Gaspe PQ

[g®eg]

two old guys take their BRP's north to the land of poutine....
or.... how we chased never-ending rain for three days and then saw the sun

so, we have been planning a trip to Gaspe for a bit and the time finally arrived for our trip to start.

it begins:

Day before.. trying to figure how all this will fit...

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip001.jpg

Merc is all packed up though

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3372.jpg

I arrive at the crack of 10:00.... and get a serious ration of ****...

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3377.jpg

and we're ready

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3376.jpg

... to be continued

[g®eg]

so we rock out of Effingham, and the skies are a bit grey. Calling for showers on and off... it'll be a theme for the next few days, cold front moving slowly north-east.. at about the same speed as a BRP.



not a lot of pics, we swung past Sebago in Maine and kept going north. The weather got on & off brighter, but never promising.

finally arrived just outside Mount Blue State Park in Maine.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip002.jpg

stopped for food & drinks and found this fellow

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3383.jpg

should have slapped the Contender hat on him (inside joke, I have a friend named Moose who works for the competition)....

we get up the road to Mount Blue & set up..

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip004.jpg

get some bacon on

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip005.jpg

and Merc is feeling good!

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip006.jpg

we'll see how long that lasts!
end of day one!

[Ironheadziggy76]

I'm in! P^

[motomac]

Did I see the ADV Rider Salute in one of those shots or was it my old eyes playing tricks???

[g®eg]

Did I see the ADV Rider Salute in one of those shots or was it my old eyes playing tricks???

:D

busted!

[motomac]

:D

busted!
I have a couple taken of me in Dawson City during D2D last year, but I know it would get censored off, so I won't post them here. One of them is on the advrider board though.

[g®eg]

I'll be more careful ;)

[g®eg]

OK... so moving on:

it was kind of drizzly on & off as we sat & drank that night. we had Merc's nifty nylon cover over us though, so we could drink away.

we had covered a bit over 200 miles to start

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/day1.jpg

trip was off & running

unfortunately.... it POURED down rain that night, and while this pic doesn't do it justice, we had "a river runs through it" campsite.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3387.jpg

ah well... into every life a little rain must fall. We were about to find out how much a "little" really is.

[g®eg]

day 2;

so we set off from Mount Blue after a proper (bacon filled) breakfast.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3398.jpg

Light mist, but it wasn't too bad, until we got about 15 minutes into the ride, then it started POURING down again. Not many pics this day, just too crappy. Every time we turned east (or even north-east) the skies would open up... was someone trying to tell us something?

At Skewhegan we tried turning northwest a bit to stay out of the front we kept catching.. it worked for a while, but at Dover Foxcroft we got POURED on once again :mad:

We got to Howland & started thinking about a hotel instead of a campsite. We'd hoped to make the border, but the Gamin wasn't hopeful of lodging, and eastward meant rain, so we went north instead. Ended the night at the EconoLodge in Millnocket.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip007.jpg

good time to let things dry out!

about 200 boring / wet miles behind us.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/day2.jpg

[g®eg]

day 3;

I woke up fairly early (well really early compared to Merc aka "sleepy" of the seven dwarfs). So I figured I'd get him moving by going across the street and grabbing a coffee from the local Dunkin. To ensure success I got him a large latte.... all for naught however, as he was pokey as always even after coffee. I went out & started packing up my bike... sun shining.. feeling good. By the time his nibs had showed his face it was raining again. So we went across the street and had breakfast. Merc was in his glory when we came out & no rain... but that wasn't to last either. Shortly after setting off we caught up with the rain and proceeded to get pissed on all the way from Milnocket to Houlton. We decided to press on further north & see how that would work out, as every time we had gone east: RAIN!

We roll up rt 1 and then 1A with blue skies just mocking us ever so slightly to our west. Nothing but rain and we're both feeling a bit like turning it around... then entering Van Buren, the sun comes out!

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3400.jpg

woo-hoo!!

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3399.jpg

time to dry stuff off:
Merc gets his wet stuff off... beware pics may be shocking!....

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3405.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3402.jpg

you've been warned...

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip009.jpg

time to call the office... and a cute Duc rider I know...

