Riding Across Eastern Canada – 12 Days on 2 Wheels

[The A-man]

I loved the stories and the pictures, and especially for me, the memories that it brought back. I was born and grew up in Northern Maine, about 30 miles from where you visited Grand Falls NB. In 1973, at the age of 16, my cousin and I rode rwo-up on his new CB750, from Northern Maine all the way around the Gaspe with a group of adults. Incredible scenery as I recall. Then, in summer of 1977, I rode up to Rieviere du Loup again, this time headed west along the St Lawrence, all to Montreal.

So, thanks for the memories, and thanks for showing our European friend some of the best that North America has to offer!

[peterbaron]

We also took a few day trips around Ontario.

Day 8, Monday - Parry Sound & Muskoka Region, ON, 500 kms

First, we expored Muskoks region in Ontario.

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Brampton,...FQAw%3D%3D




















This new boat you can have for U$ 70 000 000... and we were just couple of thousand short....



Day 9 & 10, Tuesday & Wednesday - Niagara-on-the-Lake and Niagara Falls

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Brampton,...FQAw%3D%3D


We rode two motorcycles to Niagara-on-the-Lake and Niagara Falls to admire the view, and along the Niagara River.
The next day, we went back by car to explore the area around the falls on foot.















Day 11, Thursday by car  - Canadian Warplane Haritage Museum, Hamilton and  Canadian Automobile museum in Oshawa

https://www.warplane.com/

You can take 1 hr flight in a Lancaster for $5,000, there are only four seats available per flight, and they are usually booked a year in advance.


















https://www.canadianautomotivemuseum.com/




































Day 12, Friday - Tobermory, ON, 500 kms

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Brampton,...FQAw%3D%3D

During this trip, both bikes almost ran out of gas 








Day 12 and 13, Saturday and Sunday

On Saturday am,  we returned the rented BMW and chatted with Peter, who runs Moto Cafe.




Next we took the ferry to Toronto Islands, where we spent the rest of the day.
Django paid for lunch at a local marina.




Sunday was spent packing up for Django; in the afternoon, I drove him to Toronto airport, where he flew home with Lufthansa.
I hope he enjoyed his stay in Canada and our trips together. I think we managed to carry out about 75-80% of the plan, a result dictated by the weather conditions in the Atlantic region.

[Cormanus]

Thanks for sharing those pictures, Peter. You live in a lovely part of the world — particularly when it's not covered in snow.

[Django]

Sunday, June 14 was a really long day. It took me about 18 hours door to door to get to Peter's place. The flight was only about 8 hours, but with the car ride, the train from Stuttgart to Frankfurt Airport (FRA), and all the waiting in between, it turned into quite a journey.

I already knew the weather forecast wasn't great, and as we touched down in Toronto, the rain had stopped, but the runway was still soaking wet.



Collecting my luggage and clearing customs went smoothly. Peter had said he'd be wearing a red CB1100 T-shirt so I could recognize him, but that wasn't really necessary. Thanks to our WhatsApp video calls, I spotted him immediately. He was waiting for me in the arrivals hall and drove me to his home in Brampton. It was great to finally meet his wonderful wife, and they had prepared a lovely room for me for the next two weeks.

I also got to meet Bella, Peter's dachshund. After a delicious dinner prepared by Peter and his wife, we took Bella for a walk while it was still daylight. I was hoping that getting some daylight and fresh air would help me adjust to the time difference and ease the jet lag.

Unfortunately, I didn't take any more photos that day. By the time I went to bed at around 11 p.m. (I guess), I fell asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow. 

The plan for the next morning was to pick up my rental Beemer at 10:00 a.m. from Canadian Motorcycle Rentals at Flying Squirrel Motorcycle Co. (1345 Queen St. E, Toronto, ON). Little did I know what surprises were waiting for us that day.

[Gone in 60]

Wow, what a trip! I need to see those museums... Yeah the scenery was nice too I suppose

I need to start saving my loose change for a ride in the Lancaster.

[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.

[pdedse]

Wow, what a fright to arrive at where you thought the pickup was only to find an empty building, but at least Luke responded right quick enough and gave you the extra kilometers. Looking forward to more.

[Django]

The Bike – BMW F750GS

For my two-week tour through Eastern Canada, Canadian Motorcycle Rentals provided me with a well-equipped BMW F750GS. Despite its name, the bike is powered by BMW's 853 cc parallel-twin engine, producing 77 hp (57 kW) and 83 Nm of torque. The engine delivers its power very smoothly and proved to be an excellent companion for long touring days.

My rental bike came with a generous list of factory options:

• 853 cc parallel-twin engine
  
• 77 hp (57 kW)
  
• Heated grips
  
• Gear Shift Assistant Pro (clutchless upshifts and automatic throttle blipping on downshifts)
  
• Dynamic ESA (electronically adjustable rear suspension)
  
• Riding Modes Pro
  
• ABS Pro
  
• Dynamic Traction Control (DTC)
  
• BMW Navigator cradle, which perfectly accepted my Garmin navigation unit adapter
  
• Cruise Control
  

Instead of the original BMW luggage system, the bike was fitted with a set of sturdy aftermarket aluminium panniers. They turned out to be an excellent choice for this trip. One nice surprise was that Peter's cooler bag fitted perfectly into the left pannier, making it ideal for carrying drinks and food during our daily rides.

The F750GS is not a sports bike, nor does it pretend to be one. It is a comfortable, confidence-inspiring touring motorcycle that feels light once underway and remains easy to handle even when fully loaded.

After 5,142 kilometres, I came away with a very positive impression. The bike was comfortable, economical, reliable, and had more than enough power for Canadian highways and secondary roads. Would I buy one? Probably not. But would I rent one again for another long-distance tour? Absolutely!

And yes - I never had any trouble keeping up with Peter. 

[Django]

Ah, I almost forgot to mention that the Beemer had cruise control. It came in very handy on Ontario's long, straight highways with their strict speed limits.
I added it to the features list above.

[pdedse]

Ah, I almost forgot to mention that the Beemer had cruise control. It came in very handy on Ontario's long, straight highways with their strict speed limits.
I added it to the features list above.

Once you get used to it, it's absence is noticeable.