montreal, and then rode to Riviere du Loup for the night, 5 hours riding.

Yesterday, I rode from there to Sydney, NS, 1045 kms. I hate the Trans Canada Highway. Have been resting since last night, and will spend the next 14 hours on the ferry to Argentia, Newfoundland. I then get to see my grandmother, first time in 5 years, and some other family members - yay. Then I will begin my return journey - 2 weeks to get home. A much more reasonable pace.

I will hopefully update my pictures tomorrow night, for those interested.

I haven't decided if I will be coming back through Argentia, or via Port aux Basques.

I'm planning to ride home next summer. Let us know your expierence with the Ferry's. Oh, did you have any issue going through Quebec? I heard they are really cracking down on motorcycles there, all of them from what I have heard.

domekrome · Post by **domekrome** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 2:55 pm

dwayne wrote:
I'm planning to ride home next summer. Let us know your expierence with the Ferry's. Oh, did you have any issue going through Quebec? I heard they are really cracking down on motorcycles there, all of them from what I have heard.

The ferry going over was alright, but they loaded us last in Argentia. This isn't so bad except it was in the middle of a storm, and they made us wait an hour, in the rain, while they loaded the cars.

domekrome · Post by **domekrome** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 2:58 pm

So I rode the Cabot Trail yesterday, and I have to say it almost made crossing the Prairies worthwhile. It is a concentrated dose of riding goodness - from fast sweepers to tight (did I mention tight) challenging sections. We're talking climbing, descending bucket load of fun riding. By and large a great riding experience. In Halifax today, gonna go to the Bay of Fundy tomorrow, then on to PEI & Ontario.

This morning I met another Roadster rider Ralph, and some of his riding buddies, nice to meet another board member. I shamelessly plugged my riding gear to him & his friends.