BC to NS

[boxer briefs]

Hi Folks,

Heading out from Seattle soon intending to reach Montreal in six days and would welcome some route recommendations. Thus far it looks like I'll be on hwy 3 through most of BC and Alberta, then on HWY1 for Saskatchewan and Manitoba, 17 through Ontario at least until Wawa and then it get's "fuzzy." I'm considering Ontario 101 and then Quebec 117 vs. remaining on 17, any thoughts on that option? After Montreal, Quebec City, then... north vs south side of the St Lawrence? Around the Gaspe Penninsula, E. coast of NB, PEI, NS, possibly ferry over to Newfoundland and back, more NS, then southern NB, coastal Maine, New England states and then back to Seattle. I'd greatly appreciate some "local" insight!

Thanks,

Grant

[veefer800canuck]

The trans Canada highway across the prairie provinces is flat, straight and boring. That is all.

[Scratch33]

The trans Canada highway across the prairie provinces is flat, straight and boring.

Had a girlfriend like that once.

[The Shepherd]

Hi Folks,

17 through Ontario at least until Wawa and then it get's "fuzzy." I'm considering Ontario 101 and then Quebec 117 vs. remaining on 17, any thoughts on that option?

Thanks,

Grant

The best part of the ride around Lake Superior is from Wawa to Sault Ste Marie, I'd stick with Hwy 17 myself.

[Mesachie]

The novelty of the prairies wore off for me in Manitoba but I followed the Red Coat trail through. The last
time I rode a return trip through northern Ontario I swore never again and would, instead, chart a more southerly
route, perhaps through the States.

But my route was east to Kenora, then south on 71, east on 11 then hug the lake from there, back hwy 1 to Ottawa.
Take time to be a tourist there. Easy ride to Montreal then Quebec city. Nice scenic route via the north shore of the river
from there before crossing back over to Riviere du Loup. Then it's either Gaspe or into NB. For PEI you can take the bridge to
get on and a ferry ride off. NS offers Cape Breton island and the Cabot Trail and much more. I ran out of time to get over to
Nfld and regret not doing that but it's an excuse to do another ride east some day.

Good luck and enjoy yourself.

[Kootenanny]

The trans Canada highway across the prairie provinces is flat, straight and boring. That is all.

True dis.  I'd seriously consider a route south of the line (maybe through the Dakotas), or alternatively, maybe have a car tire mounted on the rear in Calgary...

[ice-cycle]

Don't know if you've left yet.  But to agree with others, do get off the #1.  But I disagree about their assessment of the prairie provinces.  On the way home to Quebec from BC this summer, I turned south at Maple Creek on #21, then went east on #13, which became #2 in Manitoba.  First, there was no traffic, and second the country is farmland, rather pretty, miles of fields, canola, flax, wheat, cattle, and some interesting little towns on the way.  Of course where they are right, is that by dropping south, through Wyoming you can see Yellowstone, and then the Black Hills in South Dakota.  Now that is really pretty country.

But if you do go through Canada, stop off the forks in Winnipeg, see the Legislature, maybe walk through the St. Boniface Cemetery, visit the grey nuns' museum.  Of course if you do venture further north, you can get on the Yellowhead, then camp in Riding Mountain.  

Once in Ontario, your options are really limited.  You can take the #11 to Fort Francis  or the #17 to Dryden and then Thunder Bay.  Do stay on the #17 along superior.  It is beautiful and shouldn't be missed.  

The next choice is whether to By-pass Ottawa by taking the #11 north and then through Quebec.  If you haven't seen Ottawa you should.  Parliament Hill, the Byward Market, the Rideau Canal are all highlights.  Then you can get to Montreal, which also should not be missed.  Go up the mountain, hike around, see the old port.  It is a beautiful city.  Also Quebec city is an absolute 'must see'.  It is filled with old world charm, and has an aura of history, walk the Plains of Abraham, walk along the narrow streets of the lower city.    

When you are in Quebec, you can go north to Saint Anne de Beaupre (if so inclined) see Montmorency falls, or do a tour, and camp on Isle d'Orleans (great local cheeses, sausage, sauces, honey, etc.)

Depending on how much time you have, if short cross at Quebec city, or you can ride up to Tadoussac, then cross the St. Lawrence by Ferry at Les Escoumins.  The ride up the north coast is spectacularly beautiful, and again there is great camping between Tadoussac and Les Escoumins.  Then again if you have time, do the loop around the Gaspe, see Perce rock, and then head off on the north shore of New Brunswick to Nova Scotia.

