Trip - 2C (3300kms/5 days [plus weekend @ Pete’s])

It's mid-July 2009, my son's birthday has passed, and the record cold rains of June (Brownie says coldest in 50 yrs.) have stopped, and the sun is out. This trip will be a major one of over 3,000 kms in 5+ days (no, it's not as far as Ms. E. Beard who went around the world by motorcycle 77,000km/48,000mi in 3 years).
I begin preparing by ordering a GPS, which turns out to be faulty, but Joe S. is nice enough to loan me his. As a backup, I copy and print out many google maps for the route. Since I'll be camping enough, I bought a new tent and did a test assembly on the front lawn, so there's no surprises on the road. I'm waiting to see when I will leave - based on the weather of course, and when my new order arrives of saddlebags and rear roll bag.

Leg 1 : Home to Quebec / Ontario
(July 16, 2009 - 956kms)
My bags arrived yesterday, the weather looks good, so I'm packed and ready to go this morning at 7:25am. The weather is sunny and 51°F/10°C as I head down familiar Hwy.11/17. The temperature dips to 46°F/8°C as I move inland and elevation rises around Dawsonville. Other than a little construction, this section is uneventful (other than enjoying rises/falls and twisties). At St. Leonard, I swing onto the divided Trans-Canada Highway #2 up to Edmundston where the GPS conveniently leads me to the Honda dealer. I'm looking for a rain suit and throttle rocker to help with my hand on the long trip. They don't have the rocker, and the suit is too thick and large for me to store in my bags, so I get directions to another bike place in the city. Unfortunately I head in the opposite direction that I'm supposed to, but eventually find Martin's Small Equipment. They have 2 throttle rocker models, so I get the better one, attach it in 1 minute, try it out, and like the feel. Since my longest ride previously was about 6 hrs., I hope to go longer with the throttle rocker attached.

After gassing up and appreciating the view while stopped on the Edmundston bridge (crossing the Madawaska River), I get back out on the highway where the temperature has risen to 60°F/16°C after the highway has turned into #185 as I cross into cloudy Quebec. 

As I head further north, lots of construction is taking much longer to get through than expected. I begin to wonder if this is a sign of things to come, and hope to get to the other side of Montreal for my longest trip ever. As the road turns west onto #20 at Rivière-du-Loup, the mighty St. Lawrence river is now in view and construction has faded.  The road is fast, but boring on a bike... I settle in behind someone who doesn't like the “100 Max” signs.

As I approach Levis/Quebec City, the rain starts. It's not wild rain, but enough for me to pull under Exit 378 overpass at Montmagny for 10-15 mins. till it dies down. I decide to cover the roll bag with the rain protector, and even though it doesn't tie down, it fits snugly around the bag. Snugly isn't good enough I guess, since after leaving the overpass, the rain cover flies off in the wind. I hit the brakes and pull over, then start running back to where the cover is. Lots of traffic here, and the rain cover is blowing all around the lanes, but as I approach it, a truck passing by and blows it in my direction! I quickly snatch it and get back to the bike (the heck with the cover).

After more miles west, it's time to stretch out on the bike with feet on the passenger pegs and chin on the tank bag (which is filled with soft clothes). Being able to do this extends the miles I can put on before getting off the bike. I pass Trois-Rivière, and after more boring miles, I eventually approach Montreal. Before going through the city, it's time to get off at the final rest stop for a drink and snack (this is where the new bags come in handy, since I don't have to look for a store).

I soon leave the rest area for the city, and surprisingly, within 5 mins. the traffic has come to a stop! I expected this deeper in the city, but not this far out. It doesn't get much better..... stop and go traffic through many sections of construction, including a bikers enemy - grooved pavement. There's so much stop and go traffic, that by the middle of the city, my clutching wrist is getting sore. Later, I have to hook my fingers around the lever and pull with my arm. The temperature has climbed to 75°F/24°C, which is magnified in stop-and-go traffic.

While planning the trip, I considered other routes along the south of Montreal, and that seems like a late great alternative. Once I'm nearly through the city, the traffic speed picks up - good enough that I'm able to weave my way across the lanes - much easier than a car. Later, I realize that it's taken me an hour and a half to make it to the other side of Montreal! As I swing down Hwy.30, I see the dark clouds are rolling in, and rain is around the corner. Just in time, I duck under another overpass for shelter and rest. Someone in a convertible has the same idea as he gets his roof into place. Within 10 mins., I can leave again, and head for Ontario.

Another 20 mins. down the road I see my gas gauge flashing red to let me know it's soon time for a fill up.  It's also supper time, and a storm is brewing. I take the first exit 825 (with gas sign), and then see an Ontario sign within the exit! I obviously missed the official Welcome sign awhile before (maybe due to construction?). Quebec was lonnnngggg to cross, so it’s good to see a new province (which I haven’t visited in ~33 yrs to visit another brother), and I take the opportunity to take a picture!
I cross the road and pull under the gas pump cover. After filling up and paying for gas, I see that this is the Curry Hill Truck stop just over the border, and is a good place to be hungry with the restaurant. I park the bike as a thunder storm begins, and go in the main building. I grab a small newspaper, sit down and am hungry enough for a turkey supper.  I read about the Kiss concert in Ottawa (rich boys must need more money).

After wolfing down my meal that I had no trouble finishing (probably due to having no lunch), I see the storm has passed, so it's a good time to continue. Since I left Hwy. 401, I go up the parallel route Hwy.2 till the next exit at Lancaster. Now I'm able to go along the St. Lawrence river for some beautiful views and more interesting riding with turns! I stop along the route to take some community sign pics, and basically take my time. Cornwall is a nice town, but surprised that the massive bridge for the first international crossing in Ontario dominates the western side of town.

The day is getting late, and it's about 12 hrs. since I left home, so it's time to find a campground soon.  After being in awe of the riches along this stretch of road with fancy houses, manicured lawns, and large boats everywhere, it's time to find a spot for the night. Finally, when I arrive in Johnstown (2nd international bridge crossing from Ontario to U.S.), I pass a nice looking campground, so swing around to come back. It's the Grenville Park site, and the office is closed, but a note on the door shows me where to setup, and "checking in" can happen in the morning. This is a nicely setup site with playground, basic rides, a games room, etc. As I idle down a small hill, the view here is great, and I settle in to a beautiful spot by the water with overhanging trees. I unpack and set up the tent easy enough, then immediately get the jeans off, and into some cooler shorts.  I lie on the grass with bare feet and feel the cool breeze. Time to make a couple of phone calls to home and to check in with my brother for the following nights' stay.

The sun is going down, and I go for a little walk down the road to get the biking bugs worked out of my tired body. Back at the campsite later, I take a few pictures around the lake and the international bridge in the background. It's early, but time for some sleep, which comes easy after riding the most kilometers ever in one day of almost 1000kms/12hrs...... Other than taking time back in Edmundston, I would've gone the extra 2 hours to reach Pete's, but I'm exhausted!

Leg 2 : Johnstown to Sharbot Lake, ON (July 17, 2009 - 187kms)
After waking at 4am and hearing rain, I toss and turn on my crappy sleep pad until 5:30 when I hear the rain starting to ease. By 6:30am, I'm up, the rain has stopped, and the sun is breaking through, so I start by shaking water off the tent and fly.....then the same with the bike cover. The weather is getting nicer, and a light breeze, so I hang up my bike cover to dry better, along with the tent cover. After grabbing some trail mix and juice for breakfast, I take a walk around and up to the office to see if anyone is around for payment. The sign says it doesn't open till 9am! What traveler waits around that long in the morning before hitting the road?? I dismantle the tent, make sure everything is dry, and pack it up. I'm ready to go at 7:30, so leave the site, drive up to the office, and still no one around, so even though the gates are closed, it doesn't matter on the bike, since I slip between the 2 of them and out onto Hwy.2 again. I don't have very far to go today, but am on a slower road, and taking in the scenery and have a stop or two.

