I've been busy since we got back from our trip out east, figured I better get the ride report done before I forget.
On my bike trips, I always go west or south, I love Alberta and BC and the States. Not just for the scenery, but the people too. I told Serk at Inzane that I relate to a Texan more than I relate to Eastern Canadians and I meant it. But for something different, we head east. With Canada's 150th birthday this year, I figure we should go see a bit more of it.
Day 1 Regina to Kenora Ontario. 793 km of flat prairie. Saskatchewan's slogan should be..."There's Eff all here, but you're only a 10 hour ride in any direction to great riding". Our farms feed the world, our vast resources of oil, potash, uranium, lumber, etc, fuel the country's economy...but we aren't known for our great riding.
When heading east, you have to go through Winnipeg...Saskatchewanians hate Winnipeg...it's a football rivalry thing. At least they have a bypass around the city so you don't have to go through it.
Only memorable thing that happened today was I hit 80,000km (around 50,000 miles) on my bike. I was at 76,000 when I left for Inzane a couple weeks ago.
Kenora has great scenery but it's a little too people-y for me, kinda like Banff and Jasper are. I think it's still too close to Winnipeg, a lot of them probably have cabins here.
Day 2. Left at 7am, steam coming off the roads, rivers and lakes. Amazing ride. Scenery spectacular. We stop at a roadside lake for some pics and wife says she wishes she had her fishing rod. Love that woman.
I was raised that Ontario was evil, nothing good there. Its actually in our curriculum. With Ontario's population, they elect our leaders before the western votes are even counted, they take our Western tax dollars and fill our national sports highlight shows with Maple Leafs and Blue Jays crap as though they are the only teams in Canada. They have a blizzard and get to -20C and call in the military to help with the "disaster". That's a nice winters day in SK. If it's only -20 in SK in the winter, we take the opportunity to get some sun and Vitamin D, maybe fire up the BBQ.
But with this scenery and these roads...I now like Ontario. Maybe not Ontarians, but I like Ontario now.
Gas station and restaurant conversations with other bikers suggested Ottawa valley, Quebec, or the Superior Loop. Out of the risk of starting to like Quebec as well if we go there and not wanting to go anywhere near Ottawa, we decided on the Superior Loop. We don't want to have to take the same route home, this will give us time to take a tour through the southern part of Lake Superior and see some states I haven't seen on the bike.
Kudos to Ontario...we've seen probably 5 massive electronic billboards that say "Check your mirrors for motorcycles". Don't know if they help, but nice to see. And the highways are all flawless. I was a little worried about the distance between some towns, so I filled up the 1 gallon Reda gas can I keep in the saddle bag for some piece of mind. Never needed it but it's good to know it's there.
I don't know how tomorrow can beat the scenery we saw today.
Day 2 688 km
Day 3. Terrace Bay to Minusing MI. 679 km,422 miles. Beautiful scenery and flawless roads again. The same 2 Harleys were on our tail all day, except when we got to a steep hill...then they drifted back. Border crossing was quick, only 4 cars in front of us. There were hundreds of cars on the bridge coming into Canada so we were a little worried. Immediately after we got through the border, USA welcomed us with a torrential downpour, small cloud though, not worth putting on the rain gear. Nice the rest of the way.
Stopped for my bike trip lunch staple, a BLT, in Newberry, which, if my memory serves me, is where that show from my Dads and msb's generation was filmed in...the Andy Rooney show I think. You know, the one with Mr Furley in it. Not a single sign or billboard about it. Nothing. C'mon people...market your town.
Called ahead to Munising and booked a room at Scotty's motel. Last room in town...and only $40.32...nice.
Texted MSB, told him where we were and said how nice it was, he said to watch out for deer, MI is one of the worst states for deer. Gee thanks Mike, now every mailbox, tree and rock looks like a deer.
Stopped in Munising, got to Scotty's Motel.They had said on the phone that they had a room with 2 beds for $45...I had said the single was fine. Wife not impressed...it was a single double bed. We spent the first few years of our marriage with a double bed. While I recall those years fondly, wife likes our king much better. When I'm solo riding, this is my kinda place. My wife can rough it with the best of them, but I do believe a nicer place tonight is a good idea. Munising is a great little town with lots to see but terribly rough streets. Checked out some waterfalls and some nice views of some cliffs, had a nice supper, came back and yep...neon. Ok...that makes up for the double bed then. Add a 24oz 7% beer for $1.09...living the dream.
Breaking all kinds of stereotypes this prairie boy had...Ontario isn't the devil. Michigan isn't all cities. Wow, Northern Michigan is beautiful.
Don't know how tomorrow can beat the scenery we saw today.
Day 4. 5 am...light rain. About halfway through the trip so it's time to pull the other pair of jeans out of the bag. Walk to the gas station for a coffee. Grab the biggest cup they have and fill it to the top...the nice lady at the till says is that all you're having? Yes ma'am. You're good to go then. Good start to the day.
Debated washing the bike this morning before the wife woke up, but with the rain now, why bother.
Highway 41 to Copper Harbor...amazing. Trees over the road.
Day 4 783 km. 486 miles.
Day 5: decided we were on pace to be home much too soon for us and for our kids who didn't want us home yet. Spent the day going to many lookouts, Falls, beaches. Hiway 2 Finland to Ely...the best of roads, worst of roads. Some of the best curves of the trip, but a lot of bad miles too. We were only 20 min out of Grand Rapids and the storm came. It got dark instantly so I couldn't see with my tinted visor. Being so close, I pulled into a gas station to put my clear visor on and keep going. Good thing we stopped. The skies opened up and the wind blew the rain sideways. Power went out in the gas station. Oh, and you know you've had good weather when you don't notice you forgot your rain pants at home until day 5. Looked like a break on the radar, so we made a run for it. Skies opened up again when we hit town. Apple maps led us to some unknown address, so had to stop and use Google Maps. Apple only missed by about 3 blocks. Thanks Apple. Hotel Rapids: $69...all redone, clean, great bed, an actual coffee pot, kitchen, etc. Nicest sub $100 hotel we've seen.
The rest of the way home was your regular prairie riding, stopped in Minot ND for the night, discovered that Master Card decided they had enough of my travelling, they cancelled my card. Luckily I have another. I thought by now my profile would be expecting a bunch of $7 purchases at gas stations all over Canada and the Us. Apparently not. A call straightened that out.
Only highlight of the last 2 days was stopping here:
Was a great trip. Had no idea it was that nice out east. Anyone contemplating the Lake Superior loop, do it. The scenery is spectacular the whole way around.
