4 KTM's and 1 Honda Go North, to Abitibi Canyon & Beyond

After our successful ride around Algonquin Park last year we were ready for a new bigger adventure.

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The plan was to start in Espanola Ontario and ride north - off road of course - as far as we could go, then return to Espanola over the course of 5 days.
This time we would have a chase truck.

The Cast:

The Driver - Beauville van and trailer:



The Joker (steve@to) - KTM 640 Adventure:



The Talker (wjohnb) - KTM 525 EXC:



The Trailblazer - KTM 450 EXC:



The GPS Master (fasteddy) - KTM 640 Adventure:



and The Photographer (misterkridered) - Honda XR600R:




On June 19, 2009 we drove from various points in southern Ontario to meet in Espanola at Goodman's Motel.


Loading up in Niagara.






"The Bean" made it without any drama.


The restaurant was old and inoperable.


The chase truck.


The Trailblazer getting ready for bugs.

We didn't end up using any bug nets.

We drove the vehicles and left them at Trailblazer's cousin's place and proceeded to ride to Cartier where we would meet The Driver for gas.
The Honda wouldn't start and I soon realized the fuel line had come off the carb and was spewing precious 94 octane on the ground. After that was fixed it was first kick every time. Everyone else had electic start (pussies).

Most of the day was a steady drizzle and the trails were wet.




A bear ran in front of GPS Master who was leading as he is wont to do, and of course no one else saw it.
Gas at Cartier.


We soon found some mud and saw the first and only moose of the journey. Of course I didn't take a pic thinking there would be many more.





GPS Master in the wet stuff.



The Talker unusually at a loss for words.







The Joker loses a bungee and has to borrow from The Talker who is much more prepared.



GPS Master makes it across this waterhole with some drama going over hidden trees in the water.

The Trailblazer checks it out.




No Problem.







The Talker makes it easily over the submerged trees only to dab and fall over in the shallows.



I think he wanted to wash the bike since as soon as it was up he dropped it over on the other side.


Nice and clean.



Nice wet, rocky, hilly powerline.




We found a high windy spot with no bugs for a snack.


Lots of recently planted trees on the clear cut.







After lunch, GPS Master must have been looking at his maps because he didn't see the big hole in front of the elevated bridge.


We hauled him out.


The Joker demonstrates the centre stand mounting procedure for Adventure bikes.



We meet The Driver at the Three Bears Resort in Shining Tree. A highly recommended place to stay. Swim in the lake. Eat and drink in the reataurant and nice cabins.


Sorry for the bad quality on this one.
Top speed off road of 114 km/hr.
Moving Average of 52.9 km/hr.
299.4 km trip.
Arrived at 3:30 pm.



We had two cabins. One of which is in the background.



I think they had stuffed every possible animal and fish in Ontario in the restaurant.






We watched MotoSyberia during dinner!


Bear Hunting Dog.


Caesar salad.


Fantastic steak.




Imported beer.



A rare picture of the elusive Photographer


No locks required.


Inside a cabin for cocktails.

We wake up in the morning at about 6:00 am to sound of the neighbor's air plane.



Ready to go?



Uh oh, looks like GPS Master should have put on a steel sprocket!


Going to start riding at 8:30 am.





Grassy River.



Our favourite sign.


A good lunch stop.
















The lone Honda.


A butterfly convention.




For those of you who like the sound of thumpers - crank up the volume!





GPS Master loses his Spot and so we stop to find it.




This time the moving average is high because we had to do some slab to get into Cochrane.



Best Western parking lot.
\



Time for cocktails, although the desk manager told us we would be busted for drinking there. Live dangerously!



We couldn't have done it without The Driver!





Good thing we had some wheel bearings.



Lock em up.


Out on the "town".



The only poor meal we had on the trip. Probably the worst Chinese food I have ever had.


We go elsewhere for desert.




Pussy! He claimed it was the Chinese food that did him in.



The reason we took the highway to Cochrane is that on Day 3 we are going to load the bikes on a box car on the back of the Polar Bear Express train that goes to Moosonee. We will be the first to ever load bikes on the train.
They will let us off at the Otter Rapids Generating Station where we will ride across the dam and points south.





We scope out the station for the next day.



What is this? A safari?



We find our boxcar on a siding.


Our hotel is across the road.

hell yeah! great stuff guys. keep em coming.

We're ready at the station at 8:00 am so we can be loaded and the train can leave by 9:00 am.





The trains are shunting back and forth.






Passenger ticket.


Bike ticket.


Here's the car. We get the ramps out.



The 525 goes first.




One 640.


The 450.


Second 640.



Unfortunately there is nothing but flat wood and metal on the inside of the box car. Nothing to tie to. We brought some sacrificial tie downs and some very heavy staples that we banged in. And we used the old boxes that previous people had left in the car. It was not optimal.










Ok, we're ready, let's go!


Thanks.


The seating was quite comfortable.


Local wildlife.


We were ready at 8:45 am and sat in the train until 10:00 am, when it finally left, an hour late.



The traditional butter tart tasting.





We get to Otter Rapids at 1:45 pm.


Unloading went smoothly.





Notice the canoe car at the back of the train.



The dam in the background.





Someone had loaded a couple of ATV's and a big box of melting ice cream part way along. It was about 90°F outside and much hotter in the boxcar.

















Looking North towards James Bay. The roads stop here.



















We head back south on a private gravel OPG road towards Abitibi Canyon.








We arrive at Abitibi Falls Generating Station.












Any oil in there?


Abitibi Canyon.







We do some exploring below the dam.
























Back on the road. Flat Jack Rabbit.


Do Bears shit in the woods? No, they shit on the road. A lot.


