KLR Seagull Freeriders

Ya $30 to set up a tent. $12 camping with hot showers is pretty rare nowadays

As soon as we got the tent up, it started raining. In the morning it was kinda spitting, and everything was wet.
We managed to get some hot stuff on the campstove, fold up the wet gear and beat it down the dirty gravel road.
By the time we hit pavement we were pretty muddy.

looking back at the dirt road.....

the sky cleared a bit, and the road was straight now.

We stopped after crossing into Saskatchewan. Time for a hot lunch and dry our tent out.
Thorne finds a faucet, a pail, and washes some of the muck off the bikes.

nice pole building to do lunch

we conitue onwards across Saskatchewan on Hwy 15. Hardly any traffic at all....KLR country for sure.

Excellent report and picage

We got our gear dried out and had a nice lunch. It was time to cross the great prairies.
we were in Togo where we dried our stuff out, and took hwy 357 to 8, then #10 through Yorkton and eventually out to 52 and then 15 to Outlook.

we got to Outlook at 6 pm and were wondering where to set the tent up. Not many trees to go hide out behind.
This old truck pulled up. Thorne says, get a photo of it. The guy pulled up to chat.

I casually asked him if he knew of a spot we could set the tent up and rest for the night. I never used the word"camping".
He said he had a youth camp, nearby with hot water, but we should go to his home for tea 1st. So we followed him, met his wife, and had some tea.
After getiing to know them a bit we accepted invitiation to stay in the basement for the night. It was OK.

Bikes under the carport for the night.

The next morning was a bit cooler but dry. We were heading for Alberta. Not many pics of Saskatchewan, but a small dirt detour I did grab a few shots.
the bridge near Outlook.

A big lawnmower (actually they come much bigger than this one)

the field before harvest

close up of your next loaf of bread


into Alberta-Drumheller area

We come into Drumheller on the scenic backroad.

entering the badlands of Drumheller, side trip to Wayne......





Our general routine is to camp for free somewhere off the main highways, and have lunch in the larger urban/metro areas.
We will get some supplies for the backcountry, and fill up our waterjugs. Thorne used her Ipod to find the nice free campsite, while we ate at mcdonalds. She just did a search on free camping and a nice spot by the reservoir showed up.we headed down the backroads, through Rosebud, and pulled up to this excellent site.

Riding the backroads into Calgary..the locals use oilpatch stuff to decorate the entrance to the ranch

We stopped in Calgary for lunch then continued on to Cochrane to visit friends there.

It was time for some service on the bikes...oil change,air filters, tire etc.

The next day it was time to relax and pedal-bike along the Bow River.....

Nice bike trail leading into town. Our friends knew just where to go......

$6 ice cream cones with a line-up to get one...must be good....

we casually rode back to the house.....

It was good to see my friend again. A lot has changed since we rode around Lake Superior a few years ago.

With the bikes serviced up, and a nice rest day...we rolled out the following day.

54km/h in a 30.......speed trap just before we got to the Trunk Road

This is the local playground for people out of Calgary...lots of forest roads and nice backcountry. We wanted to ride the Forest Trunk Road as its called.



It was pretty dusty on a Sunday with all the RV traffic coming out of the boonies


after we went in a ways, the traffic thinned out. The scenery got better too.






I thought it was a cool road to go down...for sure.

We were pretty beat from the gravel and needed to shut'er down for the day. We opted to get a pay campsite at Fish Lake near Nordegg,just south of hwy 11 rather than keep going towards Jasper Park, and find the campgrounds full, or the free ones non-existent. Stop a bit early and be on the sure side.

The next morning we would be going into the mountains...

We got a good start, and headed west on Hwy 11.

The scenery was great, so was the weather. I talked to a local guy and he said there is all kinds of free camping up near the lake that we could have went to last night. I could see the places on the way by.


pretty spectacular as we enter the mountains after the long prairie section......

looking back, my buddy is riding along......

Northbound on the Icefield parkway

Thanks for those inspiring pictures! I will be over there myself summer next year (2013) and hopefully ride a ¨KLR650 all the way from the Yukon to Nova Scotia! Which reminds me that I wanted to call that Kawasaki Dealer in Whitehorse! Will do that right now!

