Road trip up to Canada

[Kamzilla]

Hey guys and gals, just wondering if you could give me some advice/help.

I'm planning a little road trip in September.  Ideally, I'd like to head up to Maine, up to Quebec, Montreal, and back to NY.  

Just wondering what the riding's like up there?  Motel costs?  Any must see sites?  

Any input will be appreciated.

[Snubnose]

Hey guys and gals, just wondering if you could give me some advice/help.

I'm planning a little road trip in September.  Ideally, I'd like to head up to Maine, up to Quebec, Montreal, and back to NY.  

Just wondering what the riding's like up there?  Motel costs?  Any must see sites?  

Any input will be appreciated.

This thread might be better served in the "Roadtrips!" thread. i think us Canucks figure no-one from the US posts here, we might be a little...
Sorry man, I'm in Western Canada, so all I can say it that your dollar doesnt go as far as it used to. AND you may wanna get your METRIC cap on for converting all those imperial miles to Kilometres.

Oh, I can say.. go see Niagara falls (CDN side) been there once.

[Bazza]

Hey Kamzilla:

I have spent a lot of time in Quebec (regretfully not on a motorcycle) but there are many great rides up there. One that is mentioned often is the Gaspe Peninsula. I believe either Cycle World or MC magazines did a write up on it in Jan. (Look on the Magazine shelves) Very similar to Maine roads only less travelled, and not many patrol people to ruin your day. (The maritime provinces such as Nova-Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, & Newfoundland are also a must see. They have (hands down) the friendliest people in Canada. Almost to the point you will have to escape near the end of your trip!) I once spent a weekend in the city of Halifax, and swear I met half the town. It's that friendly.

I do travel quite a bit in the US and probably a good comparison is that your costs will be marginally cheaper. Food for instance is about the same dollar wise, but you will save 10% on the exchange rate right now. Hotel rooms can be had for the same as US prices only in Canadian Dollars. And to my understanding there are quite a few B&B's in the Gaspe. Gas is a little more expensive in that area (about $4.00 CAN for a US gallon) Hotel prices will go up marginally in the high tourist season, but not unreasonable. You will run into a bit of a language barrier (Mostly French speaking in that region). And all the road signs are in French. Quebecer's do love American tourists, and if you smile lots, you will be treated like a king. However, if you have attitude, they will beat you down! I speak very little French, and have never had a problem travelling there. It is a great cultural experiance, kind of like a cheap trip to Europe! Quebec city is also a must see.

I can't emphasize enough that travel is very safe, especially outside the big cities.

I would recomend checking out STN (Sport Touring Network) I met a fellow who goes by the name Acadian Rider who can really help you out. I would suggest a posting on that site. I am sure you would even get offers of some local tours by the riders there.

Here is a link to the Gasp Region:

http://www.infogaspesie.com/

Here is a link to STN.

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php?

[Red01]

At least when I visit BC & Alberta, there's no language barrier.  

And there's still the beauty of few LEO's in the Canadian Rockies & Cascades.  

[jbrough7]

LEO's??  Light Emitting Oxen??

Jim

[Red01]

LEO is Americanese for Constable/Mounty.
(Law Enforcement Officer)

[stormi]

At least when I visit BC & Alberta, there's no language barrier.  

And there's still the beauty of few LEO's in the Canadian Rockies & Cascades.  

Hey Paul, What part of Alberta do you visit?

Yeah, not a lot of mounties in the mountains, and the ones that are, are usually tending to "other things" up there.  At least in the townsites.

[Red01]

Between Waterton/Glacier and Crowsnest. Spent the night in Pincher Creek. Had originally planned to go to Banff, but my riding buddy's back tire was starting to fade faster than planned, so we cut the AB part of the tour short because we felt riding the SE part of BC was more important... and he didn't want to have to buy a tire at the high prices you Canucks have to pay.

[stormi]

Between Waterton/Glacier and Crowsnest. Spent the night in Pincher Creek. Had originally planned to go to Banff, but my riding buddy's back tire was starting to fade faster than planned, so we cut the AB part of the tour short because we felt riding the SE part of BC was more important... and he didn't want to have to buy a tire at the high prices you Canucks have to pay.

I've never been down there, but I'd really like to try to make it this year or next.  The last time I tried to hit the crowsnest,... it was on fire.    That put a bit of a damper on the trip.

We like checking out the old ghost towns ( though they're nothing like what some of the American ghost towns are like) and there are a number of them in the nest.   I didn' think the photos would be the greatest though if there was thick black smoke everywhere, and as it turned out, they blocked traffic in before we could even get there that year.

At least he would have had the exchange rate work for him.  The other half has just managed to find a "wholesaler" that will sell us tires, so this should be significantly less painful.  I don't know what the markup is right now, but I will soon.  Need a front for that 919.

[jbrough7]

I priced cheap korean tires for my old cruiser and they were less than half in the States!  With the exchange!  What a rip!  If you have a relative living just over the border, use him or her - that's what I do.


jim

[Red01]

AH HA! Jim, you do find Americans good for something!  

Stormi (and anyone else interested) the pics & write-up from my BC/AB (and WA/ID/MY)  Road Trip last year are here:

http://forums.banditalley.net/viewtopic.php?t=2107

[jbrough7]

Great pics!  It was deja vu all over again (yogi berra?) cuz I just did some of those roads last summer on my savage.  I'll never forget finally getting into osoyoos and a full day ride - I thought I was going to die - Then it was 41 C there - a flipping desert!

Was that your bandit in the photos well behind the others?  Maybe you should pick up a 650??

Did you camp at all?  That's what I'm doing this summer and can hardly wait.

Thanks, Red, and yes, Americans are fantastic!  okay?  I said it!!

Geez.

jim

[Red01]

No camping, just fleabag motels. Can pack a lot lighter that way.

There were only two Bandits on the trip, mine & Bobcat's (Matt). We both ride at about the same pace, so we're always together - except when we took turns taking pictures of each other riding. With my lardass, it's a good thing I have the faster Red one, it makes us about even since he's so much lighter than I am.

I couldn't get a 650 if I wanted one, we don't get 'em down here.

[stormi]

Stormi (and anyone else interested) the pics & write-up from my BC/AB (and WA/ID/MY)  Road Trip last year are here:

http://forums.banditalley.net/viewtopic.php?t=2107

Looks like you had a ball!  Not enough pics of the Alberta side though.  You'll have to come back and redo that leg.  

We're talking about going up to the mountains on the long weeked, and checking out the scenery on two wheels, now that both bikes are running.

I'm not sure how Dita will do at that altitude though.  Any problems with the carboration in the mountains? One of the spots I want to hit is as high as 7790 feet in elevation.

[Red01]

We never had any problems. Could tell it was a tad rich at some of the highest stuff, but nothing bad enough to put a damper on the fun. Certainly nothing like the time I rode my GS750 over some of Colorado's 10,000' passes where it was so rich it would only do ~50-60 mph.

As for the lack of AB pics, we were only on the roads for maybe 4 hours, so that's a lot of pics of AB compared to the other states & BC.