Aug, dd, 2010 4659 miles, from South Lyon, MI, USA to Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada and Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and back
MS Live Search map link here (click anywhere on the long link. Refresh if it times out!)…
OK, the general route is now looking like this…
Day 01: 531 miles. South Lyon, Michigan, USA to Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
Day 02: 489 miles. Cornwall to Baie-Comeau, Quebec, Canada
Day 03: 366 miles. Baie-Comeau to Labrador City, Labrador, Canada
Day 04: 331 miles. Labrador City to Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada
Day 05: 313 miles. Goose Bay to Port Hope Simpson, Labrador, Canada
Day 06: 167 miles. Port Hope Simpson to Blanc-Sablon, Quebec and then Ferry to Saint Barbe, Newfoundland, Canada (30 miles)
Day 07: 307 miles. Saint Barbe to L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland and down, to Rocky Harbour, Newfoundland, Canada
Day 08: 319 miles. Rocky Harbour to Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland then Ferry to North Sydney, Nova Scotia (112 miles)
Day 09: 557 miles. North Sydney to Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada and then on to Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Day 10: 360 miles. Saint John to Hampton, New Hampshire, USA
Day 11: 510 miles. Hampton to Niagara Falls, NY, USA
Day 12: 176 miles. Niagara Falls visit, then on to Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio, USA
Day 13: 242 miles. Geneva-on-the-Lake to Home in South Lyon, Michigan, USA
Installed Rick’s non adjustable MOAB Adventure shock and went for a spin…got this really odd ‘planted’ feeling while I rode…go figure!
Install took all of 30 mins…drop three bolts, raise up the tire (no need to remove it) and to quote Rick: “the stock shock drops right out like the turd that it is!” WOOHOO!!
I like the idea of the phase 3 route…looks like it would be isolated and lonely (and therefore generally un-mucked up by people). Might need the IMS tanks afterall, or just break down carry 2 gal. fuel cans.
Is it summer yet? Looking at a few diffent things that will enable to pack smaller, lighter loads yet still have what I need. Hammock tent (with insect netting built in), and such… Think we’ll need repellant for all the Meeses? hehe.
Hey Mike
Looks like the TLH Phase 3 opened up between Goose Bay and Cartright in mid December 2009! Whatyasay we run around that loop after Goose Bay, on the way dows, via Cartright?
B.
http://www.tw.gov.nl.ca/trans_lab_highway/index.html
Well, scratch farklemasters…I clicked on the link in my last message to be sure I didn’t screw it up, and they jacked thier price up to 229.00 on the EBC brake kit. Was 179.00 last week!! Back to KLR650.com for the brakes, then!
Yeah, I remember that stretch, and the mile long stretch of fresh gravel that felt like it was a foot deep!! Joyce told me about the new non adjustable shock…should be a much nicer price than the MOAB, even though they said they would discount a MOAB heavily if I bought one. We’ll see what happens. Christmas bonus is gonna cover the new camera and either a front brake upgrade, or a thermo-bob. http://www.farklemasters.com has the EBC 320mm rotor kit for about 40.00 less than anybody else @ 179.00. I have a side job running sound for the school the first two weeks of Dec, and those two weeks are typically 70 hours weeks as well, so all that extra dough will cover a new pair of boots, and a new First Gear jacket. Time to put the Trekker out to pasture…
Hey Mike
That’s good to hear about the front end upgrade! I plan to do likewise after bonus time in April….and go for one of Ricks’ non-adjustable shocks. Looking forward to the transformation from “el Pogo Stick” to “El Planted Feeling!”
Remember that stretch near Tok/Hayes Junction – all those frost heaves bottoming out the shock on the ASPHALT road????
Hey B,
Got the RT emulators and a K9 fork brace from Happy-Trail.com installed…not sure if you got my email about…our server has been screwed up for about two weeks; Anywho, all I can say is WOW. Between the emulators (and the extra preload it gives me with the stock spacers) and fresh fluid–egads the old stuff smelled like straight up poop–the front end is solid. Soaks up bumps without upsetting stability at speed, and the front end doesn’t dive when I use the front brake. Also installed a vista cruise throttle lock…no more cramping wrist on the long stretches!! Now I need to get a shock from Rick….
How you guys doing??
Well,
I sure picked a sucky time to finally pull the forks off the KLR to drill the damper rods and install the RT emulators I bought last yea….it’s freaking AMAZING outside, and the rods are in the mail headed to Rick’s. Ugh. High of 60 tomorrow (am I still in SC?!?) and sunny. low to mid 70′s most of the week and sunny too. My timing sucks!!