Heading North to Jasper









The tent was wet from a heavy dew. It needed to get dried out. The sky was beginning to turn.

we pulled the stove out and made tea right in the parking lot. Thorne found a bag laying nearby, it had a phone in it, and some personal items. She walked down to the tourist info place and turned it in. A good deed done, maybe the road gods will be on our side....karma.....

Thorne suited up for the ride to Robson

Looking back at the rainclouds we rode through

Mount Robson BC

We head south towards Kamloops.

Too much pavement for the KLR's, we check the mapbook for some routes. looks like a dirt road from Vavenby to Barriere

Stop for fuel and ask about the road. Its getting later in the day, I hope we dont get into a jackpot.

we will come down to Barriere from the north on this map

my gps mapping didnt have the detail for these roads....

Trying to decide which road to take. The most beaten path isnt always the right way.

Thorne was a bit nervous on the loose stones, and took it slow. She caught up to me at the top of the hill as I tried to decipher the route.

I decend down a long steep hill with loose rocks. By then I know its the right way, but I also know that it will be a bit much for her on the heavy KLR. I wait for a bit, then go back up. I catch her part way down, taking it easy and slow. She made it down ok without dumping the bike, but told me she probably wont ride it back up if we have to turn around.No pics of the bad hill. The road got a bit worse, like nobody was using it much.


eventually the road got better and better the further we went.

we passed by some nice free campsites




Eventually we made it out to Barriere and the main highway again.There was a cop with a radar gun, but we didnt get busted on the KLR's

Rolling south towards Kamloops. Our little bush detour took a bit longer than I thought.

Our free campsite in Kamloops. We enjoyed our stop at reletives place.

We rolled towards Vernon and Hwy 6 going to Nakusp.The rain was gonna get us.


the clouds ahead, we put on our rainsuits.

We get to the ferry crossing, Thorne waits for it to get across.

We talk to a guy on a KLR going to the GS Challenge

Soon as the ferry docks on the other side, Thornes bike won't start. I help her push it off the boat.We try bump starting it, and monkey around for 20 minutes before taking the side cover off and wiggling the connection on the battery. It fires up.We head out, it starts raining, and the sun goes down.

Good stuff....

We headed north from the ferry dock towards Nakusp. It was a wet ride, and we pulled into the gas station, under the canopy. We met a guy on a Valkrie who was waiting for the rain to stop. We waited a bit, then it rained harder, so we made our way to the HU Rally site. On longer bike trips, there are epic high points, as well as really low points. This was one of those low points. It was nice to be off the highway, but it was dark, we were starved, wet and tired and miserable. After some arguing we went into the baaseball dugout nearby for shelter. We used the shelter to unroll the tent and set it up partially, and I set a tarp up to cook some rations on the stove. We carried the tent out to our site with the fly on, and it was dry.The rain just wouldnt let up. Eventually we were able to go to sleep.

The next day the sun came out and we began to dry our stuff out. Lots of riders began to show up for the rally.

We went for a ride up north....2 up on the 07 KLR


Turned east onto the Halfway bush road


We got to the steep hill, rode down and parked. Then walked down to the river


The hippie culture was quite evident down here


The blue tarps cover the hippie tent camp.They got soaked last night too.

The hot springs were pretty good, lotsa people coming and going that day.

Waterfall on the highway on the way back to Nakusp.




Some big league riders were showing up

Checking the schedule for tonights presentations. I watched some great slideshows.....

The next few days we spent at the HU Rally, and we were within walking distance of downtown. It was good to relax for a few days.




While walking uptown we met our Valkrie buddy. He said he was leaving today.

He said his bike really goes......


My bro showed up on his $100 bike. We helped him set up his tent


He really enjoyed the rally, winning the slow race, the Half and Half draw and meeting all the riders

With the rally over we headed out to Kaslo-New Denver hwy 31A and 6.....some great riding.We had to boost Thornes KLR.
When it was running lights were dim. Not Good.