[Kootenanny]

Don't know if you've left yet.  But to agree with others, do get off the #1.  But I disagree about their assessment of the prairie provinces.  On the way home to Quebec from BC this summer, I turned south at Maple Creek on #21, then went east on #13, which became #2 in Manitoba.  First, there was no traffic, and second the country is farmland, rather pretty, miles of fields, canola, flax, wheat, cattle, and some interesting little towns on the way.  Of course where there are right, is that by dropping south, through Wyoming you can see Yellowstone, and then the Black Hills in South Dakota.  Now that is really pretty country.

But if you do go through Canada, stop off the forks in Winnipeg, see the Legislature, maybe walk through the St. Boniface Cemetery, visit the grey nuns' museum.  Of course if you do venture further north, you can get on the Yellowhead, then camp in Riding Mountain.  

Once in Ontario, your options are really limited.  You can take the #11 to Fort Francis  or the #17 to Dryden and then Thunder Bay.  Do stay on the #17 along superior.  It is beautiful and shouldn't be missed.  

The next choice is whether to By-pass Ottawa by taking the #11 north and then through Quebec.  If you haven't seen Ottawa you should.  Parliament Hill, the Byward Market, the Rideau Canal are all highlights.  Then you can get to Montreal, which also should not be missed.  Go up the mountain, hike around, see the old port.  It is a beautiful city.  Also Quebec city is an absolute 'must see'.  It is filled with old world charm, and has an aura of history, walk the Plains of Abraham, walk along the narrow streets of the lower city.    

When you are in Quebec, you can go north to Saint Anne de Beaupre (if so inclined) see Montmorency falls, or do a tour, and camp on Isle d'Orleans (great local cheeses, sausage, sauces, honey, etc.)

Depending on how much time you have, if short cross at Quebec city, or you can ride up to Tadoussac, then cross the St. Lawrence by Ferry at Les Escoumins.  The ride up the north coast is spectacularly beautiful, and again there is great camping between Tadoussac and Les Escoumins.  Then again if you have time, do the loop around the Gaspe, see Perce rock, and then head off on the north shore of New Brunswick to Nova Scotia.

Gee, almost makes me wanna load up the bike and head east...almost...

(Truly, there are some great things to see on a trip across Canada...it's just that, in my experience, the roads tend to be rather straight across the prairies, not really the most exciting for riding.  I would like to ride around Lake Superior, see Ottawa, and visit Quebec City again--and the Maritimes as well.)

[ice-cycle]

Gee, almost makes me wanna load up the bike and head east...almost...

(Truly, there are some great things to see on a trip across Canada...it's just that, in my experience, the roads tend to be rather straight across the prairies, not really the most exciting for riding.  I would like to ride around Lake Superior, see Ottawa, and visit Quebec City again--and the Maritimes as well.)

I am originally from BC, moved first to Toronto in 1976 to 1981, and basically drove home every summer.  Since then I have lived in northern Manitoba, and for the last 21 years in Quebec, and still head home most summers to see family --now in Nelson.  I have never understood the old saw, "the prairies are boring".  I love them.  The only thing that bothers me about the prairies are wearing the centre off the tires, but that is it.  My dad was from Ponteix, and my mom was from northern Saskatchewan, near Bruno.  I grew up with tales of the dirty thirties, hunting gophers, and shooting rabbits for food, men heading off to the logging camps of Quebec for work, and migration during the 30s to BC.  

What does this have to do with touring?  Well it is just that having driven and ridden countless times across this country, it all feels like home.  Broad, expansive, and beautiful.  The back roads of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba are alive with birds, whitetail, prong horn, gophers.  The fields are just so exquisite, especially when there is a breeze that turns yellows into golden dancing, or the blue of the sky mixes with the flax...  Anyhow, I guess I just want to remind people that if you open you eyes and your heart you will see the beauty of the prairies.  

Just another short story, I stopped in Ponteix this summer, and walked around the small town.  There is an enormous Catholic Church in the town, and I pulled my motorcycle in front, to take a photo.  An old man who had just come out, stopped, and asked, "where are you from", I replied, "BC but my dad was from here."  Next, of course he asked, "what was your dad's name".  I told him, and he responded, "Your dad was my best friend growing up."  "After the war, he got a 1945 45 Harley, and I had a triumph we travelled all around together".  It turned out that when I was about 12 years old, on our trip to Ottawa, we had stayed at this man's farm.  He remembered the visit.  Next, he walked me around the 'town' and showed me where my grandparents had lived and where my aunt was born.  It was lovely.  Later, I stopped at the cemetery, and got talking to a woman jogging along.  It turned out that we had relatives in common, and she knew my aunt quite well, as whenever she came to Ponteix, this woman did her hair.  

Maybe these stories, are just a way of saying, slow down, talk to people, and try to appreciate the joy of life on the prairies.

