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Trans Canada & US '06
We are currently planning a Trans Canada and US trip covering approx. 15000km for July to September this year. It will start in Vancouver with a lap of the Rockies in BC and Alberta then over to Toronto down into the US then head West back to and depart from Vancouver. I have a proposed itinerary if anybody is interested I can email it to the or should this be posted on this site? We are currently trying to track down 2 suitable touring bikes either FJ1200, ST1100, bandit or similar. We hope to catch up with the local HU communities as we go. Feel free to join us for all or part of this trip.
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I would love to have a look at your itinerary. If for no other reason than to better understand how one alots there time on a major trip like this.
You can email it to rickblan(at)telus.net. If you plan to be in Edmonton, Alberta give me a call. local 478-0113 oe you can reach me through the Edmonton Community. Cheers Rick [This message has been edited by Riq (edited 20 February 2006).] |
Sent off itinerary this morning to PM any suggestions you have would be much appreciated
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Bill I think the closest we will get to you without looking at a map will be Hells Canyon and Yellowstone NP. Different state I know but what sort of distance is this away from you? If you have contact details for the Locksmiths you speak of I will contact them for a chat.
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Hello, sounds like you have a great trip planned. I live about 300km from yellowstone park. If you are riding sport touring bikes you would enjoy the eastern entrance to the park. It is called beartooth pass. There is also some great viewing of wolves in yellowstone if you are lucky. Hells canyon is deeper than the grand canyon and has some neat country around it. I will give your contact info to my friends in the locksmith buisness. You sound like you are looking for sport touring bikes, let me know if you need any info or service once on the road.
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Bill we are looking forward to carving up these excellent roads we are reading about. When it gets closer we should organise to meet up, 300km is not big in the scheme of things is it. Do you have any contacts on the West Coast for bikes at all?
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Loxsmith, I too am planning a similar tour. Starting in May in Charleston, NC, then travelling clockwise taking in California, Vancouver, New york. I would be very interested to see your itinery, and maybe meeting up if paths cross.
Rob |
I am planning a cross-Canada trip as well.
May through June: Toronto to east coast (and back). July through August: Toronto to BC/Yuk. I'm putting the final details together in the next 2-3 weeks, and should have an itinerary (to follow anyway!) at that time. I'll keep an eye on this thread as we get closer to out start date. |
Here it is so far it is still evolving
DAY DESTINATION KLMS 1- 22/7/06 Surrey – Lillooet (BC)Shannon FallsWhistler Duffy Lake Rd out of WhistlerAccess From Mount Currie On Hwy 99 Turn right at the signed junction to Lillooet just past the small white church. You are on the road. From Lillooet Coming in on DH21 Hat Creek - Lillooet (Hwy 99) Coming in on DH40 Lytton - Lillooet (Hwy 12) Both DHs end at the bridge to Lillooet. Take it west over the Fraser River and turn left at the other end. (A right turn takes you into Lillooet.) When you leave the remaining bits of town, you're on the road. Fraser Cove Campground is located off Hwy. 99 N, Lillooet BC. We are located next to the Old Bridge which is located on Davis Rd (off Hwy 99 N). 294 2 – 23/7/06 Lillooet – Kamloops (BC) 172 3 – 24/7/06 Kamloops – Golden (BC) 360 4 – 25/7/06 Golden – Jasper (Alberta)Icefields Parkway to Lake Louise (6). It's reputation for being the most beautiful road in the world is well founded and it took us 8 hours to cover 230 Km of continuous World Heritige site scenery. So many pull outs with view points to the many mountain peaks, waterfalls, canyons and glaciers. The highlight was a hike up onto the Athabasca Glacier in the Colombia Ice Fields, an awsome experience to be walking on something this huge and ancient. 