New Bike-Peru-Aug 19-2017

My New ride for November....Toby at AROUND THE BLOCK MOTOR ADVENTURES in PERU has just completed building up the engine to a 285cc and will be changing the rims and tires from 17 &19 inch to 19 & 21 inch with Perelli 50/50 tires & aluminum rims........this costs $ 195.00 extra but increases the buyback $ 115.00....I will post updates when the racks are added....

The colours are grey and black but the dealer has ordered new white plastics as that was my preferred color...

Peru-Nov 28th/2017-Aug 13 2017

Unable to take my VStrom....just doesn't make sense to ship at an expense more than the purchase of the X-Terra...one way no less.....uBike has been paid...wired the money tohttp://www.aroundtheblockmotoadventures.com/moto-purchase-buy-back/ Around the Block/Toby Shannon and received email $ received and bike will be in his shop August 9th for upgrades......will post actual pic of bike with luggage racks when Toby forwards......Now to refine the packing and consider extra running light purchase which I will install upon my arrival in Huanuco.....hopefully on the 29th of November.

If this bike cruises at 100k after the upgrade, I will be happy......the Euromot I rode in Chile and Argentina at 16hp had no problem cruising at 85k. I will likely not need this speed on the type of roads I will travel but nice to know you have a little extra for passing or emergency maneuver.

I will be at the Horizon Unlimited meeting Sept 7th and can update anyone interested in the Process with Toby and Around the Block Adventure Tours/Rentals/Purchase and Buyback terms.

Though this bike comes as a 250, it is actually a 223cc which Toby and his crew can build up to a 285cc which will give it close to 25hp.

I will be using carry on type ( PLANE ) luggage as panniers with rain jackets. 

Test Of GO PRO-Video-Dec 30/13-Carretera Austral

A short video taken along the Carretera Austral ( Routa 7 ) between Hualaihue and Vodudahue....this stretch is about a 3 hour ferry ride connecting routa 7....one of 3 crossing along this route which runs from Puerto Montt to Cochrane in Chile and is mostly gravel.

I would stall the bike in a deep puddle here

heading to the Fe

New Years Eve CHAITEN

Technical difficulties.....the video doesn't want to play.....this was a spot awaiting our 2nd Ferry crossing on routa 7......

Day 7-North Shore July 17 2017

Good Bye St Lin

Up early to dark threatening skies......Tim's for breakfast....after downing our coffee, we put on our rain pants in the parking lot...semi prepared for what might lie ahead........should have put the jacket on too. WE HEADED FOR Route 50, an express type hwy between Montreal and Ottawa though mostly 2 lane ( on coming shared ) it bypasses the towns and villages offering a speedier passage. We would need to pull over and put our Rain Jackets on soon after as we encountered torrential and windy conditions......unable to get the camera out so this is a picture less blog......Stopped in Gatineau to warm up and drain a little water from our boots and gloves before continuing ob towards Shawville and the Border back into Ontario. Again heavy and gusty winds...so strong that on a short stretch of 4 lane...Don and I both experienced hydroplaning and floating into the opposite lane before recovering control of the bikes....Ken was spared this scare as I believe the panniers on our bikes allowed the wind to lift the bikes up......A short stop for fuel and a snack at Cobden and then on to Wilno for lunch........from there it was a light rain until Huntsville, here it became heavier and both Don and I slowed down letting Ken pass as he was in a hurry to get home and more confident in his riding than we were......HOME at 3:30pm and a happy trip behind us.....and we are still talking and amigos...lol


The next major trip begins November 27 2017....solo motobike excursion through Peru/Ecuador maybe Columbia.....pick up my new bike in Huanuco at http://www.aroundtheblockmotoadventures.com/

Day 6- North Shore July 16 2017

Up before 6;30am and packed by 7 with breakfast eaten at the motel, we hit the road about 7;45. Sunny weather and not as cool as it had been..........great scenery along the way....though we were travelling on 172 which runs next to the Fjord......we did not see this body of water until we reached Seguenay. Mountainous terrain separated us from it.

