here we go again...

Gaoler

Gaoler

Well-known member
Well it's decided... 'gonna do another run out to BC on the FJR.
LKffeOE.jpg

Take off July 7th or 8th, maybe even the 3rd.
This will be the fifth time I've ridden out.. Frist three trips were solo, fourth I was joined by a miscreant on his F800GSA...
'Same guy is accompanying me at least part of the way.. we'll split up somewhere in Alberta. He's heading to the Yukon, I'm going to the Okanagan. we'll meet up somewhere on the way back...
I can't wait to be riding through the mountains again
Just looking out the window I'm like... "Is it ever going to warm up..?

Possible route out..
MWcWSmA.jpeg
 
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PrivatePilot said:
Share your planning details and stuff if you don't mind - I'm planning to do something similar this year and am interested to share notes perhaps.
Click to expand...

'Not much to plan... I think the key is to not over think it.
The main hiccup, the worst part... is getting the hell out of the GTA.
Once North of Barrie... That's when the trip starts.
It'll probably be the 400 to 17 then 17 west to 129N veering off towards Wawa... Spend the night in/near Wawa either Camping or at a friends cabin.
Next day probably ride to Quetico Prov. Park.
By Day three I'll need a real bed to crash in so... hwy 11 to 502 N to Dryden then 17 west through Kenora and on to Brandon MB where we'll spend the night in the luxury of a chain hotel.
I prefer to avoid the Trans Canada thru the Prairies so I usually head south and jump onto the red Coat trail... 'Play it by ear from there... Probably head northy eventually to see Drumheller.
Soon after We'll split up... Buddy will head to the Yukon I'll head for the Okanagan by going south to #3 The crowsnest Hwy.
I did #1 through Banff, Golden, Revelstoke etc on my first ride... Nice road, but jammed with transports and RVs in the summer.
Crowsnest is twisty-er and has next to no Truck traffic.
I'll take #3 all the way to Osoyoos then go North on 97...
I have Family in the Valley so... I'll be mooching offa them while there;)

Not sure about the ride back, but.. I've got a good five weeks to play with.
Kids are grown doing their own thing... Wife has never been opposed to me taking off on get-aways with the boys.
maybe she enjoys the peace and quiet when I'm gone 🤪
we've been married 30 years... i'd want a break from me too😁
 
Gaoler said:
'Not much to plan.
Click to expand...

Keep the accomodations thing in mind. With many Canadians planning to vacation inside our own country this year, I expect BC to be quite busy. A lot of Americans also may come up to enjoy the ~35/40% exchange and make their dollars go further. Accommodations may be hammered as a result.
 
PrivatePilot said:
Keep the accomodations thing in mind. With many Canadians planning to vacation inside our own country this year, I expect BC to be quite busy. A lot of Americans also may come up to enjoy the ~35/40% exchange and make their dollars go further. Accommodations may be hammered as a result.
Click to expand...

Accommodations get hammered every summer/construction season especially in Ontario... One year 'seemed every bridge on 17 was undergoing some sort of rebuilding. 'Met a lot of 'flag girls in mosquito net.. Lol.
 
Would love to do such a trip one day in my life. Not gonna happen anytime soon while the kids are young though :(

Looking forward to reading about your experience OP!
 
mimico_polak said:
Would love to do such a trip one day in my life. Not gonna happen anytime soon while the kids are young though
Click to expand...

Enjoy those years. In a blink they’re gone - we’re empty nesters now and it’s weird and a bit sad to walk past their quiet empty bedrooms now.
 
mimico_polak said:
Would love to do such a trip one day in my life. Not gonna happen anytime soon while the kids are young though :(

Looking forward to reading about your experience OP!
Click to expand...
Do the trip, no rule where it says you need to put your life on hold because you have kids, they will be there when you get back.
 
I would often leave at 5 or 5.30am ( some times earlier as never can sleep before a long trip ) and blitz my way to the turn west near Sudbury with a stop for coffee and an Apple Fritter near Parry Sound.
That usually puts me well ahead of other traffic going north....then go until you want to quit.
It's likely too early for the really good fish n chips spot just north of Parry Sound.
Enjoy. (y)
My question for you is why not go in June - super long daylight hours.
 
Gaoler said:
Well it's decided... 'gonna do another run out to BC on the FJR.
LKffeOE.jpg

Take off July 7th or 8th, maybe even the 3rd.
This will be the fifth time I've ridden out.. Frist three trips were solo, fourth I was joined by a miscreant on his F800GSA...
'Same guy is accompanying me at least part of the way.. we'll split up somewhere in Alberta. He's heading to the Yukon, I'm going to the Okanagan. we'll meet up somewhere on the way back...
I can't wait to be riding through the mountains again
Just looking out the window I'm like... "Is it ever going to warm up..?

