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Chizzle d'Chizzledom
Somewhere quite nice,
United Kingdom
Posts: 6,079
Premier Member
Speed Triple (05->)
03 Jan 2008 10:04 |
On a 3 week ride in mid-August from Toronto to Vancouver I will be travelling light - just one rucksack of about 20-25 litres. So what should be in it?
So far I've got:
A small LED torch
A Compass
A Swiss Army pen knife
A Road Map
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ST
Surrey/Berks/Hants,
United Kingdom
Posts: 13,524
Premier Member
Speed Triple 955i (02-04)
03 Jan 2008 10:05 |
spray can of Bear MACE 
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Rob BBTB
Birmingham,
United Kingdom
Posts: 22,944
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
03 Jan 2008 10:12 |
A true light-traveller, takes a credit card & a tooth brush.
Anything else is just excess baggage.
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Chizzle d'Chizzledom
Somewhere quite nice,
United Kingdom
Posts: 6,079
Premier Member
Speed Triple (05->)
03 Jan 2008 10:43 |
[edited]:
ST
I'm not planning on doing any camping (not my style in any fashion!). So if I carry a can of anything it will be puncture repair gunge.
If, however, anyone convinces me that some MACE is a must have then I'll have to find space for it I guess ... 
Rob
My thoughts exactly ... but then certain practicalities enter my head like ... if I pull some decent young blonde from Winnipeg in a bar one night should I have a clean pair of underpants and socks on ...?  An unlikely scenario I know, but I was a Boy Scout and I am a Villa fan and both of their motto's expound the virtues of preparedness ...
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ST
Surrey/Berks/Hants,
United Kingdom
Posts: 13,524
Premier Member
Speed Triple 955i (02-04)
03 Jan 2008 10:59 |
programme I saw about bears still very fresh in my mind !
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Barney
South West,
United Kingdom
Posts: 3,897
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
03 Jan 2008 13:30 |
KY
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Chizzle d'Chizzledom
Somewhere quite nice,
United Kingdom
Posts: 6,079
Premier Member
Speed Triple (05->)
03 Jan 2008 14:14 |
Barney
I'm sure that's a useful suggestion - but do you think I would need it for the blonde or to cure my saddle sores? 
Personally I have never had use for it previously .... or maybe I have but never realised it!
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Angry Harri
Wiltshire,
United Kingdom
Posts: 27,398
Premier Member
Speed Triple (95-96)
03 Jan 2008 14:20 |
Camera & Spam
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Chizzle d'Chizzledom
Somewhere quite nice,
United Kingdom
Posts: 6,079
Premier Member
Speed Triple (05->)
03 Jan 2008 14:56 |
Camera 
Spam
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Barney
South West,
United Kingdom
Posts: 3,897
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
03 Jan 2008 14:58 |
I thouht it might come in handy if you ran into the two old boys from "Broke Back Mountain"
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Chizzle d'Chizzledom
Somewhere quite nice,
United Kingdom
Posts: 6,079
Premier Member
Speed Triple (05->)
03 Jan 2008 16:02 |
They won't need any feckin' Jelly - they'll need a good map to steer a wide detour around me ....
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Fret.
South.,
United Kingdom
Posts: 37,101
Premier Member
Tiger 1050 (07->)
03 Jan 2008 20:34 |
All I would need is a gargantuan supply of johniees so that I can keep the women that I meet happy
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dave miles
Arizona,
USA
Posts: 225
Enthusiast
04 Jan 2008 03:58 |
maybe some of that slime tire repair stuff to get you out of a jam, a GPS?, a set of allen wrenches. And definitely some bug spray, the black flys can get pretty bad in Canada and they're nasty bitey buggers.
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dave miles
Arizona,
USA
Posts: 225
Enthusiast
04 Jan 2008 04:03 |
[edited]:
One of these should roll up nice too http://www.drinkstuff.com.....21189_large.jpg
just incase you turn up dry at the bars
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Angry Harri
Wiltshire,
United Kingdom
Posts: 27,398
Premier Member
Speed Triple (95-96)
04 Jan 2008 08:09 |
Fret:
All I would need is a gargantuan supply of johniees so that I can keep the women that I meet happy |
Or just one gargantuan Johnny that go's right over your whole body to keep everybody happy
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Rob BBTB
Birmingham,
United Kingdom
Posts: 22,944
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
04 Jan 2008 10:01 |
But then he couldn't breathe !
