End of Trip Synopsis

Main intent of this trip was to travel Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica, CA. Since I then had to get back home, I headed up the west coast to BC before heading back to Orleans (Ottawa) Ontario across Canada.

Have been asked many times about making this trip alone and by motorcycle but have made shorter trips alone & enjoyed the experience. Always nice to have someone with you to share the sights and experiences but traveling alone has it's advantages such as: following your own agenda, or in many cases, no particular agenda and taking in what the day presents; meeting people since they tend to approach a single individual traveling by motorcycle easier than a group. On this trip a motorcycle had several advantages over a car since I was able to stop in places to view & photograph the sites where a car would have been unable to stop.

My Garmin GPS and Rte 66 maps downloaded for it from the internet were invaluable since Rte 66 marking is not always easy to follow, especially since some layouts changed over the years.
My main purpose was to travel the original Rte 66, so for most of the trip I didn't stray too far from the road and concentrated on sights that were nearby. Perhaps I'll make another trip in the future and stray a little further to see more of the sights in the states that Rte 66 passes through.

My 2003 Yamaha FJR1300 and Monogo trailer performed fantastically. One oil change of synthetic oil and no overheating problems, even though I have a radiator guard and experienced temps as high as 49C/120F. The only problems that I had were with tires and consisted of a puncture in the rear tire of my motorcycle in Needles, CA and a valve leak on the trailer on my way from California to the Grand Canyon. A tubeless repair kit, spare valves and electric pump that I carried saved the day in both instances. Replaced the rear tire in Rancho Cucamonga, CA and the front tire (Metzeler ME6) now has about over 25,000 km/15,000+mi on it and is due for a change soon, but still doesn't look too bad.

If you're a motorcycle rider, I definitely recommend a trip such as this. If not, I still recommend a trip like this to see some of what North America has to see and experience.

Route 66 is a big part of American highway history and has many sites, in restored or original format, to see thanks to the many volunteers in the various State Route 66 organizations.

Enjoyed visiting and staying with many friends & relatives on this trip and thank you all for your hospitality.

Day 74 - Fri, August 15, 2008 - Owen Sound to Home (Orleans, ON) - 581.6 km/363.5 mi - Total 19,586.5 km/12,241.6 mi

We were invited to visit Mike's sister on the way home but since we were less than 600 km from home and rain was forecast, decided to head home on the shortest and most scenic route via Hwys 26, 11, 118, 28 and 132 to Hwy 17. Passed a large bicycle tour on the way and enjoyed the roads and scenery. Rode through a few showers and on some wet roads and decided to stop in Renfrew to wait out the impending storm since the sky was very black in the direction of Ottawa. Waited for over an hour for the rains to subside and heard about heavy rain and hail in Ottawa. Our decision to wait here was a good one. Left Renfrew after 20:00 and waved goodbye to Mike at the Carling exit off Hwy 417 and arrived home shortly after 21:00.

Enjoyed having Mike as a riding companion for the trip home from St Joe`s Island.

I`m home, I`m home! Let the bells ring out, let the banners fly, I know it`s too good to be true but I`m home!

Photo: Bikes and Rainbow at Tims in Renfrew.

Day 73 - Thur, August 14, 2008 - St. Joseph Island to Owen Sound, ON - 450.8 km/281.8 mi - Total 19,004.9 km/11,878.1 mi

Mike and I thanked Miquel (Mike) and Tarja for their hospitality and headed east.

Decide to go via Manitoulin Island so that Mike would see a different part of the country than Hwy 17 that he followed on Monday. Underestimated our travel time and were unable to get to the 13:30 ferry to Tobermory so we stopped in Little Current. Went to have an ice cream cone but I was disappointed when finding out that hawberry ice cream had been discontinued. We parked the bikes and took a walking tour of Little Current Marina area and waited out a short shower. Made our way across the island to South Baymouth to catch the 17:50 ferry and have a snack. Another shower while we waited so we avoided riding in the rain again.

Boarded the Chi-Cheemaun (Big Canoe) and had straps to tie down my bike on the ferry but was told that the weather would provide a smooth ride so one strap should be sufficient.

After leaving the ferry and heading south, a Harley Rider pulled a stupid move by passing Mike on the right. Obviously not a real motorcycle rider as anyone with half a brain wouldn`t pull a move like this.

