TCAT- Cartwright to Anchorage 2020

[MEZ]

Purely a concept for now but anyone fancy a bash at some sort of record breaker ride using the TCAT format as a majority...??? Aimed at 500cc dual sport/ enduro bikes as a maximum. I've got the bike, time, money and drive but this is an expedition not a ride so it requires more than one rider. Four would be best. Anyone...????

[gnarlynate]

Originally Posted by MEZ

Purely a concept for now but anyone fancy a bash at some sort of record breaker ride using the TCAT format as a majority...??? Aimed at 500cc dual sport/ enduro bikes as a maximum. I've got the bike, time, money and drive but this is an expedition not a ride so it requires more than one rider. Four would be best. Anyone...????

I'll be over in Alaska coming from Russia next year but probably around this time August or September don't really have a set route yet

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[jfdesfosses]

I might have the time next year. I'd ride on my G650GS if that's ok....Not much experience. Solo camping off road 3 months in Western Mongolia last year, going back to do Northern Mongolia this September, and lors of off road in Northern and Eastern Quebec this year where I work....Lots of expedition camping experience (6000+metres peak solo in South America, India and Pakistan)...

So if you accept a 650 driver, and we can fit it with my flexible schedule, I'd be in !

[MEZ]

Originally Posted by gnarlynate

I'll be over in Alaska coming from Russia next year but probably around this time August or September don't really have a set route yet

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I was thinking east to west route so this puts you at the wrong end unfortunately but never say never…..

[MEZ]

Originally Posted by jfdesfosses

I might have the time next year. I'd ride on my G650GS if that's ok....Not much experience. Solo camping off road 3 months in Western Mongolia last year, going back to do Northern Mongolia this September, and lors of off road in Northern and Eastern Quebec this year where I work....Lots of expedition camping experience (6000+metres peak solo in South America, India and Pakistan)...

So if you accept a 650 driver, and we can fit it with my flexible schedule, I'd be in !

your 650 is fine and your experience by the sound of it would be very beneficial indeed...

Just firing up interest at the minute but I've had the TCAT bug for several years now. Do you have any alternative wild camping ideas for bear avoidance as I'd like to mix it up a little involving budget saving overnight wild camping...???

[jfdesfosses]

Bear bear....In Eastern Canada it's not so much an issue ....I used to plant trees in North-Western British Columbia and Alberta a million years ago, and Grizzlys are generally not an issue....Now Northern Canada is a different story, but by large, not an issue either. Bear proof canisters for food, bear spray, no food, toothpaste , and other treats in tents, and well, I guess if you are worried a firearm permit and hunting permit if in season (I'll trade my reheated home made dehydrated buttered chicken for a fresh geese or caribou anytime !!) could take care of the issue.

As far as the rest, i'm open as I said. Never thought about the TCAT, but then again, I have been working and living in Northern Canada for a while, that I didn't even think of looking at my own backyard !

[MEZ]

Originally Posted by jfdesfosses

As far as the rest, i'm open as I said. Never thought about the TCAT, but then again, I have been working and living in Northern Canada for a while, that I didn't even think of looking at my own backyard !

Back gardens vary in size and I'm a very nosey neighbour....!!!!

[MEZ]

Ok, having looked slightly deeper into this venture with regards to overall distance and starting point/finish etc, a more realistic approach would be to stick to the already charted TCAT route without the extremities east & west. Much appreciation goes out to Gravel Travel and the attributives given for the routes.
SO........ Any takers for 2020 ??? I would of thought a 4/5 month trip to achieve this will have to be allowed for.

Mez


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[MEZ]

Proposed for next year, on my little Honda twin 500CRF, full east to west, Signal Hill St Johns to Anchorage, 5,741 miles by google fraps and road but we all know that's not the case, Gravel Travel claim around 15,000 km's but I think this can be trimmed back if you go a more direct route and omit some of the loops they have chartered.
This is a loose plan and I may have left it too late for 2020 but if my work life comes good over this winter I'll have the funds and I can commit...!!

If you do some simple maths on the mileage it goes like this... Allowing 1 rest day per week for 15,000km's at a targeted six month trip you come up with 96km's per day. At 150km's per day you drop to 100 days (16 weeks still with your rest day). 150km's on these back trails is very do-able and probably a bigger daily mileage (or KM's) is achievable. Figure in that you may skip the odd rest day in favour for the adventure aspect and it drops even more...

I would much prefer to be joined in such an endeavour for obvious safety reasons, is there anyone else who has had the TCAT crawl under their skin and is hell bent on doing it..?????

MEZ/ UK

[MEZ]

Ok, had a quote back from 'Motofreight' and looks reasonable. Off to have a crash course on mapping/satnav's/waypoints this Tuesday by a well known inmate on here, it's looking like a definite now and a solo effort. I will attempt an all camping trip but that will take some doing and probably wouldn't be fare to impose that aspect on a third party (it's lunacy but what the hell..!!). A four month trip for sure....

[markharf]

Mez, something very strange just happened; I wrote a response, but it replaced your most recent post (and under your name). Never seen that before, and don't know how or why it happened.

I apologize. I'm going to ask Grant if he can retrieve what you'd written from wherever it went. In the meantime, I'm deleting that post.

[MEZ]

Haha, well you didn’t force entry into the house and forge my password so no worries my man..!!!


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[frenchy]

I imagine you're probably very fond of your bike but at today's exchange rate you can buy this for £2000 GBP.........a veritable bargain methinks...and it's on the east coast ;-)
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-moto-sport-p...017/1468357700

[MEZ]

Originally Posted by frenchy

I imagine you're probably very fond of your bike but at today's exchange rate you can buy this for £2000 GBP.........a veritable bargain methinks...and it's on the east coast ;-)

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-moto-sport-p...017/1468357700

Hi Frenchy,

That’s an ok bike but it’s really and truly nowhere near what I have built not even remotely. I hate having to blow trumpets but I was inspired to build my little Honda for a very good reason and I thank those that did it before me.

Take care bud and safe travels


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[frenchy]

Ahhh have you stuffed a 500 motor into a CRF250?
Man, nobody will be able to keep up with you on that beasty
I'd seriously ride along for the first day until you disappeared over the horizon lol
Off to find a friendly Canadian who can buy and keep the Kawasaki for me until the temps rise above -20 degrees in the spring....
Safe riding!