Oh..right
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Chizzle d'Chizzledom
Somewhere quite nice,
United Kingdom
Posts: 6,079
Premier Member
Speed Triple (05->)
04 Jan 2008 10:09 |
dave miles
The 1st suggestions are , the 2nd I'm not so sure about - but only because I don't think I'd have that much puff after a long day in the saddle, and I'm not carrying a cylinder of air around with me ...
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dave miles
Arizona,
USA
Posts: 225
Enthusiast
04 Jan 2008 19:03 |
that's what the slime is for
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Blizzard
Coventry,
United Kingdom
Posts: 22,880
Premier Member
Daytona 955i (04->)
04 Jan 2008 22:33 |
Get a puncture repair kit and a stripped down 12v compressor. The slime stuff is a right pain when you get the tyres replaced and also means you don't know when you've had a puncture. This might be just about acceptable in a car but I wouldn't ever take the risk on a bike. There's also the cost of the slime especially if you put sports tyres on which might only last 3000 miles
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Boycie
Valhöll,
United Kingdom
Posts: 8,642
Premier Member
Speed Triple (05->)
04 Jan 2008 23:44 |
2 'climate' t-shirts (dry quickly ..blah blah)
3 pants (wash 1, dry one, wear one)
2 sock pairs
trousers with zip off legs
Fleece
Something for your feet other than boots..
tube of 'everything wash' ... shower with it ... wash pants with it (just in case the places you stay don't have those small freebies)
leatherman (if nothing else it will open a bottle of beer)
cap (for bad hair days ... )
guide book of funky places to visit - and accommodation
PACSAFE for locking your shit to the bike while you leave it unattended
Tri-Band Mobile with international roaming enabled
Shades
Preparation H as it is a looooong way ... 
and stuff
can't think now ... have a shitty cold and pissed 
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Frank Jones
NY,
USA
Posts: 2,292
Premier Member
Sprint RS (02-05)
06 Jan 2008 06:22 |
I'll let you know.................
I'm hopefully reaching Pickle Crow Lake, Northern Ontario, on my way back from the MotoGP in July
http://maps.google.com/maps?tab=wl&hl=en
If the bears or the Canadian blondes don't get me.........................or the Canadian blonde bears.............who allegedly are as rough as a bears arse.................
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Col Slade
Swinton,Manchester,
United Kingdom
Posts: 379
Premier Member
Sprint RS (00-01)
06 Jan 2008 22:45 |
Is your rucksack on your back or bungid on? I used a sports bag travelling light, traveled 140miles to me caravan at Abersoch,never again, the extra weight on me arms was bloody awful, just had a change of clothes for at night ,odds n sods .. i left most of what i could down there for the return trip home.... id use a tank bag probably next time ....
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Chris Line
Cowes,Isle of Wight.,
United Kingdom
Posts: 8,272
Premier Member
Speed Triple 955i (99-01)
06 Jan 2008 23:19 |
[edited]:
I used to carry - gaffer tape, relays, fuses........................and in NF my Garmin hand help GPS and cell phone! (Now have handlebar mount) - as Canada is HUGE!
What are you riding, as knowing "Fuel mileage" might be useful?? - long way between stops sometimes!
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Chizzle d'Chizzledom
Somewhere quite nice,
United Kingdom
Posts: 6,079
Premier Member
Speed Triple (05->)
08 Jan 2008 14:23 |
Boycie Good stuff. How you doing mate? Have a couple of large Brandies before bedtime for 'medicinal purpose only' of course. I had thought about just the one cheap t-shirt and binning it and buying another cheap one to replace it. I suppose I'd better get down to Milletts pretty soon.
Frank Look forward to hearing about it - enjoy it. But better post it up quick as I'm planning to be off in mid-August
col slade On my back. I've done it before (although admittedly, not quite that far!), and it's why I'm planning on doing it light. If I manage to find a bike with panniers already fitted then it will make things a bit easier.
Chris Line knowing you'd been there for a while I was hoping you'd see this thread. Ta.