Good thing about KLR's= you can buy a battery on a Sunday in any town. The battery is common on garden tractors ,snowblowers,ATV's etc

Problem solved in Nelson BC

Onwards to Castlegar for some visiting there.


Supper at the Casino


Free camping

We made a 2 night stop here.I went for a morning walk and a bear came up behind me on its hind legs. I managed to get back into the yard safely

Exploring afternoon ride north of Castlegar






Nice supper back at the hideout. Steak is for the rich, KLR riders settle for pork

The next morning it was time to roll further west. We met a man at the lookout who was running away from home. His family had posters out "looking" for him, as they wanted to lock him up in an Alzhiemers home. He was grabbing for his freedom....sad kinda...



We rolled south, then west Trail Rossland Fruitvale Christina lake Oosoyos.












looks like rain....we were able to ride out of the system

getting late in the afternoon, trying to score a free site. I look on the mapbook and see "Old Hedley Road" cuts off and runs parallell to the highway.

It yeilds a fine site by the river.

Breakfast of champion KLR riders

With facilities

nice view

Morning shower with river water was a bit chilly

Back onto Hedley road


Coffee stop on the way to Hope

We rolled onwards with a stop at Hope Slide. Looked like it was gonna rain.



At Hope we got onto #7 to go into Vancouver. We should have stayed on the Trans-Can as it was slow going through Mission etc....


It was a nice route til the traffic got thick, closer to the city

We had a place to stay in North Van, up on the hill.

The next several days were spent doing the tourist tour. We left the KLR's in the garage and used transit.

View from the home up on the hill

Water taxi into the city


Stanley Park







It was good to tour the park, next we went to Granville Island.








we stopped at the Honda shop nearby, saw the new bike there


Using the bus was a good way to get around



Hotdogs....Mmmmmm!

Hiking from the bus stop back up to the house.....

We were in Vancouver for 3 or 4 nights. The last day was spent going to REI and this museum




It was a nice exihibit. Free admission on donation ( pay what you can)

We said goodbye to our hosts, and headed up towards Whistler. The KLR's had done it. From Coast to Coast ! Thorne had always wanted to ride across Canada, and she accomplished it...A true C2C may have included Van isle and Nfnld, but none the less, Cape Breton to Vancouver.I finally got to see the east coast this summer, and its a place I want to go back to again for sure.

Its a pretty nice ride up to Whistler, but some nicer stuff is up ahead.




Nice older GL at the pumps in Pemberton....


The ride report is pretty ho-hum, but the actual ride itself was good. I'll try and let some more drivel flow, and keep it going. I want to remember it so this RR will be good for that anyways.Some more off-highway stuff is coming up,and some tools get used also.

Greetings HEKTOGLIDER....Great RR and photos. I'm in!! I hope to be riding in that part of the country next year. I agree that the KLR is a real pleasure and work horse. I'm convinced it's the dual sport bike for me after renting one recently in Ecuador. Hopefully one will be in my stable soon!



Enjoy the ride and keep the pics coming!

GT George

we were heading to Highline road, Seton portage.

I had seen pictures of these routes here on ADVRider and wanted to go ride them. It would be a lot harder to discover these places without the info on this site.

we found our way to D'Arcy and onto the dirt road leading up...Highline road.


looking back south, as Thorne climbs up in altitude....

looking back from where we came.....quite a gain in altitude.

the road ahead.....

a little further up....

a great ride.....


descending down to Seton Portage







From Seton we cross over the pass to Carpenter Lake. It was a clinb up lots of switchbacks on the gravel road.

looking back as the old reliable KLR chugs along.

After cresting the summit, we descend down the other side with our 1st view of the road below.....wow



we get to the bottom, over the dam, and through the tunnel....

Onwards towards Lilloet. we ride the winding road along the river, looking for camping spots.Its a bit early to camp, but we keep an eye out.



we stop an a side road. There is a small sign there, it looks like an ok spot to set the tent up, but we decide to keep going.



The KLR's are running great. It's so good to be on the road day after day with a bike that you can trust. No nagging feelings or thoughts about the electrical system, or driveline or engine problems. Its not a real powerful bike, but on the longer rides, power and speed are not important. Being able to ride with confidence in your bike is worth it. The frame geometry and steering is almost perfect, just the suspension is not that great. So the KLR's are good.