Hi Mike
Nice camera. Hasve you considered getting a used DSLR off Ebay for the same or less money. You can probably pick up a 3-4 year old dust and weather sealed Olympus for a coupla hundred bucks – and it’ll be a better camera for low light and general wide-view pics like those we take on ADV trips, than the point&shoot cameras?
Personally, if I was going for a non DSLR compact, I’d look at something with a really good, fast, wide angle lens and solid build quality steel body.
The camera that I REALLY would like for the ADV and general photog use is the little Panasonic LX3 which received rave review from dpreview.com
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmclx3/
Of course, if you really want a LONG zoom instead of a general use and ADV/widescreen type scenic pics/landscapes camera, then a camera like what you’re looking at, will fit the bill. But again, for the price of a new camera like that, I’d still be looking at a used DSLR with long telezoom lens for not much more money, and much higherquality pics, especially with the ISO advantage of the much larger sensors in DSLRs compared to the compacts.
I am thoroughly enjoying the old Canon 20D that I picked up for $300 virtually brand new from Ebay. Not a scratch or sign of wear anywhere, and it’s perfect for my modest needs with only 8MB on the APS-C sensor, I have incredible low-light and ISO performance with some fast lenses that I bought.
Hey B,
Any updates?? Buying a new camera with my Christmas bonus–a Canon Powershot SX20 IS. Not a DSLR, but I want something I don’t have to pack an expensive removable lense. Still a point a shoot, but 12MP, TONS of features, and has a sports setting to take several pics per second for action/misadventure shots, LOL. 20x optical zoom plus 4x digital zoom, too. Much better than the kodak’s zoom. About twice the size of the kodak though. How is that new camera you got?? or did ever decide what to get??
Hey Barry,
Any updates on trip planning??
Hey Barry,
Any updates on the route and or timing of the trip?
More good info!
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=360430
Saving my pennies for a MOAB shock from Rick and 310mm rotor kit! Saw a deal on ebay for a dual piston caliper for the front brake, too. Is it the summer of 2010 yet?!
Hey Barry,
Good informative thread here:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92207.
Mike
I’m having some problems with my domain registrar…check your email.
B.
According to the bank, federal tax refund check will be credited to my acct on thursday…must resist…$1,500.00 will buy a lot of kit!!
Hang on, I need to get my bib…drool isn’t good for the keyboard…hehe.
I am going thru the whole “I wanna get this, and this and this…” What is WRONG with me?! Especially since I said I was going to leave the bike “alone”…except for the thermobob and maybe a shock and subframe bolt upgrade. Just saw a front brake upgrade for the klr’s on ebay. 310mm rotor and a dual piston front caliper….crap. Must….resist….spending….money….
Camping for me too…
The HF comes in two parts – the standard car tire changer bottom base, and then the bike adapter on top. The bike piece is on back order, so haven’t received it yet. Latest ETA is early April!
I’m going to post some pics of parts of the route, to whet our appetites!
SWEET! How do you like the tire changer? Have you used it yet? I have actually thought about getting one after I make room in the garage…oh, what about hotels vs. camping this go around. I liked the camping just fine, now that I know what to bring ahead of time
We can remove the Killer off the back of the truck easily, so that’s an option if you like.
Regarding the tires…note that I have a HF tire changer like Rick has…got it for XMas, so we can change your tires here, if you wish to have fresh tires before we leave Dirtyroit.
Just a thought….
(and I will NOT be working on the bikes when you arrive this time, promise!
)
Interesting possibilities here!! http://www.ridetherock.com All about riding Labrador and New Foundland
Thanks dude! I am not GPS savvy. If it is cutting it close, we can cut out L’Anse aux Meadows, or Nova Scotia, if it will save time. I certainly don’t want to have to rush things. I was thinking that depending on money, I’ll mount the tires here (my boss will do them for free), and load it in the truck and head to the folks’ place for an overnight, or even drive the truck to your place, if you think we can figure a way to get the pig out of the the back of the truck at your place. Maybe I’ll shoot straight up to Detroit on the way up, and stop and see the folks on the way back…
Remember, no tank panniers this time!!
No problem, Mike! I’ve added L’Anse aux Meadows to the trip. We’ll probably need to reverse course on that short leg, but it’s not that far.
I’ve updated the pic of the route.
