Riding Across Eastern Canada – 12 Days on 2 Wheels

[Django]

On Monday, June 15, we got up early, had a solid breakfast, and left at around 9:00 a.m. for the 60 km ride to Flying Squirrel Motorcycle Co., where my rental Beemer was waiting for me. Our route took us through downtown Toronto, giving me my first glimpse of the city's impressive skyline.



We arrived at Flying Squirrel Motorcycle Co. exactly on schedule, only to find an empty building. No motorcycles, no staff, no sign that a rental company had ever been there. A passer-by told us that the place had closed its doors about a month earlier.

For a moment, I was in shock. Had I been scammed? I was in Toronto, about to start a two-week motorcycle trip, but without a bike. To make matters worse, I'd already paid the entire rental fee in advance. It felt like the trip might be over before it had even begun.

It took me a while to find the phone number for Canadian Motorcycle Rentals in my emails. Peter immediately noticed that the number was in British Columbia, three time zones behind Ontario. Nevertheless, he gave it a try and left a message on the answering machine.
Fortunately, it didn't take long before Luke from Canadian Motorcycle Rentals called us back. The pickup location had been moved about a month earlier and was now at Moto Cafe. Even better, my BMW F750GS was there, fully prepared and waiting for me. What a relief!



Peter once again acted as my chauffeur and drove me to Moto Cafe, where the friendly owner was already waiting for us. My fully equipped and fully fueled BMW F750GS was standing there, ready to go.
The pickup couldn't have gone any smoother. My Garmin navigator fit perfectly into the BMW cradle, and before we finally got underway, I was treated to an excellent espresso from the café's professional espresso machine. At last, it was time to hit the road!





Back at Peter's place, we decided to go for a short test ride. Peter hopped on his little Kawasaki Z650RS and led the way.
The Beemer ran like a charm, and I got my first impression of rural Ontario. Well, what can I say? Ontario is flat, and the roads are straight. 



At that moment, I realized that this trip would be very different from riding in Europe. It wasn't going to be about technically demanding twisty roads. Instead, it would be about the vast open spaces, the beautiful landscapes, and experiencing the sheer scale of Canada.


The real journey was about to begin. Based on the latest weather forecast, Peter suggested we leave for the Gaspé Peninsula the following morning. Our route would take us along the mighty St. Lawrence River—a perfect start to the adventure that lay ahead.

One final note: That evening I sent Luke at Canadian Motorcycle Rentals an email, explaining that I had never been informed about the change of the pickup location. It had certainly caused us quite a scare and a fair amount of unnecessary hassle.

To his credit, he responded very generously. As compensation, he upgraded my booking with the additional 1,200 km package free of charge. I really appreciated that gesture.