In 70 days I’ll be leaving on a trip to ride across Canada on my KLR.

Last week I discovered that Air Canada will air freight motorcycles across the country for $650 if you’re also travelling with them. This immediately got my mind racing over possibilities for adventure. After checking a few facts I found out that the motorcycle can only be booked 30 days in advance and that the fees are subject to review on the 1st May 2016. That was all the information I needed, on the 1st April I booked a one way ticket to Montreal from Vancouver.

There’s been a dream to drive across Canada since I got here 4 years ago. I arrived on June 12th 2012 and I’ll be starting this trip on June 13th, 2016.

Timing and Dates

I’m leaving for Montreal on the 13th, but I’ll be taking off a week before. I’d already registered for ToorCamp which is the June 8th – 12th. I was still keen to go as it only happens every other year and I missed the opportunity in 2014. As for returning, I’d registered for the Loose Screw DualSport Ride in Kamloops last Monday. The Loose Screw in on August 12th – 14th, so I’ll need to be in Kamloops on or before the 12th of August. This gives me almost 9 weeks to get from Montreal out to Nova Scotia and then all the way across to Kamloops.

The Route

Fly East. Ride further East until I hit ocean. Turn around and ride West until I hit the ocean. There’s a possibility of hitting up Vancouver Island again, just because. The actual route I’ll be taking is still up in the air, however I know that I want to ride the Icefields Highway (driven it twice now), some parts of the Crowsnest Hwy, and see some towns in B.C. that I haven’t been through before. I’d love to ride along the St Laurent river between Montreal and Quebec City (driven that, both sides), the rest is yet to be determined. I’ll be looking towards the TCAT for inspiration when planning the route.

The timing is right for me to catch part of the Montreal Jazz Festival on my way back through, which would be wonderful.

More to come on the route later.

The Bike

KLR650 April

The KLR as it currently stands

My bike is a mostly stock 2013 Kawasaki KLR 650, with the addition of paniers, crash bars and a steel bash plate. I’ve got a chunk of work to do on it over the next 8 weeks, including but not limited to:

  • New front tire.
  • Upgrade suspension springs, both front and rear. (on their way)
  • Luggage top box for sleeping bag, tripod and hiking boots. (in progress)
  • Tool tube and better tool kit. (in progress)

The Plan

I’ve started getting rid of things, and have a few items to sell. Most of my bigger stuff is going to go into storage, which will need to happen by the end of May. Come the 1st of June I’ll be homeless and unemployed (again). I’ll be heading south on the 6th as I’m going to stay in Larrabee Park and hike around Chuckanut for a day. Back in Vancouver on the 12th, out the the airport to drop the bike early on the 13th and then fly out that night. In the mean time there’s a 1001 items on a TODO list which only seems to be getting bigger. Thankfully there are some green ticks on it already.

 

It’s time for an adventure.