craigatcsi Posted August 26, 2013 Share #1 Posted August 26, 2013 We made it to Winnepeg tonight and are heading to Thunder Bay tomorrow. We had a VERY hard ride today. It took us 12 hours to get here and the road from the border to Winnepeg was HORRIBLE!! It had MANY of those Blasted 'Bumps' across the Blacktop, those ones that they EVENTUALLY grind down. These were almost Speed Bumps!! Even with my shocks set soft, they tore up our Backs!! I hope the road to Thunder Bay is better. How long should we realistically expect? Our map software says 8 hours, but that is in a cage. Are Gas Stations rare? I need to stop every 100 miles, though I did find out today that I can run on fumes. I made it 137 miles with using the Reserve. We really thought we were going to have to push. I think we put 5 gallons in, so we had 1/2 gallon left! We could barely see anything on the fuel gauge! - I never want to do that again and yes I chewed out my Navigator! This is our first trip to Canada on a Bike and we both are tickled to have finally decided to do it. Craigr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubber Posted August 26, 2013 Share #2 Posted August 26, 2013 Canada is great. It's those Canadians that want you to stop and have some fun and get you in trouble.:whistling: You know who you are...... RICK. Great folks and lots of fun. Have a great trip and come back safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brake Pad Posted August 26, 2013 Share #3 Posted August 26, 2013 strap a 2.5 gas can to your bike, ( Just In Case ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Owl Posted August 26, 2013 Share #4 Posted August 26, 2013 When are you heading home? And what route are you taking? Inquiring minds want to know... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friesman Posted August 26, 2013 Share #5 Posted August 26, 2013 You should not have any trouble finding fuel during the day on the #1 highway, but at night most places close up. I would start looking for fuel when I get to about a half tank, just in case though.... brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarges46 Posted August 26, 2013 Share #6 Posted August 26, 2013 The GPS cannot be trusted to find real gas stations at times on the way to ThunderBay! I would say carry extra gas as well. Also be careful of moose and other forest creatures but moose can be bad. During the day its normally ok but as dusk approaches beware. It is about 10 hours really counting stops for gas and food. It is a nice trip and the roads do get much better as you head east. Manitoba is too buys sucking our money out of us to fix anything out here!(Roads in particular!) I would ignore Bubber, he is old and knows not what he speaks of! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huggy Posted August 26, 2013 Share #7 Posted August 26, 2013 Canada is great. It's those Canadians that want you to stop and have some fun and get you in trouble.:whistling: You know who you are...... RICK. Great folks and lots of fun. Have a great trip and come back safe. I think he means that Canadians like to drink beer and have a GOOD TIME!! Which the authorities here tend to frown on sometimes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XV1100SE Posted August 26, 2013 Share #8 Posted August 26, 2013 The road from Malta Montana to Cadillac Saskatchewan would have to be worse. Patchwork of repairs, soft (uncompressed) asphalt, pot holes, gravel over tar.... When we went from Winnipeg into the States we took hwy 59. Was good road, quick border crossing.... One positive thing though.... bet you didn't have to line up at the border crossing ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowpuc Posted August 26, 2013 Share #9 Posted August 26, 2013 We made it to Winnepeg tonight and are heading to Thunder Bay tomorrow. We had a VERY hard ride today. It took us 12 hours to get here and the road from the border to Winnepeg was HORRIBLE!! It had MANY of those Blasted 'Bumps' across the Blacktop, those ones that they EVENTUALLY grind down. These were almost Speed Bumps!! Even with my shocks set soft, they tore up our Backs!! I hope the road to Thunder Bay is better. How long should we realistically expect? Our map software says 8 hours, but that is in a cage. Are Gas Stations rare? I need to stop every 100 miles, though I did find out today that I can run on fumes. I made it 137 miles with using the Reserve. We really thought we were going to have to push. I think we put 5 gallons in, so we had 1/2 gallon left! We could barely see anything on the fuel gauge! - I never want to do that again and yes I chewed out my Navigator! This is our first trip to Canada on a Bike and we both are tickled to have finally decided to do it. Craigr Hey Craig, the wife and I have yapped and yapped about a "Canadian ride",, thanks for posting this as a primer.. You guys tenting? Hows the skeeters up there eay (practicing my foreign language skills)? Enjoyed your report! Puc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigatcsi Posted August 27, 2013 Author Share #10 Posted August 27, 2013 well we are in Thunder Bay!! No problem with Gas. We asked at each fill and ended up stopping every 65 to 75ish miles. The only wildlife we saw were birds that