Labrador, Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia - another Ancient Mariners Adventure - Page 7

cyclingtom · 09-10-2010, 05:05 PM

Super report Marty, glad to hear you made it back without incident.

So tell us, which one was "The Best Day Ever" ?

Hope to see ya at the next Ride-n-Feed...

VO1MX · 09-10-2010, 05:10 PM

Great report. Just a quick FYI the ferry from Labrador to Newfoundland, while it does actually leave from Blanc Sablon, Blanc Sablon is in Quebec.

lakota · 09-10-2010, 05:27 PM

Jack
thanks for riding along

I have about 1000 miles or so left on the TKCs. Jack needs new Karoos in order to get home. Front tire wear was about the same. My rear tire has way more tread life.

the twins are more comfortable on the highway - by a wide margin. Performance on the gravel with the big front tire was better than on the thumper, but not by a lot.
the high seat on the 800 made parking in a lot of places a chore.
Watching Jack and the 650 twin I think that bike with the farkles of my 800 would have been the perfect bike for someone of my inseam. being able to flatfoot on the gravel would have been a plus.

lakota · 09-10-2010, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyclingtom

Super report Marty, glad to hear you made it back without incident.

So tell us, which one was "The Best Day Ever" ?

Hope to see ya at the next Ride-n-Feed...

Every day I ride is the best day ever. But the was a certain satisfaction in completing Phase 3, since there have not been many riders complete that section - yet.

lakota · 09-10-2010, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VO1MX

Great report. Just a quick FYI the ferry from Labrador to Newfoundland, while it does actually leave from Blanc Sablon, Blanc Sablon is in Quebec.

i knew that
however there is no sign indicating the return to Quebec that I saw - not that that means anything

cberry · 09-11-2010, 03:46 PM

You do an outstanding Ride Report Marty!

I wish I could have completed the trip I had planned, but I stuff happens. I saw no mention of your daughter in the RR. Change of plans?

That day we were to have had lunch was very interesting. With the XM NEXTRAD WX it was easy to avoid the bad stuff. Not at all in the original plan was a stop at Bay Bridge Airport to visit my friends there on my unscheduled return trip. From there I just barely make the Auto Train, with both time and fuel rapidly running out.

All's well that end's well!

lakota · 09-11-2010, 04:29 PM

My daughter bailed at the last minute. she decided she didn't want to be away from her daughter for 2 weeks.
by then the bikes had been staged and Jack's plane tickets bought.
so it ended up just the two of us.

Pantah · 09-12-2010, 06:04 AM

Wow - Best ride report I've read in a long time! For a couple of ancient mariners, you guys do pretty well on land.

I've planned on taking that trip from Boston for the past few years, but haven't done it yet. I just got back from a tour through great white north, though. In fact, my bike is still out west where it will remain for the winter.

Couple of observations:

On dropping the bike- I ride a similar machine. It's tall and when loaded is easy to drop just trying to move it around a gas pump after I refuel. Its like I get it off balance and don't realize it with my helmet and cold weather gear on. Once she starts going it's hard to pull her back up. Not so much for a shorter or lighter bike.

Gas- I'm going to have to carry a lot of extra gas for the last Trans Lab section. If conditions are good I can get 220 miles on a tankful, but if they are bad, maybe only 180 miles. I get the best mileage without panniers running 5th or 6th gear, so I'd prolly just carry a drybag duffle. I have to figure how to carry an extra 3 gals. Maybe a siphon gizmo from Walmart too!

Rain - You guys were lucky! It rains all the time in the upper northeast. You can't take a motorcycle trip up here without riding through driving rain at least a couple days per week. I don't even bother with a dry suit. My ride gear is all waterproof and I use it in all temps. It's even wetter the the great white north! Colder too.

Tires - After reading your thread and looking at the excellent road surface pictures (thanks for those pics, btw!), I am thinking a Mefo or Pirelli rear tire coupled with a TKC80 up front or the tire your buddy used. Nothing is very good in gravel, but DOT knobs seem to be a lot better then a more street oriented dual sport tire. I think I can get enough mileage out of a TKC front tire to make your loop. Not a TKC rear, though. Only about 4k miles, which would be cutting it close.

Bennington and the 100- Vermont is loaded with good touring roads. The 100 is sort of a staple for getting to some of the other parts of the state. Too bad you didn't see much of Bennington. It's a beatiful town, and lots of war history there too. You'll have to schedule a week long tour of New England and upstate New York. Lots of forts, battle grounds, canals and other relics from when the country was young.

