Pat Thomas' Cross-Country Trek with SG Power & Kawasaki

It’s been a dream of Pat’s to drive across the country and with the help of SG Power of Victoria and Kawasaki, his dream is becoming a reality. Follow along as Pat checks in from the road as he travels from one Mile Zero to the other. Check back for updates.

Saturday August 1

Three down, 7 to go (provinces)  Speed limit in Alberta is 110.  Had a Toyota Yaris blow past me (while I was doing 130 like everyone else) at about 160.  I figure he was just happy to see more than 3 blocks of paved road with no traffic lights. Spent Saturday chasing the horizon across Saskatchewan. Visited some old favourite allergies…..it’s combine season and…well…..have you ever sneezed inside a helmet with the face shield down ??

 Sunday August 2

SO many cyclists crossing the country. Saw a dozen or so in both directions today. I’m missing Symphony Splash 🙁

Monday August 3

Ontario…I’m now 2 hours PAST the halfway point in Canada.

Highlights–I took a bee to the neck in Saskatchewan yesterday.  Today it is swollen. Tomorrow I may need to get a second helmet.

In Winnipeg today I met Tom. He pulled in to the gas station–on a BMW GS 1150. The ultimate SUV of the motorcycle world. He’s just moved from Victoria to Regina, was on a weekend ride to Winnipeg. So I tell him about my cross country ride….He’s all jealous. Then says that he rode that GS around the world 2 years ago.  I’m jealous.  But…I live in Victoria. He lives in Regina. I win.

https://soundcloud.com/robmichaelsradio/pats-cross-country-trek-with-sg-power

Tuesday August 4

A motorcyclist loves to see the word “arctic” on a day when it’s probably going to rain and he’s already wearing his extra jacket.  It didn’t rain.

And Northern Ontario is BEAUTIFUL !!!   Even when it’s chilly.  There are more lakes here than Victoria has transplanted Saskatchewanians.

Thursday’s ride will be along the top (north) shore of …The big lake they call Gitchigoumi. And now Gordon Lightfoot is stuck in your head. Lake Superior. Edmund Fitzgerald. Grade 7 history…?? Anyone ??

Thursday August 6

Last time I saw Terry–this monument was right beside the highway outside Thunder Bay, un-fenced and more accessible.  It was the late 80’s and our little tour group each placed a stack of coins on the map etched in the granite, on our home towns.  Now–the highway goes past the site, but the site is a whole park. A gathering place. An inspiring place. Thursday morning a group of cancer survivors were there–in a prayer.  Some of them old enough to have met Terry. Some who studied him in a history book.  There is one more statue of Terry Fox on this trip — at Mile Zero — St. John’s.

Thursday’s ride, to Sault Ste. Marie began well enough…A map given to me by Paul, who is head of Tourism Thunder Bay, a motorcyclist and a marketing genius, showed me a “scenic route”  Which just happened to include an hour of rain, an hour of construction/gravel and an hour of  “full goose bozo”. I’s a bit of a twisted piece of road. Highway 129, or as the locals call it “Chapleau Road”.  The combination of my Kawasaki Ninja 1000’s ABS, traction control, variable power modes and 135 horsepower all came in to play.  Wet gravel is not very sticky.  Oh–and the trip computer that told me that I had 90 km of fuel left, at a point where the road sign said I had 85 km to my destination — was darn handy as well.  Back off the throttle son, or you’ll be hiking. Did I mention the Kawasaki accessory gel seat ?? 12 hours in that seat Thursday, over 950 km covered — and I’m quite ready to get back on it for Friday.

Saturday was spent in the saddle and in Ottawa. Thanks to Gary for excellent directions through and around Montreal. And thanks to Glennis for snacks–and congrats you two on your 24th anniversary !!

Sunday will be spent getting through the rest of Quebec. Even the hotel computer on which I type–speaks ONLY French.

Observations on Ontario — the small towns are filled with episodes of Corner Gas in the making. Wonderful people just enjoying life. That part of the country is truly beautiful. In summer.

I realize how much of four years of high school French I retained.  Just enough to have the locals show sympathy and start speaking English to me.  Plus–this province has some of the lumpiest highways I’ve ever endured.  Thought for a while I was riding along railroad tracks.  C’est  comedie l’argent, oui ??

Again–many thanks to SG Power and Kawasaki Canada for….daring me to do this. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

https://soundcloud.com/robmichaelsradio/pat-thomas-update-2-from-north-bay-ontario

Pat likes motorcycles…….

Monday, Aug 10th

After spending some time — mostly because I was lost — I’ve learned that Fredericton is a delightful little city. History out the wazoo and a French accent to go with it. Thanks to Heather and Shelly at Shoppers Drug Mart for aiming me at my hotel. Being that I was lost, and was in need of some more earplugs, and there was a Shoppers right there….I, a man, asked for directions. Sorry to tamper with a stereotype.

Ever been to PEI ?  Last time I was there was in May one year. It was magical. The locals said “oh but wait till tourist season”  Right…tell ME, Victoria Guy about tourist season.  Well!!  Today’s visit to PEI was anything but pleasant. 12 km of bridge, behind 173 tour buses moving at the speed of Edna from Vermont and her camera….then wall to wall traffic on the main road to Charlottetown, which is pretty much under construction. Tourist season!!  And they flock there in multitudes. And rental motor-homes. Seems that everywhere I go…the stinkin’ tourists are in my way. Don’t you hate it when you travel–and there’s all the tourists ?

Oh…wait a minute…

PEI — best seen before school is out for the summer.  Well worth the drive. Or ride as the case may be.  My Ride–The Kawasaki Ninja 1000 thoroughly enjoyed the fact that I thought I was late for the ferry off of PEI.  I thought it went at 4:00. It sails at 4:30. And with that bridge “ferry traffic” hardly exists. So the curvy rural road and the Kawasaki got along right nicely. The RIP that thing makes as the tach hits 7000 rpm……even with fresh earplugs it is a thrill.  Never mind what happens when the tach goes 5 digits.  People have been asking if I’m stopping to look at things along the way.  Ummmmm….one does not ride a mildly tamed version of the motorcycle that is reigning World Superbike Champion across Canada to toddle around museums.  So no, I didn’t get you anything from Anne of  Green Gables Inc.

Tuesday, August 11th

No pictures today.  Here’s why.  The Cabot Trail on Cape Breton is perhaps the most fun I have ever had, while wearing a helmet.  The road is spectacular and the scenery and history are equally enchanting.  For the first 40 minutes I actually rode slowly, in traffic and marveled at the houses and the cliffs. You know how not long ago you’d get a free calendar from your insurance agent and banker every year, and there were always amazing pictures for each month ??  I rode through a calendar today.

After 40 minutes I caved in to the urge. I did the right thing. Snapped down the face shield and got on the throttle.  This road is FAR too great to waste, looking at rocks and trees!!  At a gas station near the start of the road the clerk said “Oh that trail is nasty — so up and down and twists and turns…I hate it ”  (imagine that in a thick Maritime accent–Cathy Jones/Mark Critch style)   And…that’s exactly the kind of road I’m loooking for.  When you catch yourself laughing, out loud, inside your helmet, while the horizon tilts and the toe of our boot drags on the pavement–you’ve found that road.

https://soundcloud.com/robmichaelsradio/pat-is-almost-there

In fact, at one point –Smoky Cape– I made a U-turn at the bottom and rode back up. Then had to turn around and ride back down to get to where I was going. Also figured out why it;s called Smoky Cape.  Mini van in front of me part way down….dad riding the brakes. Hot brakes make the most nasty of smoky smells.

Met Mike from New Hampshire at a construction slow down. He has ridden to Panama, and in Australia and says Cape Breton is his favourite place to …..shred a set of tires. My Kawasaki needs new tires.

One more riding day left–Will be in St John’s at the OTHER “Mile Zero” on Thursday.

There are a million stories from this trip.  Best way for me to share them is to encourage YOU to take a trip. Anywhere.  Shoot the breeze with locals.  Get lost. Get cold. Have an adventure.

Best to do it all on a motorcycle, but if a mini van is what’s in the driveway, gas it up and go!!!

And so it comes to an end. Mile Zero to Mile Zero. Two weeks, 13 riding days. One laundry day, one 16 hour ferry ride. One dreadful hotel (Port Hawkesbury) one gas station hot dog (Edmunston)

Two days of rain — the last two. The picture — on the last moments after we got off the ferry includes Tim and Mary from North Carolina who are continuing on to Labrador. And Rick, from Vancouver, who rode his custom built chopper, valued at 4 times the cost of my new Kawasaki Ninja 1000. Rick had a bit of a rough go of it. His shiny chrome ride broke down 3 times. Most recently in New Brunswick where it cost him 4 days and two thousand dollars.  Plus it doesn’t have traction control, ABS, selective power modes, fully adjustable suspension or factory matching luggage. Rick’s seat fell off. Twice, while he was trying to lash his bags of road essentials to it. But you know what??  Rick’s smile was as big as the rest of ours…he loves his bike and he loves to ride it. And there boys and girls is today’s lesson.

Be happy.

Of course if you’d  rather not have mechanical issues and general discomfort be part of your happiness, might I suggest a trip to SG Power.  Maybe 135 horsepower and the ability to eat road at a rate that will make your mother go grey are not for you. Kawasaki makes a great selection of motorcycles — each one as capable of making you happy as the next.

So what’s next ??  This adventure has been….perfect.  Not a hint of a problem. Never a missed beat. Then again, perhaps it’s that my head spent over 80 hours inside a helmet that made it perfect. It was cold, wet, dirty, sweaty, slippery, slow, fast, lost. You know, perfect. Would I do it again?? And again and again and again? Pfffttt…does a greasy criminal get busted again…and again and again? Darn tootin’ I’ll do this again.

.

Thursday August 13

Pat Thomas MADE IT!!!!

https://soundcloud.com/robmichaelsradio/pat-thomas-made-it-to-newfoundland

My thanks to SG Power and Kawasaki Canada for handing me the keys. 

Forbes and Marshall and I are all back on Ocean 98.5 on Tuesday.  We’ll chat then.

https://soundcloud.com/robmichaelsradio/pat-thomas-made-it-to-newfoundland