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Canadian Poncho Homepage -> Canadian Poncho -> The Lounge -> X-Canada Tour 2022
Post Info TOPIC: X-Canada Tour 2022
66 Beau


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X-Canada Tour 2022
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I am planning a cross Canada trip, solo on my motorbike.  Starting from home in BC (Rust Valley...).  The plan is to go all the way across to Mary's Harbour, Labrador, down to L'Anse au Clair for the ferry to Newfoundland.  A tour across Newfoundland, back to the mainland, and then work my way back home.   This is a monumental trip (for me).  First real long distance MB trip.  I reserve the right to bail out whenever I choose, but I am pretty dedicated.

The plan is to (very loosely) follow the TransCanada Adventure Trail (TCAT).  This is a roughly 15,000 km cross Canada trail.  The GPS route and more detail is available from the GravelTravel.ca website.  The trail itself includes a lot of off-pavement and even off-road segments.  Since I will be solo on a big bike (2007 BMW R1200GS), I will be very selective about my actual route.  Unless I just happen to share a segment of the route with other riders, I won't be attempting the real "off-road" segments.  I have no desire to end up upside down with a 600 pound bike in the middle of nowhere.  In the western regions, I will deviate a lot from the TCAT, taking a more direct and more southerly route to connect with friends & family across BC, AB & SK.

I will be tenting for the most part, but I have no reservations about getting a hotel/motel if the weather is miserable or I just get tired of the tent,

Anyway, the reason for this post:  I am exploring the route, using Google Maps/Earth/streetview and whatever else I can find.  I found this interesting satellite photo.  The satellite caught what appears to be a water bomber dropping its load right above Fire Route 72 in Ontario. (The TCAT actually follows this fire route).   The picture could be just an airliner caught be the satellite, but the contrail and the Fire Route below makes me think it may be a bomber (though I don't see any smoke, and the red trees make me think the fire was maybe a year before this photo...).

Fire Rte 72 Ontario Satellite Photo.jpg

 



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jduffett


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Sounds like a cool trip!

I'm no expert, but that doesn't look like a water bomber to me. I'd expect something with straight wings at the top of the fuselage with high mounted props. Those look like jet engines mounted under wing.

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4SPEED427


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When Ken Yackimec sees this I'm betting he will be able to identify the plane etc for you.

Where does your route take you through Manitoba? We are 1/2 hour south of Winnipeg in Morris.

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66 Beau


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EDIT - Im posting from my iPad and the punctuation seems to get omitted when I post.  Odd.

So far Ive kept mostly to the TCAT route for Manitoba. There are a few sections that look like miles of mud hell, but rather than pre-plan a by-pass, I figure there are enough grid roads & secondary highways that Ill be able to find an alternate route without 1000 mile backtrack.
This shows most of the route through MB. Im thinking I might need to do a detour into Winnipeg if I need parts or service. It'd be great to meet you, so Ill try to get in touch as I go through. If not in Morris, maybe we can connect near your cabin.
Ill be travelling with a ZOLEO satellite communicator/emergency beacon, it allows my wife to track me and I will be able to send/receive text messages via satellite when Im out of cell range. (It also has an SOS, Send the Calvary button that works via satellite).
If youre comfortable with it, you could PM me a cell number, Ill be able to text you even if I dont have cell service.

PNG image.png



-- Edited by 66 Beau on Tuesday 12th of April 2022 11:44:45 AM

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4SPEED427


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66 Beau wrote:

 It'd be great to meet you, so Ill try to get in touch as I go through. If not in Morris, maybe we can connect near your cabin.




 Sadly, as of April 1st this year we don't own it any more.  no

But it the timing is right I'd be willing to make a trip somewhere to grab a coffee with you at least.



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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
MC


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Before you make your trip, I'd suggest reading this:

https://www.amazon.ca/Ghost-Rider-Travels-Healing-Road/dp/1550225480/ref=asc_df_1550225480/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=292996555671&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8548762716626237189&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000091&hvtargid=pla-450763558961&psc=1

For the perspective of somebody making a huge motorcycle trek on a large BMW (Neil rode an 1100 GS).  It gives an idea of what you might expect on such a trip, although I'm sure each trip will be unique (his was done to help him deal with losing his daughter and his wife in the same year).  If you happen to be a Rush fan, it's a bonus.  Neil was a good writer and very forthcoming with his thoughts and opinions... an interesting read.



-- Edited by MC on Tuesday 12th of April 2022 05:31:49 PM

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66 Grande guy


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Great plan and interesting picture for sure. It wouldn't have bean an airtanker. The only airtankers used on Ontario are the CL 415's which are as described, big boxy  looking  things with no wing sweepback at all. That is surely a 737 or Airbus of some kind transiting a lot higher, that happened to get captured on the image.

Anyway good luck with the trip. My slight experience with long rides on bikes leads me to remember either having the best days of my life if the weather is good or the most miserable if it's bad. Not much in between. Should be a blast!

 



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DANO65


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Depending on the day, I would be glad to meet up. I will likely either be south of your route at home in Stony or slightly north at the cabin in Grand Beach.
Keep us posted and hopefully you can make something work to meet some of the Manitoba group.

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Pontiacanada


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Quite the endeavor! All the best!

When do you leave?



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66 Beau


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Mark, thanks for the reading tip, I will definitely check it out. This trip has been in my bucket list since I was a teenager. It seems to me it was around the same time I read Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance the first time. I cant remember if the book was first, or if I read the book because I was already interested. And I am fully expecting some prolonged periods where I question my sanity. I suspect the black flies and mosquitos of Labrador might prompt some of that, and rain & cold will heighten the mood! (I did say I wont be too reluctant to just get a room)

Ill try to post updates as I make my way along. Itd be great to connect with CPers along the route! Local tips on what to see or routes to avoid will be much appreciated.

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