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Col Slade
Swinton,Manchester,
United Kingdom
Posts: 379
Premier Member
Sprint RS (00-01)
08 Jan 2008 22:32 |
Actually its reminded me where the bloody stuffs gone (down at the van)
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Chizzle d'Chizzledom
Somewhere quite nice,
United Kingdom
Posts: 6,079
Premier Member
Speed Triple (05->)
09 Jan 2008 09:07 |
[edited]:
Chris Line I don't know what I'll be riding yet - ideally it would be a 955i Tiger, but as I am looking to buy in Toronto and sell in Vancouver I guess they will be pretty scarce. In that case I'll probably end up with something sensible like a Yamaha Fazer 600/1000, Bandit, Varadero, Transalp or some other boring wheels. I was looking the other day and I probably stand a better chance of getting a 955i Sprint/RS/Daytona - any of those would be fine also. I saw a Sprint with luggage for about $4500 (Can) and that sort of thing would be perfect. I would be happy with a Multistrada 1100 as well.
The problem is that I will have to wait until a few weeks before departure to secure something and then it's a case of what is available.
One of the other guys on here was good enough to send me some local rags so I could get a feel for the market over there - he works at a Ducati dealership and suggested I contacted Ducati Canada to see if they feel like offering the loan of a bike - he thinks that if it's got a charidee connection and it appeals it might work. I was think of saying "Let me do it on the most inappropriate bike you've got for this kind of trip .. like a hypermotard perhaps?". That's gotta be worth a shot ...!
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Chris Line
Cowes,Isle of Wight.,
United Kingdom
Posts: 8,272
Premier Member
Speed Triple 955i (99-01)
09 Jan 2008 17:35 |
[edited]:
One thing that comes to mind is...............Insurance?
That could be a problen?
As you are not staying!
If you can get it sorted, you may need to "Prove" any NCB etc that you have in the UK - otherwise it could be very expensive!!!
I was paying ~ £150 for "Public Liability!" - "Comprehensive" was about $3000Ca (£1500) as I had "No Experience?" - despite riding in UK/Europe for 30 years???
And............Licence!
Some Provinces will accept a UK licence - where I was it was excepted for 3 months, then I had to take the "Local Test" (On the S3?) - otherwise they wouldn't Insure me, as they are directly linked (You have to put your licence number and social insurance number on the vehicle insurance form?)
But, as you are there for 3 weeks it shouldn't matter?
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Chizzle d'Chizzledom
Somewhere quite nice,
United Kingdom
Posts: 6,079
Premier Member
Speed Triple (05->)
10 Jan 2008 12:14 |
[edited]:
Cheers Chris. Licence is okay due to the time I'll be there for, but I think I have found an insurer who can provide insurance just for the duration at a reasonable cost. They are here https://www.motorcycleservices.com
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Chris Line
Cowes,Isle of Wight.,
United Kingdom
Posts: 8,272
Premier Member
Speed Triple 955i (99-01)
10 Jan 2008 14:21 |
[edited]:
One thing I would do - is to get a "Cell Phone" (Mobile to us) - or get your UK one adapted for use in Canada/USA.
Though AAA membership (CAA) is available, though where I was not a lot of people had it??
The place is HUGE - I was 600 miles from my local Triumph dealer, and 400 miles from the boat!
And, not a lot on the road to the boat!
Though I did take it back for a service, and toured Newfoundland and Nova Scotia en route!
So, a "Cell Phone" is a necessity in reality, and, a list of all the Bike dealers en route (Just in case!).
And..................if you get a GPS - Canada may be cheaper (I have a Garmin e-trex), as it will be loaded with N.America & Canada maps!!!
Most of all - enjoy it, I would do the same as you one day!
The People are fantastic, the scenery....................oh well, you'll see!
And watch out for Bears, Moose, Lynx etc on the road!
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Frank Jones
NY,
USA
Posts: 2,292
Premier Member
Sprint RS (02-05)
14 Jan 2008 23:58 |
No problem mate, acupuncture is kicking in ( again), I'll try n post asap....should be back a week/ after MotoGP ...no later than a fortnight!!