Near the mining claim, we were back on pavement. We kept going along and made it out to Lilloet eventually.



We kept going and the free campsites just were not to be found. It was getting late. If we would have stopped in the valley before we could have got a spot along the river. We kept riding and hoped to find something. The terrain changed to more open country with nowhere to "hide". We ended up keeping on riding, up Hwy 99 and finally got to Marble Canyon. There is a small lake there, and a Provincial Park. We opted for the "economy site" which was up the backroad on the other side of the lake. Far above the water, and the noise of the highway, and the barking dogs, yelling kids, etc at the Park.....(free)

Perfect! just in time too. 45 mins of daylight left. Nice Bonzai pine tree too! Life is good.

Beautiful pics! Thanks for sharing, Hecktoglider!!!! Any fishing coming up?:dg

We did'nt bring the fishing gear this time. The fish were surfacing in the lake where we camp next !

Aint no one here but us chickens......

Looking downhill to the water, the highway is just past there.....

Slept pretty good, out in the boonies. Breakfast on the campstove, coffee, tea. By now we are well immersed into life on the road, and all that comes with it. Sometimes you can "get into" that mode on a much shorter trip, but the longer rides always bring it on.

We popped out onto the highway and head east, but not for long we drop south onto the dirt again.

Hat Creek Road.

Some open ranch country. This is KLR country, where you don't ride in top gear, the big semi trucks are never a threat, and hardly any other traffic. It's a lot safer, as long as you don't ride over your head, take it easy and cruise.....

Further up the road begins to become less travelled. We turn east and continue on,Hat Creek road(Oregon Jack)
The road gets into the timber, and climbs up some cool switchbacks.




When we got to the top and came down the other side I saw signs for Provincial Park.The road cut back and forth through the trees descending down to the valley. This was one of my favorite backroad discoveries on the trip. I just looked at the mapbook and said"lets try this route" . Anything to get off the main highway. Sometimes it does'nt turn out too good. This time it did.

The country opened up as we got out of the valley towards Hwy #1 south of Ashcroft.





We stopped in Ashcroft to wait for the train to cross our path.




Run some pavement again, towards Logan lake. We tried to ride parallel to the hwy on Old Meadow Road, but the road was blockaded about 10km in or so. Further up we did get off the main Hwy onto Lac le Jeune road into Kamloops.



Arriving in Kamloops. The usual routine, lunch somewhere cheap, grocery store, fuel, maybe some motor oil for the next oil change, hows the stove fuel ? etc...then off to more backroads with a camp spot somewhere cool.

We left Kamloops, and I saw on the map Shuswap road, runs on the other side of the river, same direction we want to go.
Way less traffic(none hardly) and easy going.....

We met a few ADV style bikes on this road, locals obviosly know its the prime route.


this guy is coming down fast.....

he does a ditch landing right beside Thorne....

When we get to Chase, we cut across Hwy #1 and ride the Turtle valley road, pop out by Tappen, and onwards to Salmon Arm.


We ride slab down to Enderby, and I check the Mapbook. Looks like we can head into Mabel lake area and ride backcountry to Three Valley. Its getting late so we can camp somewhere back there,.....

A nice paved secondary road into Kingfisher. We turned onto the maze of gravel roads before getting to Mabel lake. We hoped to find a nice campsite back here. The road was rough and we climbed up and descended some serious hills. The road began to peter out kinda, descending a huge hill. I wondered if we were gonna make it through. If we had to turn back, fuel might be an issue.

I didnt get pics of the bad spots....

It seemed to take forever to ride this route, sometimes its good, other times its not. Maybe it was because it was late in the day, tired, hungry etc.....

Just when the road was getting pretty grim looking, we popped out onto a main "T" intersection of a bigger road. We began to follow it north towards the hwy near Revelstoke. I stopped at a few bridges, looking for a decent tent site, too lumpy, muddy etc....
We kept going....and then we finally turned the corner and found this.....

