Motorcycle Journeys Trip Logs

Category: Trip Planning

Posts about planning and preparation for the upcoming motorcycle trip

  • Major hurdle accomplished

    I have two yellow labs named Nikita and Ellie and I’m caught between loving being a dog owner and loving to travel.

    I tried a kennel where they were very well cared for but it was stressful to both dogs in different ways. Ellie the younger one wouldn’t have anything to do with me for a week after I got back because she was mad at me about the kennel. At least I assume that’s why she was mad at me since she’s normally a very loving dog.

    About a year and a half ago the children next door started “dog sitting” for me. They come over 3-5 times a day to let the dogs out and feed them. There are 3 kids who do an incredible job and it’s facilitated by their parents who fill in sometimes when everyone else is busy.

    The longest they have done it so far is for almost 4 weeks. This time I’ll be gone 6-8 weeks. I worry about taking advantage of them and running them into the ground with a 4 week trip. Sticking them with the entire responsibility for 6-8 weeks is too much.

    To my amazement I’ve found a couple more kids in the neighborhood who want to help. Actually they found me. They stopped by handing out professional looking business cards because they wanted to do yard work, odd jobs, dog sitting to make money. How cool is that? I’ve spoken to one of the boy’s mother and she will coordinate with the parents next door to make sure it goes smoothly.

    I can’t believe how lucky I am. I now feel I can leave and the house and dogs will be well cared for.

    It’s not done yet, but I want to post pictures and a big thank you on our sponsor page since these people are huge contributors to making the trip possible for me. Watch for it at http://www.motorcycle-journeys.com/sponsors/sponsors.html.

  • 475 Year Anniversary in Gaspe

    Jean-Francois emailed today (he’s still in the Caribbean) that he had spoken to relatives in Gaspe ( he was born there) and they are celebrating the 475th anniversary of  Jacques Cartier landing there claiming the land for France and King Francis I in 1534.  They are having many activities this summer including tallships sailing into the harbor.  This has been added to our itinerary.

    Visit http://www.475gaspe.com/ang/index.html for more information about the celebration (in English).

  • On the road maintenance

    I occurred to me that approximately 12,000 miles means an on the road oil change and the possibility one or both of us may need a new tire.

    I needed an oil change so I used the tools I carry on the motorcycle with the exception of the socket wrench to get the drain plug out and a torque wrench to tighten the drain plug to spec.

    I ordered a tire lever with 24mm box wrench from Touratech and a 3/8″ socket adapter to go with it. That should complete what tools I need for an oil change. I plan to stop at a discount store an buy a cheap plastic oil pan that I can discard when we’re done. I’ll take an oil filter with me.

    I did a check for BMW motorcycle dealers in that area and found one near Halifax — Atlantic Metroplex — that will be our only BMW motorcycle option in the part of Canada we’ll be traveling.

    I am a member of the BMW MOA and will be carrying their Anonymous Book so we might be able to find someone with tools that will help us out if the need arises. I also suspect the members of the RidetheRock.com forum would help us out while we’re in Newfoundland.

  • MapSource for US

    I’m not sure what to plan for the US. I would like to hit the national parks in New England particularly the Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park area so I found a list of the best campgrounds in the New England states and added waypoints for the best of those.

    Jean-Francois mentioned an interest in following the Appalachian Trail and sent me a link to a forum thread that discussed a MapSource route. I found the route on it has so many waypoints it’s hard to visualize.  I used the strip map provided on the National Park Service website (http://www.nps.gov/appa/planyourvisit/upload/APPA%20Map.pdf) to add waypoints and then in Topo mapped a route that was cross country (not on roads). I then switched over to City Navigator and found the roads closest to the cross country trail. You can download my Appalchian Trail MapSource file at http://www.motorcycle-journeys.com/current/routes_maps/routes_maps.html

    I have the National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways & Byways so I map a route in MapSource for each of their recommended routes in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

    The MapSource file for the New England scenic routes and camping spots is also at http://www.motorcycle-journeys.com/current/routes_maps/routes_maps.html.

  • Side trip to Labrador for JF

    Jean-Francois told me he would like to make a run from Baie Comeau north into Labrador to Churchill Falls. He said it’s deep gravel that I would not like so he will leave me where there is good whale watching to keep me busy while he’s gone.

    I have added it to MapSource and it’s an additional 1035 miles round trip.

    Since I hate to miss out on things I did a little research to see what I could find out about the route and if I might be able to do it. One man described it as a deep gravel road with turns so tight you can see your own tail lights. I’ll stay in Baie Comeau.

    New trip totals for JF:
    Land miles –                           12,198.10
    Water miles (ferry rides) –      694.60
    Total miles –                           12,892.70