Ontario to Saskatchewan

[XV1100SE]

Starting to finalize our trip from Ontario to our family reunion in Saskatchewan. This route is still being finished but the idea is to go thru :

Ontario/ Michigan/ Indiana/ Illinois/ Iowa/ Nebraska/ South Dakota/ Wyoming/ Idaho/ Montana/ Alberta/ Saskatchewan/ Manitoba/ North Dakota/ Minnesota/ Michigan/ Ontario

http://mapq.st/1bHe7QA

 

We have to be in Saskatchewan Aug 15-18th. Leaving home on or about August 2nd. I have to be back to work on August 26th.

 

We aren't going to rush and have been putting together a list of places and things we want to see. We'll be camping for the most part and I've been using Microsoft Streets and Trips to lay out a route. Figure doing about 5 1/2 hours riding time a day, start at 9am, two gas stops plus lunch... finish riding about 4-4:30pm.

 

Any comments on what the Badlands are like for temperature at the beginning of August?

[tomephil]

Hey Don,

 

Let us know if and when you are through Winnipeg.

 

T and T

[Wade 2000]

Badlands first of August will be 100*f plus and dryer than a popcorn fart. It is a beautiful place to visit just don't open your mouth while riding

[XV1100SE]

Badlands first of August will be 100*f plus and dryer than a popcorn fart. It is a beautiful place to visit just don't open your mouth while riding

 

LOL - I got the picture.... not a pleasant one...

Okay.... skip the Badlands. :-)

[Wade 2000]

LOL - I got the picture.... not a pleasant one...

Okay.... skip the Badlands. :-)

 

I wouldn't say skip it. Very surreal place, like being on another planet. Just be prepared for the heat

[friesman]

Starting to finalize our trip from Ontario to our family reunion in Saskatchewan. This route is still being finished but the idea is to go thru :

Ontario/ Michigan/ Indiana/ Illinois/ Iowa/ Nebraska/ South Dakota/ Wyoming/ Idaho/ Montana/ Alberta/ Saskatchewan/ Manitoba/ North Dakota/ Minnesota/ Michigan/ Ontario

http://mapq.st/1bHe7QA

 

We have to be in Saskatchewan Aug 15-18th. Leaving home on or about August 2nd. I have to be back to work on August 26th.

 

We aren't going to rush and have been putting together a list of places and things we want to see. We'll be camping for the most part and I've been using Microsoft Streets and Trips to lay out a route. Figure doing about 5 1/2 hours riding time a day, start at 9am, two gas stops plus lunch... finish riding about 4-4:30pm.

 

Any comments on what the Badlands are like for temperature at the beginning of August?

 

No Badlands here except in the extreme southwest, just farmland as far as the eye can see for 2 days if youre on the TransCanada. If youre running north on the Yellowhead youll start getting into a bit o rolling hills and forest. What part of Sask are you coming to? We are almost as big as Texas, and temps vary a lot depending where you are. Here in Regina mid August you will get sun,some wind, temps of 25c to mid 30c (75-95f) for highs, with temps dropping to mid teens C at night.

If youre coming through Regina, let me know and youre welcome to a sofa or a futon if you like or if all you have time for is a coffee or dinner, let me know youre going to be around let me know and we can meet up . Regina is about 8 hours ride east of Calgary and 7 hours west of Winnipeg on the TransCanada highway so it may be a good stop for you.

Ill just be coming back from BC a couple of days before that, so if youre going to be west in the Rockies maybe we could arrange a meet somewhere and travel together if you like.

 

Brian

 

I just had a look at your map, and may I suggest that if youre travelling that far you might consider a detour into Banff to Jasper and then on to Edmonton, its a bit farther but the scenery is breathtaking and if youre going into Edmonton anyway its not that much farther. Central Alberta where youre currently going is mostly prairie and farmland and by doing the re-route youll get a chance for some great memories.

Also, if you take the Cowboy trail (highway 22) north from highway3 (Crowsnest Pass) youll ride along the foothills of the Rockies (twisty, not travelled as much) up to the Calgary area. When you come up from the US go up to Lethbridge, then west to Lundbrecht, then to Longview, then around Calgary ,to the Trans Canada to Banff then highway 93 (Icefields Parkway) to Jasper, then the Yellowhead route then to Edmonton. Your total extra time on the road might be a half day but it may be time well spent, depending on what type of riding you like to do.

 

The link to the Banff to Jasper Icefields Parkway webpage http://www.icefieldsparkway.ca

Pictures and road map of area here: http://www.icefieldsparkway.ca/photo.html

http://www.icefieldsparkway.ca/images/gallery_8_xlarge.jpg

Edited July 17, 2013 by friesman

[sarges46]

LOL - I got the picture.... not a pleasant one...

Okay.... skip the Badlands. :-)

 

 

I wouldn't skip the bad lands! They are amazing. Hot yes...but very cool. Have water with for drinking...the dry heat is easier to take than the hot humid of southern Ontario!