[Kootenanny]

I am originally from BC, moved first to Toronto in 1976 to 1981, and basically drove home every summer.  Since then I have lived in northern Manitoba, and for the last 21 years in Quebec, and still head home most summers to see family --now in Nelson.  I have never understood the old saw, "the prairies are boring".  I love them.  The only thing that bothers me about the prairies are wearing the centre off the tires, but that is it.  My dad was from Ponteix, and my mom was from northern Saskatchewan, near Bruno.  I grew up with tales of the dirty thirties, hunting gophers, and shooting rabbits for food, men heading off to the logging camps of Quebec for work, and migration during the 30s to BC.  

What does this have to do with touring?  Well it is just that having driven and ridden countless times across this country, it all feels like home.  Broad, expansive, and beautiful.  The back roads of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba are alive with birds, whitetail, prong horn, gophers.  The fields are just so exquisite, especially when there is a breeze that turns yellows into golden dancing, or the blue of the sky mixes with the flax...  Anyhow, I guess I just want to remind people that if you open you eyes and your heart you will see the beauty of the prairies.  

Just another short story, I stopped in Ponteix this summer, and walked around the small town.  There is an enormous Catholic Church in the town, and I pulled my motorcycle in front, to take a photo.  An old man who had just come out, stopped, and asked, "where are you from", I replied, "BC but my dad was from here."  Next, of course he asked, "what was your dad's name".  I told him, and he responded, "Your dad was my best friend growing up."  "After the war, he got a 1945 45 Harley, and I had a triumph we travelled all around together".  It turned out that when I was about 12 years old, on our trip to Ottawa, we had stayed at this man's farm.  He remembered the visit.  Next, he walked me around the 'town' and showed me where my grandparents had lived and where my aunt was born.  It was lovely.  Later, I stopped at the cemetery, and got talking to a woman jogging along.  It turned out that we had relatives in common, and she knew my aunt quite well, as whenever she came to Ponteix, this woman did her hair.  

Maybe these stories, are just a way of saying, slow down, talk to people, and try to appreciate the joy of life on the prairies.

I lived for a while on the Prairies--southern Saskatchewan and also in Manitoba for a bit.  When in Moose Jaw, I used to ride around the highway cloverleaf again and again just to get some leaning in...I quickly gave up and bought a car, which is my preferred mode of travel on prairie roads

I've driven across the Prairies on a few occasions, and yes it's worth doing and seeing...just not on my bike (perhaps on a bike better suited to "slabbing...").

I also grew up with lots of stories from the prairies--both parents are from central Alberta, and my Dad worked for the CNR during the early 50s as a relief station agent (for 7 years, he moved from place to place all across the prairies, his longest single stint being 6 weeks in North Battleford).  When my parents first came to BC (I was 2), they moved to Castlegar; they were only here for a few years, but I moved out here from Vancouver 20 years ago, and while I enjoy the odd visit to the prairies, I can't imagine leaving the Nelson area for good.

[boxer briefs]

Greetings from North Bay, Ontario. Thanks all for your comments. I left Seattle as planned on Sat, and since I have an event to be at in Montreal tomorrow, I did "suffer through" the praries on the slab that is Hwy1. I have previously been through the northern US and decided to do something different on this trip and travel eastbound entirely in Canada. (Of course, I will be returning westbound through the US). Agreed that taking the correct road and not being in a hurry makes all the difference through the praries. I have some fond memories of taking US2 nearly the entire way from Michigan's UP to Idaho.

But, since I was in a hurry...I have stayed in Canada since crossing from WA to BC @ Sumas, taking hwy3 to Medicine Hat and then taking the Trans Canada from there. Ontario was a welcome change, but damn it's big! Five nights on the road and three of them spent in Ontario!

I will be in Montreal tomorrow and staying a couple of days, then Quebec city, prob the N side of St Lawrence and ferry over to loop around the Gaspe, down coastal New Brunswick to PEI and Nova Scotia.

After all that, down the coast of Maine then whatever I can squeeze in of New England until I have to head back west, most likely via the most expediant route at that point.

Thanks again for the input and stories!

[Kootenanny]

Enjoy Quebec City, and the rest of the trip!

[jp]

Lemme know if you need guide/info from Nova Scotia - Cape Breton! We can try to even out the wear on your tires and take a little off the sidewalls...

[Air_Bob1]

Two years ago I rode from Duvall, WA to Montreal. I took Highway 2 all the way to Bemidji, MN. I had intened to stay on Highway 2 all the way to Duluth but a park ranger in Bemidji gave me an alernate route that skipped Duluth and put me on the shores of Lake Superior near Temerance State Park. I then headed north to Thunder Bay and rode Highway 17 all the way to Sudbury, ON.
From Sudbury I made my way to Huntsville and camped at Arrowhead Provincial Park. From there I rode through Algonquin Provincial Park. My friend rode out from Montreal and met me in Renfrew. We then rode to his place near Montreal. I was happy with my chosen route. Came back on a more southerly route.