As I pass the Johnstown bridge to the U.S., I can't help but notice a massive concrete building with large white piles that are dwarfing the payloaders. Reminds me of gypsum, but who knows..... the building is huge and the sign says Port of Johnstown.

I stay on the old Hwy.2 up St. Lawrence River, go through the beautiful town of Brockville, and notice a Honda Powersport dealer. I pop in to see if they have some tools in stock that are specific to my bike. I find out they're a
special order, so I leave for a larger Honda dealer in Kingston. Further up the road is Gananoque and the first thing I notice is Shoreline Casino, then, a nice square-arched entry to the town. I carry on to Kingston, and am met by an unknown huge green structure in the air. The traffic is stopped, and then I notice the flashing yellow light, and sign explaining to stop for lift bridge. Then I notice the boats leaving the marina with masts held high enough that requires the bridge clearance......what a strange setup to put the marina there!

I've got the GPS to guide me to the Honda dealer, and the first thing I notice, is I've turned right, then left - back to the original road I was on....guess the GPS was slower than my driving! I then find the proper road, get to the end of it, and the GPS tells me I've arrived, but I don't see it anywhere. I get my phone out to call the dealer, and they assure me that I'm on the right road, but to carry on a couple blocks after crossing a certain street. So after going in the opposite direction, I return to my original spot, and then realize the road takes a 90° turn. By going straight, the road turns into another name! Finally I find the place, and it seems to have everything in it - except for my tools. I can get them ordered in by Tuesday, but I'll be gone by then.

I leave Kingston, and make my way back out on the 401.  I travel a few miles and find the Hwy.38 exit north through Glenvale and notice lots of lakes! . I come to a nice small town named Verona, and they are in festive mode by the looks of it. North of here I pass through Parham, Tichborne and the road is better quality and has some nice bends, and hills. It's 3pm when I pull into Sharbot Lake and find my brother waiting on the veranda. It's good to arrive, and after lubing the chain, I settle in for a cold beer, and the weekend.


Side note : although I wasn't biking, I have to mention the weekend - it includes boating, fishing, beer swilling, band practice, and a day trip down to the Picton/Trenton areas where we reminisce at our old homes and schools. One MAJOR mention is the Sandbanks Park southwest of Picton (my included pic is best) - if you ever get a chance to visit, do it! This is one of, or THE best beach I've been to, and we were in awe!


Leg 3 : Sharbot Lake, ON to New York/Massachusets/Vermont/New Hampshire 

(July 20, 2009 - 641 kms, plus 2 ferries)

The great weekend visit is over, and time to head out at 8:30am. It's sunny as I motor down Hwy.38 to Kingston. I drop into Canadian Tire and find a tent pad replacement - self inflating ooooh. I ditch my thin pad into a trailer outside the store, then pack the new one in the bag. I now need to exchange some Canadian money for $U.S., so I make my way down to King St. and drop into the swankiest bank I've been in! A fountain at the main entrance - money oozes out of every pore of this building. I end up paying $113 CAN for $100 U.S.

Leaving the bank, I try to find the ferry dock (which isn't obvious), but finally notice the sign and drive right by it. On the third attempt, I get the right road. I'm one of the early vehicles, and that's because the next ferry is 40 minutes away. I'm sure the Tim Horton's next door does some fine business from us people waiting.....so it's time for a tea and blueberry fritter mmmm.
Back in the parking lot, I'm talking to a CAA tow truck driver with rings coming out of almost every part of his head - he says he likes to be able to "express himself", and this is the job that allows it. He later notices my front tire and comments on the wear. I check it out, and yes, I could be making a pitstop during this trip (it turns out to be only 750km later).

It's 10:30, and the 55-car ferry has arrived to shuttle us 20 mins. across to Wolfe Island. Amazing how many sail boats are out on the water at the opening to Lake Ontario. Just as amazing is the number of wind turbines dotting Wolfe Island - doesn't look too good on a tourist island. I've heard that this island is the summer home to Don Cherry, and while on the ferry, I get talking to a guy who lives up the road from Don - who's involved in the community and has made a substantial donation to the community center project. "Substantial" to me and Don are worlds apart.

After docking on Wolfe Island, I'm first off the ferry, and it's not obvious where to turn, but ends up to be only a 10 minute drive to the south of the island to the next ferry. It turns out to be small - only a 6-car William Darrel ferry that goes to Cape Vincent, NY.  After the short ferry trip #2, I soon see the customs shack ahead with one-man standing. It's a small place, but no small attitude on the part of the custom's officer eyeing me down as I approach. He asks for my passport, asks where I'm going, and do I have anything to claim. To my surprise, he doesn't ask me to remove my helmet but I confirm my ID with the photo in the passport. A 30 second conversation, and that's it!  I hang a right and get on Hwy.12 through New York. I ignore the fast interstate down to Syracuse, and continue diagonally, staying on the same road down through Watertown, Boonville, and eventually into busy Utica (expansion place of Dunder Mifflin if you watch TV).

It's time to gas up for the first time in the U.S., so I'm interested in the price difference. After seeing prices just below $1/litre in New Brunswick and Quebec, with a low of around 85¢/litre in Ontario, here in Utica, NY, it's about 70¢/litre. I push the bike over by the grass to sit down and have a snack and drink, and it's there that I see the REAL price difference in Canada/U.S. - it's a beer sign that shows an unbelievable price - $17.99 for 30 beer! I'm used to much cheaper beer in my area with Quebec about 40% cheaper than NB, but this New York price is ridiculously low.

I've had my rest, and it's time to get back on the road. I'm trying to stick to more interesting secondary roads, but will resort to interstates if I need to make up time, or don't have much alternative. The alternative excuse is the reason I get on it for the approx. 1 hr. ride from Utica to Schenectady on Interstate 90.  I thought the U.S. speed limit was 55mph/90kph, so I'm surprised to see the 65mph signs, but makes sense on an interstate. Another thing that makes sense is the beautiful rest stops they have. I pull into one of these for lunch at McDonald's. There's a large air conditioned building with washrooms, games room, wireless internet, etc. A place where people can easily get off the highway for a better rest - a far cry from the ones in the Maritimes. Here I find that my cell phone doesn't connect to home, but I'm able to text message at least. When I gassed up in Utica, I also bought a NY map to check some confusing routes, and I wasn't totally trusting the borrowed GPS yet. I use this rest stop to map out the route I want to take around Albany, and decide on the north side of the city. Back out in the parking lot, I check my front tire again, and although it's worn quite a bit, I decide to go further (turns out to be about 600+ miles)

Back out on Interstate 90, I head to Schenectady area where I change over to secondary Hwy.7 (mainly to bypass Albany and most of Troy). I go out through Niskayuna and north side of Troy and get on Hwy.2 over to the northern part of Massachusetts. All I wanted to accomplish today was to get east of Albany/Troy, so things are going nicely.

Leaving New York, I continue on Hwy.2 east and cross into Massachusetts and of course take pictures of the border crossing.  Soon, I take Hwy. 7 north, then east, I go through the top of Massachusetts (just below Vermont) through Williamstown.
I'm faced with a drastic change in the road. I'm now in biker heaven with turn after turn, then I see caution signs for 4-mile inclines and declines. The elevation changes along with the twisties make the next 16 mile ride very interesting!
I wonder how this road would've been with treads on my front tire ;)

At the top of one mountain is a nice lookout, so I park the bike here for a better view, climb up on a rock and take a picture.



