Solo Long Ride MB to BC, Nervous and Excited

Contact your card issuers and have them get you new cards.

 

I wouldn't worry about moose unless you're travelling at night.

Damn, you'll be here in the area the middle of the week? I won't be able to ride with you.

Regarding the chip, Canada is far more advanced than the US when it comes to debit cards for many years now. We have chips on our cards (both debit and credit) that are inserted into the payment machines and you must enter your PIN (we're on the Interac system). It's a hassle for us to use them in the USA at businesses but they work fine at the US banking machines??

There are some great places you can camp in the Whiteshell that I can recommend (my favourites are Otter Falls, West Hawk Lake, and Falcon Lake).

It will take you a full day to get from the Eastern part of Manitoba into Saskatchewan. Depending on the stops you make, you may want to over night in Riding Mountain National Park (gorgeous and a VERY short detour off Highway 16) or Assessippi Provincial Park. From my house to Regina is ~6-8 Hours with rests and fueling depending on your speeds and conditions.

How many hours of riding are you comfortable with in a day?

 

We don't celebrate Memorial Day here. Instead, we have Victoria Day (in honour of Queen Victoria's Birthday - Canada is a British commonwealth country) which occurs a few days earlier, and I have my buddy in from Baltimore (he's from here but studying there) and we're going turkey hunting and fishing that weekend prior to your arrival in Manitoba.

Riding Mountain is a "must see" ... make a little time for it.

12-16 hours in the saddle is a long day. It's difficult to enjoy and appreciate the sites (unless you're in Saskatchewan hahaha) if you're blazing a trail like that every day.

I typically ride no more than about 8 hours a day (on average I do about 5-6 once I've made base camp) unless I'm really pushing to get somewhere quickly such as meeting up with my buddies from other states / provinces ... the rest of the time I spend camping and exploring the areas.

 

Haha... the part of SK that you'll be riding through will be far better than the stuff you'd see taking the Trans-Canada highway (flat ... open ... watch a dog run away for days).

If you're through on the 26th, I could probably join you for a bit of riding in the evening depending on where you're camping.

Grand Beach is also a great bit of scenery. Wish you had more time here in Manitoba. There's some fantastic areas to visit in the province.

I have no problem doing the Iron Butt myself, but I really like stopping to check things out, explore, and talk with people I meet.

 

If you Re taking the Yellowhead route, hwy 6 in Manitoba I believe, which eventually goes through Saskatoon Saskatchewan, then up through Edmonton Alberta, then skip Banf. It is nice but extremely commercialized. Stay on the Yellowhead at go through Jasper National Park instead. Though I have never been there myself, it is touted as one of Canada's more beautiful National parks. Then continue on the Yellowhead through Prince George and on to Prince Rupert along the Higjway of Tears. Again, don't let the name and reputation of that highway put fear into you. All those who lost their lives or went missong were hitch hiking or at risk young women.

 

Randy ... that's Highway 16 (Yellowhead). I totally agree as well. Skip Banff and do Jasper instead.

 

Never thought about crossing the border with bear spray. YES! IT IS CONSIDERED A WEAPON HERE IN CANADA! It is readily available at an out doors type store here including Canadian Tire which is everywhere. No special permits required to purchase other than proof of age as an adult. Someone mentioned bug spray with deet. Yes. Mosquitos in Manitoba have been known to sexually molest Canada Geese. A product called Musk Oil is a very good insect repellant. But it has quite the string smell to it. Most fishermen and golfers carry the stuff.

 

Good stuff. It used to be Hwy 6 in Manitoba but I guess when they named it western Canada wide as the Yellowhead, they gave it 16 through all western provinces.

 

A Trip Too Far

There is no way you're gonna be able to do all that in 3 weeks.
I've done the Alaska Marine Hwy from Pr. Rupert to Haines, it takes days, and lots of $$$.
I had a private cabin but you could just sleep on a Deck Chair.
I got off at almost every Stop (execpt Petersburg, was a 5AM stop).
Sitka was the best, and Juneau was neat with the history of Old Town.
I brought my Crampons and Ice Axe and tramped around on the Mendenhal Glacier (quickly disappearing).
Then at Haines Jct I drove back down the Alaska Hwy,,.. its a Long Haul, took 2 days of driving, not much to see, (cept Muncho Lake) but worth a trip unto itself.