Rode to Owen Sound where we got a room for the night and ordered a Pizza for dinner.

Photos: Little Current Marina and Bridge to Manitoulin Island; Door Opening on Ferry; Bikes secured below deck; Lighthouse approaching Tobermory.

Day 72 - Wed, August 13 2008 - St. Joseph Island - 0 km/0 mi - Total 18,554.1 km/11,596.3 mi

After a good breakfast, Miquel, Mike, Tarja and I met Clyde and his wife Nadine at the Hilton Beach Marina. Since the water was very calm the decision was made to go to the Soo. Tarja and Nadine sat up front and Mike and I were given a tour, complete with comentary, of the north channel between St. Joe's Island and The Soo. Saw lots of great scenery and homes/camps on the water and also some freighters, including a 1000 footer, before arriving at the Roberta Bodnar Marina . Had lunch at Dock's Riverfront Grill and the guys played a few games of pool while the women went shopping. Miquel, the pool shark, gave us all a few lessons on how to clear the table as we were definitely not in his league.

Waited out a short rain before heading back and outran some rain on the way back. A very enjoyable and relaxing way to spend a day. Mike and I thank Clyde and Nadine for having us along.

Photos: Mike and Capt. Clyde; 1,000 footer; At Roberta Bodnar Marina; Mike the Pool Shark; Tarja and Nadine.

Day 71 - Tues, August 12, 2008 - St. Joseph Island - 0 km/0 mi - Total 18,554.1 km/11,596.3 mi

Mike had to clean a few chimneys in the morning so we spent the morning with Tarja before she had to leave for a meeting in The Soo.

I went for a swim off the end of the dock and the water was refreshing. Miquel`s interpretation of refreshing is cold but it wasn`t that bad.

Mike gave us a tour of the immediate area near his place on St. Joe's island and we ended up at the Tilt'n Hilton for a few beer and met Mike's friend Clyde. They had been planning to do a boat trip in Clyde's boat around St Joe's Island and invited us to join them the next day.

Day 70 - Mon, August 11, 2008 - Sault Ste. Marie to St. Joseph Island, ON - 68.4 km/42.8 mi - Total 18,554.1 km/11,596.3 mi

Gave Stuart a little help carrying a few fence sections to repair his fence.

Mike, a friend and fellow motorcyclist from Ottawa, was going to meet me at St. Joseph Island to escort me back to Ottawa so I sent a text msg. to mikeonabike to find out whether he would be arriving on Mon. or Tues. Received reply that he was making good time so should arrive around 19:00.

Left Deb and Stu's in time to arrive at Michael (Miquel) and Tarja's on St. Joe's Island before Mike.

My quiet Yamaha allowed me to arrrive at Mike and Tarja's without them hearing me and we went out on the deck overlooking Lake Huron to have a beer and wait for mikeonabike. Mike thought he heard an ATV and I thought it could be Mike so went out to check and it was. Mike arrived closer to 20:00 than 19:00. Seems he took a tour of the island and spoke to a few of the locals before finding the place. GPS let him down as he couldn't locate Miquel's place, even following my instructions.

Miquel BBQ'd some great steaks and Tarja did a great job on the rest of the meal. Mike stole my cabin as his sleeping quarters so I slept in the house.

Day 69 - Sun, August 10, 2008 - Thunder Bay to Sault Ste. Marie, ON - 739.2 km/462.0 mi - Total 18,485.7 km/11,553.6 mi

Nice day for a ride with temp in lower 20'sC/lower 70'sF.

Lots of rivers, lakes and views of Lake Superior but not much else other than fishing and hunting camps.

Went through White River which is considered the home of Winnie the Pooh. This character was inspired by an orphaned bear cub that was purchased from a trapper in White River.

Arrived at Debbie and Stuarts place where Millie, my aunt & godmother, joined us for dinner and brought a peach pie with her. Enjoyed dinner with them on the deck and gave Millie her birthday present from Susan & Betty-Ann and a 1/3 Litre bottle of single malt that had made the trip with me. We talked until Stuart told Millie that she should go home and let us younger people go to bed.

Photos: Sleeping Giant, Thunder Bay; Winnie`s Home; Goose, Wawa.