Another thing I notice on this route are the signs for "truck runaways". I soon learn that these are located near the bottom of the mountain, and is an
area for trucks that have brake failure. They can steer into an adjacent area filled with loose gravel, which has a braking effect when the truck hits it....ingenious.

At the end of the hills and twisties is Williamstown - "The Village Beautiful" as their sign states, and driving through I can see why. A really clean village, and nice old buildings. Although a village, it's home to a college and institute. Next door is North Adams, where I see that I can't gas up until I speak with the cashier and tell him how much. Well, I say, how do I know how to predict how much gas I'm going to take? He reassures me to just go ahead and gas up on tank #1 (66¢/litre). Afterwards, I try to pay, but the small-potatoes gambler ahead of me wants to buy every damn ticket in the place! I end up buying a drink and snack on more of the trail mix I brought from home. I fire up the VFR again after checking out the roads ahead to cut north across the states - staying away from the boring interstates.


I'm farther along on this leg of the trip than I expected, but I keep riding north on Hwy.8 across the border into Vermont and the Green Mountain National Forest up to Searsburg. Here the road almost turns 180° onto Hwy. 9 and over to Marlboro. The last couple of hours has been the best ride on this leg, and it's getting later in the day, so as I pass through the final town of Vermont, which is Brattleboro and into New Hampshire, and it's time to take a break at a rest stop. It's a beautiful little spot with washrooms, covered picnic table among the trees, and a brook nearby. I'm kind of tired, and this place is very inviting as a campsite, but the sign says "no camping".      Even though I'd be long-gone in the morning before it reopens at 10am, I'm a law-abiding citizen, so I hop back on the bike and start thinking about camping for the night. I never thought I'd get much farther than Albany, NY, so being almost 200 kms further is a bonus, but I'm pushing it a little far since the sun is getting low. I was shooting for the other side of Concord, NH, but it's too late in the day. I queue up the GPS for nearby campsites, then aim for the one 5 kms. ahead. I come to the road sign pointing to the left for the campsite, so I follow the road up into the woods, which soon turns to dirt, and finally the GPS says that I've arrived. Well, there's no campsite here, so I continue further, turn around, go back, go up another adjacent road and repeat this again. I finally come to an area that looks like an abandoned site and wonder why the damn sign is still on the roadside.  I go back out on the main road, and there's another site a few kms. ahead at Keyser Pond in Henniker, NH. I pull into the office site and it's getting dark. By the time I get to my spot, I need a flashlight to setup, and am not impressed by a cleared dirt spot. The mosquito's sure like me sweating and holding a light during this ordeal. After getting the tent/fly up and the bike covered, I jump in the tent, inflate the new sleep pad and find my ear plugs. It's only 9:30pm, kids are still playing around the campsite, so the plugs sure help drown out the noise, and I'm asleep very quick since it's been a 13 hour driving day!

Leg 4 : Concord, NH to Bar Harbor, ME (July 21, 2009 - 423 kms) 

I wake at 5:30 to get an early start, since a fella at the campsite office mentioned rain for the morning. Trying to pack before the rain begins, and luckily I'm able to and get on the road by 6am. Twenty minutes later after weaving through most of Concord, the rain starts, so for the second time this trip, I pull under an overpass to slip on my rain pants. After pulling out into it, the rain continues as I push along Hwy.202 past the last New Hamshire town of Rochester.

I cross the Maine border at Sanford, and the rain is slowing. It wasn't a hard rain, so my water-resistant lined jacket hasn't allowed me to get too wet. I keep the rain pants on as I continue northward and get on I-95 and I-295 up through Portland.....wow, I'm amazed at the traffic here. Now I'm seeing some nice coastal scenes reminiscent of home.

I leave the interstate again, as I'm now on another motorcycle haven - the Bluestar Memorial Hwy.1 along the east coast of Maine. As I enter Freeport, it's obviously geared to the shopper here, but I'm not interested. What they also have, is an excellent tourist office. I stop and the ol' guy inside is very helpful. After checking out the weather report on their computer, I explain to him I'll probably be staying at a motel in Bar Harbor tonight due to the rain forecast. So, he points out one that is only $58. Once outside, I realize it's warm and muggy, so time to lose the rain pants. There's also phone booths, yes, remember phone booths? outside, so I call the motel and make a reservation. It's still early in the day, and I should get to Bar Harbor early, so I head back out and take my time up the coastal road.

Immediately I notice all the lobster stands, and think of my brother 2 days before in northern Ontario crying that I never brought him any from the east coast. Well here, there's no shortage of the delicacy. Lots of nice small villages on this route, and surprised at another shopping location in Camden with its factory outlets and congested traffic.

Further up Hwy.1 is Belfast where the road winds its way around the village, then onto Bucksport, Searsport and then the awesome new cable-stayed bridge. The Penobscot Narrows Bridge & Observatory crosses over the Penobscott River to Verona Island (which was featured in Popular Science magazine as one of the 100 best innovations of 2006).

Another shopper's surprise is at Ellsworth where I gas up (approx. 65¢/litre), then change roads south on #3 to Trenton (with enough Acadia presence here), and finally onto Mt. Desert Island with Bar Harbor. Since entering New Hampshire, I've been seeing the odd biker without a helmet, and see it again here in Maine, so the last mile I ride in Bar Harbor, I pull over, take my helmet off, and ride the rest of way - which feels AWESOME at the end of the day!

I find Robbin's Motel and sign in.  My intent was to stay at Acadia National Park campsite, but the 100% rain forecast doesn't have me interested in packing up in it. It's a small quiet cheap motel, but after lubing the chain, I immediately take advantage of the shower. Earlier, I pushed my bike over to my room instead of driving, and the helmet fell off the seat and the visor goes flying. A Quebec biker next door offers me a cold beer and tools that take up much of his trailer. He makes a joke after realizing that I had no tools and was driving a Honda.  He had a Harley and always carried tools. A nice guy, and before long I have the visor fixed up and back on the helmet. I take this time to check my front tire, and see it's badly worn, so I plan to change it after getting to Nova Scotia.

After getting cleaned up and unpacked, I take a ride down the road to see where the Cat ferry dock is, and make a reservation, then back up to the Acadia Snack Shack for a crab roll supper. Back at the motel, I don't last long after the late supper and watching some TV.....I'm crashing fast, and sleep comes quick again (just as farmers must sleep)


Leg 5 : Bar Harbor, ME to Greenwood, NS via ferry (July 23, 2009 - 386 kms)
I set my alarm for 6:30am, but am awake 1/2 hour early. I take my time packing up, and head down to the Bar Harbor (US) Ferry Terminal 20 mins. early. There's already a bunch of cars through the gates, and after checking my paperwork, I'm sent over by other motorbikes. I get talking to a couple from Indiana, and a couple from Nova Scotia. This guy has been all over on his bike - even over to Vietnam to bike for 5 days! Over the next 45 mins. all the bikers compare notes and stories, and by boarding time, there must be 40 of us. Inside the ferry, we are sandwiched together and instructed to strap our bikes down to the floor anchors. We all make our way up onto the upper deck, but unfortunately it's a foggy day, and we can't see too much. On the rear deck, I can see us leaving the dock, and the wake starting to pick up!. This is one powerful ship - reaches speeds up to 90kph and has minimal rocking motion.

After settling in, it's time for breakfast, and an expected expensive egg/bacon breakfast sandwich and cup of tea, but it sure hits the spot! As we begin crossing the Gulf of Maine, I soon meet another biker - a stereotypical Harley rider with cut-off sleeves to broadcast his tattoos running up and down his arms. We are sitting at the front observation deck and I soon learn that he is a retired U.S. marine from Tennessee who had 2 tours of duty to Vietnam and then later to the Gulf War in Iraq. He's since moved to a quieter Bangor, ME and spends his spare time riding his Harley.