The Live maps updated link is below…
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=48.166085~-72.949219&style=r&lvl=5&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&rtp=pos.42.4709399348024_-83.6154201146988_57685%20Hidden%20Timbers%20Dr%2C%20South%20Lyon%2C%20MI%2048178-8705__~pos.53.2958278508859_-60.2959494654265_Happy%20Valley%E2%80%93Goose%20Bay%2C%20NL__~pos.53.7075046415741_-57.0172640288303_Cartwright%2C%20NL__~pos.52.5424308128154_-56.3386418056771_Port%20Hope%20Simpson%2C%20NL__~pos.51.4286347619048_-57.1354432882516_Blanc-Sablon%2C%20QC__~pos.51.2175878480351_-56.763160324778_St%20Barbe%2C%20NL__~pos.51.5900671078053_-55.5153109403502_LAnse%20aux%20Meadows%2C%20NL__~pos.47.5735157442709_-59.1423795873009_Channel-Port%20aux%20Basques%2C%20NL__~pos.46.2071147561073_-60.2514347434044_North%20Sydney%2C%20NS__~pos.44.4989540116584_-63.9169119395294_Peggys%20Cove%2C%20NS__~pos.43.0955036393628_-79.0558467751109_Niagara%20Falls%2C%20NY__~pos.41.8548403680325_-80.9454350173473_Geneva%20on%20the%20Lake%20Golf%20Course%2C%20OH__~pos.42.47094_-83.61542_57685%20Hidden%20Timbers%20Dr%2C%20South%20Lyon%2C%20MI%2048178-8705__&rtop=0~0~0&encType=1
Here’s a pic of a worm GP110 – I think they will make the distance, depending on our speeds on the highway sections.
http://www.klr650.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=20074&d=1232772876
The 10 days duration is looking “iffy.” May need to take an extra day on each end, or something.
Looked at the IRC’s you mentioned, and depending upon just how much dirt we’ll see, I think the IRC’s would be the better choice, really. If all we see is a few hundred miles of dirt, I think the smoother ride they would likely offer on the pavement would be best.
Oh, one more thing…I don’t see where taking out the islands would save that much time, really, aside from the one long ferry ride. And Nova Scotia is beautiful!! I wouldn’t be a fan of taking the same route back that we took in. I think the route looks good.
1 request…we MUST stop at L’Anse aux Meadows to see the remains of the 1,000 year old Viking settlement. About the Meeses: did you read the part about the fellow who ran under (yes, under!!) a moose in his mazda miata?!?!? Ack!!!
Not carrying spare tires, that is. Will have tubes….
Dude…what the heck are you doing up at 4 am???? Can’t sleep?
I was leaning toward the TKC’s myself. If they’ll go the distance…I suppose if any of us could squeek the extra mileage out of them it would be me, as I am a featherweight. They do well enough on the pavement, and the BMW GS fellows seem to love them, and the GS’s are a good bit heavier than the KLR, no? I have ZERO intentions of trying to change out tires/tubes unless it is an absolute emergency…SCREW THAT!! And I’m not carrying spares, either…
I have brand new Distanzias on the KLR now, so I’ll probably order some TKCs and have them shipped to my folks place and get my KTM buddy to mount them up for me on my way up. My refund check should be here next week (I LOVE simple tax returns and e-file)!! so I’ll finally get the emulators done, and at bare minimum get the IMS 6.6 tank. I may spring for a new rear shock from Rick, too. I will be upgrading my riding pants, too, as I was VERY disappointed with them. First Gear has a newer line of gear called TPG…much heavier weight than my current HT 2.0 pants (600 denier Cordura). Need to do the subframe upgrade, too. I think I am going to revise the way I packed, as well. We gonna camp as much as possible again? I need to get a real sleeping bag if that is the case, and will remember to bring a stocking cap for my wee little skull so I can stay warm.
As for the Dempster, you are absolutely correct…we need to do a return trip!!
OH, yeah, remind me to call the CC company and my bank to let them know I’ll be leaving the country!!
Oh, tires!
What ya gonna do?
I thrink I’m going to run TKC80s or IRC GP110s front and rear, and hope the rear lasts the distance. Should be close call but manageable if we do around 4300 miles. I think we must have knobbies for the dirt stuff, and these tires run better than those Trakmasters on the asphalt roads. Man, they were scary, eh! That first ride on the tar with the Trakmasters, from Dawson City to that Klondike Lodge….I thought I was gonna poop myself they were so slippery and squirmy. I couldn’t WAIT to get on the dirt with them. And then the rain hit us for 2 days solid, eh!
We have got to finish that trip man. 9000 miles and we ended up 186 miles short of the Arctic Circle. My butt still hurts at the thought
Tire thoughts?
So Mike…how about this route?
