Monday, July 4 – The Elk Lake Eco Centre, Cochrane

Tuesday, July 5 – Cochrane to Timmins, Timmins to Kirkland Lake

Wednesday, July 6 – Kirkland Lake to Matachewan, Matachewan to Sudbury

 Killarney Provincial Park

Thursday, July 7 – Sudbury

Friday, July 8 – Sudbury, North Bay, back to Toronto for 12 hours (MJ’s hosting the Big Sound at the Great Hall)

Saturday, July 9 – Toronto to North Bay (Ed joins us)

Sunday, July 10 North Bay Airport – The Runway Romp in North Bay – Vintage Bike Racing

The Lake Temiskaming Loop Tour

Monday, July 11 – North Bay to Duhamel Ouest

Tuesday, July 12 – Duhamel Ouest to Notre Dame du Nord

Wednesday, July 13 – Notre Dame du Nord to Temagami

Thursday, July 14 – Temagami to Sturgeon Falls

Lake Nipissing and North Bay

Friday, July 15 – North Bay, Lake Nipissing & environs

Saturday, July 16 – North Bay to Gooderham

Haliburton and the Kawarthas, Ottawa Valley

Sunday, July 17 – Gooderham – OFTR Soggy Boot Trail Ride

Monday, July 18 – Haliburton Area

Tuesday, July 19 – Gooderham to Renfrew

Algonquin Provincial Park

Wednesday, July 20 – Renfrew to Huntsville

Wasaga Beach, The South Shore of Georgian Bay and Home!

Thursday, July 21 – Huntsville to Penetanguishine, Penetanguishine to Wasaga Beach

Friday, July 22 – Wasaga Beach to Owen Sound, Owen Sound to Durham

Saturday, July 23, Durham to Toronto

 The North Shore of Lake Superior and Thunder Bay

Thursday, June 23 – Agawa Bay to Wawa

Friday, June 24 – Wawa to Marathon

Saturday, June 25 -Marathon to Nipigon

Sunday, June 26 – Nipigon to Thunder Bay

Monday, June 27  – Thunder Bay and environs

The FAR North – Highway 11 from Thunder Bay to New Liskeard

Tuesday, June 28 – Thunder Bay to Geraldton

Wednesday, June 29 – Geraldton to Kapuskasing

Thursday, June 30 – Kapuskasing to New Liskeard

The Bikers Reunion in New Liskeard

Friday, July 1 – Sunday, July 3

Ontario’s Wilderness Region

Monday, July 4 – New Liskeard to Cochrane

Tuesday, July 5 – Cochrane to Timmins, Timmins to Kirkland Lake

Wednesday, July 6 – Kirkland Lake to Matachewan, Matachewan to Sudbury

Killarney Provincial Park

Thursday, July 7 – Sudbury to Killarney Provincial Park, Killarney to Parry Sound

Friday, July 8 – Saturday, July 9 – The Parry Sound Bike Rally 

Sunday, July 10 North Bay Airport – The Runway Romp in North Bay – Vintage Bike Racing

The Lake Temiskaming Loop Tour

Monday, July 11 – North Bay to Duhamel Ouest

Tuesday, July 12 – Duhamel Ouest to Notre Dame du Nord

Wednesday, July 13 – Notre Dame du Nord to Temagami

Thursday, July 14 – Temagami to Sturgeon Falls

Lake Nipissing and North Bay

Friday, July 15 – North Bay, Lake Nipissing & environs

Saturday, July 16 – North Bay to Gooderham

Haliburton and the Kawarthas, Ottawa Valley

Sunday, July 17 – Gooderham – OFTR Soggy Boot Trail Ride

Monday, July 18 – Haliburton Area

Tuesday, July 19 – Gooderham to Renfrew

Algonquin Provincial Park

Wednesday, July 20 – Renfrew to Huntsville

Wasaga Beach, The South Shore of Georgian Bay and Home!

Thursday, July 21 – Huntsville to Penetanguishine, Penetanguishine to Wasaga Beach

Friday, July 22 – Wasaga Beach to Owen Sound, Owen Sound to Durham

Saturday, July 23, Durham to Toronto

It is 10:30 ish. We got up at 8 and basically have not stopped since then. At the end of each day I find myself pleasantly amused that we’ve done so much, that it wasn’t a years vacations remembered all in one sitting, but only the contents of one day.

