2024 Goals

 Oky doky……2024 will bring more XC Moto racing and an epic NEBDR trip. Step one…..get in to fighting shape.  Figured out how to set up watch with intervals so I can just plug'n'play through the process.

Couch to 5 k…day one…DONE

Why using a treadmill when the weather is still decent out....?  Because it won't always be....and need to establish the pattern of behaviour.  Putting more thought into the Moto XC racing this year.  With Cochranes being on the list....am going to enter the new category of 50+B and do a few races this year.  Life is short man.....never know how many more years this physical vessel will deliver so.....HERE WE GO BRO! LOL

Day 7 Temiskaming to Deep River

 Rounding the final base to the end of the journey. Primarily asphalt but down a treat of a road/Hwy 533. Stopped in mattawa for breakfast at Valois for some French toast and too many coffees. Beautiful overlook of the Ottawa river. 

Quick fuel up and we were off to check out a little side view. The Brant crater had a nice gravel road out and back.  Was worth the trip. Needed a bit more before we made our way to deep river so decided to explore the original route but from the end back in. Explore 23 k of the Zec

Had an interesting experience with a logging truck that was barrelling down this road that is CRAZY that these rigs drive through. He had no desire to move over for us..dicey. 

Another epic day. Tomorrow the return but not without some fun down through Calabogie. 

Day 6 espanola to Temiskaming

 We tied one on a bit at Espanola but see up and in the road shortly after 8. The sound from the local pulp and paper mill was deafening. Northern living is definitely a different way of living. 

The route to Temiskaming was an asphalt burner. Got there early, dropped our panniers and kitted up with gear for an exploratory ride of the route we were scheduled to ride tomorrow. Quickly realized over 100 k of silty gravel logging road was not going to be 1…..enjoyable and 2……certainly not enjoyable for one of our riders on a bike with bald tires. 

Dan hadn’t had enough of our 4 hour plus ride so we ventured down a tributary of trail for a bit. Small tip over when turning around when…enough was enough….time for food and beverages. Hard to believe only one more night and a couple more days. Seems every day brings a surprise of one sort or another. 

Day 5 Thessalon to Espanola

 This one was tasty…..made our way back from Thessalon to Black Creek outfitters (great owners) to a dirt/gravel trail out to Kindiogami river where we popped into Elliot lake for lunch. Initial trail had some traditional gravel/backroad feel with some sections that you had to pay attention to. All in all a really flowy back road trail. 

Loving the first leg of the route. A small deviation that led to our FIRST dead end brought us back to a section that the gps just called “off-road” route. Started off like a logging road gravel route that gradually became narrower. A couple pauses to recheck gps, google, gai etc and concensus was trail would intersect to main road that would bring us back to espanola. Well……got funky quick lol. Sections got steeped and rocks became babyhead narrow four track. End result was a turnaround climbing all the sketchy decents we did and descending all the sketchy climbs we did. My mantra, “this is just a big dirt bike” and the rock solid performance of the trusty Tenere got us back to where we were at the “consideration point” to continue where we just retreated :)

It was time to get back on plan fo get to espanola and we hammered back  quick stop in Elliot lake to grab “provisions” and now about to sleep soundly to prep for day 5  Temiskaming it is…

Day 4 Timmins to Thessalon

 Wow. A day!

We started our ride with a road sprint for gas at Foleyet and then our first section was super tasty. The pic above was narrow double track with just the right amount of rock sand and topography. Shortly after this pic I was leading and getting immersed in the trail…..saw some shiny track ahead and chopped the throttle..engine braking and two wheel slide resulting in a high side and a buck into the woods. Soft pillow like landing and bike and me were good. Someone was looking out for me today. No damage to bike or me lol

Carry on. More gravel and some long road sections but worth it. Tested my fuel range today and learned a flashing bar on gauge means I have a good 100 k…..didn’t need to draft that fuel semi into the next gas station after all :). Still had 5 L to spare. 

