Early Season Trans Labrador - Solo

[pookiebear]

Cool pics. How does the bike handle with the huge tank on there? And all the other accessories? The cheese fries in the last pic makes me want to raid my fridge.

[GreenMtnThumper]

Yep. Sounds like yer gettin' what need. Snow, canceled ferries, bears... an adventure indeed.


GMT

[selkins]

Nice report. I'm heading that way soon, and should be at Churchill Falls just about 2 1/2 weeks from now. I'll hope for at least a bit warmer weather

[EvilClown]

Originally Posted by MZcountryboy

Left here this morning, in the snow for about an hour.

Two seasons? 'Winter' and 'poor skiing'?

Sorry you're still getting snow but it sounds like a great adventure. Be safe.



Keep it coming!

[MZcountryboy]

Originally Posted by markbvt

Damn. How the hell did Honda manage to make the XR650L get only 45mpg? I think I need to change bikes. The thing's not exactly comfortable either, even with a Renazco seat.

I have no complaints about the bike at this point, even on the stock seat, I am pretty comfy. No numbness in my hands, the wind protection is really good, and the suspension is ultra-plush with a load on. The real kicker is I am getting that great mileage, and likely have at least 10 hp on the XRL.

Originally Posted by markbvt

It's a shame your weather's sucking so bad. How are the road conditions? I keep hearing that the section between Churchill Falls and HVGB is the least user-friendly, so I'll be interested to read tonight's installment.

eh - the weather is what it is. Supposed to be sunny and 11c tomorrow, that will be a nice change. It warmed up as I got closer to HVGB, but damn, I'm glad I have heated grips, they were on all day today.

The section between Churchill Falls and HVGB is rough. They are doing lots of construction on the HVGB end, and the road surface is made of 1.5" crushed stone, with no filler. Pretty sketchy for 50-60 miles. There is another section about 1/2 way (in the middle) that is under construction as well, and it is just rough + bumpy - but is packed well. Again, the freshly graded portions are the worst. I had no issues, but I get to try again tomorrow......

[MZcountryboy]

Originally Posted by pookiebear

Cool pics. How does the bike handle with the huge tank on there? And all the other accessories? The cheese fries in the last pic makes me want to raid my fridge.

Bike handles fine + dandy w/ the big tank. I've got about 50 lbs of luggage on too, and even on the sketchy road conditions, in light rain, I can comfortably exceed the posted speed limit (70kph) by 40 kph.

That there plate of food was the best poutine I've had all week!

[MZcountryboy]

Not a lot of photos this afternoon, concentrating on the road took up most of my time. Avoiding big potholes on the gravel in the rain at 65+ mph takes most of my brain power.





Getting close to HVGB - saw another bear near here, but he ran away too fast to get a pic.



My machine is a friggin' mess



At last, the end goal for today



337 miles today, all gravel. GPS sez my overall average is now 47 mph!

[MZcountryboy]

Originally Posted by EvilClown

Two seasons? 'Winter' and 'poor skiing'?

People up here keep telling me it's a cold summer so far, huh - this is freaking summer??

Snow should be done now, tried to bum a ride on the Ultramar ice breaker fuel tanker ship docked at the ferry docks, but no-go. They probably thought I was a pirate or some shit.

[markbvt]

Originally Posted by MZcountryboy

I have no complaints about the bike at this point, even on the stock seat, I am pretty comfy. No numbness in my hands, the wind protection is really good, and the suspension is ultra-plush with a load on. The real kicker is I am getting that great mileage, and likely have at least 10 hp on the XRL.

Yeah... I know.

At least the XRL was cheap.

--mark

[Junkyard]

Originally Posted by MZcountryboy

I don't know why they would think you were a pirate????? You don't have a parrot on your shoulder??? Surely couldn't be the wolfman jack lookin beard
Ride on
Junkyard

PS More animal pictures. (Or people that look like animals)

[MZcountryboy]

Originally Posted by Junkyard

PS More animal pictures. (Or people that look like animals)

I'll try to get some pics of the GIANT porcupines I've been seeing up here.

I keep mistaking them for little bears.



No moose yet, they say there are lots, haven't seen any.

[Rubicon]

Hi MZ

Any update on the road to Cartwright ? Good to hear your trip is going well.
Paul

[MZcountryboy]

Back in Churchill Falls, after leaving HVGB this morning. In Happy Valley, there is this, pretty cool.

If anyone knows the model of this plane and the usage, I'd love to know, it's not a plane I recognize.







Saw the first moose of the trip this morning, a small bull, he split, but stopped just into the woods, camera shy I guess.



Here's what the road surface is outside of HVGB - looks like they are fixing to pave 50-60km out from HVGB.



Labrador, home of the most optimistic weather forecasting ever. Here is the sunshine they talked about, see the rest of the pics for the rest of the sunny weather, me without my spf45, dammit.



There is a LOT of sand on the HVGB end of the road, higher sea levels eons ago?









Don't shoot the caribou around here....



The graders work is never done....



Saw two more bears this morning, man are they shy. Couldn't get a good shot of either. Here is a big 'ol porcupine.....



Saw the Ural crew headed east, they seemed to be having a great time.





complete with the chase van!



And lunch here again!




Need an insulator for your collection? Wowza.

[MZcountryboy]

Originally Posted by Rubicon

Hi MZ

Any update on the road to Cartwright ? Good to hear your trip is going well.
Paul

Everyone I have talked to said that it should be done in the fall of this year. There is a section in the middle that is not complete. They are working it from both ends.

[MZcountryboy]

Here is the power substation outside of Churchill Falls



And the power leaving -