The traffic at this early hour was sparse and I took a number of pictures along the way....at least in the early part.

While the amigos continued on, I did a little off roading.... 

They eventually noticed me missing and pulled over....

Found this tranquil spot while off roading

The first site of the water and city of Seguenay.

After Seguenay, the traffic picked up/ it was Sunday and many people likely heading home from a week end in the lake region........saw many boaters out on the water ways we passed. We started looking for a place to stay around 4 pm with a Motel in Rawdon about 45k ride. Unfortunately it had closed weeks before....so another 30  plus k and we arrived in Sainte- Lin and a sketchy house conversion to a motel. It was actually quite nice in the room.......

Day 5-North Shore July 22 2017

Awoke early to an overcast morning. We had paid for breakfast and waited until 7 for someone to show up to feed us........guess we should have asked what time was breaky....so it was across the street to the small smoky diner,,,French Only Spoken but with finger pointing we had a full breakfast .....

pICS ALONG OUR ROUTE

Miles of RVs' and Atvs' near Sept-Iles

Outside Baie-Comeau

Outside Baie-Comeau

I think this was the spot Don found that Geo Cache for Ken

Twisty was concerned as I took this pic standing on a cliff of rocks.......

We turned off 138 and up 172 stopping outside the village of  Sacre-Coeur. Here, I was able to get a real bed as we were in a dormitory room with 4 beds....actually a Conference room without a washroom which was down the hall at the far end. I believe we where the only occupants on that floor. Tomorrow will be a long day........

Day 4-North Shore July 21 2017

We awoke to an overcast morning.......having had an uncomfortable sleep as my mattress deflated through the night, I was up early and headed for the local Tim's for a coffee....leaving the 2 sleeping amigos snoring away.......oh did I mention that may have contributed to sleep deprivation ...lol .

Breakfast was at a small dinner near the entrance back onto hwy 138.

We ran out of pavement the last 44k to Kegashka with rain in our faces and mud and wet sand on our bikes.......as both Don and I have had accidents riding gravel, we were riding slower than Ken......though I would have an off road experience while looking for a Geo Cache with Ken......

You can see the foggy conditions of this mornings ride...I believe this pic is at BP- Anguanish

Ken was here with Carol and his friend Gary and wife a few years back.....they had boarded a ferry which did weekly trips stopping at all the major villages up to Blanc-Sablon which is only accessible by boat and is across from Newfoundland. A Ferry service here between Quebec and Nfdl is popular with Adventure bikers riding the Labrador Hwy which Don and I did in 2014......It was here at Natashquan that Ken and Gary's bikes were off loaded and they road back....I believe this was the end of the road at that time....it has since been extended to Kegashka. Ken said it was raining then as well.....so fitting it should be today.  

Pics towards Kegashka

Kegashka

though the pic does not show the bump and slope I misjudged, l lost my path and found myself flying off the bike into the deep ditch....thankfully the bike stayed topside and only damage was my pride and a bent forward foot peg.......I could hear Ken yelling are you ok...lol....he may have captured this event on his dash cam. Don did not attempt to follow us on this trek which was a wise decision.

The location of a Geo-Cache

Ken eventually finds the treasure after he crawls under this shack which appears about to fall down.....

Fishing baskets likely to hold crab when caught

The end of 138 and our furthest ride East on this adventure

We stop for the night on our return at Riviere-au-Tonnerre. We have difficulty finding an open motel....only 2 in the village and one is closed...a place Ken's crew had stayed at a few years back......we manage to get directions in sign language...actually hand waiving from a gentleman who happen to walk bye, the confused gringos, that led us down to the water's edge and a booking agency who then sold us a 2 bed room in a motel that has no one at the location...da...how many potential clients go on....thinking, as we did, not open for business. Well, the two amigos get to spend a cozy night together sharing the 2 bed which in turn is a 1 bed while I am on the floor with a mattress that deflates again and I am out at my bike at 2 am pumping air back into it 

I believe a selfy exists showing the spread rolled up and placed between the 2.......da...what's that all about......