We got up, went to the Elliot Lake Fire Tower where we saw Manitoulin Island from a great distance, then headed up to the Deer Trail Touring Route. We’re still editing video from this trip, and should have it up shortly. It was great fun, but probably best suited for the adventure touring set.

Then we hit Highway 129.

This is without a doubt the best riding road we’ve encountered so far. Made me feel like the first day I rode a motorcycle all over again. We’re working on that video too, but combine the roller-coasteryness of a country backroad graded like a heavily forested race track, and views of lakes, rivers and enormous cliffs and mountains, through an incredibly tranquil, sparsely populated wilderness and you start to get the idea.

Tomorrow, we’ve got a ton of stuff to catch up on in the AM, but are hoping to hit the Soo for a couple of attractions in the PM, such as the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Museum. You all know how much I like old machines…

-Mike

View Larger Map

We ran through Grey-Bruce and experienced it’s hospitality and great riding roads. We sped across Manitoulin, met dozens of friendly riders and left with high spirits. We rode with 300 other riders in the Ride for Dad parade in North Bay. I got to ride not one, but two amazing Harley’s at The Shop in Subury today. A life-changing experience to say they least.

And now we’re just outside Elliot Lake, preparing to do two of the most beloved motorcycle roads in the province tomorrow; the Deer Circle tour and Highway 129. And then it’s on to the North Shore of Lake Superior, a route that nearly every rider we’ve met can’t stop talking about. And there’s another 20 days to go after that.

Somehow everything is falling into place, despite having tons of work to do each night (this blog doesn’t pay the bills you know) and everytime we hit a snag, something either comes along and quickly solves our problem, or we just accept it and move on. It’s been pretty peaceful, through and through. I had a big pang of missing my friends the other day – not the traffic, or the hustle, or the endless pressure and stress, but the people in my life everyday, even those I don’t see as much as I’d like to.

But sitting around the campfire this evening, I’ve started to feel something else. The pull of the “next” that life on the road seems to create.

Now I’m not sure I’m going to want to go home at the end. Who’s up for the Ultimate Southern Ontario Road trip, eh? Starting July 23rd?

-Mike

For many, this route is the “piece-de-resistance” of a road trip to Manitoulin as it winds through the La Cloche Mountains(among the oldest mountain ranges on earth), complete with fabulous rock cuts.  This is our departure route from Manitoulin as we’re heading east to Sudbury and then North Bay for the Ride for Dad.  (We’re actually going to be in the North Bay area three times on this trip… this is the first.)

But first, our last days on the Island.  From Mindemoya, we’ll pick up Hwy. 6 and head to Little Current, which is the last town on the northeast of Manitoulin Island.  The Swing Bridge at Little Current occasionally impedes progress on the road as it lets boating traffic travel between Georgian Bay and the North Channel.

Small towns along the highway include Whitefish Falls and picturesque Willisville.  Just before we take to Highway 17 is the town of Espanola.  Gas up.  Food up.

We’re on a mission to get to North Bay, but along the way is Sudbury and of course we’ll stop at “The Shop”, Sudbury’s noted Harley Davidson retailer.  These folks will be happy to rent you a Harley for your own riding experience.  We also know a few riders in the area, and we’re hoping to hook up with them too.

The last leg of our trip today is to head into North Bay to hook up with the Ride for Dad event.  Their registration is from 3-to-7 pm in North Bay and we want to get signed up to join them on the ride the next day.  Hey, why don’t YOU come talk to us when you register?  In addition to the motorcycles, we’re in a 31-ft CanaDream RV that’s pretty clearly marked with “Ultimate Road Trip” signs… just look for the red plaid!

We’re gonna eat downtown at the Bull & Quench pub, a handout for the Nipissing Section (chapter) of the Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group (CVMG).  Then, we’re “boondocking” in our RV in the Canadian Tire parking lot with the Ride for Dad folks, ready for the event on Saturday.  (Well, REAL boondocking is in the middle of nature without hookups, but we’re halfway there without hookups).

See you in the morning, and we’ll go raise some money for prostate cancer.