Needing to get away from the noisy fog horn at the front that regularly blasts, I'm back on the rear deck of the ship where the full power can be seen and heard. It's refreshing back here, and am realizing that my trip is soon going to be over. Unfortunately the weather forecast is not great, and I'm expecting rain when I get off the ferry at Yarmouth. The 3 hour ride slips by, and we are exiting the ferry. After reaching customs, I'm questioned about my whereabouts, and the $45 that I'm claiming - one being a duty-free bottle of Jack Daniels from the ferry for $21. It's no big interrogation, and soon I'm off through the nice town of Yarmouth in the heavy fog and light drizzle. I make a phone call to the Honda dealer in Kingston about a new tire, but I'm on hold too long and have no patience after 5 mins., so I'm back on the bike again heading up Hwy.101. The weather is not great, as I continually wipe the moisture off my visor, and I sure can tell I'm driving in a coastal province since the wind has picked up. The road is wet, so I'm extra careful with the state of my front tire.

At Annapolis Royal, I leave the main road for the older, more scenic Hwy.1 up the Annapolis Valley. This brings back old memories of when I lived here growing up. It's a slower route, but like most of this trip, I've stayed away from the big highways and interstates since I want to SEE where I'm going. By the time I get to Paradise, NS, the rain has stopped and the first blue patch of sky shows itself and I can't think of a better reason why it has that name!

I'm soon rolling into Greenwood mid-afternoon, and find my sister home to greet me. While here, I contact ProCycle in Halifax to arrange a front tire replacement tomorrow morning. They make a spot for me since I'm travelling. 

After spending a great evening/night visiting, it’s time to crash....

Leg 6 : Greenwood, NS to Home (July 24, 2009 - 709 kms)
Awake for my last leg of the trip, I realize it's a long one at approx. 8 hrs, but longer with the stops I will make. I'm off at 8:30am, and the weather is overcast and 60°F/16°C and wanting to rain as I get to the gas station in Kingston to fill up at "normal" prices. Back out on Hwy.101, there's intermittent light rain, but nothing to be concerned about. It's windy, and as I cross the rivers at Wolfville and Windsor, I see the familar effects of the Bay of Fundy - low tide and mud flats. The road lanes increase soon after, and traffic is moving better - right down into Dartmouth where I find ProCycle. I'm right on time for my 10am appointment, and as I browse around the well-stocked store, the front tire is replaced in 45 mins. They assure me that it's also been road tested which impresses me (I can see why they have many award plaques on the walls)..... I'll certainly return here in the future.

Weaving out of Dartmouth, I can feel an immediate huge difference with my steering. Even though the wind is strong, the new tire is having a drastic effect - I'm cutting around turns with no effort at all. After getting out onto Hwy.102 north, it's time to get into relax mode by laying down on the bike again. This section of highway is uneventful, but the weather has cleared nicely, as I take the first exit and find my way to my mother's house at the top of the world for lunch, tea, and a 3+ hour visit.

It's a beautiful day as I leave Springhill on Hwy.2 north, and I'm really noticing the new tire's ability here with many more turns. In 20 mins. at Amherst, I'm back out on the Trans-Canada Hwy., and even though it's windy, I have no trouble going across the extra-windy border section due to the new tire. Before long I'm coming into Moncton - where I'd normally take the shortcut through Scoudouc and up the NB coast, but today I'm leaning to the quicker road on Hwy.126. Unfortunately the first thing I come to is construction - which has slowed traffic to a stop. Once it gets moving, everyone is merging into one lane on the newly paved road, and I'm wondering why, since the pave is still 2 lanes wide. I look up the right lane, see nothing, so motor on past ~50 cars before the lane merge sign appears. Construction soon clears, and I'm rounding Moncton, up to the Magnetic Hill exit, around Lyons Country Store and onto #126 north. Another great road (with its many turns on the north and south sections) to see the effects of the new tire.

Traffic moves along nicely through this road, and after gassing up, I cross over the Centennial Bridge at Miramichi, and continue on Hwy.8 north. Another fast-moving highway, a sports car wants to play cat-and-mouse with me, but with lots of luggage aboard, and him not standing a chance, I let him pass and lead the way.

At Bathurst, I swing onto Hwy.11 north which I think I can drive with my eyes closed, so time to stretch out on the bike with chin on tank bag again. At this point, I know home is near, and after a long trip, I'm just interested in getting there. It's been an amazing week with many new places, and familiar faces I haven't seen in a while, but nice to roll into the driveway after 3300kms. and be greeted by Donna, Jeff and the dogs at 8pm.

Trip - 2B

A repeat of Trip-4, but in reverse direction :

Leg 1 : Home to Springhill, NS (May 23, 381km)
This was my first long trip of the season, and since rain was forecasted, I decided to leave 18 hours early in the evening after supper. The weather was sunny, light winds, and the thermometer read a comfy 16°C/60°F. It wasn't long before someone decided to lead the way, so I obliged by following - which continued until they turned off at Nigadoo.

Construction season is starting, so this leg has the odd stop along the north shore, but nothing like last summer. In the usual hour and a half, I'm crossing the Centennial Bridge in Miramichi and pulling into the Irving to gas up, and stretch my legs. Since it's the evening, there's plenty of insects that have been on a suicide mission with my visor - in a checkerboard pattern even!

After leaving Miramichi, I soon find myself behind another driver who wants to lead, so I oblige by tailing....all the way down to Bouctouche, with its well-known white sands on the western shores of Northumberland Strait.

As I approach Moncton, the highway opens to 4 lanes, only to be taken away, as Hwy. 11 turns into a 2 lane Hwy. 134, and I ping-pong through the rough sections of Scoudouc. Fifteen minutes later I'm taking the on-ramp of the Trans-Canada Hwy. south of Moncton. Unfortunately this section of our country's pride and joy highway is terrible for a motorbike with it's ruts, patches and potholes, but the upside is I get some practice in dodging.

The sun is getting low now, and the temp. has cooled to 10°C/50°F. I pass by Memramcook, and it's awesome community sign, then in a blink, I pull into Sackville's Irving for gas, another visor cleaning, and a call to mom to ease her worrying that I'm travelling by motorbike!

The border crossing into Nova Scotia is always a concern to a biker since the winds are always twice as strong as surrounding areas. But today the winds are ok, and the big concern was the bridge at Amherst, where the joints were making me think I was on a bucking bronco! No warning signs at all here!

The temp. dipped further to 6°C/46°F, and the final section from Amherst along Hwy. 2 through the woods to Springhill was a pleasure, and good to get back to moms' place for a visit. In hindsight, I've obviouslybecome accustomed to this awesome bike, as I was more comfy than previous trips.

Leg 2 : Springhill, NS to Fredericton, NB (May 26, 274km)
After a few days on the Hill doing some maintenance around the house, Fish & Chips at JB's, and no success with the starter on Pete's ride-on mower, it's time to head out. I'm taking an extra back-pack tied down on top of my other one on the rear seat, so the bike is fully loaded.

The first thing I notice riding up Hwy. 2 through the woods, is the trees! The leaves are out, and everything is green!! What a great feeling riding up to Amherst on a sunny 18°C/65°F day. Here, I pull into Canadian Tire for some chain lube, then stuff the can into the back-pack behind me - only to lose it somewhere up the road.

Crossing the border, the wind seems to be tame, but surpisingly, when I pass the Tantramar Marsh and Sackville, the wind picks up a little. Once I hit Moncton, and expecting the wind to die down, it actually picks up more as I climb in elevation along Magnetic Hill. A few more miles, and it's time to gas up and stretch at the Irving Big Stop in Salisbury (Home of the Silver Fox).

