Category Archives: Education

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Section Two – Baie Comeau to Chibougmau


TNE Phase Two

Section Two – Baie Comeau to Chibougamau

This chapter of the True North East route could best be described as remote.  The route begins in the town of Baie Comeau.  This town has a population of approximately 26, 000 and has been around since 1889.  A few years later the first saw mill arrived and the town has been functioning as a resource town ever since.  Located on the shores of the ST Lawrence River and at the mouth of the Manicouagan River, the town is not without its charm.  This is the last place to gear up for a few days of the route and the town offers typical modern amenities for a town of its size.

The route leaving Baie Comeau follows gravel roads for 380 kilometres before you’ll find the next location for fuel.  Needless to say you must stock up on fuel prior to leaving this town.  This chapter of the TNE is also used for the Trans Canada Adventure Trail (TCAT) and was created by Fabric Tremblay.  Fab is local to the area and without his local knowledge it would have been very difficult to have created this chapter of the route, Thanks!

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Photo by Fabrice Tremblay
Continue reading →

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TNE Phase One-True North East


compass north logo

 SOURCE:  GRAVEL TRAVEL

The Dirt

Name: True North East (TNE)

Location: New Brunswick & Quebec

Distance: Approx 2500 km’s

Duration: 7-10 days

Rating: Primarily Class 2 roads with Class 1 roads making up 30% of the route.  2 short sections of class 4.

Creator: Ted Johnson and Fabrice Tremblay, a special thanks to Steve Vardy

Section One – USA Border to Matane

This chapter could best be called “Welcome to Canada” as the TNE route begins at the border between Canada and the USA.  A mix of gravel and paved roads, this section of the TNE will take travellers across the province of New Brunswick and into Quebec.

img_4700  Continue reading →

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Motorcycle Safety Then and Now


Words By Noble McIntyre
Photos By Jeff Cobb

SOURCE:  Motorcycle Safety News

Motorcycles have always evoked an image of freedom, individuality, and as the case may be, rebellion. With that freedom, there is also the possibility of an injury.

Motorcycle safety has evolved significantly over the years and the rudimentary helmet and classic leather jacket have been replaced by modern materials.

Helmets

Interest in developing motorcycle helmets began in 1935, when T.E. Lawrence (better known as Lawrence of Arabia) suffered a fatal motorcycle crash. His neurosurgeon, Hugh Cairns, began the research that would eventually lead to the development of the motorcycle crash helmet. The first patent for a motorcycle helmet was submitted in 1953 by Professor C. F. “Red” Lombard.

Riding is risky enough and racers know not to take excessive chances with their gear; their tech is continually trickling down to street riders. (Click on photos to enlarge.) Continue reading →

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How Dangerous are Motorcycles, Really?


DO YOU AGREE with these STATS????  SOURCE:  A LAW FIRM ;-)

We have compiled the most recent traffic statistics to show you how motorcycles stack up against automobiles in road safety. Even though motorcyclists are involved in fewer accidents each year than car owners, the rates at which motorcyclists are gravely injured in an accident is surprisingly high. Bike owners are also involved in a higher percentage of accidents involving speeding, alcohol and driving with an invalid license. Find out what risks you may be taking before you purchase that new bike.

Motorcycle wreck statistics make for a fascinating read, especially if you actually own a bike. Many injury attorneys in Houston deal with cases related to motorcycle accidents and fatalities. While bikers have a legendary reputation for boldness among the general public, the sensible biker quietly fears for his safety on the roads, as well he should. The statistics below represent only a small amount of the data that indicates just how much danger waits on the road for the average motorcycle rider.

The greatest dangers seem to come from the lack of awareness among drivers of larger vehicles regarding the smaller vehicles they share the road with. Reports attribute most motorcycle wrecks not to malice or inconsiderate disregard in the larger vehicle driver, but to the simple failure to really notice a motorcycle on the road. If you are a motorcycle rider, work up a good healthy dose of fear. A solid amount of caution might just help keep you safer on the roads. The next time you saddle up for a trip on your bike, consider these tidbits:

  • About 70% of motorcycle accidents occur at intersections.
  • In almost two thirds of motorcycle collisions with another vehicle, it was the other vehicle that violated the motorcyclist’s right of way.
  • Bikers die from accidents at about 37 times the rate of the occupants of all other vehicles.
  • Approximately 80% of collisions injure or kill a motorcyclist, but only about 20% injure or kill occupants of all other cars.
  • In 2009, bikers accounted for 13% of fatal accidents, but only for 3% of registered vehicles on the roads.
  • A large proportion of motorcycle accidents involve riders who have had their bikes for less than a month.
  • Single vehicle accidents represent approximately half of motorcycle wrecks. Continue reading →
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How to Load Your Motorcycle


Motorcycles can be a great way to commute, transport smaller stuff from point A to B, or travel, sightsee and tour.