On Wednesday, we were out at the west end of the island, and today we will explore the east end.  Still working out of our base at Mindemoya Court Cottages and Campgounds, our escorts will meet up with us in the morning and take us out and about.

We’re going to meander, and the actual route is up to our (spirit?) guides, but we KNOW we’re including these elements…

Mid-island, there the Bridal Veil Falls in Kagawong.  It’s a hike, but you can make it short of long.  We’re told that lots of riders do it in their gear.  Once at the falls, you can take a dip, and even get behind the curtain of water in the falls!

East of there is the famous Cup-and-Saucer trail.  Part of the Niagara Escarpement, this is the highest point of land on the Island and offers an INCREDIBLE view.  It’s another hike that we’re told bikes do all the time.  We’ll check it out and let you know!

Still further east is the First Nations town of Sheguiandah.  Here, at Ten Mile Point, is an incredible view east across the top of Georgian Bay to Killarney.  We’ll continue south and east to Wikwemikong, the largest unceded First Nations community.  Up the peninsula on Rabbit Island Road we’ll come to another scenic vista.

We’ll head back to our Campground, but before stopping for the day, we will head to Providence Bay.  This is home to a magnificent sand beach, complete with boardwalk.

Manitoulin is rich in First Nations history and throughout nthe year there are events and PowWows.  We’ll get a taste of the geography and culture in our brief visit, and we’ll tell you the story so you can choose how to spend your time.

It’s a two-hour sailing to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island, where will will disembark and head to Mindemoya, pretty much in the centre of the island.  Our host will be the fine folks at Mendemoya Court Cottages and Campground.  Greg Adams (he and his family run the place) is a motorcyclist and may ride with us a bit over the next two days.

We’ll be met at South Baymounh by Colin Wilson of the Municipality of Central Manitoulin and Steven Fox-Radulovich a fanatical rider from Kagawong on the Island.  Together, they will show us some of the routes and venues for Ride Manitoulin, a brand new rider event happening on July 23 & 24, 2011.  We will head out at about 1:00 p.m. (watch for updates) and follow routes through Gore Bay and out to the west end of the island, Meldrum Bay.  We’ll visit the folks at the Meldrum Bay Inn, a 100-year old inn with a great restaurant – and an affinity for bikers.  This is a fair hike out, and we’ll be on the road for about six hours.  Good news?  LOTS of daylight at this time of year.  Then, back to the campground for a rest before we explore the eastern end of the island on Thursday.

Further up Road 9, we’ll come to Lion’s Head.  Of course there’s a lighthouse, but the main attraction is our overnight destination, Taylor Made Bed and Breakfast, a more-than-biker-friendly spot favoured by those on two wheels.  Dave and Barbara Wynd, the owners, are both riders and we’re hoping to go for a scoot with them on some of their favourite roads, before it gets dark (lots of daylight on June 14).

Maybe we’ll get up to the Grotto, in Bruce Peninsula National Park.  It’s about an hour up from Lion’s Head, then there’s a hike, so we’ll see how we’re doing.  Watch for updates!!

On day 1 we’ll pick up our Motorhome from CanaDream, throw our legs over the bikes, and head west to the Lake Huron Shores.  We’ll be combining elements of the Bruce Coastal Lighthouse Tour, and “Explore the Bruce” 7th Annual “Adventure Passport.

En route, we will visit Passport Stop #12, the Waterworks Park (original building from 1890) in Lucknow, Ontario,  In Lucknow, there’s Armstrong’s Bakery.  I am sure we’ll be hungry by then.

Our first “coastal” destination is the Point Clark Lighthouse. We’ll head up along the coastal road, stopping in Kincardine to check out their lighthouse.  AND to sample the fare at Hawg’s Breath, a fabulous pub in town.

As we head out of town, we’ll check out the beaches and make a stop at the Lime Kiln in Inverhuron.  That’s Passport Stop #10, by the way, and its right by the Inverhuron Provincial park.

Our first overnight will be at one of Ontario’s prime provincial Parks, MacGregor Point.  Right on the shores of Lake Huron, this is a favourite spot for RVers.  We’re not travelling too far on our first day, as we have six people to settle in!!