Possible route out..
MWcWSmA.jpeg
Click to expand...
This is a fun route to Vernon.
It includes some side trips.
I have .gps & .kml files available

Pincher Creek-Vernon.jpg
 
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MacDoc said:
I would often leave at 5 or 5.30am ( some times earlier as never can sleep before a long trip ) and blitz my way to the turn west near Sudbury with a stop for coffee and an Apple Fritter near Parry Sound.
That usually puts me well ahead of other traffic going north....then go until you want to quit.
It's likely too early for the really good fish n chips spot just north of Parry Sound.
Enjoy. (y)
My question for you is why not go in June - super long daylight hours.
Click to expand...
In that part of the world it is known as Monjune Season
 
Gaoler said:
Well it's decided... 'gonna do another run out to BC on the FJR.
LKffeOE.jpg

Take off July 7th or 8th, maybe even the 3rd.
This will be the fifth time I've ridden out.. Frist three trips were solo, fourth I was joined by a miscreant on his F800GSA...
'Same guy is accompanying me at least part of the way.. we'll split up somewhere in Alberta. He's heading to the Yukon, I'm going to the Okanagan. we'll meet up somewhere on the way back...
I can't wait to be riding through the mountains again
Just looking out the window I'm like... "Is it ever going to warm up..?

Possible route out..
MWcWSmA.jpeg
Click to expand...
Here is a route from Calgary, Cochrine, Canmore, Kananaskis,
Dotted line on map is section of road closed for winter!

Calgary-Pincher Creek.jpg Pincher Creek
 
MacDoc said:
My question for you is why not go in June - super long daylight hours.
Click to expand...

2023 trip we left May 31.
Riding conditions were pretty good... Except for our ride thru, up/over the mountains Cranbrook to Grand Forks.
Ride through hell Lol... sleet, rain, snow 0°.

I'm a bit of a sissy... I like the heat.
'First-time I rode out west it was in August.
40° on the wide open Prairie trans Canada.

This year is July simply due to other plans for June... :-)
 
Gaoler said:
2023 trip we left May 31.
Riding conditions were pretty good... Except for our ride thru, up/over the mountains Cranbrook to Grand Forks.
Ride through hell Lol... sleet, rain, snow 0°.

I'm a bit of a sissy... I like the heat.
'First-time I rode out west it was in August.
40° on the wide open Prairie trans Canada.

This year is July simply due to other plans for June... :-)
Click to expand...
I have done the Kootenay Pass in August and had the same conditions.
Cars where pulling over because the snow was too deep.
 
guzzirider said:
I have done the Kootenay Pass in August and had the same conditions.
Cars where pulling over because the snow was too deep.
Click to expand...


Lol... We still talk about that day.
WTF were we thinking we say... 'Should have stayed put in Cranbrook until the weather got better.
Then again, you never know what's in store in the mountains.
The previous trip along the same route I stopped at a rest area and when I came out of the washroom it was hailing... Huge hailstones.
I talked to another rider who'd stopped... he said he was from Calgary and whenever he goes into the mountains, even in summer he brings 4 seasons of riding gear... 'Good advice.
It can be warm and dry one minute... Freezing and wet the next.

We had better luck on the way back along the same route. Beautiful weather, no traffic... 'Could actually "see" the scenery.
 
I always tried to do Rogers Pass in the morning because you can get horrendous
storms with high winds, rain & hail late in the afternoon.
I've been in Banff Canada Day Weekend with 6 inches of snow on the ground when
it had been 25 degrees the day before.
City Folk where going into sports shops in T-shirts and shorts and comming out in ski suites.
Off course those days made up for being in Mohave California at 4pm & 124 degrees F. (51 C)
Discovered you can inhale a can of Coors Light in one slurp.
And then there are BC forest fires.
Being able to catch a litre bike on a 250 in the corners makes it fun.
Have a good trip!
 
Gaoler said:
I talked to another rider who'd stopped... he said he was from Calgary and whenever he goes into the mountains, even in summer he brings 4 seasons of riding gear... 'Good advice.
Click to expand...

This is the logistics I’m trying to figure out for my trip out there this summer - not only do I have to bring all my own gear and clothing of course, but also my wife’s gear, including her helmet. And she has to pack light enough for her flight out (she’s meeting me in Edmonton, we have family there) so that it also all fits on the bike for the 1.5 weeks in BC together before I drop her off in Calgary for her flight home.

I have quite a bit of storage space, but there are limits.
 
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