Manitoulin 3rd Annual Bike Rally-July 17 14

hit was almost 11 am before I headed up 11 towards North Bay, picking up 17 and riding through Markstay and Coniston. This is the area I spent my early childhood.   my 1st encounter with bloodsuckers…I was six and screamed bloody blue murder…..my cousin drew them out with matches….lite of course. A row of 5 houses, a White Rose Garage and Saw Mill once stood here……..my uncle owned the properties and we lived in one of the houses….I attended grades 1 and 2 up the road. You can barely see the school which was insul brick back in the day. One teacher taught 8 grades………most kids back then didn’t go any further in school unless their parents were able to board them in Sudbury or a large area with a High School……no bus service in those days……crap…I hate dating myself. The school is now someone's home…..It amazes me that this building is still there. Across the highway from the school is a small farm. It is here that my mother was born and raised……..again few changes  The old farm on the hill………

I made it within 10 miles of Espanola before needing fuel…….26.00 but that included my spare fuel tank…..the bike has a mileage stat and it says I am averaging 20.8k to the litre. Tonight I am camped at Green Acres about 8 miles south of Little Current… Nice spot….

Posted out of order

July 18/19 14 Manitoulin 2nd Bike Rally

 

Up early and rode across the interior to Mindemoya for a hearty breakfast at a place called Mom’s. CHECKED INTO Providence Bay shortly after and set up camp. the way I stopped and checked out a property for sale….needs some tender care Last night a great band from Sudbury called Blackwater with a female lead singer rocked the park until 1 pm…. .tonight Green River plays…they are a Creedence Tribute band…… Ladies at Becky’s serving Breaky After filling my tummy, I met up with fellow Adventure Riders for a Tour of the East side of the Island….  A group pic A hazard crossing…Steve checking that we don’t fall into the river taking a break arriving back at camp trying to find some shade and waiting for the band…….

July 20 14

Left Mindemoya about 10am arrived home at 1.30 pm……some rain and hail near Glen Orchard.

July 16-14 Manitoulin Bound

 

Tomorrow morning I will be heading north and west to Manitoulin Island……the 3rd annual Bike Rally is being held in Providence Bay 18th through to the 20th…….last year I attended and met an Adventure Rider Group who where a small part of a mainly cruiser rally. This year I expect this group will have grown………I was going to take my 5th wheel outfit but decided to test out the new bike…..therefore I will be tenting….more to follow

Update-2011 traded for 2014 VStrom

 

Yesterday I loaded my VStrom unto the trailer and my friend Don drove us to Stratford Cycle Centre where I left her and came home with a new ride.and the new ride homeLooking forward to new adventures with this new model………

Pamphile Quebec to Renfrew On-June29 14

 

getting ready to leave Pamphile

The back roads of Quebec through the Eastern Townships took us through Lac Megantic….you may recall the train load of oil which rolled into town and blew up killing over 40 and all but destroying the down town. This area remains off limits to all but the construction workers. They have 3 guards at each end of the area with a patrol car circling the perimeter……a 500 foot walkway has been built to allow viewers a look at the area….while there a Tour Bus came in….The buildings destroyed have been cleaned from the area and it appears they are preparing the area to rebuild which ment also digging out the area contaminated by the spill.Across from the Board Walk…eerie

many old farms along the routeBreaky Stop/Bar/Service Station/RestaurantThe last two pics taken from the bridge in the centre of the resort town of Magog Quebec

One of many bars in town which is a mecca for skiers at Mont Orford/Sutton/Jay peaks Vermont…………….

Monday getting ready at KOA cabin to go into Renfrew to Suzuki Dealer as my bike has been acting up…….Waiting for Jim to take it for a ride…he is back in 30 seconds…chain and sprockets needed….no parts in stock so he adjusts the chain which has developed kinks and doesn’t guarantee it will last the 3 1/2 hour ride home. It does and I will be back on Thursday trailering the bike for repairs……………………new VStrom 1000 &VStrom 650……….will I be leaving with a new ride………LOL

Arrived back in Gravenhurst just ahead of the storm at 2 pm…..great trip and weather……4657 k driven