310 5 – 26/7/06 Jasper (Alberta)South of Jasper on the Icelands Parkway runs along the spine of the Rockies, mountains, lakes, glaciers, rivers R 6 – 27/7/06 Jasper – Clearwater (BC) 318 7 – 28/7/06 Clearwater – Vernon (BC) 240 8 – 29/7/06 Vernon – Castlegar (BC) 357 9 – 30/7/06 Castlegar – Creston (BC) 278 10 – 31/7/06 Creston – Radium Hot Springs (BC) 251 11- 01/08/06 Radium Hot Springs – Banff (Alberta)Borders Kootenay National Park at the junction of Highways 93 and 95 in the Kootenay River Valley, 12 miles (19 km) north of Invermere and 65 miles (105 km) south of Golden 137 12 – 2/8/06 Banff (Alberta)Open air hot springs. Lots of Aussies working in bars restaurants etc. R 13 – 3/8/06 Banff – Calgary (Alberta) 148 14 – 4/8/06 Calgary – Saskatoon (Saskatchewan) 614 15 – 5/8/06 Saskatoon (Saskatchewan) R 16 – 6/8/06 Saskatoon – Yorkton (Saskatchewan) 360 17 – 7/8/06 Yorkton – Portage La Prairie (Manitoba) 422 18 – 8/8/06 Portage La Prairie – Kenora (Ontario) 303 19 – 9/8/06 Kenora (Ontario) R 20 – 10/8/06 Kenora – Fort Frances (Ontario) 216 21 – 11/8/06 Fort Frances – Duluth (Minnesota) USA 262 22 – 12/8/06 Duluth (Minnesota) USA – Bike Service R 23 – 13/8/06 Duluth – Thunder Bay (Ontario) 304 24 – 14/8/06 Thunder Bay – Marathon (Ontario) 305 25 – 15/8/06 Marathon – Batachawana Bay (Ontario) 324 26 – 16/8/06 Batachawana Bay – Harrisville (Michigan) USA 378 27 – 17/8/06 Harrisville - Kincardine (Ontario) 597 28 – 18/8/06 Kincardine - Toronto (Ontario) 292 29 – 19/8/06 Toronto (Ontario) R 30 – 20/8/06 Leeanne arrive Toronto/Toronto to Nigara FallsCrossing the river to Canada, you get a great panorama of the falls from Rainbow Bridge. Canada’s Horseshoe Falls are wider, and the curved shape makes them especially photogenic fro Queens Victoria Park. The Journey Behind the Falls gives access to a spray-soaked viewing area beneath the falls (US$4). Minolta Tower 325 feet is closer to the falls and has better meal deals (US $4.50 admission). The observation towers offer another angle of the falls, as well as high-end dining: Skylon Tower 525 feet is higher and has a revolving restaurant (US $5.50). The Canada side is lovely at night, when colored lights illuminate the falls and the clouds of spray. The Maid of the Mist boat trip around the bottom of the falls has been a major attraction since 1846 and is highly recommended. Boats leave every 15 minutes from the base of the Prospect Park Observation Tower on the US side. Ph: 716 284 8897 $8.50 or from the waterside at the end of Clifton Hill St on the Canadian side Ph: 905 358 5781 US $7Rainbow Helicopters Ph 716 284 2800 does 10 minute sightseeing flights over the falls (50.00). Niagara Helicopters does similar trips fromCanada Ph: 905 358 5672. Whirlpool jet boat Tours Ph; 905 468 4800 does an exciting one hour round trip from Lake Ontario to the Whirlpool, downstream from the falls (US $34)Overnight Niagara on the Lake 15 mins drive outside of Niagara Falls Great B & B. Two separate towns, Niagara Falls, New York (USA) and Niagara Falls, Ontario, face each other across the Niagara River, which is spanned by the Rainbow Bridge. On the US side you can see side views of the American Falls and their western portion, the Bridal Veil Falls, dropping 180 feet. Take the Prospect Point Observation Tower elevator up for a vista 50c. Cross the bridge to Goat Island for other viewpoints, including Terrapin Point, which has a fine view of Horseshow Falls and pedestrian bridges to Three Sisters Islands in the upper rapids. From the north corner of Goat Island, and elevator descends to the Cave Of The Winds Ph: 716 278 1730 where walkways go within 25 feet of the cataracts ($6.50 raincoat provided)Organized Tours – Many tours stop at major sights on both sides and include a Maid of the Mist ride. Bedore Tours Ph:716 285 7550 is an established operator ($40-$50) 131 31 – 21/8/06 Niagara Falls – Cedar Springs (Michigan) US 305 32 – 22/8/06 Cedar Springs – Kalamazoo (Michigan) 328 33 – 23/8/06 Kalamazoo – Chicago (Illinois)The windy city, home of North America’s tallest building, the Sears Tower, and some of the greatest blues music in America 237 34 – 24/8/06 Chicago – Milwaukee (Wisconsin)The inspired riverwalk is a system of redeveloped walking paths along both sides of the Milwaukee River, with pubs and restaurants wedged beside the city’s central buildings. 