The Moncton to Fredericton highway is the Autobahn of New Brunswick, at least the truck that I'm following seems to think so. It's not long before I'm climbing the bridges over the Saint John River at Sheffield and Jemseg (where I recall the only fear expressed by my father many years earlier). On the bridges, the buffeting winds make me lay down on the bike. Luckily theres 2 lanes to play with for position.

Leg 3 : Fredericton to Home (May 28, 355km)
After visiting more family, and hanging out with friends, the next day is filled with a course on emergency restoration for work. Showers were in the forecast, so I double-check at lunch time. Only clouds are in the forecast further north, so I'm hoping to skip most of the wet stuff. At 3pm, it's time to pack up the bike (with less gear this time), and try to beat the rain.

As usual, the twisty ride along the Nashwaak River is great, and the rain is holding off. Unfortunately there's plenty of slow moving traffic north of Taymouth, but nothing the VFR can't take care of.

For years I've driven by Davis Equipment and meant to take a photo, well now, I have one!

Boisetown skips by, and I'm rolling into Doaktown to gas up and empty the bladder (yes mom, I forgot to go BEFORE the trip started). Another hour goes by, and I'm shaking along the terrible concrete road leading into Miramichi. My heart beat is slower than the hops along this stretch of road.

Miramichi means that I stop in to see my son Jeff - who is preparing to move in a few days. After resting for a bit and meeting a few of his friends, I head out to Burger King for supper, where I get off the bike to sit down and eat inside. I'm ahead of schedule, so I take my time here to enjoy the meal.

Back on the bike, I turn onto Hwy. 8 (aka portage) through the woods where the road is in great shape, and the bike cruises along at a good clip. After Bathurst onto Hwy. 11, there's some construction which slows things down, and after passing Jacquet River, I pull over at the rest area to make a phone call. Of course an ambulance isn't long showing up, since this is where they spend many long hours sitting, waiting for a call. Like other health care, ambulance services have changed for the worse.

Back on the bike again, and I'm in the final stretch, and arrive home a little later than expected. Oh well, another trip under the belt makes it all worth the while.

Trip - 2A

Up two rivers and return (Anniversary Ride - April 11, 2009 106km)

This would be classed as a "small" trip, and one I wasn't going to write about, but, the insane sister was prodding me for another blog entry (thanks Tam).

Since it was the anniversary date of buying the bike, I just HAD to go somewhere! It was on the cool side (41°F/5°C), but at least it was sunny. It's that time of year that ice in the river is thinking about starting to break, and I heard there was ice over the road in at least one location, so I wanted to go scout things out. I also wanted to see if the Waban-aki ice-breaking hovercraft was in the area.

The location of the hovercraft is unpredictable, so after supper, I began heading up Hwy.134 along the Restigouche River, through the Junction, McLeod, and Richardsville. This road was newly paved in the fall, so it's a pleasure to zing around the bends, and up and down the hills. A frozen river makes a biker feel out of season, but after waiting through 4 months of winter, I'll jump at any opportunity.

The hovercraft will usually dock in the Campbellton area, so that was my first stop, but looking around the wharf area, it was nowhere. Heading up Salmon Blvd., the river was now slightly open - right up to the paper mill in Atholville where the heated water has an early effect on the ice.

I stuck to the river up through Tide Head, and Flatlands, and soon was at the picturesque Morrissey Rock lookout. I got off the bike and snapped a few photos.


A few miles later I headed across the bridge to Quebec, and stopped to get an awesome view of the dirty ice chunks jamming the river.




I zipped by Matapedia, and turned up the Matapedia River to check out the ice situation. I rode almost to Saint-Alexis, but no sign of ice breaking, or a hovercraft, so pulled a U-ee, and back down where I came from. After crossing back to the New Brunswick side, I turned up the Restigouche River again.

Here, a train bridge crosses the river, and ice is always a concern, so train cars are parked on the bridge to stand up to the forces of the ice. On this day though, the ice is starting to move, and water is flowing in many spots.

I continue through Mann's Mountain and up the beautiful river road. To my surprise, where this road was blocked with ice a few days before, today the river is wide open!! The ice still is piled along the shore, but I have no trouble getting through - other than the springtime conditions - ruts, gravel, and bumps. With a mountain on the left and river on the right, the road doesn't have much room. As I approach the Rafting Grounds (where canoes land in the summers) the road narrows to one lane as the river has carved out a section of the shoulder.

I head back easterly through the woods....farms, horses, and a road full of sand and gravel. I've really got to watch the steering through here, every turn is dangerous, and I'm forced to downshift. Wouldn't want to spill the VFR!

Finally I'm out onto Hwy.17 in Dawsonville, which soon connects to Hwy.11 at Glencoe, which means speed picks back up. The sun is going down, and the temp. has dipped to 35°F/2°C, so time to boogie. I fly by Duff's Lake, Campbellton, etc. and within 1/2 hour, I roll back into the driveway. Ahhh..... spring has arrived!!

Trip - 1F

Leg-1 Home to Miguasha, QC and return (Sept. 26 143km)

Today's small trip happened on a whim - I needed a building permit for my garage, so after motoring to Campbellton to take care of that, I decided to head across the Restigouche River bridge to Quebec. Here I could get a couple of pics of community signs - which I like to collect.

Since it was such a sunny day and perfect riding temperature at 15°C (60°F), I continued up the Interprovincial Blvd. through Point-a-la-Croix (Cross Point) until I hit the Jct. at Hwy. 132. Here I turn east for no reason (the best way to enjoy a ride). This road has improved a lot over the years, and is a pleasure to drive on this perfect day.

After entering Pointe-a-la-Garde, I decide to leave the main road, and end up in a campsite that is obviously closed. It still has the summer feel to it (minus the people), and it sits beside the river with a nice view. After passing the fire pit, I end up at the far end of the site, and instead of back-tracking, I find a small trail back down to the main road.

Next community is Escuminac - which happens to be across the river from my place. I leave the main road again, and follow a small dirt road down to a few cottages by the river. The cottage owners are nowhere in sight, but Adirondack chairs are still placed at the edge of the bank overlooking the river - enticing strangers like myself. I decide to get off the bike and take a few pictures downriver toward the Bay of Chaleur.

Back on the bike, I continue on past the mountainous piles of logs at the sawmill, and a few more miles I enter Nouvelle. On the eastern end of this community, I turn down a small paved road which rolls and bends it's way to a small peninsula. I see a smoke stack off to the right, and surprised to realize that it's the thermal plant in Dalhousie, NB., so I'm obviously near the mouth of the river. At the tip of the peninsula, is a dead end, with an old boat armed with fishing rods at the ready. I get off the bike and walk around a bit, enjoying the small sandy area.

After getting back on the bike and putting the camera away, I'm startled to see part of a large animal standing beside me! As I turn more, I see it's a large German Shepherd dog, only interested in sniffing me. I fire up the bike and slowly get turned around, and as I ride around the driveway of an old house, the dog follows along - until I hit the pavement, and crack the throttle.

Return Leg.....

I decide to stick to the river road more, and soon come to the Miguasha Ferry Terminal wharf. For years a ferry shuttled people and their cars between here and Dalhousie, NB, but has been decommissioned in the last few years and sold. Trains, ferry's....what next?

After leaving the wharf, I turn down Miguasha beach road, and see a bunch of people in the distance, then realize it's a bunch of tourists at the National Park, checking out the fossil tour. I get off for a bit to take a few more pics.

Next I head up the hill, but hang a left to stick to the river road. Here the road rises and falls over the hills, and it's fall, so lots of hay bails in the fields, and another opportunity for a photo.