we have at home!! - I think you Canadians are telling stories about these Mythical animals that you fall Moose! As we were parking our Bike and trailer, we look up and see a HD unloading the same model trailer as ours!! What are the chances!? So we walk over and talk with them & they said they are from Oklahoma, a even further trip. This is their first time in Canada as well. They are heading West and we are heading East. The front desk even put them into the room next to us. So, perhaps we will see them again before we leave. They report road construction with slick MUD for TWO MILES Somewheres the direction we are heading. So, as of this moment I may be giving up on the Mackinac Island this trip. We will have to discuss it further at dinner. I WON'T ride this in MUD if I can help it. Well, that's my report for tonight. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigatcsi Posted August 28, 2013 Author Share #11 Posted August 28, 2013 Well, we did end up giving up on the Mackinac Island for this trip. - Yes, I chickened out. No Muddy road construction for me! We dropped down out of Thunder Bay on highway 61. Wow what a highway!! we have traveled both the east and west coasts of the U.S. and this is my favorite road so far!! just the right gradual curves with awesome scenery!! The weather was PERFECT as was traffic! I am anxious to take that path again and may do it again in another couple of years though in reverse to Thunder Bay and around Superior Clockwise. We are staying at an Indian Casino tonight, then somewhere between Minneapolis & Waukegan for tomorrow night. Oh, and I MAY have just turned someone else onto this site. At one gas stop a guy walks up and asks if he can check out my trailer hitch. He said that he has a Venture also and has never heard of this site. So we will have to see. Well that is it for tonight folks. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigatcsi Posted August 29, 2013 Author Share #12 Posted August 29, 2013 We are halfway between Deluth and Wakegan tonight. We slept in late at the Black Bear Casino, got up and had a WONDERFUL Buffet Breakfast before leaving. We learned a few things while staying there: 1. Don't get a Poolside Room. We discovered that Many Screaming kids, screaming until 11:00p, seems to bother us more than it did when our kids were young. But then again, we didn't allow our kids to scream like that and they couldn't stay at the pools until closing. I swear, those kids were running around like a bunch of Screaming..... Well, you know. 2. We thought the room was cheap at $67! Well, IF you choose to Gamble at all, they make it up. We hit on NOTHING!! Those machines were sooo tight that they squeaked!! Luckily, we are small time gamblers. I talked to a couple of other folks that also said they won nothing and their money went right away. I don't expect to win, but it would be nice to be able to play at least a little while for my money. 3. Cheap Hotel rooms have Cheap uncomfortable mattresses. AND, the carpet in the room was filthy. I know, I know, - 'you get what you Pay for'. We definitely won't stay there again, next time we pass this way. It is off to Wakegan tomorrow to meet up with friends and head to the HD festivities in Milwaukee. Goodnight all! Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigatcsi Posted August 31, 2013 Author Share #13 Posted August 31, 2013 Wemade it home!! We decided NOT to do the HD Celebration in Milwakee and left our friends at the Hotel yesterday morning. When I was driving thru Milwakee on the way to Wakegan, I got an idea of just how big this celebration is! I told my wife that there was no way I was driving thru that again!! Plus, after discussing what the celebration was like, I figured out that there was MUCH walking, which I can't do. So, we left Wakegan, then after a brief stop in Belevidere, IL to make a brief suprise visit to an Uncle, we were on the road to HOME!! We were both ready. As a rule, once I get Home in my sights, I don't stop! The heat really got to us. In the Amana Colonies, at one of our gas stops, someone told my wife that it was 99 degrees!! We were pretty miserable. Even at 85 mph plus, there just isn't any cooling. We tried to keep hydrated with water and sports drinks, but we just couldn't keep up! We ended up making several extended stops to take advantage of the air conditioning. We took 12 hours to get home even though most of Iowa was 85mph plus! Bottom line, yesterday was pretty miserable. Well, that was our trip. I am anxious to look at the Pics my wife took. Be safe, Craigr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoneman1981 Posted August 31, 2013 Share #14 Posted August 31, 2013 Glad you are home safe. Enjoyed reading your postings from the western end of our state. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XV1100SE Posted August 31, 2013 Share #15 Posted August 31, 2013 When Nancy and I did our trip West this year, the heat got to us too but like you we took breaks when we felt like it and didn't worry about how long we were stopped for. Better to do that than run into health/safety issues. Glad you made it home safely ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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