[Evan]

Hey Don, your trip sounds good. I agree that the badlands are fabulous to experience. I also agree that if you can do it, riding through Jasper and Banff and Kananaskis is pretty special, and we found Glacier National Park and the Road to the Sun to be a real highlight. You might get some ideas for routes and highlights from our Venture West blog. Glad to talk more if you wish as I have many other suggestions. The blog site is:

 

http://venturewest-evan-anne.blogspot.ca/

[XV1100SE]

Nancy has started a blog....http://ventureswest2013.blogspot.com/

 

We'll be leaving on Sunday. I'll post an updated "still in draft" route map tomorrow

[friesman]

Have a fantastic trip!!! Ride safe!

 

Brian

[dacheedah]

Have a fun safe ride

[Evan]

Looking forward to viewing your blog. Have a great trip!

[BradT]

Nice trip I would run through Canada one way as it will be enjoyable to see northern ontario.

 

Badlands in interesting if you never seen them, plan some time in and around Sturgis, Deadwood area, very nice riding.

 

Enjoy and look forward to seeing you guys when you get back

 

Brad

[XV1100SE]

I need more time off work ! Trying to see everything I want to see and go to in the next FOUR weeks... just not enough time.

 

Leaving on Sunday and the most current map is attached. Still a little tweaking needed but have it around 11,000km (7,000 miles).

 

Used Microsoft Streets and Trips to lay it out. The yellow squares indicate either places to see or to force the route a certain way. Leaving on July 28th and be home August 24th (back to work on August 26th). Total driving time estimated at 103 hours and will try to average 5 to 6 hours per day. That should give us some time to sit out bad weather or sight see.

 

Will be posting to the blog and occasionally here as well. Hope to see some members along the way and if we make it in time, see anyone that makes it to Sturgis.

[paysaw]

Have a safe trip Don.You are taking my dream trip.I just got back from the east.Cheers and I will look at your blog.Try to meet up with Brian.I am sure he would like to meet you.

[BradT]

Don take a little extra time and go through Northern Ontario seriously you will miss a nice ride. Ask Dogman.

 

Hwy 2 across the UP is a boring flat and straight 2 lane highway with a bunch of dead looking pine trees.

 

Looks like a nice route. Go into Deadwood and find the cemetary with Calamitie Jane (Sp?) and the hill to get there is amazing

 

 

Brad

[dogman]

Don, I wish you a great trip and weather.

 

Don't let the heat turn you away from the Badlands. A serious tip for desert riding though, is opposite to what I originally thought. Great information on line for desert riding. You must stay covered. Wear your riding jacket covering your skin. Long pants and your riding footwear. I wore shorty (fingerless) gloves. If you have a full face helmet or visor keep it down. The articles I read made such sense. If your skin is exposed your lymph nods will lose their moisture and your skin will warm up to the outside temperature, thus creating the chance for heat stroke. We rode in the desert 117 degrees. I kept a digital thermometer under my coat. It only went up to 99 degrees. When I took it out of my coat it went up to 117. You will still sweat, but that sweat doesn't evaporate as quick and it keeps you cool. If you put your arm out and allow the air to flow up your sleeve you will swear that there is air conditioning.

 

Rather then cotton shirts something like a coolmax or dry fit clothing works great and you feel good in it. Cotton feels horrible when you sweat in it. I wore a coolmax Tshirt and a long sleeve dry fit button up shirt, then my jacket. This kept my jacket from getting smelly as I could wash the shirts each day.

 

If you want to start off really cool the tips in the articles said to wet your under shirt, then put it on with your other shirt or jacket as you prefer. You will have to keep drinking water and you sweat it out instead of peeing it out. Hydrate well before you head out, that will give you a good start so you only have to keep up your hydration.

 

As far as Northern Ontario, I would only suggest Hwy 17 which goes along Lake Superior and Lake Huron. Other routes in land we found to be straight and boring not to mention nothing much to see. But that is just our opinion.

[XV1100SE]

Thanks for the tips and suggestions on route.

 

We won't have as much time coming home because I HAVE to be go back to work eventually. Will stick with the route across Makinaw.

 

Hard to narrow down where to go and what to see. Nancy and I are both easy going so route and direction my change on a daily basis but will somewhat follow what I posted.

 

We are going to be in Sturgis around the 2nd/3rd. We'll keep an eye out for other Ventures of course !

 

Hope everyone has a safe ride to the International and we'll post on our progress to the blog as we go.

[XV1100SE]

Left the house at about 9am this morning. Pulled into Centerville Indiana at about 8pm. 750km (466 miles). Quite happy about that... was thinking 500km a day so an extra 200 is a plus.

Ran into light rain in Detroit and saw Toledo twice (looking for a Tim Horton's - more in the blog) where there was a light drizzle. Other than that... cloudy the rest of the way.

Edited July 30, 2013 by XV1100SE

[XV1100SE]

Was another great day for riding. We didn't consider our "vacation" to really start until we hit St Louis and we accomplished that today. 600 km (373 miles) today.