There's an interesting tourist-looking place on the left, but after going through one gate, I see a "Entrée Privée" sign, so get back out on the road.

After coming to a dead end, I have to back track just a bit to get out to the main road.

Heading west, I ride until I'm back to Point-a-la-Croix, and notice a lookout sign, so I immediately turn into the road to L'Alverne. A road to the left leads up the mountain, but soon turns to dirt. It's kind of rough, then gets worse - major bumps that force me to slow enough that I have to stop. Maybe a mistake to stop, cause it's a chore to start going again playing with the clutch and gas on a steep hill. Finally I get going again, and make sure I stand on the pegs to get over the rough sections. Eventually I get to the top, but don't see any lookout....I only see a walking trail sign - which likely leads to the lookout, but I don't know how far it is, so I decide to skip it and take the loop around the top and head back down. This isn't as bad as going up, but I still have to pay attention. At least I can stop, take a picture, then get going ok.

At the bottom of the mountain, I turn back west, but decide to pass the turn off to N.B. with the intent of finding a road through Listiguj Reserve. I find a road that turns back east and runs parallel with Hwy.#132, then weave my way through the reserve. I've been through this reserve before, but this is a different route, and surprised that they have a full sized church and school. I finally come out by the river again, then head for the bridge back into New Brunswick. Another 20 minutes, and it's the end of my little adventure for the day, and what a great feeling to just point the bike wherever you decide at the moment....hope to have a longer version of this sometime in the future.

Trip - 1E

Leg 1 - Home to Fredericton (September 17th, 341kms)
This is a repeat of Trip 3, so I won't bore you with the same thing other than saying the trip came on short notice - I received a call at 1pm informing me that I had to go to Fredericton for a meeting the next day. I left work, packed at home and was away before 2pm. It was a great sunny day with temperatures in the 15-18°C (60-65°F) range.

Road construction was still a factor, but still got into the Ramada by 6pm - only to find out the meeting the next day was cancelled!

Leg 2 - Fredericton to Home (September 18th, 341kms)
Since there's no meeting, time to get going early (since I'm on company time). Temperatures on the trip home range from a low of 7°C (46°F) to a high of 20°C (68°F) . Road construction had me tied up about 4 times grrrr.

Trip - 1D

Leg 1 - Home to Fredericton (August 21st, 341kms) After waking at 5:15, showering and eating breakfast, I'm on the road at 6am. It's 9°C/48°F - a little cool, but not too bad, and the sky is starting to brighten. The first 40 minutes flies by, and then then I hit a set of lights for bridge construction near the Nigadoo exit. While I wait for the light to change, I decide to put on my sunglasses, and it's not long before they come in handy. A few miles down the road, and almost dead ahead, sunrise jumps out at me, so it's time to make more distance between me and the traffic behind.

The temperature remains the same, until soon after I've passed Bathurst onto Hwy.#8, where it quickly drops to 4°C/40°F and stays there for about 10 kms (glad that I zipped in the jacket liner before leaving this morning). The road construction that I saw on previous trips now gives me new asphalt to cruise on. This lasts until I pass La Bonne Route, where the pavement is still tore up. To my surprise, I don't have to reduce speed like before since I now have new Bridgestone tires installed (sounds a little like an ad).

Miramichi River and Centennial Bridge come into view, so I make my way to Jeff's place to drop off some books in his mail box since it`s 7:30am, and he's still in bed. I gas up at the PetroCan across the street, and sip on a free cup of tea. After washing the bugs off my face shield, I notice the time is getting late, so I hop back on the bike to try to be on time for my 10am meeting.

It's strange how you can pass the same spot dozens of times, and for whatever reason, the location decides to really pop out at you. This one time happened to me while riding southerly down into Doaktown. Crossing the bridge over the Miramichi River, I take extra notice of the scenery. The river is calm, the temperature is perfect, and the old train bridge reflects off the water like I've never seen it before....this is a beautiful entry to a small town, and I wish I had my camera.

Down the road, I twist into Taymouth, where the Nashwaak and Tay Rivers meet. The pavement is very rough, but soon turns into a smoother twisty road into Fredericton, and is a biker's haven....especially when most of the traffic has turned off to the newer Killarney Rd. No traffic means I move along a little quicker, and I ride into the Ramada parking lot just in time for cinnamon rolls and tea before my meeting. 

Leg-2 : Fredericton to Springhill (August 21st - 267 kms)
After my meeting is finished early afternoon, I head over to McLean's Sports store where I previously ordered a helmet vent that fell off a week after buying it. They unfortunately have the wrong part, so re-order the correct one. It's not too late in the day, so I head across the river and up the Hanwell Rd. to visit Tammy & George. After a short visit, I continue out the Hanwell Rd. to get on the new part of the Trans-Canada Highway #2. The entire length of New Brunswick is now divided highway, so traffic moves along nicely. It's not long before I need a gas stop, so drop into the Irving at Salisbury and get a drink of water.

It's a great afternoon for riding at 23°C/74°F, and back out on the highway, a mustang soon passes me at a good clip, followed by a porsche from Georgia, so I oblige by tailing them, and it doesn't take long to get to Aulac near the Nova Scotia border. But this is very windy terrain, and I'm forced to slow down. The border usually brings cooler temperatures, and today it has dropped to 16°C/60°F!! Once across the border, I take the first Springhill exit, and head through the woods where the winds die down. Another great biking road with twisties and hills galore. I pull into mum's driveway at 6:30pm for a 2 day visit with her and Pete (before he moves to Ontario).

Leg-3 : Springhill to Home (August 23rd - 385 kms)
It's a hot day forecasted, so I remove the jacket lining, and head out at 11am with plans to stop at Jeff's place for the hottest part of the day. After riding through the woods on Hwy.#2 to Amherst, I'm out on the Trans-Canada Highway, and of course the wind here is strong. Crossing the border is nothing but treacherous crosswinds, so have to drive accordingly. With the new tires, I don't have to slow down to the point I had months earlier going through here, but still have to be concentrating on steering. I get past Sackville, NB and my hands are mega-tingling from gripping the handlebars so tightly (I need some kind of cruise control system).

Traffic is moving along nicely, and other than the strong winds, the ride up to Moncton is a good one. I leave the divided highway and take the exit on Hwy.#126 through the woods, but surprised that the winds are still noticeable here (good thing I never drove up the coast). The temperature is climbing, but still comfortable, and when I reach Coal Branch, it's time to gas up and have a drink. I try to call Jeff on the cell phone here, but no service available.

There's lots of road construction through here, but being Saturday, the crews are off, so no stops along the way. As I slow to go through Rogersville, the lower speed makes the warmer 27°C/80°F temperature more noticeable. Another 1/2 hour ride, and I pull into Jeff's place and quickly peel off the clothes as his excitable dog Grizzly greets me at the door. Time to stretch out and get a cold drink of water. After a little visit, Jeff has to work, so I leave during the hottest part of the day, so put the gloves in the tank bag.

I grab a snack at a gas station, then head down the King George Hwy. (such an important sounding highway, but just a regular 2-way street through the city). I pass the malls, and think about a former co-worker who recently had a car pull out in front of his motorcycle here, which totalled his bike, and he suffered a broken shoulder blade..... a reminder to drive defensively.

As I round the on-ramp in Miramichi, there are 30-40 bikes in formation ahead of me. I soon realize it's the Hell's Angels with their truck/trailer in the rear (Quebec plates), so I follow just to get a feel for the "situation" ahead. A couple cars pass me, but neither car goes any further, as it becomes very clear that the Hell's Angels own the road. They maintain their formation right up to Bathurst where they take the Tim Horton's exit.