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3406.jpg

and consult the Garmin

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3401.jpg

we look at where we'd like to be, and how far we need to go. we decide it's "doable" and cross the border. first thing we see is a Tim's so we're in for a coffee, then the long & boring slog up 17 through New Brunswick. We had a "better" route planned out, but wanted to cover some ground. Sun stayed out all day and we found ourselves in Tidehead.

nice twisty road leading up to this overlook / picnic area:

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip010.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3407.jpg

snapped some pics looking back up the bay

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip014.jpg

amazing how a bit of blue sky can make you "stupid happy"

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3422.jpg

more in a bit......

[g®eg]

so anyway... after snapping some pics we saddle back up & ride into La Belle Province!

we stop for some gas and start thinking about a place to set up camp for the night. we decide to get some food:

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3430.jpg

food was good, waitress... no English, but she was nice, and we met a guy who said "well.. there's a campsite right on the ocean down there". Cool!

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3428.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3434.jpg

off we went to check it out.
really nice place & relatively cheap too!
we set up & start drying stuff out.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip021.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3440.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3443.jpg

and catch a nice sunset

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip022.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3445.jpg

end of day three... almost 300 miles!

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/day3.jpg

not all of it exciting.. but a good day none-the-less!

[g®eg]

next day the sun is shining bright & all is good with the world!!

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3453.jpg

view down the beach

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3455.jpg

you can tell Merc is full of bacon & coffee at this point...

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip033.jpg

we set off to cross the interior, life is sweet! until...

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip034.jpg

we stop to check the map or something & a guy in a car pulls up, very animated in French... pointing

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3465.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3466.jpg

"the strap, he break" and with a smile and a Gaelic shrug he's off. We picked the bits out of the rear break and carried on.

Now at this point I need to mention that I neglected to load the map for Quebec into the 2610...

so the cross country route I had loaded is giving us grief... we stop for water (but not gas... which will be important later) and decided to try and follow the route anyway.

The 2610 wants us to go down a few "roads" that are chained off, so we dodge and dive in the general direction. It also seems to have gotten the idea the BRP will walk on water, so some doubling back is involved too. After a while though we get on these gravel / dirt roads! Yaaaa Hoooo! Merc & I are ripping along, heroes in our own minds & generally having a ball until..

I come ripping around a corner and see a dog sitting in the road, well wait... not a dog... a wolf? naw too small (the whole time I am closing at about 50 mph)... it's a expletive deletedcoyote! merde (we are in PQ after all)!!!! it sees me jumps up and runs to it's right (my left) sweet, I'll just bear right and ... doesn't the stupid expletive deleted look over it's should and cut right in front of me!! It basically gets clubbed by my left front fork and left boot and goes rolling off towards the edge of the road. I slow to a stop, just as Merc rounds the bend. He sees the coyote too, but it's not in great shape as it makes for the woods

as I catch my breath I demo the BRP back rest

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3468.jpg

then check the GPS for more info.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3469.jpg

G®eg 1, coyote 0

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3470.jpg

we take it slightly easier from this point....

to be continued

[Mr. Guy]

Nice report, loks like a great trip.

Guy

[Trailace]

Greg, Great report. P^

I did delete the one pic.

[g®eg]

Greg, Great report. P^

I did delete the one pic.

no worries...:)
I have been editing the others appropriately
P^

[Trailace]

no worries...:)
I have been editing the others appropriately
P^
Thanks! :D

[Alan]

A fun report, keep it up!P^

[g®eg]

so.. where was I?
oh yeah.. off into the interior!

so we rip along with nary a care in the world, no traffic, great roads and it's E-M-P-T-Y!!! I mean no one around, no one at all!

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip036-1.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip038.jpg

We get to a fork in the road & the GPS is being less than specific so we maintenez le droit. and Merc takes the lead. Well the roads sort of meander around, and the GPS is showing us a) heading south now & b) getting further from the track.... we decide to go back to the cross roads.

Remember I mentioned not getting gas? The BRP gets pretty good mileage, but looking at our maps & the GPS we know three things for sure;

1. we are in Gaspe PQ
2. we are about 50 miles from zero fuel
3. we are at least 50 miles from civilization if we got back the way we came

we decide discretion is the better part of valor and head back in "fuel conservation mode".