148 35 – 25/8/06 Milwaukee – Visit Breweries (Wisconsin)Millers Brewing Ph: 414 931 2337, the free tour includes a slick side show followed by visits to bottling and distribution areas that give some idea of just how much brew is swilled. The generous tasting session often adds a Leinenkugel brand from the formed small brewery. Tours run 10am-3.30pm Mon-Sat. Two of the newer microbreweries invite similar tours. Five miles north, Sprecher Brewing 414 964 2739 offers tours at 4pm Friday and at various hours Saturday Afternoon. Cedarburg: A visit to Cedarburg is like journeying back 150 years consistently ranked as a favourite small-town getaway by visitors. It has charming specialty stores and art galleries, wineries, cozy restaurants and historic inns. Only 20 minutes north of Milwaukee. The inspired Riverwalk is a system of redeveloped walking paths along both sides of the Milwaukee River, with pubs and restaurants wedged beside the city’s central buildings. Visit the Harley Davidson factory ???????Cedar Creek Settlement browse through 30 shops, galleries and a winery in this restored, 1864 woolen mill. (N70 W6340 Bridge Rd Cedarburg) R 36 – 26/8/06 Milwaukee – La Crosse (Wisconsin)Travel through Wisconsin’s largest Amish settlement down a country road in Cashton about 13 miles south of Sparta. Then onto La Crosse on the Mississippi River - paddle wheelers have summer river cruises. It also had the worlds largest six-pack of beer at the Heilemen Brewery 357 37 – 27/8/06 La Crosse – Balsam Lake (Wisconsin) 265 38 – 28/8/06 Balsam Lake (Wisconsin) R 39 – 29/8/06 Balsam Lake – Minneapolis (Minnesota) 106 40 –30/8/06 Minneapolis – Sioux Falls (South Dakota) 382 41 – 31/8/06 Sioux Falls – Pierre (South Dakota)This land is sacred Sioux Indian Country with Oglala, Lakota and Dakota Indians living nearby and Hot Springsl 361 42– 1/9/06 Pierre – Rapid City (South Dakota) 394 43 – 2/9/06 Rapid City – Mt Rushmore (South Dakota)Mt Rushmore National Park & Hot Springs, Mt Rushmore and its carved granite faces of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt each 20 metres high from top to chinThere were two redeeming attractions Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore. I stopped at Crazy Horse first and was amazed how huge this monument is going to be. The welcome centre was really well done with real live Indians even working there, you know how hard it must be to find real Indians (even though I think a couple might have been Puerto Ricans due to the shortage of real Indians). The story on how this place began is amazing and how it started with a single mans dream and allot of hard work. They had some great live footage of when the guy started building it in 1948 by himself and for several years he did it by himself till he got married and had 10 kids to help him. Today 7 of the kids and his wife continue his dream ( he passed away quite a while ago). I don’t think it will be done for another 50 years. It is kinda funny that a Polish immigrant and his children ended up building a monument for the Native Americans. Mount Rushmore was impressive but it really paled in comparison to Crazy Horse, my advice see Rushmore before Crazy Horse. After getting several great photos I decided to try to put some miles on the bike and some distance between this horrible tourist trap called the Black 33 44– 3/9/06 Mr Rushmore – Buffalo (Wyoming) 372 45 – 4/9/06 Buffalo – Riverton (Wyoming) 286 46– 5/9/06 Riverton – Jackson (Wyoming)Jackson is a town in a valley surrounded by mountains, the town’s lively summer persona includes re-enactments of frontier justice with well played gunfights in the square. 