 

Got on the road at 8am. Couldn't take the musty smelling Super8 we stayed in last night. We were thinking camping tonight would be an improvement. Ended up heading West out of St. Louis after spending a couple hours at Gateway Park and booked into a Holiday Inn Express when it started raining. Figured by the time we found a camp ground it would be getting dark and not fun setting up in the rain. Checked-in in O'Fallon around 7pm.

 

Tomorrow... Iowa (?). From here on in... the flexibility in route and direction is endless.

[XV1100SE]

Left O'Fallon around 9am this morning. Gray skies for most of the day. Stopped in Hannibal and walked around for a couple hours. Made it to Walcott, Iowa around 7:30. The last couple of hours riding was in mist/fog.

 

Saw very few bikes today. Only one stood out which was in Hannibal. We were walking back from the paddle wheel boat and saw a Harley coming down the street towards us. A train was coming towards us so we were looking at it and when we looked back the HD was in the middle of the road but on its side with the rider standing over it looking like he didn't know what to do. Trying to make him feel better I said to him that it happens to everyone and he said this was the 3rd time since he got the HD a month ago. Rather than say "get a smaller bike" I started teaching him how to pick up his bike.

 

Before we left home I had put a thermometer on the bike and temperatures started and finished at 70F, peaked at 90F.

 

After averaging about 70-75mph the last two days, we've slowed down a bit... was pretty well doing the speed limit or slightly slower today. Not worrying about making time and stopping when we feel like it. Think we did 400km (250 miles) today.

 

Putting more details in the blog than here.

[bluebarry]

have fun !!

[XV1100SE]

Didn't have wifi or cell coverage the last two nights....

 

Day 4 and 5

Yesterday and today have been all Iowa.

 

We started yesterday at "Iowa 80" which bills itself as "The Worlds Biggest Truck Stop". Surprised how big it is, with dentist, barber, huge gift shop.

 

From there we went to Maquoketa State Park and walked thru the caves. Didn't see any bats but was nice and cool. Thermometer on the bike showed 90F.

 

Next up for day 4 was the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa. Had I realized that J&P Cycles were there I would have ordered more safety chrome !

 

Stayed at a camp site yesterday Diamond Lake in Iowa. Mileage on the 4th day was 339km

 

5th day we went to Pella to see the Vermeer Mill. Found a laundromat and did our laundry.

 

Saw the State building in Des Moines.... clear blue skies and 110F on the thermometer. Made sure we stayed hydrated. We've been wearing our Tourmaster jackets and helmets despite the "no helmet laws". Jackets to cut the sun and prevent sun burn and we always wear helmets.

 

Camped in Winterset Iowa. Mileage today was 238km (148 miles). We aren't rushing and are taking our time to get off the highways and see the sites off the beaten path. We didn't get to Winterset until after the info centre had closed (think birthplace of John Wayne, movie "Bridges of Madison County").

 

Day 6...started out the day around 9am... with the heat today (90F on the thermometer) and the sun (few clouds)... made several breaks but still managed 400km (249 miles).

 

We rode from Winterset to Loess Hills National Scenic Byway Info Centre at the South West corner of Iowa and tried to follow the scenic byway but got confused. Ended up driving 5 miles on gravel roads (Nancy says it was a farmers field but the road was on the gps). Went thru Council Bluffs into Omaha Nebraska. Staying in a hotel in Lincoln tonight to give us an evening to regroup and revise our route and charge our laptop.

[XV1100SE]

... and.... learned last night to be more careful parking the bike with trailer behind it. In Winterset the parking for tents was at the back of the park and was sloped and gravel.

 

Imagine the bike pointing downhill (was a slight slope, not huge). I turn off the bike, put the kick stand down, and get off the bike.... Nancy still on the bike. Suddenly... the bike starts rolling forward and the kickstand gets past the point of holding the bike up.

 

I grabbed the handle bars and am struggling to keep the bike from going down. Nancy gets off the bike and goes to the right side of the bike and pulls until it stablizes. I quickly get on the bike, start it, shift into 1st and then put the kickstand down (to kill the engine).

 

After a moment to catch my breath... I moved the bike off the gravel and onto level grass on our camp site, put the kickstand plate down and make sure it was solid.

 

Also today.... in the Loess area... was starting the route for the byway. Had to make a turn right at the start and saw gravel on the corner. Of course I'm taking it easy around the corner.... but suddenly the tire started to slide. "Instinctively" I put my right foot down... MISTAKE as you all know.

 

My foot down did help to stabilize the bike but my foot almost got twisted under the passenger floorboard. I got lucky.

 

Instinct would have said to keep my feet on the floorboards and not risk twisting an ankle.

 

I always wear boots... and this probably helped prevent injury.

[dogman]

Don, glad to hear you and Nancy worked well as a team to keep your bike upright when you parked at the camp site. Also good news you didn't hurt you foot or ankle on the gravel turn.