Sunday, December 11, 2011

5 local road trips and dream trip challenge



I am already dreaming of the 2012 motorcycle season and where I will go.  Being a new rider I think I am going to stick close to home and 2012 will be about logging miles and getting road/highway experience before we go on a really big adventure.   My challenge to all of you is 1) List at least 5 places in YOUR own country that you want to visit 2) If you could go anywhere in the world on your motorcycle or scooter where would it be? You can have as many dream trips as you want.  Please link back to me so I can see your choices.

1) Over the Malahat Highway Trans Canada #1 to Parksville.  - This may not seem significant to most, but it would be my first foray on a major highway over a mountain.  Its all about baby steps.

2)  During the summer I want to Motorcycle to Tofino.  If you have never been to Tofino you are missing the wild West Coast at its best.  The roads are sharp and twisty through here and you may be tempted to speed, but you really have to stick to the speed limits that are posted.  The roads are sharp and steep with very little margin for error because the road is very narrow and a lot of it is cliffside.

3)  I would like to do the Port Renfrew loop - its a good day trip and very scenic.

4)  Next adventure would to be up the Sea to Sky highway and onto Whistler.

5)  My biggest dream trip would be to go across Canada on my motorcycle and get out to the Maritime Provinces.  I want to see my country and what better way to do it than by motorcycle.  This trip is going to have to wait a bit though  because I need more experience.

Dream trips

1)  Now for the Anywhere in the world trip I think I would like to go across Europe.  Its funny as a Canadian I somehow think everything is different over there and wonder about the trees and scenery.   When I look at a fellow twitterer's tweet pictures from Norway it looks just like home and very green.  So much for preconceived ideas.

2)  The most attainable road trip for me will be down the Oregon Coast and to California.  We went down the Coast quite a few years ago and it was spectacular and I can only imagine how fabulous it would be on two wheels.

3)   I think I might even like to go through South America, I am really not much of a heat person so I may have to rethink this.

Please tell me where your two wheels may take you in the coming year, link your posts back to Scooterpie so I can see how adventurous you are!

19 comments:

David Masse said...

Man-O-Man Dar, I like this blogger challenge! I'm busy, busy, busy though, so it's going to take a while before I get the post up. Thanks for this, I think it's going to be fun dreaming up the trips.

Shybiker said...

I enjoy long trips and have had many, both here in the U.S. and in Canada. Did the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia a few years back.

While I've been North (to Maine), West (to North Dakota), and South (to Florida), I've never been to the Southwest because I can't get enough time off work for such lengthy travel. I'd love to see Colorado and the Southwest.

I hope you find fun places to explore next year.

Unknown said...

Dar:

I did the Port Renfrew Loop when the road was freshly paved. (I am bESS on ADVrider.com)

http://www.stromtrooper.com/ride-reports-route-sheets/44747-wee-vee-mp3-400-port-renfrew-loop.html

If you are coming over to do the Sea-to-Sky highway then you are missing the best ROADS. continue north to Lillooet then over to Kelowna and Take Hwy 6 over to Nakusp. Hwy 6 is one of the best motorcycle roads in BC then continue to Nelson and over to Creston and loop back to Vancouver.

OH, BTW, get your passport ready. Looks like we are having another Blogger's convention this year during summer, 2012. Most likely down to Oregon. You will have lots of us to keep you company

http://wetcoastscootin.blogspot.com/2010/08/we-arrive-in-lincoln-city-oregon.html

2012 is going to be a good year, can't wait . . .

bob
Riding the Wet Coast

Dar said...

Hey Bob!

I will get the passport thing all sorted and hopefull will have the time off!

Before I do Whistler route I will be sure to let you know.

Cheers
Snicks

Dar said...

David - I look forward to seeing your destinations! Montreal and area is beautiful.

Shybiker - Thank you for stopping by! You live in pretty country and I am sure there are lovely places to ride. Enjoy! I hope 2012 brings you much moto joy!

Dar said...

Triumphant - thanks for stopping by. Toronto to Duncan is quite a haul! We are still riding out on the island, but I think we will be getting some snow sometime soon.

Good luck on your trip!

RichardM said...

I like this challenge though I'll have to think about it for a while.

SonjaM said...

Dar, good idea. I am going to think about it. I have been all over Canada, but not often on a bike. Crossing Canada is high on my list! I will check back sending you the link to my blog entry.

Trobairitz said...

Hmmm this will take some thinking and pondering. Good for mental exercise.

@DaveMinella said...