I divide up the attractions, into Silver Dollar Attractions, then 50 cent Attractions,,.. worth a Quarter,,.. and then some day if I have the time.
The Alaska Marine Hwy has to be on every-ones Bucket List (Silver Dollar), but it a full trip itself.
Riding Mtn Park?, um,,.. 25 cents (OK, now I've picked a Fight,,..). I've been thru there, many times, seen it from the air, and even got my Scuba Certification there (30+ years ago, in Clear Lake, I used to live in The Pas). Now, a trip to ChurchHill !! (comes with Polar Bears).
WhiteShell is worth the time, but then its 20hrs to The Rockies.
Its a long haul to Pr Rupert, and then back.

You might consider staying in the USA, go West, young Gal, and see Devil's Tower (Wyoming) and then work North.
See the Royal Tyrell Dinosaur Museum (Drumheller), north to Yedmonton, west to Jasper (Silver Dollar), (National Parks Permit to be purchased, $$$).
Then south to Lk Louise (Silver Dollar), Banff (75 cents), Waterton Parks (Silver Dollar), then cross the border into Glacier (What will USA borders say about your Bear Spray? (best leave it in the washroom in the campground, or use it up to season your campsite evening One Pot Glop, Mmmm,,..)

Traveling thru Washington, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho is Wonderful,,.. I can't get enough,,..


Well , had a lot of Gin tonight, better stop while the hole I dug ain't too deep to crawl outa,,..

 

I don't know how long of a ferry ride the Rupert ferry is but there are almost hourly sailing of BC Ferries between Vancouver or Tswassen to Vancouver Island landing in Nanaimo or Schwarts Bay (Victoria). As well there are dozens of smaller ferry rides from island to island originating from Vancouver Island. Check out BC Ferries home page forme ideas this way.

 

Muskol (http://www.muskol.ca/)

This is the stuff you want. Double check the DEET content, the higher the better - though so far, no mosquitos here yet this year. It has been super dry so there has not been any standing water for a hatch.

There is also a Cabelas here if you need other stuff. It is actually located very close to my office. I think they carry bear spray as well - though I have never bought the stuff myself. I usually just carry a bear bell and attach it to a clothing item that I am wearing. Black bears here are skittish compared to the Grizzlies you may encounter in the mountains and up north in the Yukon and Alaska.

 

Tourist or Traveler?

Not sure what kinda "Tour" you want. Some people park in front of The Fudge Shop on Banff Ave and Hop-Scotch from the Trinket Shop to Starbucks.
In the Parks I see foreigners who drive up to a Lookout, roll down the window, toss out the cigarette butts, take a Cell Phone photo, and drive off.
They are Tourists.

Then there are Travelers, who have to see it All, stop long enough to soak up the Ambience, Visit with the Locals.
When I did my first tour through the US West, I figured out 1/2 way, that this was just a Reconnaissance, and I have to come back to do it over properly (over & over).
All I had was a map,,.. now there are Cell Phones, Internet, WiFi, SPOT transmitter (consider this as you are alone).

If you really like Ferry Rides, there are numerous ones in the Kootenays (South East BC) that cross lakes, and are Free.
Vancouver Island is worth it, but its costly and costs a lot of time, but worth a trip unto itself.
Maybe see the Whiteshell, ride thru the Interlakes, north through The Pas to Cranberry Portage, to Flin Flon.
Then West across "northern" Saskratchmeone and drop down to the YellowHead Hwy.
Everyone wants you to come play in their backyard.
All of these places mentioned are worth visiting. A Marathon will wear you down.
If in Jasper you can set up your tent in The Whistlers and Wapati camping (over 700 sites) and be sure to ride the Maligne Lake Rd. to Medicine Lake.
Ride in to see The Jasper Park Lodge (how the 1% live).
If coming down The Icefields Parkway, stop at the Athabasca Glacier Info Center, well worth it (free).
If it works out I might even ride up there, escort ya southbound.

I've done trips where it was scheduled to tight, I didn't have time to Fart (and that only takes a second).
Always regretted that, unless it was a Marathon to just get there (18hrs from here to Moab) then spend more time there.

Consider a Camera Bag Zip Tie'd to your Handle Bar, like I done. First rule of Photography is, Take Lots of Pictures!
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/index.php?/topic/82099-gone-intercepting/
You can get Weatherized pocket cameras that are water proof.

 

Lots of great advice in VF1000fe's last post ...

 

This is my VFR "survival kit" :lol: