Guy Boutin's Motorcycle Touring and Travel Pages

Adventures in Sport Touring with the Honda ST 1100, 1300 and the BMW 1200RT

Exploring North America...One Road at a Time

Day 5
August 5th, 2003
Sault Saint Marie, Ontario

Coop prodded me out of bed, reminding me we had to pack and be loaded by 830am.  I loaded my stuff and brought it down to the ST and strapped my bags.  It was cloudy and cool.

When we finished we strolled over to the motel restaurant for a bite to eat.  I was still full from the night before, so only had toast.  I kidded Coop about those burrito things they dove out on in Medicine Hat.  I saw the pictures of those things, they were huge.

Finally, it was time to get on the road.  We lined up and went for gas.  After everyone was topped off we struck out north.  When group riding, I have a tendency to lose details.  I don't worry about the routes.  Today will hold true to that tradition.

I recall about 8 bikes in our group.   Including Rod and Roberta from Illinois, a mixed couple, he rides an ST and she a HD Road King.

We escaped the city on a route I don't remember, and picked up 129 north.  Brenda took the point, with husband Marcus in the rear on his blue Gold Wing.  I was in the number 2 position most of the day.

The highway carves its way through the thick timberland of Ontario.  Over streams and past lakes the STs take us north.  Traffic turns minimal 25 klics north of the Soo.  This will be my first trip this far north into Ontario.  Few Americans venture very into the northern areas of Canada, limiting themselves to within earshot of the border.  That is unfortunate, because the country has much to offer if you are just willingly to ride farther "inland."

We stopped to stretch our legs, near a old wooden bridge.  It felt good to walk around and move some air.  We ran into a few sprinkles but nothing serious.

It was a pleasant, but uneventful ride to Chapleau where we stopped in a local cafe for lunch.  I had a few Chinese dishes off the buffet, it was pretty good.

We were on the road to Wawa, when we ran into more rain.  The group pulled to stop to allow everyone to get there rain gear donned.  Just so happened we were at the watershed line.  North of the sign below water flows to the Artic, south of the line water flows to the Atlantic, kind of a east-west Continental Divide.

                  Getting out the rain gear.

A short visit was made to Shanks Prov. Park.  We strolled the park and climbed over the rocks of the little river that passes through here.  The ladies stopped and picked blueberries.  I managed to talk Carrie out of a handful before getting back on the road.

                      Picking blueberries

After the park, it was a short ride to Marcus' work place where he took us on a guided tour of the plywood plant.  He showed us the entire operation.  It was fascinating to see how they turn raw wood into plywood.  A complicated but efficient process is used.  A pretty neat experience, I'm always fascinated at how the combination of a lot of little things, makes something big work.

From the plant it was only a few miles to Wawa.  Coop and I checked in the motel and there were already several bikes in the parking lot.  After supper we walked over to meet the others at a restaurant down the street. 

At supper Roberta was asking me questions about long distance touring.  She asked me about camping, best places for riding, favorite places in the country.  She already has some experience touring, but not on extended trips.  My advice to her was to just do it, things will work out.  I also advised  the feeling of freedom the open road offers is very addictive, so be prepared.

I have to be in Philly on Friday morning so I will be heading back south in the morning.  I asked Brenda to check her GPS for distance and best route from here.  Circumstances dictate I have to take the quickest route to Philly, not the most fun.  Uncle Boots has arranged my Uncle Albert from NYC, to be in West Chester, and he also contacted several long lost cousins, so we are having a Boutin reunion of sorts.  I HAVE to be there.

Brenda plugged in the numbers-slightly over 1000 miles to Philly.  I wil divide the trip in half, doing the bulk of it tomorrow.  Quickest route is down to Toronto, then turn east across NY before going south.  

Coop will be leaving with me in the morning.  Brenda advises us to be careful because fog is bad here in the morning, it blows off the lakes.

Next: south to Niagara Falls, battling rain and Toronto rush hour