After passing the bridge construction at Nigadoo again, it's time to get into the laying position with my feet on the passenger pegs and chin on the tank bag. Miles go by with not much happening - until a lime green Charger screams past me. Nothing a touch of the throttle won't fix for me to tail him. Next thing I know, an Intrepid passes me to tail the Charger. We continue on to the Lorne/Nash Creek exit where they leave the highway.

I've now had enough of the heat, so when the sign for Charlo comes up, I know home is near. I take the exit onto Hwy.#134 and drive the last couple miles home where it's time for shorts and vegging.

Trip - 1C

Leg 1 - Home to Fredericton (July 16th, 341kms)
Well so much for battling the cold from previous trips, now we're into the warm weather. I leave home mid-afternoon, and it's a nice 23°C, so I enjoy the ride the first hour down Hwy. 11 to Bathurst. As I roll into the city, bridge/road construction greets me, as well as a hot flagman/person/unit. It's about 2:30pm, and he informs me that he's 12 bottles of water so far today. This would be a sign of things to come, but I'm only waiting a few minutes and I'm on my way again.

Not long after rounding the turnoff to Hwy #8 and past the Bathurst High School basketball memorial, that I soon see my first road construction sign. Here they are erecting new moose fence along the highway - more efficient than the first fences that went up a couple years ago.

Soon past the moose fences, and I'm upon ripped up asphalt - the grooved kind that has a special motorcycle sign. A motorcycle can definitely not travel at normal speeds on this stuff, and it just goes on for miles and miles. Soon I meet another flagman/person/unit, and it's a bit of a wait, and I'm starting to feel the 26°C heat of the afternoon in my bike jacket, gloves and jeans. It's time to leave this stop, and dodge the loose asphalt along the way with more miles of grooved pavement. The temperature has now risen to 28°C, and as I approach the Allardville exit, I'm able to speed up on normal pavement. It doesn't last long as another construction site has many cars stopped. I wait, and wait, then decide to put the kickstand down, get off the bike, stretch, and look ahead. There's no cars coming the other way, so get back on the bike and head to the front of the line (gotta like these vehicles). The flagman/person/unit flags me to a stop with as much intensity as a state trooper, so I oblige. I get into a conversation with him, and he won't have anything to do with me trying to convince him that I could squeeze through the right hand side of the road. I shut the bike off, take the jacket off, stretch, yawn, and watch as not one, not two, but THREE groups of cars come from the other direction! When is MY turn I ask!?! He assures me it won't be too long, but minutes turn into many, and it ends up being a 15-20 minute wait!! That's like eternity when you're travelling and waiting to go!

When we finally get the go ahead, I crank through the gears out of there, but the damned grooved pavement limits my speed, and soon, a few faster cars are passing me. After many miles, I'm finally on normal pavement again, and I can drive without worry. After passing La Bonne Route restaurant/truck stop, another construction site comes up, but is nothing major, so I ride through and cruise into Miramichi and take the short cut through McKinnon/Williston roads.

Now the heat is up to 30°C and thankfully my Joe Rocket vent-through jacket lets me open 6 vents to make things more tolerable. I get off the bike in Blackville and gas up at $1.41.1 per litre!! (glad I'm getting 55mpg on this trip). Now I can get a drink and cool off a bit.

The heat continues down through the center of the province, and rolling through the towns, I stand up to vent my heated ass, and open my helmet face shield. The road gets more interesting heading into Taymouth, and by the time I hit the bridge to Penniac, I forget the heat as the road is twisty, and the trees bring alot of shade......it's a great final ride along the Nashwaak River into Fredericton, where I pull over at the Welcome To... sign to take another photo for my collection. Next stop is the liquor store for some cold ones.

By the time I roll into the parking lot after supper, my co-worker Alroy meets me on his way for a jog, and invites me to wings night with the boys at Cannon's Cross Pub....mmmm

Leg 2 - Fredericton to Home (July 17th, 341kms)
My meeting is done, and time to ride....

Another warm day....I leave the city and it's 26°C, but another nice ride up Nashwaak River valley on Hwy. 8 - until I hit the end of the Kilarney Rd. Here, I start to feel a "bug" crawling up the inside of my left sleeve, so after realizing it's not my imagination, I slow down to pull over and stop. I get the kickstand out, and the "bug" continues higher up my arm as I get my gloves and jacket off.....not good enough, as the bug has now gone under my shirt. I can't get my shirt off over my helmet, so I take off my glasses and helmet (which is not the quickest thing to do). The bug has now gone behind my shoulder, but I can swat at it knowing I can quickly take off my shirt. Finally, I get my shirt off and see a bee laying on the ground - he has stung me 3 times. The only thing I can do to bring relief to my shoulder is spit in the sand to make some mud and rub it on.

After getting dressed again, I continue my ride through the twisties up to Taymouth and Boiestown. Gas prices has dropped a little bit, and I'm getting low, so when I hit Doaktown, I pull into the Irving to fill up. The temperature has climbed to 30°C again, my sweaty pants are starting to stick to the seat, so getting off the bike and drinking some water is a nice relief. I leave the gas station and out of town, and the traffic is really moving along nicely. Soon I'm coming into Miramichi where I'm going to see if my son has returned to his apartment. Before I get to his apartment, there's a blockage on the main road due to a house fire. I follow some other cars around the block, but the road turns backwards. I try another road and end up at a ded end at Richie's Wharf. It takes me 4 tries before I find a connecting road beyond the blockage (no time for anyone to put up a detour sign I guess). I arrive at Jeff's apartment, but no one is around except his dog Grizzly. I wait around for 10 minutes, have a drink of water and run some over my head and neck, then head out again - up through the shortcut to bypass the businesses near the Centennial Bridge.

I'm back on Hwy. 8 again and am bracing for the mega construction like the day before. Luck is on my side, since I only have to wait a short time, or I drive right through the potential stops. New asphalt is down in one area near Allardville, and the bike sails through smoothly, I catch myself speeding .... oh oh ;)

The forcasted thunderstorm holds off, and after getting on Hwy. 11 at Bathurst, I stretch out with my feet on the passenger pegs and chest/chin on the tank bag. Sometimes in this position I have to snap myself to reality and realize that I'm actually in control of this machine, and not fall asleep.

No moose or deer sightings, and the final stretch of highway goes by fast, then I'm back home shortly after supper.

Trip - 1B

Leg-1 : Home to Fredericton (May 15th - 341 kms)
I thought my first trip on this bike was cold....but this morning at 06:00, I hopped on the bike and the thermometer showed -2C.  The wind chill from driving on the highway sure woke me up!  Although summer is a month away, there is still patches of snow on the ground on the north shore. With a new tank bag packed with clothes, it makes a nice place for my chin to rest, and tuck behind the windshield/fairing for protection from the cold. Changing riding positions helps a road trip, especially this morning where I can get a little shelter!

At this time of day there is little traffic, so in a blink, I'm already in Bathurst to kill most of the first hour. The sun is now shining bright, and a little higher, so it helps to warm my lower back (where my jacket is creeping up from leaning over).

The new fences along the northern N.B. highways make riding at this time of day easier, not having to worry about being surprised by a moose or deer on the road....especially through the portage on highway 8.

An hour and half slide by, and I'm rolling into Miramichi, where kids are in shorts! I see them getting on the school bus - even though it's zero celcius (it must be a warm day forecasted). I roll into the gas station where I pay $1.345 per litre of mid-grade, but.....I get 50+ mpg!!
Like the first big trip driving the the new bike home, I warm up with a hot drink, then hop back on the bike - only to start shivering. I guess warming up is not a good thing sometimes - but my muscles settle down after cooling off again as I leave Miramichi.