We arrive at Little Long Generating Station.


We stop for lunch.




After taking the low road we had to climb the bank. Twist my rubber arm.













Driftwood from the reservoir.











After Little Long we headed north to check out the Smokey Falls dam.




Smokey Falls was locked up.






Then further north to see Harmon.
Harmon Generating Station.














On the way back south to Kapuskasing we decide to try an abandoned railway line.






Gee, I wonder why my camera is now full of dust particles?

Unfortunately the bridge was out.


Maybe we can do it.











Unfortunately we can't cross, so we go back to the road.






The Joker gets cleaned up. Nice do!


Casey's for dinner in Kapuskasing. Recommended.








Forgot to photograph the summary screen.

great report we want more

We had to drive on some pavement from Kapuskasing to Smooth Rock Falls to get on the trail to Gogama. On the way we passed Moonbeam, Ontario.






The sand roads were nice and it was scorching hot and sunny.


We take a break after long stretches of deep sand where the best tactic was to keep accelerating until you were going way too fast.




Then we got into some old abandoned snowmobile trails. Lots of dead fall, but way too much fun!

Trailblazin'














Lot's of black flies but the dragon flies came to the rescue.



We're forced to stop because the bridge is out.


We need some of Lord Maciek's giant orange flotation condoms.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=239330&page=65


The water is too deep and fast to cross.


It wasn't a hardship to retrace our steps down that wonderful trail.
On to an intersection in the middle of nowhere to meet the Driver for much needed gas and refreshments.




Yeah baby - ice cold.


We don't need no steenkin' bug spray!


Then we headed down the old EB Eddy Road. 50km of winding, hilly dirt road with old forest and lakes and nobody else. Pure heaven. Too bad it only lasted half an hour.


Lots of smiles.






We arrive in Gogama. I believe that was the top speed for the trip. We only broke the speed limit in the dirt.
Lot's of time to admire the view and have some cocktails.




Morin's Resort in Gogama. Highly recommended.












The Joker is up to his old tricks. No one can resist. Good times.


Believe it or not, this guy is a teetotaler. He's just incapacitated by homour.


Italian nail file.


Somebody must have had more than one.




Did you say Rum?




Philly steak at Ruby's in Gogama. Highly recommended.


The poutine was good too.




And the apple pie was worth waiting for.






The Driver not driving because only The Talker is completely sober.

Great report! I've snowmobiled in many of those places

Breakfast at Ruby's was good.


May fly in June.




On the beach at Morin's.






Ready to go on some nice trails on a beautiful day.


Another missing bridge.




Nice snowmobile bridge made with 4 tree trunks.


















For the nature lovers.


We meet The Driver for gas and extra fuel containers at the start of the Sultan Road.


















2 extra litres of fuel.


Let's try this.




Lunch time with the black flies.


Facilities.














Adding the extra fuel.




Approximately 175 years old.


This nice road had many bears. We took turns leading and everyone got to see one. The GPS Master was riding along at 80 km/hr when he got t-boned behind is right leg by a bear coming out of the woods.


He didn't crash but the bear did some unplanned somersaults in the road and then ran off.


Have to be paying attention at all times.






Couldn't ask for a better last day.








Not again!




"I think we can do it."


Just cross at the beaver dam.


Back we go.






We decide to bushwack through a reforested area.
Nice antler.


The Joker leads the way.


Which way?


The only way not to get lost is to follow the roost.






End of the line.


This time the bridge is out and we are able to cross the river.










This bridge is half there.






The end of the riding. More than 1500 km.



The GPS Master crappy sprocket lasts to the end.


Final cocktails.


Play fighting.


Loading up "The Bean".


Move 'em out.


Dinner in Espanola. Portobelo Alfredo Fettucini and Stella Artois on tap. Good stuff.


Bagged.


Got home at 12:45 am. In bed at 1:30 am. At work at 7:00 am dreaming of the next adventure.

Had me worried for awhile

Good times you FF's

DW

A pleasure to view the pics, and an inspiration too. Some of those locations I've been to,it brings back memories of a place with trees and water.

Now I have to return to the reality of the prairie grasslands, here at Suffield AB.

Congrats boys well done.

Waiting for The Bean.






Goodman's Motel in Espanola.




Cocktails are ready.


Supplies and tools.




Day 1 gas in Cartier.
















Arriving at Three Bears Camp.




The Photographer is the only rider to swim in the lake.


















Carving at the train station.




At the Station.


















One thing is not like the other. Damn black flies.






Locked up in Kapuskasing.



525 auxilliary tank.




Another bearing change. (GPS Master)


Two man job.














More bites.






Art for sale.

Great RR guys!

Great ride report guys!

Nice seeing you in Cochrane! I know you were rushed to get on the train.

Had I known you were delayed leaving on the train - I could have gone back and offered a couple of scenic sights near Abitibi Canyon.

Sure looked like you had a good time.

Nice pictures story there

That aux tank on the 525 who is making those , thanks

The auxilliary tank for the 525EXC is from BAJA Designs as found here:
https://www.bajadesigns.com/NET/C-363/KTM+EXC

It gives you about 4.3litres extra to your normal tank. So on that 525 (mine) I had 12.5 litres with the Clarke Tank + the 4.2 litres for the Baja tank, enough for 300km more or less.

I use the fuel from the side tank first then switch over to the main tank after. The tank, once set up can be fitted in about ten minutes and taken off a little quicker. I modified the upper mount to move the tank outwards a little, away from the tyre.

Awesome trip!
I've been to almost every one of those towns. It was nice to see it done like that. I think I'd prefer to go a little later in the season, though.
Great pics!

I like those P-D stickers!!!!

CVBruce (the other Bruce...not the Harley one).