Escape to Northern Ontario

[piotrek]

Booked off 4 days last week and rode north for some cooler air and to explore a bit. The 2400 km loop took me through some familiar areas and some new ones I'd wanted to visit for some time.

Day-1 started with light rain through the first couple of hours, but nothing major. I narrowly missed a massive downpour that caused major flooding in the Toronto area. The route took me through Muskoka Lakes area (Southwood Rd., 169, 632, 141, 518) and up to Lake Temiskaming. The motel was just outside Haileybury. It was kinda dilapidated... but quiet, and the area/view were well worth the stay.

Day-2 mission was to make my way up to Kapuskasing and then Hearst, near the top of ON-11 (Trans Canada Hwy.). I took detours to stay off the highways as possible. Followed ON-624 and ON-66 to catch some attractions. Kirkland Lake, like many others in the area, traces its history to mining. While Cobalt was known for silver and cobalt, gold was mined in Kirkland Lake. Just a bit of off-roading was required to take this shot at the Toburn gold mine museum.

A village named Swastika predates any association of the name and symbol with the Nazis. It must have been a thing for the locals to see their village name forever soiled.

ON-66 and 566 to Timmins... got caught with sections of rough road. The town of Kapuskasing carries some significance for my family. My father in-law worked up there as a lumberjack following WW2. This was the price of admission into Canada for many with a DP (displaced person) status at the time. POWs were also sent there during war time. This art work (Passage Through Time) sits just in front of the museum documenting the town's roots.

Finished the day in Hearst, a lumber town with a very large (>90%) francophone population. I stayed a few blocks away from the mill, and could still hear the buzz of machinery. It went silent late evening and came back on at 6am. Found an interesting cenotaph, dedicated to fallen WW2 servicemen from the area.

Day-3 started with a brisk 7C, but gloriously sunny. ON-631 was a new road to me. It took me through a suposed Geographic Centre of Ontario, a village with a rather curious name. At the end of ON-631 was White River, where the story of Winnie The Pooh began.

Had some food and carried on to Wawa and Chapleau. Snapped an obligatory photo with the Wawa goose, and took ON-101 to Chapleau, my final stop for the day. This east leg of ON-101 was a new route for me, and it was great. I stayed in a guesthouse, just a short walk away from an excellent pizza joint... Chapleau Hub. Killed a slice and took a photo.

Day-4 was a run down a scenic ON-129 (photo) to Thessalon, then ON-17 and ON-6 on the Manitoulin Island. Ferry took me back to Tobermory on the south shore, and from there I was home bound. Long day that can be cut shorter with a ride around Georgian Bay... but I enjoy the ferry crossing more than to drone down the 69/400 highways.

The Tutoro oiler worked great. Some fling was inevitable, but it was mostly on underside of the side case. The rim and tire had very little of it. There was a bit of packed gravel and dirt on the trip. The Mutants are about done. It's bath time on Friday.

@Heavy... Tally Ho-Swords Rd. was a much better choice this time around. 🙂

[Yaman]

Nice trip . Canada looks like norway , same type of trees and rivers and valleys.  But we dont have so many big memorials for ww2. Unfortunately i was not able to go on a roadtrip this summer , but next year . This is from my home Town.  Hammerfest. Wish you all a good and safe riding season .

[Heavy]

On 7/23/2024 at 5:47 PM, piotrek said:

Booked off 4 days last week and rode north for some cooler air and to explore a bit. The 2400 km loop took me through some familiar areas and some new ones I'd wanted to visit for some time.

Day-1 started with light rain through the first couple of hours, but nothing major. I narrowly missed a massive downpour that caused major flooding in the Toronto area. The route took me through Muskoka Lakes area (Southwood Rd., 169, 632, 141, 518) and up to Lake Temiskaming. The motel was just outside Haileybury. It was kinda dilapidated... but quiet, and the area/view were well worth the stay.

Day-2 mission was to make my way up to Kapuskasing and then Hearst, near the top of ON-11 (Trans Canada Hwy.). I took detours to stay off the highways as possible. Followed ON-624 and ON-66 to catch some attractions. Kirkland Lake, like many others in the area, traces its history to mining. While Cobalt was known for silver and cobalt, gold was mined in Kirkland Lake. Just a bit of off-roading was required to take this shot at the Toburn gold mine museum.

A village named Swastika predates any association of the name and symbol with the Nazis. It must have been a thing for the locals to see their village name forever soiled.

ON-66 and 566 to Timmins... got caught with sections of rough road. The town of Kapuskasing carries some significance for my family. My father in-law worked up there as a lumberjack following WW2. This was the price of admission into Canada for many with a DP (displaced person) status at the time (and POWs during war time). This art work (Passage Through Time) sits just in front of the museum documenting the town's roots.

Finished the day in Hearst, a lumber town with a very large (>90%) francophone population. I stayed a few blocks away from the mill, and could still hear the buzz of machinery. It went silent late evening and came back on at 6am. Found an interesting cenotaph, dedicated to fallen WW2 servicemen from the area.

Day-3 started with a brisk 7C, but gloriously sunny. ON-631 was a new road to me. It took me through a suposed Geographic Centre of Ontario, a village with a rather curious name. At the end of ON-631 was White River, where the story of Winnie The Pooh began.

Had some food and carried on to Wawa and Chapleau. Snapped an obligatory photo with the Wawa goose, and took ON-101 to Chapleau, my final stop for the day. This east leg of ON-101 was a new route for me, and it was great. I stayed in a guesthouse, just a short walk away from an excellent pizza joint... Chapleau Hub. Killed a slice and took a photo.

Day-4 was a run down a scenic ON-129 (photo) to Thessalon, then ON-17 and ON-6 on the Manitoulin Island. Ferry took me back to Tobermory on the south shore, and from there I was home bound. Long day that can be cut shorter with a ride around Georgian Bay... but I enjoy the ferry crossing more than to drone down the 69/400 highways.

The Tutoro oiler worked great. Some fling was inevitable, but it was mostly on underside of the side case. The rim and tire had very little of it. There was a bit of packed gravel and dirt on the trip. The Mutants are about done. It's bath time on Friday.

@Heavy... Tally Ho-Swords Rd. was a much better choice this time around. 🙂

Good looking route.  I'm stuck on the farm until we finish hay ... damn rain!

I have a friend in Thunder Bay  and hope to get up there this year.  Your prerunning roads will help me decide on a route.   I've also got an itch to explore New Brunswick.   Hopefully weather cooperates and I can get finished on the farm and be free.

I have the Transalp pretty much ready.  New Trailmax Missions next week and I'll be ready.

 

Edited July 25 by Heavy

[piotrek]

1 hour ago, Heavy said:

Your prerunning roads will help me decide on a route.   I've also got an itch to explore New Brunswick.

Happy to share GPS files. New Brunswick is nice. Visit Gaspe Peninsula, returning via NB and NE U.S. 😎

[kyle J]

My dream ride in the great white north! Have been to most of those places in my youth but not the way you did. Thanks for sharing?

[Heavy]

20 hours ago, piotrek said:

Happy to share GPS files. New Brunswick is nice. Visit Gaspe Peninsula, returning via NB and NE U.S. 😎

Excellent.  I'll see how things pan out.  Thanks.