Cruising into Blackville, then Doaktown, the sun feels warmer - even though it's still only +3C. The road is rougher here, and I'm playing with the handlebars more - dodging potholes and ruts.
After leaving Taymouth, the road gets interesting - nice and twisty (a coat of pavement sure would help though).

Four hours after leaving home, I arrive in Fredericton with the temperature much warmer. I make it to my meeting at the Ramada, just in time for a hot cup of tea and cinammon roll mmmm. My body gets settled into the meeting, but after a big lunch, the afternoon craves for me to take a siesta (due to the early start of day).

At 3:30p, the meeting is done!
I leave and return to where I bought my helmet to see about a vent that has popped off the top. Not surprising, I have to wait till they order the part and mail it to me. I continue next leg...



Leg-2 : Fredericton to Springhill (May 15th - 267/608 kms) I leave Fredericton just after 4pm, and the temperature has climbed to 20C, so the trip won't have any cold side effects. The divided Trans Canada Highway #2 is a much faster speed, but a little boring. It doesn't take long till I'm crossing the new bridge at Canning, and faced with an awesome view of the Saint John River. A couple weeks before, this area was flooded badly, and competing with the record flood of 1973, but now, everything is returning to normal.

The traffic moves along this new road quickly, and it's not long that I'm now cruising into Moncton. The temperature drops 5°C and the wind picks up from the Bay of Fundy. It's business as usual until I approach Sackville and Aulac, and cross the Isthmus of Chignecto - where the wind really picks up!
This is where N.B. and N.S. are joined by a small strip of land separating Bay of Fundy and Atlantic Ocean (prime real estate for wind turbines spinning nearby).

I cross the border, leave the divided highway, and have a great ride through the twisties and hills from Amherst to Springhill. It's an unusually busy spot today, and after making my way to the top of Springhill, I make my way to South St., crank the throttle so the Vtec motor kicks in, pop a wheelie, brake hard, then smoke the rear tire as I pull into mum's driveway hehe (note: previous sentence may contain slight exaggeration for mum's benefit).

A beer, good meal and cup of tea await me, then I settle in for the night visiting mum, and watching Philadelphia beat Pittsburgh in the Stanley Cup semi-finals.

Leg-3 : Springhill to Halifax (May 16th - 181/789 kms)
After a good sleep, I'm ready to leave the next morning. Pete shows up to drool over my bike (he's soon on his way to visit Ontario for a possible career change), then I'm off on a cloudy, damp morning. The divided highway continues here, and after passing Oxford (Blueberry Capital of the Universe), it's not long before I'm at the Cobequid Pass section of Trans-Canada Highway. Here the fog is very thick and the road is wet. My face shield has all the signs that I'm driving in rain. A few miles later, the fog clears, and I hit the toll booths. Even though I've dropped $4 into the ol' gal's hand at the booth, she wants to chat up a storm, and tells me I'm the first motorbike of the day. After telling me the weather should get better, I say goodbye, and carry on.

After swinging south to "the only exit to Halifax", Truro is next up. The Bay of Fundy / Minas Basin funnel ends here, so the wind really picks up and I'm getting major buffeting coming up and alongside of trucks. I push on past Stewiacke (claim to fame : "Half way between North Pole and Equator"), then the road widens since the Halifax airport is near. After about an hour and half, I spot the Welcome to Halifax sign, so decide to pull over, but get a surprise when the pavement drops about 6" where it meets the shoulder.

After snapping a photo, I have to drive along the dirt shoulder a bit so the pavement drop off allows me to get back on the highway. Traffic picks up, I exit onto Hwy 118 into Dartmouth, then through the toll booth, and across the Angus L. Macdonald (you remember that guy) bridge. I finally pull into the Holiday Inn and find Donna to give her a big hug (I'm here because I haven't seen my wife for a week, and her mom is in the hospital).


Leg-4 : Halifax to Home (May 18th - 576kms) I spend a couple days in Halifax visiting Donna and her mother Louise, then it was time to head home. Donna and I first make quick visits to see the horses by the museum, then walk through the great Public Gardens.

The hard rain the previous day broke into a nice sunny day for the trip, but the storm still had its hold on the weather - winds were nasty. As soon as I pulled out of Halifax, I could feel the crosswinds affecting the bike steering. By the time I hit Stewiacke, I not only was throttling back on my speed during gusts, but I was thankful for the full width of the lane. As I approached Truro, the winds turned nastier, and I had to reduce speed by 30kph at times just to keep control of the bike.

The wind never let up, and it was so bad, that by the time I hit Oxford, I decided to leave the Trans-Canada Highway, and take the old back road through River Philip to Springhill. Turning onto this old road, I was immediately faced with a motorbike-specific sign showing that the road ahead was not good. It turned out to be bumpy, tore up, and windy, but luckily only 19kms long. This back route into Springhill passes by the cemetery where my father was buried in 1989, so memories instantly hit me....he was a great dad.
I finally turn onto Mechanic St., and on the upper end, I dodge the pot holes and mud, before turning into mum's place. My sister Cathy is visiting mum with her friend Eileen for their ritual Victoria Day weekend, so it's good to see her after about a year.

It was lunchtime, and flounder was on the menu, along with broccoli salad, chocolate pie, and a cup of tea mmmm. After eating, then seeing Canada go ahead of Russia in the 1st period of the World Hockey tournament, I was off to try to make it to Miramichi to see the end of the game.

Heading up the old #2 highway to Amherst, it was as enjoyable as the trip down 2 days before. The woods protected the wind gusts, and the sun was holding the temperature about 15°C. Soon I was in Amherst - heading out onto the divided Trans-Canada Highway, and quickly hit by strong winds. I was surprised that the RCMP Station wind turbine wasn't turning. I knew this section was going to be windy (like it usually is), but my experience of driving in the high winds on this trip did not prepare me for the N.S./N.B. border section! I quickly dropped my speed to 100... 90... 80... but was still being blown around and fighting to keep the bike upright. I finally was forced to slow to 60kph and pull over to the shoulder of the road for the remainder of the Aulac/Tantramar flats. After crossing this bad stretch and getting back up to near highway speed, I still had to be extra careful in the strong wind, and slow quickly when a gust tried to throw me into the ditch.

I soon found my throttle fingers going numb from holding on so tight. This continued until I finally made it to Moncton. No way was I going to take the coastal Hwy. #11, so instead, I took the old #126 up through Rogersville to be protected by the woods. I finally had the feeling come back to my fingers, since I no longer was fighting the wind.

Even though the road was not that great, it sure beat the high winds. By the time I hit Harcourt, the dark clouds started spitting rain. Although my face shield showed I was driving through rain, my body didn't feel wet - I guess the small fairing was doing its job. This continued for about 20 mins. until I drove through the small acadian village of Rogersville where the red/white/blue flags are proudly hung.

The sun came out, the roads dried, and I had a good cruise through the twisting end of this road. Crossing the new bridge over the Miramichi River, the sun was shining, and the water was calm. Here I stopped in to see my son Jeff, who doesn't have TV, but he was able to tune in to the ending of the Canada-Russia gold medal game on the internet (too bad they lost).

Before long, I gassed up, then enjoyed the nice weather through the portage section of Hwy. 8 past the famous La Bonne Route restaurant/truck stop. At Bathurst, I swung onto Hwy. 11, and stretched out on the bike with my feet on the passenger pegs and chin on the tank bag for the final hour drive.

Before going home, I dropped in to see Bedou, have a cold beer, and tell him about his wife Louise in the Halifax hospital. Next stop was to pick up my house key from Dave who was nice enough to watch my dogs while I was away. Finally, after 1365 kms, I'm back home, the key opens the door, and the dogs are hopping! I immediately scoop them up, walk down the stairs to our beach and enjoy the view!