Motorcycle Journeys Trip Logs

Category: Trip Planning

Posts about planning and preparation for the upcoming motorcycle trip

  • MapSource for Canada

    It’s ended up being an interesting project to enter the worksheet list into MapSource. I would do a find within MapSource and many of the places didn’t exist so I would have to go to an internet search. Some didn’t come up in an internet search, so I would have to go back to the books and read up on the area and find things on the internet that are located around them. There were a few that I simply couldn’t locate.

    Some the items on the worksheet were general information or duplicates so I ended up with 247 waypoints in the Canadian provinces alone.

    The next step was playing connect the dots with the waypoints in a logical itinerary that would flow.  I have worked at this for about a month and  have 262 waypoints (I have run across more things to add) on 47 routes. I have entered comments for almost all waypoints explaining their importance. A worksheet of the waypoints with comments and coordinates is available at http://motorcycle-journeys.com/current/routes_maps/routes_maps.html.

    Grand totals round trip from Texas:

    Land miles –                           11,163.10
    Water miles (ferry rides) –      694.60
    Total miles –                           11,857.70

    Need I mention how glad I am Jean-Francois is going?

    The Mapsource file can be downloaded at http://www.motorcycle-journeys.com/current/routes_maps/routes_maps.html.

  • Change in start date – end of June

    Jean-Francois called today to tell me he will be delayed 6 weeks in returning to the US. The new date is May 30 so he thinks we should plan on starting the trip the end of June.

    He has decided to buy a new motorcycle and asked me to start searching for a 2006-2008 BMW R1200 GS pr GSA. I’ll send him links that he’ll be able to look at on weekends when he has internet access.

  • Mileage for Newfoundland

    I ran across a website today for a man who did a Newfoundland motorcycle trip. He mentioned it was 1900 miles so I was curious where he started from. It took a while for the realization to dawn the he didn’t mean 1900 miles round trip from his home — he meant 1900 miles on the island of Newfoundland alone.

    I now wonder what the total mileage for this trip is going to come in at.

  • Books part 2

    I received Adventure Guide to Canada’s Atlantic Provinces: Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Labrador, Iles de la Madeleine by Barbara Radcliffe Rogers and Stillman Rogers and started reading it.

    I like this book better. It’s 600 pages so it has a lot more detail of each province and includes Iles de la Madeleine. While it’s not in a specific section, the writers also mention their favorite places and things that shouldn’t be missed. As it’s name states it’s a more adventurous, outdoor oriented book that thoroughly covers camping and outdoor activities.

    Each province is broken down into smaller areas with a detailed map for each area and sections for geography and history, getting around, information sources, adventures, cultural and eco-travel, sightseeing, where to stay and eat.

    I would like to take this book on the trip, but it may not make it due to it’s size and weight (9″ x 6″ x 1.5″ 2lb).

    I highlighted as I read and entered the highlighted information in the worksheet. Starting at Montreal and ending a Black Harbour in New Brunswick I have a list of almost 400 places to go, things to see, restaurants to try, and recommended campgrounds and lodging.

    I sent the list off to Jean-Francois relieve that I was able to get it done before going out of town for 3 weeks.

  • Books

    I purchased Frommer’s Nova Scotia, New Brunswick & Prince Edward Island by Paul Karr since it was the best available at my local book store.

    I researched on the internet and ordered Adventure Guide to Canada’s Atlantic Provinces: Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Labrador, Iles de la Madeleine by Barbara Rogers.

    I spent the weekend reading the Frommer’s book. This book is a little over 300 pages. The first section is a “Best of” list for active vacations, observing nature, scenic drives, hikes, family activities, history, picturesque villages, inns, bed & breakfasts, and local dining. The chapter on Nova Scotia is extensive, with smaller chapters on the other provinces.

    I highlighted what interested me and then entered all the highlighted information into a worksheet by province. The goal is to get an organized list of places by area so I can consult the list as we go through the trip to see what’s coming up in the area we’re headed to.