Wow. Its like we were rewarded for trying out that lumpy backroad. It was some good remote backcountry riding, but the scenery wasnt too great, the road was rough, and it just didnt deliver. The campsite was a real jewel.

I filled up the shower bag. I set it in the tree for my buddy. I went swimming in the extremely frigid water and had a "bath"

Theres no suffering on this trip. We eat good, we sleep good, and we get cleaned up good.

What a prime location. No traffic went by, just a couple quads. There even was an outhouse nearby.

The next morning we rode the short distance from Wap Lake to the Hwy and into Rev.

The road was much better....the head swivels from right to left to right, breathing in the fresh morning air





We get into Revelstoke and gas up. We have a KLR convention at the station. 1 guy has a tire that is "chunking out" spitting the knobs off. He was concerned about getting a tire. We all agree how great the bikes are....


Fine dining, while drying out some stuff...free wifi......soon we will head for the ferry.

After lunch we head south on hwy 23 to Shelter bay. We dont get far and Thorne has her clutch cable snap.
I tried to shorten the housing and tie a knot, but end up butchering the cable. I take the cable off the 07 for the 06 and ride with visegrip foot clutch for a while. getting off the ferry was tricky.....

We ferry across to Galeana...


off the ferry we head for the Trout Lake loop....



Vintage gas pumps....

Stopping at a bridge for a break....


We continue towards Kaslo, and get on the good winding paved road. All the while I am wondering where I can get a cable.




We need to go where there are some motorcycles....scavenge up a cable....

Toad Rock Motorcycle campground. 1st thing I do is begin my cable repair. Grant was able to give me a scrap harley cable, and a "cable saver ferrule" and I soon was back in service....

it was a bit stiff to pull, but I was able to function with it.

Visitor at our camp-------and a visual tour of TRMC




We slept good. Pretty small day of riding, with the 2 hour lunch, cable problems, and early stop. Its OK. no schedule.

We missed the boat by 10 minutes. Oh well.....I guess I will celebrate the cable repair.

This will keep me going all day.....

Hippy folks abound in BC especially in certain areas. We are not that far removed from them. Imagine this guy with a KLR.

We cross the water on the ferry, and are heading for the Grey Creek pass. The road was impassable earlier in the season, but word has it, that it is now open.The sign says closed but you can get through.



stop for gas after the ferry crossing....


No need to stop at the store and ask about the road. They would maybe tell us its closed. Perfect day for riding, sunny and dry, with the new clutch cable things are good.....

Sure enough...the road is closed.

We work our way up to the summit.



Easy-cheesy we make the summit. One place had evidence of a lateral slip occuring, with pins put in to monitor it. Otherwise not problem making it to the top.

close up of the sign


The problem areas must be further down on the east side....


one of the bad rough spots that was repaired


We met some dualsport bikes heading up from the east, after we descended out from the top. They asked how it was, we gave them the big thumbs up. The remainder of the road was rougher than hell. -really bad bumps and washboard shook the daylights out of us. Easy to ride, but real rough road.

We stopped for a luch break at St Marys river where I camped back in 08, and spoke to a fire warden ranger type guy. He told us they have to maintain the east side of the Grey Creek road to access some gov site up there, something to do with maintain a generator or fuel supply, can't exactly recall all the details.
We hit the pavement into Kimberly, and then headed North.

The smooth road was a welcome site. We motored north to the Whiteswan turnoff......


The dirt road was pretty dusty, but we made it to the hot springs.....


someone has a sense of humour....

This is a real nice site. The word is out now, lots of people here


we had a good soak of the bones, and jumped back on the KLR's heading to Fernie through the back way..

rounding the bend on Whiteswan....

This is a prime route. My camera quit working, but Thorne managed to snap some good shots.

From Whiteswan we got onto the Bull River road....




this is a fairly easy ride (Hartley pass might be a bit tougher)






Nice backcountry riding for sure.......

In.

Enjoying your RR.
After a few C to C rides on BMWs and a 6,000+ mile trip to Montana last year on a Versys...I'm looking forward to a journey on my recently purchased '12 KLR. I'll definitely include a spare clutch cable in my gear.

what a nice report