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Cruiser
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Illinois | Am planning this years trip. Looking to go west then North up thru MN to Thunder Bay, (see Isle Royale!) and then East over the top of L Superior across Canada Rt 17 eventually to VT, NH ME. Needs tips on gas availability, road conditions to expect, can you get by speaking only English, any summer month better than the others (looking at July right now), lesser known points of interest etc! Would greatly appreciate any feedback. Thanks |
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Tourer
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Central Illinois | Going through Quebec can be a PITA if you don't have any french. Most people there can speak some english but they just refuse to do it. |
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Cruiser
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New Brunswick , Canada | Quebec is a bitch...but stick to the main highway #2 , no problem , they will muddle there way through english to help you.. |
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Cruiser
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Calgary, AB, | I'd say don't worry about the french issue in Quebec,. You'll be speaking Illinois english, and they can tell. If you speak Canadian english , particularly Ontario english, THEN it is more of a problem as they dont' try at all to speak the english many can acutally do.
Plus you'll have Illinois plates , I'd not miss doing some of Quebec,it' generally a nice place to travel through in my opinion. |
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Cruiser
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McHenry, IL | Don't miss Kekabeka Falls just west of Thunder Bay. The north shore of Superior is a fantastic ride! |
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Tourer
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New Mexico | I made that trip (started in San Diego, ended in Atlantic City) back in '85, so my info is a little dated. That area was a beautiful ride back then. I lost my bike key hiking around Thunder Bay and didn't have a spare. Luckily a local knew a retired locksmith a few miles away and let him know my plight. An hour or so later he picked my ignition and gas tank, getting me through to the next big town so I could get a key made. Real friendly folks for the most part.
Saying that, I do remember, even back then, Quebec was a bit snooty. As mentioned above, once they realize you can't speak French they literally turn their back on you.
I did learn by just saying 'X' in a bar the bartender would bring me a 'Molson Special Export' beer, and that seemed like enough French to get me by...
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Cruiser
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| Stay away from Toronto, the 401 there is a traffic nitemear worse than Chicago! Along the St. Lawence Seaway is very senic, but slow. Vist some old forts and find out how way back when they thought the U.S. was going to invade them |
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Cruiser
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Huntsville On Canada | wingit3611 - 2013-05-02 12:01 PM
Vist some old forts and find out how way back when they thought the U.S. was going to invade them
You did. We won. 1812. Nuff said. lol |
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Tourer
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Central Illinois | 1812, the US just thought that naturally Canada would want to join them in breaking away from England. Hey, everyone makes mistakes and that was the first one for the US. |
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Visionary
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Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | This isn't South America. I first drove that route in the winter of 1961. In a 1956 Mercedes diesel. Motor was shot, I used 50 quarts of oil to get to Vancouver from Toronto. Didn't have any problems - all the gas stations had diesel fuel and engine oil. I suspect things are even better today ...
I did it a couple of years later in a 1953 Cadillac Limo. In winter, again. Saw some buffalo walking towards me in downtown Winnipeg that scared the hell out of me - until I realized they were RCMP Mounties in winter gear. Went thru a snowshed in BC - SIDEWAYS on the ice inside - and made it home to Vancouver unscratched.
So I think you will be OK - 50 years later ....
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Cruiser
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| Jackfrost: Thanks, I forgot about that. History was never a good subject for me. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 50
Illinois | donetracey - 2013-05-02 7:47 PM
This isn't South America. I first drove that route in the winter of 1961. In a 1956 Mercedes diesel. Motor was shot, I used 50 quarts of oil to get to Vancouver from Toronto. Didn't have any problems - all the gas stations had diesel fuel and engine oil. I suspect things are even better today ...
I did it a couple of years later in a 1953 Cadillac Limo. In winter, again. Saw some buffalo walking towards me in downtown Winnipeg that scared the hell out of me - until I realized they were RCMP Mounties in winter gear. Went thru a snowshed in BC - SIDEWAYS on the ice inside - and made it home to Vancouver unscratched.
So I think you will be OK - 50 years later ....
I was born in 61! Thanks for the reply. Wife has read up on it a little and was concerned. She's a trooper but she will worry about the gas the whole way. She's one of those that never gets below 1/2 a tank in her car! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 50
Huntsville On Canada | Just be sure to fillup close to major centers. If not you'll pay. Made the trip west last year. going again this year mid July for 3 weeks. Your riding right past my door so you'll have to stop in if we're home. Let me know when you'll be comin by.
We went to Vermont a couple years ago, crossed over at Stanstead. Won't make that mistake again. Nothing to do with the people there's just nothing on that highway once you get past Monteral. If you need a room it's 10 miles this way or that. Not nice. best to cross into Watertown NY. Much nicer riding.
Hope to catch ya on the road. Tom
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Looking for advice/tips riding Trans Canada 17