2021 CB1100 Forum Rally Tribute

[GoldOxide_imp]

2021 CB1100 Forum Rally Tribute (cont.)

Eventually we rode much further west and got our butts (my butt was hurtin' many times) on the Algoma Loop. We made a stop at one of very few building structures on the loop:



... and no, this was not Steelers Country.

The Algoma Loop is pretty long (682 kms). We entered dry and with visible light. Within an hour or two the rains began and darkness descended. Here is Alain starting to get into it:



The loop isn't like many in the U.S., but it was still fun to experience its therapy.

... and then the rain ...



Rain would be with us practically from this point off and on during the rest of the tour. Alain relished the rain .

Alain turned animal when he killed a bird. I have no capture of the incident, but saw it in "slow motion". A bird challenged Alain's right side CB1100. The bird charged, bounced off, and rolled head over tail to the soft road shoulder. It was done. I have never seen this side of Alain before. It worried me for a bit. Alain even showed his trophy marks on this rain suit pant leg.

Not long after I took the lead ripping up some tarmac. The sun was starting to get low. Then suddenly from the shadow of the right side road a glorious and beautiful American Bald Eagle started to take flight. It's wings chugged hard as I came about ten feet of a head on collision. We caught eye-to-eye contact as it looked back while passing by my left handlebar. It may have reconsidered me as a meal too big. In any case, it was majestic and looked cool trying to not get killed.

By this time many of our portable electronic devices lost charge and the rain was a pain while charging others. Android doesn't like it when it senses the USB-C port is damp.

It seemed to "take forever" to get to Wawa in the pitch black of night and rain. Overcast, no humanity, trees lined both sides of the road. One of our concerns was a moose jumping out. It would have been a mess. But it didn't happen.

Wawa is a tiny town whose main strip seems to cater to fishing, hunting and hydro electric crews. There are many motels that have a good rating and better. We were boneheads thinking, ah, the season is over, there will be plenty of available rooms. We didn't reserve rooms. By the time we arrived (after 9:15 pm), the town didn't have a single "good quality" motel room. Then we got lucky: The business couple ahead of us booked two rooms and offered one of them to us! Wooo-hooo! Very thoughtful of them. Caveat: It had a single queen bed . The good news was Alain was a light snorer.

In addition upon arrival in Wawa, no dinner could be bought. Nothing was open! Couldn't even get a coffee. We went to sleep without dinner. I think unconscious came fast that night.

(To be continued ...)

[Cormanus]

Nice work Au₂O₃.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Nice work Au₂O₃.

[GoldOxide_imp]

2021 CB1100 Forum Rally Tribute (cont.)

Wednesday morning.

Hungry.

Time to finish the loop and head back to Toronto. We've got a lot of mileage to cover.

This be our motel in Wawa:



As you can see, Alain is well rested.



We grabbed some decent breakfast at a local joint, spoke to a couple other riders (on a HD and BMW) who just arrived from Thunder Bay, Ontario (HD dude looked tired), and got on our way.

We were already in the rain ...





... but ultimately we finally reached the Lake Superior shoreline ...



(To be continued ...)

[the Ferret]

Lol good stuff GO

[misterprofessionality]

This is heartwarming we were just talking again about how lame it is that you guys have been shut out of coming two years in a row now.

[GoldOxide_imp]

2021 CB1100 Forum Rally Tribute (cont.)

There are some views from Hwy. 17 along Lake Superior that remind me of Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada. Pretty spectacular.



We were starting to get a bit soggy by the time we reached Sault Saint Marie:



We did get out of the rain, but always seemed to be headed into the next storm cell ...



No shortage of getting your next cannabis fix in Ontario. The hydro electric crew seem to think so ...



By this time we had completed the Algoma Loop. We were now determined to get home as fast as possible.

(To be continued ...)

This is heartwarming we were just talking again about how lame it is that you guys have been shut out of coming two years in a row now.

Thanks Mr. P.

[GoldOxide_imp]

2021 CB1100 Forum Rally Tribute (cont.)

Now just south of Sudbury, Alain is concerned during a roadside inspection ...



I managed to capture this just before we headed into some of the hardest rain so far ...



The sun started to disappear and the rain never let up. By this time, my good ol' Honda quality high beam switchgear started to act up and fail, likely to do with all the rain water. This is apparently an issue with Africa Twins. There is really no excuse for this in the 21st century.



Fortunately the following day, a decent squirt of electronic contact cleaner into the switch appeared to deal with the issue.

We lugged it south to just outside Parry Sound city limits when over the Bluetooth intercom Alain indicates, "gas light won't turn off", or something similar sounding to that. We dropped our speed to 80 km/h to help Alain conserve fuel. We were nowhere at that moment. He was quite concerned and we hadn't reached Parry Sound humanity yet. So I took him somewhere off the highway, dark and wet. Now he was really concerned. I'm not even sure if he could see the road. Anyway, he was elated an Esso gas station appeared over the next hill, as I expected. He arrived with just 700 mL (about 3 cups) of fuel left in the tank. Then the skies really opened up and we were trapped in a deluge at the station.

From Parry Sound south to Barrie the weather was terrible and the 18-wheeler tractor trailers weren't helping with wet night time visibility (raising water spray). My main problem was my butt/back comfort. However, I was concerned for Alain's well-being and he pulled through like a champ once we got south of Barrie. In fact he came alive. By north Toronto, Alain was licking the blood off the tour carcass. Quite incredible. Animal.

[tod.branko_imp]

Seems like you gentlemen had some fun!

'14 CB1100 STD 5 speed

[Cormanus]

A good effort Gold and Alain. Well done. Some good pics in there, GO.