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thedougsite
2010 Road Trip
July 2010
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The intent was to ride east through
Canada and into Southern Ontario, hook up
with another bike in Winnipeg along the way and then another bike in
KW. From there
we would drop down into the States before heading home. And thats what
we did. We covered just short of 11,000 km over a 2.5-week period. We
left Squamish on the cold damp west coast of Canada and headed east on
the Trans Canada highway. First day got us to Golden so of course we
stopped for some pictures at Roger's Pass.
I think every biker who passes through here gets a shot of their bike
parked in front of the arches. Thats my son and his Nightster, talking
to his mother who did the trip riding shotgun on the back of our
Electra Glide. The ride across BC was cold with rain over the
Coquihalla Pass. Alberta and Saskatchewan were cold as well with lots
of T-storms for us to dodge, not always successfully. We ended up
having to find shelter in Medicine Hat on our second day out and
Brandon Manitoba on the third day. We watched some huge T-storms as we
rode along that must have been quite violent for anyone caught in or
near them. The ride across Alberta was so cold that we were basically
riding from coffee shop to coffee shop in an atempt to keep warm. And
let me say at this point, the condition of the TC highway through
Saskatchewan is a national embarrassment. It is so bumpy it is almost
painful to ride on.
Saskatchewan has had so much rain that the fields are covered with
standing water and part of the TC is washed out just west of Swift
Current. I think the abundance of water is why we did not see any wild
critters along the roadway. Normally they would be hanging out with the
domestic cattle for access to their supplied water. They do not need to
this year. Thats a good thing. Wildlife along a highway can be very
dangerous to motorcycles.
We hooked up with my brother in Winnipeg and spent the day visiting.
Headed east again and took pictures at the 'Welcome to Ontario' sign. I
have a picture of us on our old bike in the same location taken 2 years
ago posted on the web page for that ride. The ride down to Thunderbay
can be pleasant if the weather cooperates and it did. Only glitch was
when an RCMP decided to pull out from behind an approaching truck and
nearly caused a head-on with us. My ABS brakes paid for themselves
right then and there.
This shot is from a lookout off the highway east of Thunderbay. It was
a beautiful day for riding and for pictures. However, I can only show
so many without boring everyone. We crossed over the top of Lake
Superior and into Sault Ste. Marie where we spent the night. This was
also the first day we started to hit warm weather. By the time we found
our motel it was hot out.
Another scenic lookout over Lake
Superior. Weather good and starting to warm a bit.
We rode from Sault Ste. Marie across to Sudbury and down highway 69 and
the dreaded 400 to just north of Barrie where we turned west. Very hot
out now, at least by our standards. Got caught in some hot heavy rain
near Parry Sound. Had to pull off the highway until it was over. My
brother lives in Owen Sound and he headed there. We took and old rural
back-highway down from Stayner that we used to drive 35-years ago. Very
pleasant. Rolled in to the KW area that evening.
While in KW I needed a small warranter repair, the bike's neutral light
began to stay on. Stopped in at Kitchener Harley Davidson and they
pulled the bike into their shop and fixed it right then and there. It
was the neutral switch modual or some such thing. They were fast, very
friendly and treated us great.
I had hoped to hook up with some of the KW chapter of CMC but that just
didn't work out. When there are friends and family in the area your
time is not your own.
I did not like the thick yellow air of S. Ontario. You can't see
through it! I guess I'm just used to clear air and blue skys.
After staying in the Kitchener area for a couple of days we saddled up
and headed south. We were again joined by my brother from Owen Sound
and by my wifes sister and her husband on their bike. To get south we
had to endure the 401 and the QEW. Both of these super busy highways
give a small town guy like me nightmares. Crossed into New York State
at Fort Erie and jumped onto an Interstate that had just as much
traffic as the 401. White knuckle riding at it's best. Rode down
through Pennsylvania and then into West Virginia. The pic below is the
hazy hills of WV, very interesting country to ride through and look at.
Got a motel near Flatwoods. Here's the 3 bikes parkes outside the door.
Next morning we headed further south, down to the New River and it's
canyon and it's bridge. The bridge is the longest single arch span in
the world.
It was here we parted ways. The other 2 bikes turned east with the
intention of riding the Blue Ridge Parkway. We needed to start heading
west. Rode west into Charleston where we pulled off the highway for
fuel and food. Would you believe we found a Tim Horton store? Felt
right at home. It would be the only Tim Horton we would see until we
crossed back into Canada.
From WV we touched near the bottom of Ohio as we rode into Kentucky.
The topography changed from the hills of WV to the rolling farmland of
stately horse farms and crop farms. The hills grew smaller and the
fields grew larger. Crossed the Ohio river at Louisville, into
Indiana. Our day in Indiana was HOT. We were riding in 105F. Had
to take heat breaks where ever we could find shade and water. If you
walked out of an air conditioned building your glasses would steam up.
Next State was Illinois, again, very hot. We were smart enough to take
a shade break before we tackled St. Louis. That was one hour of white
knuckle riding again. Once thought that maze of traffic and streets we
crossed the Mississippi River and were into Missouri.