263 47 – 6/9/06 Jackson – West Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming)Situated atop a volcanic basin Yellowstone is home to thousands of active thermal features, including about 250 active geysers. Crystal cool waterfalls, steaming volcanic spouts, wildlife and wilderness from horizon to horizon. Buffalo Bill Historic Centre 203 48 – 7/9/06 West Yellowstone National Park –Idaho Falls (Idaho) 175 49 – 8/9/06 Idaho Falls – Salmon (Idaho) 411 50 – 9/9/06 Salmon – Grangeville (Idaho) 461 51 – 10/9/06 Grangeville – Hells Canyon Nat Pk/Cambridge (Idaho)Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, North America’s deepest gorge, Hells canyon is thousands of feet deeper than the Grand Canyon, plunging 8913 feet from Mt Oore’s He Devil Peak on the east rim to the Snake River and Granite Creek – offers some dramatic scenery 203 52 – 11/9/06 Cambridge – La Grande (Oregon) 465 53 – 12/9/06 La Grande – Levenworth (Washington State) 463 54 – 13/9/06 Levenworth - Surrey – Vancouver (BC) Canada 307 55 – 14/9/06 Vancouver to pack bike 56– 15/9/06 Leave Vancouver 57 – 16/9/06 Lose a day flying 58 – 17/9/06 Arrive Australia ------------------ Never enough time to fit it all in? |
Hope that wasn't to much info to post on this site!
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That is, unless of course you want to go through Seattle for some reason - and experience Seattle traffic. I try to avoid it as much as I can. ------------------ quastdog Seattle, Washington USA F650GSDakar |
Have been to Seattle before so it is not essential to go through there. I was hoping people would select a section as you did and give their opinion. I will change the route to what you recommended if it doesn't add much more in distance. Thank you for your input.
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I would suggest some changes in your route.
From Creston, BC go to Cranbrook then south to Elko. Going into the U.S. to Whitefish, MT. From there take the "Going to the sun road" through Glacier Park, then head North to Lethbridge, AB. On the return trip you would miss a lot if you concentrate on MT. Rushmore and Crazy Horse. Going West on I-90 turn South near the town of Cactus Flat on rt-240. That will take you through Badlands Nat'l Park. It will bring you into Wall S. Dakota where you should visit Wall Drug. Instead of Rapid City I would suggest the town of Keystone, SD. You can see MT. Rushmore from the town. From there go to Custer State Park and Wind Cave Nat'l Park, it's like a small Yellowstone, without the traffic. On the way to Buffalo, WY there is Devils Tower Nat'l Mon. North of Buffalo is The Custer Battlefield Nat'l Mon. Going North to Billings, MT then Hwy 212 through Red lodge, MT. Continue on 212 (Beartooth Pass) http://www.colorado-west.com/cooke/beartooth2005.html to Yellowstone Nat'l Park. National Parks Pass, for $50.00 you can get this pass that is good for 1 year. It will get you into National Parks and Monuments in the U.S. It is for one vehicle. The big Parks like Yellowstone a motorcycle is $10.00 for one rider, if you have a passenger it is $20.00 It maybe worth it if you are going to several parks. You get them at the entrance gate to the Park. [This message has been edited by John Ferris (edited 07 March 2006).] |
Thanks John this is the type of info I was hoping for, your input is appreciated. In a couple of weeks after fine tuning I will post a revised itinary. Any suggestions on Hostel or cheap accomodation on your suggested route? Glen
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I have to agree with Quastdog, stay in Winthrop and take hwy #20. It's a great ride, and the town of Winthrop is a small old west style town that is a great place to stay.
I often go down this way from Calgary in the summer when I have a few free days. Drop me a line When you near Calgary. If I am home I can show you through the city. Ride safe, Mike. |
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