Checked into this gem in Thessalon. Carolyn Beach Restaurant and Inn. Didn’t have to go far for a few cold beers and this stunning scenery

Tomorrow is another day and looking forward to it!

Day 3 Sudbury/Capreol-Timmins

 Early to bed and early to rise and a quick breakfast at the Sudbury Super 8 and we were off!  Quick refuel in Capreol and soon found our first section of gravel roads that were the widest gravel roads I have ever ridden. These bikes are made for this kind of travel. Took our time with some stops to Don on and off rain gear due to mutha nature being her difficult self. Not a lot of scenery other than the occasional glimpse of a river that we snaked beside over and beside for a good portion of the ride.  So much forest

So one would think…..300 km of riding gravel is fun you say?  Well yes…..yes it is….this who know…know. After a time you realize that all of that self talk just goes away and you become immersed in the experience…this…THIS is the magic. 

About 6 hours later….we are in no rush…we rolled into Timmins and b lined it to the Comfort Inn. Front desk gave us a friendly warning to strip everything valuable from our bikes as they have issues with theft…..great….unpacked as instructed and found the closest lcbo and burrito spot. Belly full and after some chatter chillin with a whisky and looking forward to the next FULL pull tomorrow to Thessalon. A solid 400 plus k. Early to bed and early to rise rinse and repeat.  Hoping for some sweet scenery along the way. 

Day 2 Sudbury/Capreol

 Day two was a slow start waiting on a pretty decent storm to pass through Huntsville which was swathing through my route up to Sudbury so……settled in to the “lavish” accommodations from the Tulip Inn…it was a roof overhead :)  was “approved” a late check out lol….I was the ONLY one there overnight  

Window presented itself at noon so loaded up and made my way up with a quick stop at Sturgeon falls to see a clippin tree crew member and Bonnie….she should be added as an honorary member btw… quick beer and chat with Bonnie while Al took the Tenere for a tester!  Great to reconnect. 

Onwards….dropped the rain gear at Sturgeon falls but realized 20 min to ride mutha nature ain’t quite done yet so…picnic spot to grab it again and b-line to Sudbury. Was ahead of the rest of the cats so stopped at a Timmies just south of the Sud thinking I’d see the gents roll by….scarfed down some grub and a tea and received text they were at hotel?!?!  They came in from another route. Skies opened up, legit like, waited, then carried on. Met the crew and just chillin. Looking forward to tomorrow. Behaving with a whisky or two….

ADV day 1 Huntsville

 Day 1 - last minute decision to break up the first day that was supposed to be 614 km from Kingston to Capreol/Sudbury on Saturday  

Weather forecast was predicting doom and gloom for Saturday, August 12. Threw out the option to the guys if heading out a day early to break up the distance and get a “cheap” motel about halfway. Work didn’t allow that option for the others so I made the decision to book whatever I could in and around the Huntsville area on Friday  

Left shortly after noon on the 11th and plan was to just weave north west and connect up with the gps route around Bancroft. The ride to Huntsville took me through Algonquin park. My first experience riding through this southern portion. MASSIVE AND LUSH!  Made me think a camping trip needs to happen off the bike…someday

Checked in to the hotel and to my dismay……it’s a roof and a bed. Is it worth $164 a night…….?  Well…..it’s 6:34 am on Saturday and it’s raining out so if the alternative is camping then yes…worth it?….bike is secure and dry and I got a decent sleep..

Uneventful evening last night. Just secured and covered the bike…brought in all the gear and popped out to the lcbo to grab a couple beers and watched some tv. Weather radar is showing a swath of shit that I will inevitably have to ride through to get to Sudbury today. Rain gear out and let’s see if the shower works!

Popping in to Sturgeon Falls to see a riding buddy on my way through today. That should make the 3 hours a bit more bearable. May have to listen to some Joe Rogan……hwy 11 and then 17 slog.  It’s raining steady now…..I’m in no rush…..change in plans. Looks like clear sailing shortly after noon….chill in hotel and gear up when it breaks. Likely guys will be swinging through around that time anyways..