Canada 2004

Friday May 28-2004 to ?

Saturday May 29 2004

From Algonquin Park I drive in cool, sunny weather towards Montreal where i camp just outside of a town called Hudson, a few kms west of Montreal.

Has been enjoyable driving, listening to my cd's and the local FM stations along the way.
I find it cold, I'm wearing my long underwear, turtleneck ski shirt, jeans, leather chaps & jacket, a fleece pullover, a fleece jacket and my gortex rain gloves.

Sunday May 30 2004

I pack up camp and leave early towards Montreal on Hwy. # 40 along the North Shore of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Another cold, windy day with some sun & mostly cloud cover.

No stops in Montreal, Trois-Rivieres or Quebec City except for fuel, it is my plan to make it to Tadoussac today in decent time so I hump it straight through.
I've got places to go, things to do and people to see!

Monday May 31 2004

Tadoussac is a real gem of a village, very beautiful, lots of history, adventure sports, hiking, sea kayaking, exploring up the fjord, whale watching, friendly people, just a really cool place to hang out and relax.

It was the first fur-trading post in European North America in 1600, 8 years before Quebec City was founded.

Tadoussac pretty much shuts down November to May.

You will not be disappointed here, only when it gets so busy.

I was here early enough to avoid the crowds and enjoyed my time here very much.

Tueasday June 01 2004

I drive north along the coast to Forestville where I catch the fast Catamaran ferry for the 40 kms. trip across the St. Lawrence to the south shore and the Gaspe Peninsula, it takes about 55 minutes for the crossing.

Weather is very wet, cold & grey day, seems to be normal, although I had 2 very nice days in Tadoussac.

Wednesday June 02 2004

Even though the weather has not been cooperating the best, I am so happy to put on all my warm clothes, leathers and rain suit and start on the road early each morning.

I have been really excited to be in Quebec, especially the beauty of the Gaspe Peninsula on a motorcycle.

The people here have been fantastic, there is no language problem, just try to learn a few of the basic words, let them know you are trying to speak some french and you will be very much rewarded.

Thursday June 03 2004

I am up early, eat breakfast and on the road early as usual.

It is a cold, all day rain today, about 7 degrees celcius.
I am surprised at the extent of wilderness in New Brunswick, both sides of the road is thick forest that goes on forever, very beautiful landscapes.

Saturday June 05 2004

I spend the day driving in sunny weather on the western half of PEI.

Summerside, up to Tignish, take in the little country backroads along the coast, through the farmlands, little seaside villages, the red soil, potatoes, very clean, unspoilt, lakes, amazing beauty!

The beaches of Cavendish are so clean, unspoilt and beautiful, simply breathtaking! Not to be missed!

Monday June 07 2004

I spend the day doing my laundry, checking emails, browsing the downtown and waterfront of Halifax, the rain is back so I don't venture so far away from the hostel.

I walk to see the impressive fort, the Citadel.

Saturday June 12 2004

When people talk about Cape Breton Island they automatically talk/ask if you have been on The Cabot trail, there is a good reason for this.

It is not to be missed and one of the highlights of The Maritimes.

The landscapes, mountains, forests, Nat'l Parks, fishing villages, hiking, whale watching, amazing ocean views, rocky jagged cliffside roads, you have to experience it to appreciate it!

Tuesday June 15 2004

Welcome to Newfoundland!

It is a good feeling to arrive in Newfoundland, I have slept well on my dorm style bunk bed after a nice hot shower on board the ferry, first time I actually was able to sleep on a ferry, the crossing was relatively calm.

It is 6:30 am and cold hard rain awaits me as I pull onto terra firma and drive north on Hwy. #1 towards Gros Morne Nat'l Park, my first destination in Nfld.

It is cold, wet & dark and not the best welcome but I finally stop, gas up and have a nice hot coffee.

Saturday June 26 2004

Well, I wasn't home so long, 2 days.

I have the bike serviced at GT Cycle in Shallow Lake, Greg also installs the heated grips I bought in Halifax, I'm sure they'll come in handy in the northwest and Alaska.

I am excited about seeing the Rocky Mountains, British Columbia, the Yukon and Alaska, the motorcycle is running great and I have many kilometers to cover, no time like the present.

Awesome B.C.

I spend the month of July in British Columbia.

The weather is so pleasant, dry, sunny and warm, quite a difference from the east of Canada this summer.

I explore all the local sites, hike in the mountains, lakes, rivers and the awesome scenery that is around every corner here.

I take the opportunity to mtn. bike, hike and swim in the mtn. lakes, see Vancouver and go for a hike to Cape Scott on the northern most point of Vancouver Island.

Sunday August 08 2004

I have had a good rest and look around Vancouver Island and the lower mainland, I am getting itchy feet to find out what lies ahead up north in British Columbia, the Yukon, Alaska and possibly the North West Territories.

I drive north on hwy. #99 and connect to #97, which I follow all the way to the B C/Yukon border. Along the way I pass through 100 Mile House, Williams Lake (home of great canadian Rick Hansen), Quesnel and Prince George.

Tuesday August 10 2004

Another sunny, beautiful, hot day. I love it!

I pass through the most amazingly beautiful landscpes, it takes your breath away!

Mountains, rivers, lakes everywhere, so much to photograph, awesome scenery.

I pass through Buckinghorse River, Prophet River, Fort Nelson, Northern Rocky Mtns. Park, Stone Mtn., Toad River, Muncho Lake and Liard Hot Springs.

Along the way I see mtn. goats, sheep and caribou.

Sunday August 15 2004

A nice day for a drive up the Dempster.

1,472 kilometers return on a very rough, gravel & rock, tire slicing sharp shale rock road.

As I begin, it is difficult to adjust to the gravel, but I have driven gravel roads before so I have cofidence in my ability, I'm just a little unsure of this heavy bike on these roads.

I drive 60 kms/hr or less, it is slow going to start with.

Tuesday August 17 2004

Inuvik, which means "Living Place" in Inuvialuktun is the largest and the first planned town north of the Arctic Circle, the government and transporataion hub for the Western Arctic.

Inuvik is also the main headquarters for the oil and gas industry operating in the BeaufortSea/Mackenzie Delta.

Today it is a sunny,warm day.

I walk around the town with camera in hand, enjoying the day and meeting the friendly local people.

Thursday August 19 2004

I leave Dawson City and drive the Top of the World Highway (Yukon Hwy #9) through the mountains.

The smoke and haze are still quite thick today, I have heard so much about the beauty of this drive but unfortunately I will not be stopping for photos along the way, just too much smoke to see any of this beautiful mountain road.

It is 127 kms from Dawson to the US border, the highway is named the Taylor Highway.

Thursday August 26 2004

Well, what a night!

It must have been 2 or 3 am when a crack of thunder just about lifted me to the tree tops, it was right overhead and so loud.
A lot of lightning close by and the rain is pounding down so hard I had a hard time getting back to sleep.

I have a good tent, has been through a lot of weather and storms and been very dependable. There was so much water coming down and the ground was saturated that it started to come up through the floor.

Saturday August 28 2004

I go to Talkeetna Air Taxi early when they open to find out if flights are going to Mt.McKinley.
There is low lying cloud cover, one of the pilots takes a test flight to check and we can hear him report back to the radio in the office that once you are up and through the low lying clouds the weather is clear and Mt. McKinley is beautiful.