Depending on how much you carry, however, added weight can affect wear and tear on the whole bike, including suspension, tires, drive train, and brakes. It can also affect how well you can brake, corner, and of course, accelerate.

The more you pile on, the more you need to pay attention to where you place heavier items, how you attach them, and what the added ballast placed in various spots on your bike does to handling and control.

Following are some pointers to keep in mind, whether you are carrying the least or the most:

Keeping It Light

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How-To Adventure Prep Your Bike: Before You Go A Guide to Being Smart About Your Upcoming Trip


I have to agree with this great article….again not only for Noobs is this written for…even experienced riders who travel far distances can always learn from insight. 
BMW GS Adventure Prep
By , Photography by BMW,

Nobody walks out to the garage and pulls on a helmet and riding gear thinking, “I really want to be bored. I think I’ll go ride my motorcycle.” Continue reading →

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If I don’t camp am I not a true ADV rider??????


I find there are three sides to the concept of camping while traveling on a bike. 

  1. Stealth Camping:  Living temporarily in a location, usually for recreation, in a covert or secretive fashion.  Stealth camping is also referred to as wild camping, ninja camping, or free camping.  (source:  stealthcamping.com)
  2. Tent Camping: Enjoying the great outdoors living in a tent usually in some sort of park or campground
  3. No way tent camping: Enjoy riding a bike from hotel/motel to hotel/motel

Cheryl and I are mostly #2 and #3.  Our theory about riding and camping/tenting is this…..If it’s not raining when we stop for the day and we are not too tired, we camp.  Our definition of camping can be setting up our tent or staying in a cabin.  We usually don’t mind if it rains on us after we get camp set up but truly dislike breaking down wet gear and having to pack it.  If it’s raining, we are tired we might still cabin it or hotel/motel.

We have foam pillows ;-)

camping gear can pack small

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Top 10 Riding Tips for Noobs | By: Troy Siahaan


This is a GREAT article not only for Noobs but for the rest of us who have been riding for years.  You can never forget what it was like to be a beginner and lose sight of these recommendations.  The difference between someone with riding experience under their belt is that all these tips become instinctual versus something you have to really focus and think about.  

Honda Rebel Action

SOURCE: MOTORCYCLE.COM

Taking a certified motorcycle safety course is an important first step when learning to ride, but then what? Our 10 tips are things the MO staff has learned from our years of riding.

Motorcycling is a fun and exciting endeavor, but it has its dangers. From inattentive drivers to a little dirt in the road, there are countless scenarios that can present hazards, especially to less-experienced riders. As a new rider, possibly fresh out of the MSF course with a fresh motorcycle endorsement on your license, you should know the real world poses challenges you simply don’t experience in an empty parking lot.

The Motorcycle.com staff is full of highly experienced riders, but we were all beginners at some point. Over the years we have learned many tips and tricks that have helped us stay safe when we’re riding a motorcycle, so we decided to put together a list of things to keep in mind when you’re out riding. Most any rider will find kernels of wisdom here, but we’re focusing in on the “noob” segment to teach tactics that will help short-cut the learning process.

Notice the phrase “riding tips.” We’ll focus on things you can try while actually riding your motorcycle and assume you’re already wearing the best helmet and gear you can afford. Now, here are 10 riding tips we wish we knew when we were starting out.

Streetfighters
Riding in a group tempts some people to ride beyond their capabilities. Don’t be one of those people. Ride your own ride, at your own comfort level. Always.

The most important riding tip we can give you is to never, ever ride faster than your comfort limits, especially on public roads. Far too often we hear stories of lesser-experienced riders crashing while trying to keep pace with their faster buddies.

If you want to be able to ride faster, just creep up on your limits and pay attention to what your bike is telling you. Most likely it will say “I can go faster,” but you’ll want to avoid the surprise of when it says it can’t. Continue reading →

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Telegraph Creek, BC


Make sure you check out this great website helping you plan your adventure across Canada back road way…Gravel Travel

We missed this road while riding the Cassiar…A great reason to go back!

