Category Archives: Travel

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Longing for the Open Road – Memories of our 2010 BMW F650GS Bikes


Since we seem to not be able to get away on a decent rode trip this year I am entertaining myself with pics from our 2010 Cross Country Trip…and other trips.  In 2010 we both got our first Beemers and we picked mine up in March 2010, Cheryl’s in Dec 2009.  By June 2010 we were off for 26 days to ride across Canada and the USA.  No planning just learned by ourselves what to pack and how to navigate ourselves. 

I hope we are tempting all you street riders to come to the ADV side of dual sporting….enjoy….

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Driven – The Arctic Circle


Every once in awhile I come across a video that just resonates with me…I mean everyone should watch this especially if you are an adventurer.  This guy Ed from New Mexico rode 10,000 miles in 26 days and how he sees Canada and Alaska is spot on.  I LOVE, absolutely LOVE his attitude, sense of humor….I mean everything about his heart and soul.  I really hope everyone who takes a look at this post takes the time to sit back and watch….it is soooooo worth it trust me.

I think this is my most favorite ADV video I have seen so far….and I loved seeing where we went through his eyes….BRAVO!

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2014 BMW F800GS Adventure – First Look


So, our F800GS has been out for a while and really no one has reviewed our bike.  The new ADV version comes around and there are first impressions popping Oh well….At least BMW has released an ADV 800!  But then again..aren’t all our bikes ADV tourers?????  Would you buy this?  The price seems not that bad compared to our 2013 fully loaded F800′s.

SOURCE:  CYCLE WORLD

BMW F800GS Adventure photo off-road action

Until now, BMW Motorrad has applied the “Adventure” moniker only to its large GS models with Boxer engines. In mid-June, however, that changes with the debut of the all-new 2014 BMW F800GS Adventure, a bike designed to be better in the dirt than a standard F800GS while also being a much-improved touring rig. Continue reading →

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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
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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.

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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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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

Screen Shot 2013-04-07 at 6.25.58 AM

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Ottawa & Old Montreal (Part II)


We took the train from Ottawa to Montreal which was great the way there.  Unexpectedly I bought economy business class seats which included a full course meal that was actually good.  Plus, alcohol, snacks etc.  All for about $10 more than the regular economy class.  On the way back all those seats were sold out and we were out of luck but heading to Montreal was a treat…literally!

After arriving at the Montreal station we walked about 15 mins through town to get to our very contemporary yet warm and inviting hotel Continue reading →

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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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