I'm actually embarrassed about all the places in the U.S. I HAVEN'T been.
I guess the top five would be (in no particular order):
1. Take my cafe racer around the hills between Malibu and Calabasas, CA, stopping to B.S. with the other riders at the Rock Store.
2. The twisties near Burlington, VT and Lake Champlain.
3. HWY 101 from Portland, OR to Santa Rosa, CA.
4. Pikes Peak, Colorado.
5. Tok to Fairbanks to Wasila, Alaska (IN THE SUMMER!)
As far as international roads go...
1. The Futa Pass from Florence to Bologna, Italy. I drove it in a car this summer; now I want to tackle it on a bike.
2. Northern Alps, Salzburg to Zurich.
3. Anywhere in Ireland.

Dar said...

Richard, Sonja & Trobairitz - gets you thinking about next years season!

Dave - great list. Ireland is somewhere I have always wanted to go, hmmm I think I need to add it to my list.

SonjaM said...

Dar, here's some of the epic in-country trips for you.
http://2wheelersrevisited.blogspot.com/2011/12/five-local-trips.html
Thanks for the challenge!

Bluekat said...

Boy, it's hard to pick just five. Seems like every time I read another blog I find another place that begs to be ridden! Southern Utah is on my must do list.

My first motorcycle tour was down the Southern Oregon coast to the Redwoods, then swung over to Crater Lake on the return home. Nice trip and very memorable.

Isn't this what winter is for...planning next year's epic trips!

The City Mouse in the Country said...

I too, am a new rider so I decided to define local as what I might actually be capable of doing today. Living in Tampa, Florida it ended up being things like St Augustine, FL. Charleston, SC and of course New Orleans. For the dream trips...I was in Asia over a decade ago and would love to ride the Great Wall or down the coast of South America to the bottom tip of Tierra del Fuego. If your going to dream, dream big. I'll post it on my blog soon enough. :)

Troubadour said...

Haven't been ignoring your challenge Dar, just been busy lately and I'll get on it next week after we converse with Bob and Sonja about the IMBC2012.

RichardM said...

It was difficult to actually identify destinations but here is my list. I must admit that I changed "local" to mean North America.

Thank you for getting me to think of touring again.

Richard

Dar said...

Sonja - your selections were awesome!

Robert - You are fortunate that you have a lot of warm and interesting places to ride. Asia would be amazing, the Great Wall would be breathtaking,mod they let people ride on it? South America friendly people beautiful country. Thanks for posting your trips. Welcome to biking, I hope you are enjoying it as much as I am!

Troubadour - this is a no hurry challenge, there still lots of winter left! This is one that would be good to think about during the holidays and enjoying a glass of vino while dream about warm summer days!

Richard - excellent picks, I can only imagine how beautiful your home state is. Your bike journies sound epic just because of where you live.

Bluekat - the sole purpose of this was to get you thinking about trips for next year and your right it's hard just thinking of five. It's like the proverbial box of jellybeans, you can't just eat 5! Enjoy and see where your travel spirit might want to go!

Thank you for sharing with me. As a noob it is encouraging to me that you all do long trips and not just day jaunts. Long trips seem a little overwhelming right now, but that's because I need to get some more riding under my belt. Y'all rock!

Adrian from YouMotorcycle said...

Hey Moto_Diva, just thought you might want to know your post was shared by Matt at the Toronto Moto Scooter Club - you're famous girl! http://www.meetup.com/toronto-moto-scooter-club/messages/boards/thread/18735732/

You should make an account and join us!

Anyway, where I would like to go in Canada?

Cape Spear, Newfoundland - East most point of Canada. I used to live on the west coast, France, but I've never seen this side of the Atlantic.

Cabot Trail, Newfoundland - Beautiful road named after one of my kin, Giovanni Caboto.

Viking settlements by L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland - Can you tell I'm a closet history nerd yet?

All over, Quebec - There's no Canada like french Canada its the best Canada in the land! Had a great time riding through Quebec last year, didn't get the opportunity to go back this season, but QC is on the to-do list for 2012. Small towns, roads winding around rivers and hills, drivers that actually know how to drive, cheap liquor and friendly women. What's not to love?

and of course

MAC Rally of Hope, Canada - From Rockie Mountains to Prairies, Borreal Plains to Mixwood Greenbelt, Ocean to Ocean, who wouldn’t want to cross Canada on a motorcycle? (read more here: www.youmotorcycle.com/mac-rally-of-hope.html)

Dar said...

Adrian - Wow you have picked some awesome places!!! I would love to ride back east right to the coast and go to a viking village. Canada is so beautiful and has so many interesting places to visit. Need to add some of your choices to my list. Very cool that they added my post to the Toronto Moto Scooter club! Woot! We should do a Coast to Coast rally, that would be something awesome!