South Carolina to Detroit
Detroit to Labrador City, Labrador (2 days)
Labrador City to Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador
Ferry from Goose Bay to Cartwright, Labrador (no roads)
Cartwright to Blanc-Sablon, Quebec
Ferry from Blanc-Sablon to Saint Barbe, Newfoundland
Saint Barbe to Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland
Ferry from Channel-Port aux Basques to North Sydney, Nova Scotia
North Sydney to Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia
Peggy’s Cove to Niagara Falls, New York (2 days)
Niagara Falls to Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio
Geneva-on-the-Lake to Home
Only 4300 miles (from and to Detroit, not SC though!), so about half what Jaryd and I did last time. I have to do in 10 days (one week vacation) though….so would you prefer we skip the islands?
Will definitely need bigger gas tanks for some of this route. IMS 6.6g would be perfect!
PS I think some of this route is even more remote than the Dempster…Not even Google Maps, or TomTom or Mapquest has this route – I had to use Microsoft Live Search maps just to map out the route above. We’ll have to print maps, with the GPS satnavs not having the route. LOTS of dirt roads! We’ll have to get some practise in, bud!!!
I’ll bring the bear spray for the moose! – ya see how many and how BIG those things are over on the island? 1800 lbs adults, and there are 7 per square kilometre…….
http://www.geocities.com/translab99/moosebike.jpg – Our bikes are much smaller than the one in this pic…we could just duck and go right underneath these monster mooses!
The police provide you with satphones free of charge, for emergencies.
Should be a gas, man!
Is this the RR you were thinking of…? http://www.geocities.com/translab99/
The map on MS Live Search…
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=47.010226~-71.367188&style=r&lvl=5&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&rtp=pos.42.4709399348024_-83.6154201146988_57685%20Hidden%20Timbers%20Dr%2C%20South%20Lyon%2C%20MI%2048178-8705__~pos.53.2958278508859_-60.2959494654265_Happy%20Valley%E2%80%93Goose%20Bay%2C%20NL__~pos.53.7075046415741_-57.0172640288303_Cartwright%2C%20NL__~pos.52.5424308128154_-56.3386418056771_Port%20Hope%20Simpson%2C%20NL__~pos.51.4286347619048_-57.1354432882516_Blanc-Sablon%2C%20QC__~pos.51.2175878480351_-56.763160324778_St%20Barbe%2C%20NL__~pos.47.5735157442709_-59.1423795873009_Channel-Port%20aux%20Basques%2C%20NL__~pos.44.4989540116584_-63.9169119395294_Peggys%20Cove%2C%20NS__~pos.43.0955036393628_-79.0558467751109_Niagara%20Falls%2C%20NY__~pos.41.857900180875_-80.9612186295764_Geneva%20on%20the%20Lake%2C%20OH__&rtop=0~0~0&encType=1
Found a few links…but didn’t find the exact thread I was looking for:
http://www.Labradorcoastladrive.com/map.pdf
http://www.labradorcoastaldrive.com/home/2
http://www.tlh.com/travel/ferries.html
How much time you looking at taking? There is a really good thread on ADV about Labrador…and he even lists the rates for all the ferries. One was an overnight ferry, I am almost positive…definately want to hit all the highlight spots. Thank goodness for a nice tax return for trip funding! Wonder if we’ll get another economic stimulus check?!? LOL.
I have been on a bit a spending spree as of late…collecting bits for the GS. Have scored triples, forks, front rim, front and rear calipers, and a swing arm off a 2nd gen B12. Swing arm is getting sent to Canada for a fellow on theGSResources to mod for dual shocks. Sweet thing about these mods is that there is not near the changes to steering geometry and such as there was with the GSXR stuff I mounted. Geuss if I am serious about this trip, I need to lock my wallet away somewhere for a couple months!!
OK, gonna go look for the Labrador thread at ADV. Have a good weekend and tell all I said hi!
So Mike, what route are you thinking?
I’m trying to find someting that takes us through Goose Bay, Labrador, to Newfoundland, and then perhaps Nova Scotia and back via Niagara Falls….but that includes a bunch of expensive ferry stuff (I assume it’s expensive?).
Thoughts?
I could swing about two weeks, maybe three. Summer time, I assume…around the same time we hit Canada last year? Think I’ll do the thermoBob mod and get an IMS 6.6 gallon tank for the trip. Other than that, I’m leaving the bike alone….
Yup, we will be using the KLRs for the Labrador trip. I do need to consider my vacation time for the trip, because I have to get back to South Africa for a visit to the folks this year as well. How are you doing for vacation plans this year?
OB
So what is the plan for Labrador?? You and Jaryd plan to use the KLRs again?