The DIRT

Name: Telegraph Creek

Location: Northern BC

Distance: 150 km (one way)

Duration: 1 day, we recommend spending a night in the area and making it a two day trip as a minimum

Rating: Class 2

marksampson

Photo by: Mark Sampson

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Thank you SERBIA!


Serbia is the 37th country to hit 1000 unique views.   We thank you Serbia Population: 7,276,604!
 Background
The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed in 1918; its name was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929. Various paramilitary bands resisted Nazi Germany’s occupation and division of Yugoslavia from 1941 to 1945, but fought each other and ethnic opponents as much as the invaders. The military and political movement headed by Josip “TITO” Broz (Partisans) took full control of Yugoslavia when German and Croatian separatist forces were defeated in 1945. Although Communist, TITO’s new government and his successors (he died in 1980) managed to steer their own path between the Warsaw Pact nations and the West for the next four and a half decades. In 1989, Slobodan MILOSEVIC became president of the Republic of Serbia and his ultranationalist calls for Serbian domination led to the violent breakup of Yugoslavia along ethnic lines. In 1991, Croatia, Slovenia, and Macedonia declared independence, followed by Bosnia in 1992. The remaining republics of Serbia and Montenegro declared a new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in April 1992 and under MILOSEVIC’s leadership, Serbia led various military campaigns to unite ethnic Serbs in neighboring republics into a “Greater Serbia.” These actions were ultimately unsuccessful and led to the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995. MILOSEVIC retained control over Serbia and eventually became president of the FRY in 1997. In 1998, an ethnic Albanian insurgency in the formerly autonomous Serbian province of Kosovo provoked a Serbian counterinsurgency campaign that resulted in massacres and massive expulsions of ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo. The MILOSEVIC government’s rejection of a proposed international settlement led to NATO’s bombing of Serbia in the spring of 1999, to the withdrawal of Serbian military and police forces from Kosovo in June 1999, and to the stationing of a NATO-led force in Kosovo to provide a safe and secure environment for the region’s ethnic communities. FRY elections in late 2000 led to the ouster of MILOSEVIC and the installation of democratic government. In 2003, the FRY became Serbia and Montenegro, a loose federation of the two republics. Widespread violence predominantly targeting ethnic Serbs in Kosovo in March 2004 caused the international community to open negotiations on the future status of Kosovo in January 2006. In June 2006, Montenegro seceded from the federation and declared itself an independent nation. Serbia subsequently gave notice that it was the successor state to the union of Serbia and Montenegro. In February 2008, after nearly two years of inconclusive negotiations, the UN-administered province of Kosovo declared itself independent of Serbia – an action Serbia refuses to recognize. At Serbia’s request, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in October 2008 sought an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on whether Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence was in accordance with international law. In a ruling considered unfavorable to Serbia, the ICJ issued an advisory opinion in July 2010 stating that international law did not prohibit declarations of independence. In late 2010, Serbia agreed to an EU-drafted UNGA Resolution acknowledging the ICJ’s decision and calling for a new round of talks between Serbia and Kosovo, this time on practical issues rather than Kosovo’s status. Continue reading →
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The DEMPSTER HIGHWAY


I found a great web site for anyone to peruse if you are traveling Canada on a bike.  I will be posting some of its content here but use this link, GRAVELTRAVEL.CA to read all about the many back country roads up here.  The site also include the TCAT-Tans Canada Adventure Trail.  Plus, like last year….anyone planning to ride to Alaska please feel free to post any comments or questions if you feel we might be of any assistance in your planning.

The DIRT

Name: The Dempster Highway
Duration: 2-5 days
Rating:  Class 2
Accomodations: Camping, motels
Distance: 734 km one way, 1468 km return trip
Location: Yukon and North West Territories

Photo by Russ, Dempster Highway, Yukon

Photo By Russel Higginson

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Ottawa & Montreal Recap (part I)


Not often do Cheryl and I get away without our bikes but when we do we make the best if it.  Visiting Cheryl in Ottawa while she continues her training for the IDENT section of the RCMP was great to walk about and see all the sights and sounds of these two Canadian cities.

We live in BC, Canada as many who read this blog know but heading to Ottawa and Old Montreal we both felt like we were in a totally different country.  While French is the official second language of Canada, most do not speak it in BC.  Having said that Ottawa and especially Old Montreal French dominates everyday chat.  Made us feel a little insecure as we both do not speak French.

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