I'm thinking of one of these, afore I go again......already have radar/gps etc......
http://www.vholdr.com/
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Frank Jones
NY,
USA
Posts: 2,292
Premier Member
Sprint RS (02-05)
09 May 2008 07:49 |
UPDATE:
Since my "ahem" little accident on writing off the Pathfinder, trip to Canada is lookin
very unlikely,
Doc,Wife,lawyer are all against me even going to CA for the US MotoGP........
Seems I may have to wait, and even if I do go, Canada may be stretching it a bit, even for an ex Courier like me........blah,blah,blah!!!!!
Last count is,( I hope it's the last), 7 herniated/dessicated discs, 6 in my neck!!! and a T1..
Fook!!!!!!!!!................................
So I may well be asking YOU how was Canada.........., if you want to borrow my TT Rider One, and Escort 8500........and PROMISE to bring 'em back......in one piece, hopefully, summat could be worked out!!!( You bring me a Canadian Bear..........no .wait, a Canadian Blonde......not a Bear!!!!!!!!)
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Chizzle d'Chizzledom
Somewhere quite nice,
United Kingdom
Posts: 6,079
Premier Member
Speed Triple (05->)
09 May 2008 09:48 |
Ouch! Best of luck Frank.
Listen, if I manage to find even one Canadian Blonde that I can hook up with then a)I'll be lucky, and b) I don't like sharing!
Very kind offer on the TT Rider .... but I like maps and I have a compass, even so I think I'd better inform the RCMP of my plans just in case the map gets wet or the compass is a UK only version .....
I need to start doing some more planning .... the first part of the route is planned pretty much, and I know that I need to be in Vancouver about 3 days before I fly back. Prior to that I made my mind up that I'm going to go to Tofino on Vancouver Island. I reckon this will leave me a week to play around in the Rockies.
My next step is to start booking some accommodation. Have you ever used any of the Hostels? I know that some are better than others, and so I'll just have to take the rough with the smooth I guess.
That last thing I'll be sorting out is the bike .... the one that I think I want is the Kawasaki KLR650 which should be okay for both the Highway and the tracks. They seem pretty popular over there, they are fairly cheap to buy, but they also seem to be a sure fire bet when it comes to selling as well ... they aren't available over here, but having spent a bit of time checking out bikes they crop up a lot of the time as being well liked.
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Frank Jones
NY,
USA
Posts: 2,292
Premier Member
Sprint RS (02-05)
10 May 2008 03:50 |
I HAVE seen some pretty good reports, over here, on the KLR
Was this not a UK spec Bike not too long ago??????
Only used the Hostels in US,not Canada,so can't comment........I know if you search early you can get some mean one night/two night stays in roachmotels.......sorry Motels pretty cheaply, especially since you are from the affluent UK...your "quids" will go a looooooong way out here just now..........( I expect Canada is a bargain too)
Well, I can empathise with the good old fashioned "toilet paper maps"......
Good luck!!!
Don't forget the ride report!!!
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Chris Line
Cowes,Isle of Wight.,
United Kingdom
Posts: 8,272
Premier Member
Speed Triple 955i (99-01)
10 May 2008 18:59 |
Mmm - when I went to Nova Scotia, I contacted the "Local" Tourist Board, and ended up in "B&B" - excellent value at about $50Ca per night (OK, some years ago now) - basically the same as The UK!
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Chizzle d'Chizzledom
Somewhere quite nice,
United Kingdom
Posts: 6,079
Premier Member
Speed Triple (05->)
12 May 2008 09:46 |
My sister sent me a link for a map of BBCanada.com. They seem to be going at around $70 to $120 per night now, so although I will be using these on occasion I'll be using Hosteling International (Hihostels.com) wherever I can to save a bit on the money, although the Lonely Planet Guide advises to stay clear on a couple of them ... this is because I want to treat myself for a couple of nights in Vancouver before I fly home by staying here ....
http://www.starwoodhotels.....o_section_1Link
After nearly 4 weeks in the saddle I think I will have earned it!
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Chris Line
Cowes,Isle of Wight.,
United Kingdom
Posts: 8,272
Premier Member
Speed Triple 955i (99-01)
12 May 2008 14:51 |
Mine was a "Private House" - little old lady run it, about 500yds from a "British" (Style) Pub, with a collection of "Real Ales" - in fact, after going for a few a bloke locally was playing the bloody bagpipes outside - found out he was the Vet?
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