The 2017 riding season is shaping up to be a truly amazing, destination-heavy good time.
Get this – your gonna like it:
The plan is to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday by visiting every province and at least two territories.
To dip my front tire in all 3 Canadian coastal oceans – the Atlantic Ocean in Newfoundland, the Pacific Ocean in British Columbia and the Arctic Ocean / Beaufort Sea in the Northwest Territories at Tuktoyaktuk.
It will amount to somewhere in the neighborhood of 25,000 kilometers of cross-Canada travel over a period of about 10 weeks.
There will be a huge moto-gathering celebration in the Yukon, and a 500 kilometer off-road rally in New Brunswick thrown in for good measure.
All of my gear will be put to the test.
Tire choices will be pondered.
Route plans will fall asunder.
I will bring too much stuff, and forget to bring something that I need.
I will be fed upon by voracious mosquitoes and black flies.
I will wake in a soaking wet tent after a night of thunderstorms.
I will pull into camp forgetting to buy instant coffee.
I will get lost, and turned around, and frustrated on several occasions.
Park rangers and law enforcement will tell me “you can’t camp there sir.”
I will pick Big Ethel up out of the mud enough times to seriously contemplate kicking dirt over her and walking away forever.
In short, I will have the time of my life, and every minute will add to the adventure.
And it all starts on May 25th when I head out from Ottawa towards Dawson City Yukon for the D2D – or Dust 2 Dawson motorcycle gathering.
1992 – The first D2D
If nothing else, I encourage you to scroll down the advrider page to the post titled History of ‘Dust 2 Dawson as per Fighter’. This post, and the subsequent birth of the D2D, more than any other post, article or description that I have ever read, describe the attraction that I feel to the motorcycle community.
It is going to be a hell of a ride this year folks – I hope you will hang around, and maybe lend a hand picking Big Ethel out of the mud. . .
AdvJoe
Aahhemmm cough abitibi cough in September. It will be a pleasure to explore a small piece of your journey with you.
I feel the exact same way Daren – as a matter of fact this is your adventure – I am the fortunate on, able to ride along with you! I’m really looking forward to it!
Today is the day Joe. Thinking about your wonderful plans for the 150. That is truly a celebration of Canada and of Life. Bon Voyage!
Thank you Sandy, although I have pushed my departure date to Monday, May 29 in order to attend to some last minute snafu’s, lol.
Updates from the road will come soon.
Joe
Hey Joe. I did 9 provinces last year (missed PEI) and can relate to all of your forward thinking with regards to experiences to come … with the exception of having to pick up the Wee 🙂
Should you require B&B in SSM or a maintenance break/bed in Winnipeg or Falkland BC give me a shout.
Looking forward to reading about your adventures.
Ride Safe!
Hey thank you Tom – that’s an offer that I am very likely to accept! But tell me something – how can you possibly be in 3 provinces at the same time, hahaha.
Coincidentally SSM is my first stop-over point. I will be posting a map of my planned route in the next few days.
So if I wanted to shake your hand, where would I have to find myself? Send me an email if you prefer,
And thank you once again Tom,
Joe