Here is an old ride report fron 2005 that has some pics of the areas I like around there.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...=search+arnold

Thanks again for the thorough report. I learned a lot!

lakota · 09-12-2010, 11:55 AM

Pantah

thanks

we know we were lucky with the weather but we are not gonna complain

i got 4000+ on the TKC rear and figure I have about 1000 left on it - more on the front

Dynamick · 09-12-2010, 06:18 PM

Welcome home. Just finished reading your report, wonderful.

lakota · 09-13-2010, 06:08 AM

Thanks Mick

How'd the beard thing go?

Vikingtazz · 09-13-2010, 04:42 PM

Great ride report, thank you for sharing the trip.
Maybe a Great Lakes Tour next?
Cheers!

GlennRides · 09-13-2010, 06:15 PM

Great ride report I really enjoyed it

sailer · 09-13-2010, 07:36 PM

"The road is in great shape - only two construction zones in 240 miles. One interesting thing about eastern Quebec, Labrador, and Newfoundland the speed limit must be advisory and are posted only to keep the sign painters employed. In one section today we were in a line behind a LEO. The speed limit was 80kph and all of us were going 125kph. If you drive the limit you are a hazard."

and that would be why Quebec is my favorite place to ride

did you need your spare fuel can, or did your F800GS have the range for the new phase 3 ???? what is the longest distance between fuel stops on the new phase 3 section??

I plan on doing the trip next year on the same bike, F800GS

lakota · 09-14-2010, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vikingtazz

Great ride report, thank you for sharing the trip.
Maybe a Great Lakes Tour next?
Cheers!

great Lakes Tour - hadn't thought of that

we have been talking about riding the great river road from Venice LA to Lake Itasca MN

09-10-2010, 05:05 PM	#91
cyclingtom Sim Sala Bim Joined: Jun 2007 Location: First State Oddometer: 3,377	Super report Marty, glad to hear you made it back without incident. So tell us, which one was "The Best Day Ever" ? Hope to see ya at the next Ride-n-Feed... __________________ Inconsequential Adventurer Upon us all a little rain must fall. L.Z.

09-10-2010, 05:10 PM	#92
VO1MX Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2007 Location: Truro, Nova Scotia Oddometer: 201	Great report. Just a quick FYI the ferry from Labrador to Newfoundland, while it does actually leave from Blanc Sablon, Blanc Sablon is in Quebec. __________________ Dan

09-10-2010, 05:27 PM	#93
lakota ^OP Geeser Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Annapolis MD Oddometer: 2,166	Jack thanks for riding along I have about 1000 miles or so left on the TKCs. Jack needs new Karoos in order to get home. Front tire wear was about the same. My rear tire has way more tread life. the twins are more comfortable on the highway - by a wide margin. Performance on the gravel with the big front tire was better than on the thumper, but not by a lot. the high seat on the 800 made parking in a lot of places a chore. Watching Jack and the 650 twin I think that bike with the farkles of my 800 would have been the perfect bike for someone of my inseam. being able to flatfoot on the gravel would have been a plus. __________________ IBA #42016 CDR 2012 Nova Scotia 2011 Taking Molly to Atlantis Labador Newfoundland Nova Scotia 2010 Trail of an Assassin Alaska 2009 follow the ride on spot

09-11-2010, 03:46 PM	#96
cberry Adventurer Joined: Feb 2008 Location: Florida SpaceCoast Oddometer: 79	You do an outstanding Ride Report Marty! I wish I could have completed the trip I had planned, but I stuff happens. I saw no mention of your daughter in the RR. Change of plans? That day we were to have had lunch was very interesting. With the XM NEXTRAD WX it was easy to avoid the bad stuff. Not at all in the original plan was a stop at Bay Bridge Airport to visit my friends there on my unscheduled return trip. From there I just barely make the Auto Train, with both time and fuel rapidly running out. All's well that end's well! __________________ Chuck '05 R1200RT, '09 G650GS IBA 27506, National Parks Tour GOLD MOA 94523 Indian Harbour Beach, FL '06/'07....What a year it was! 49 States, 5 Provinces, *AND* New Zealand, North and South Island

09-11-2010, 04:29 PM	#97
lakota ^OP Geeser Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Annapolis MD Oddometer: 2,166	My daughter bailed at the last minute. she decided she didn't want to be away from her daughter for 2 weeks. by then the bikes had been staged and Jack's plane tickets bought. so it ended up just the two of us. __________________ IBA #42016 CDR 2012 Nova Scotia 2011 Taking Molly to Atlantis Labador Newfoundland Nova Scotia 2010 Trail of an Assassin Alaska 2009 follow the ride on spot

09-12-2010, 06:04 AM	#98
Pantah Red Sox Nation Joined: Oct 2004 Location: India Wharf Oddometer: 8,891	Wow - Best ride report I've read in a long time! For a couple of ancient mariners, you guys do pretty well on land. I've planned on taking that trip from Boston for the past few years, but haven't done it yet. I just got back from a tour through great white north, though. In fact, my bike is still out west where it will remain for the winter. Couple of observations: On dropping the bike- I ride a similar machine. It's tall and when loaded is easy to drop just trying to move it around a gas pump after I refuel. Its like I get it off balance and don't realize it with my helmet and cold weather gear on. Once she starts going it's hard to pull her back up. Not so much for a shorter or lighter bike. Gas- I'm going to have to carry a lot of extra gas for the last Trans Lab section. If conditions are good I can get 220 miles on a tankful, but if they are bad, maybe only 180 miles. I get the best mileage without panniers running 5th or 6th gear, so I'd prolly just carry a drybag duffle. I have to figure how to carry an extra 3 gals. Maybe a siphon gizmo from Walmart too! Rain - You guys were lucky! It rains all the time in the upper northeast. You can't take a motorcycle trip up here without riding through driving rain at least a couple days per week. I don't even bother with a dry suit. My ride gear is all waterproof and I use it in all temps. It's even wetter the the great white north! Colder too. Tires - After reading your thread and looking at the excellent road surface pictures (thanks for those pics, btw!), I am thinking a Mefo or Pirelli rear tire coupled with a TKC80 up front or the tire your buddy used. Nothing is very good in gravel, but DOT knobs seem to be a lot better then a more street oriented dual sport tire. I think I can get enough mileage out of a TKC front tire to make your loop. Not a TKC rear, though. Only about 4k miles, which would be cutting it close. Bennington and the 100- Vermont is loaded with good touring roads. The 100 is sort of a staple for getting to some of the other parts of the state. Too bad you didn't see much of Bennington. It's a beatiful town, and lots of war history there too. You'll have to schedule a week long tour of New England and upstate New York. Lots of forts, battle grounds, canals and other relics from when the country was young. Here is an old ride report fron 2005 that has some pics of the areas I like around there. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...=search+arnold Thanks again for the thorough report. I learned a lot! __________________ Straight ahead and faster -Bo Weaver 1970 "There I was..." -Griffin Niner Three Hotel

09-12-2010, 11:55 AM	#99
lakota ^OP Geeser Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Annapolis MD Oddometer: 2,166	Pantah thanks we know we were lucky with the weather but we are not gonna complain i got 4000+ on the TKC rear and figure I have about 1000 left on it - more on the front __________________ IBA #42016 CDR 2012 Nova Scotia 2011 Taking Molly to Atlantis Labador Newfoundland Nova Scotia 2010 Trail of an Assassin Alaska 2009 follow the ride on spot

09-12-2010, 06:18 PM	#100
Dynamick What goes here? Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Oddometer: 1,744	Welcome home. Just finished reading your report, wonderful. __________________ ChisenhallW and I are doing a charity 6k: http://believeintomorrow.org/p2f/ Anyone want to join? We started a Baltimore Beard and Mustache Club Running Team. If not, send money

09-13-2010, 06:08 AM	#101
lakota ^OP Geeser Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Annapolis MD Oddometer: 2,166	Thanks Mick How'd the beard thing go? __________________ IBA #42016 CDR 2012 Nova Scotia 2011 Taking Molly to Atlantis Labador Newfoundland Nova Scotia 2010 Trail of an Assassin Alaska 2009 follow the ride on spot

09-13-2010, 04:42 PM	#102
Vikingtazz Will ride for food. Joined: Aug 2010 Location: Montreal, Canada Oddometer: 97	Great ride report, thank you for sharing the trip. Maybe a Great Lakes Tour next? Cheers!

09-13-2010, 06:15 PM	#103
GlennRides Adventurer Joined: Jan 2010 Location: Phlippines Oddometer: 37	Great ride report I really enjoyed it

09-13-2010, 07:36 PM	#104
sailer trained Cirus Bear Joined: Aug 2009 Location: North Andover, Mass Oddometer: 698	"The road is in great shape - only two construction zones in 240 miles. One interesting thing about eastern Quebec, Labrador, and Newfoundland the speed limit must be advisory and are posted only to keep the sign painters employed. In one section today we were in a line behind a LEO. The speed limit was 80kph and all of us were going 125kph. If you drive the limit you are a hazard." and that would be why Quebec is my favorite place to ride did you need your spare fuel can, or did your F800GS have the range for the new phase 3 ???? what is the longest distance between fuel stops on the new phase 3 section?? I plan on doing the trip next year on the same bike, F800GS sailer screwed with this post 09-13-2010 at 08:09 PM

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