coasting down hills & and not really cracking on, I reach reserve & begin to sweat... merc has a bigger tank, but I have our spare cooker gas bottle

as it turns out merc hits reserve same time as me. we get to the end of the road, no town, no nothing... a turn to the left shows an 80 km/h sign, a turn to the right says 70 km/h... hmm civilization? off to the right we go. nope, that road turns north, but we saw a dirt track south. we NEED to go south, so we double back. it really weighs on your mind when you've no gas, and no idea where you really are. getting to the end of the dirt road we find a little town, St Alphonse. They have a caisse popular.. they have a Quebec liquor store... they have no gas! merde!! we head into town (east) and I see another road south. I keep telling myself "gotta get south". As soon as I make the turn GAS!!! cool!!!

we gas up & crack on south, very relieved. upon reaching the coast we decide "Carlton sur Mer was pretty nice..." so we head back, get another camp site, and set up

the lighthouse at the end of the point

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip024a.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip042.jpg

merc decides to go for a swim.. avert your eyes! :eek:

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip045.jpg

cooking & drinking supplies ready
life is good!

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip047.jpg

so day four ends up being about 220 miles to nowhere... in hindsight we think we were within spitting distance of Murdochville... but can't be sure. and anyway.. this is a really nice spot for the night!

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/day4.jpg

[g®eg]

hmmm what day is it? day 5?
as usual up way before sleepy... (he's on holiday he'll tell you).

anyway, waiting for my coffee

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3472.jpg

and some food

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3475.jpg

walking to the bathrooms this struck me as really funny... must be on the road too long

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip051.jpg

coming back I get roped into helping the girls across the way sort their tent out.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3476.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3477.jpg

they didn't have the post-things in the end of the poles..good deed for the day!

there's a church up there! and merc figures we need to go see it.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3478.jpg

pretty nice climb, one Alps-like switchback had me hoping for more, but sadly it was not to be.

at the top

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3480.jpg

555 m

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip052.jpg

the view (our campsite was on the spit of land that goes sort of left to right off in the distance).

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip053.jpg

the church

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3483.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3492.jpg

the lads (looking a bit worse for wear)

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3489.jpg

a little viewing platform

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3502.jpg

bunch of wood below the platform.. like one has collapsed?

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3503.jpg

hmmmm.. the merc isn't big on heights...

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3504.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3508.jpg

they had a "history of the region" as you walked along the edge

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3486.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3497.jpg

interesting...
I know the answer

In days of yore, from Britain's shore,
Wolfe, the dauntless hero came,
And planted firm Britannia's flag,
On Canada's fair domain.
Here may it wave, our boast, our pride,
And joined in love together,
The thistle, shamrock, rose entwine

"name that tune"

with enough pics from the top of the hill we head back down. it's a toll road BTW, but I think we got our $4.50's worth!

we set off west along the shore as it starts to get a bit darker... I knew I should have worn my waterproof pants this morning...

more in a bit

[g®eg]

day 5 continues...

so I am wearing my Klim pants for the first time in the trip, tempting fate (and rain) as it turns out. First you see a car w/ wipers on "maybe he's just cleaning?" then you see bikes with rain gear on... then.. "gosh darn it (no I didn't really say that)... rain"

so, stop & swap pants all the while getting grief for "bringing the rain". of course merc may be right, shortly after the change, no rain. I decide better not to switch back, getting a bit chilly anyway.

we cross the bridge into New Brunswick & spot a Tim's!
things are looking up

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3512.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3510.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3511.jpg

we get on 17 heading south-west.. boring! and stop at the Tim's in St Quentin. After a quick lunch (Tim's chili.. merc didn't eat his beans tho) we head east on 180 and pick up 385 south. This is a great dirt road, no traffic and one of the roads were were going to take on the way up. After a while it's paved, and while pretty, becomes a little monotonous.

we stop in Plaster Rock for a break and then continue on.

crossing the river at Perth-Andover

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3513.jpg

I'm smiling... but the plank of a seat is killing me at this point
notice I have taken the sugar scoop off my helmet. what a difference in the wind.. and quieter too!

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3514.jpg

nothing happening in this area at all, so we continue south, hoping to find food, drinks, and a campsite in that order.

[g®eg]

we end up riding down rt 2 for a while, heading south. see one campsite, but it's in the middle of nowhere and no package store nearby either, so we press on. we see a sign for the "potato world" at Florenceville, and cross the river.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3515.jpg

damn it's been a long day

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3516.jpg

we go across the street, gas up and continue south on 105, it's getting a bit late, but we press on. we stop at Hartland NB and ... you guessed it, a Tims and have our third meal of the day. Any of you own Tim's stock you can make the cheque payable to our next trip

we ask the locals at Tims if there's camping around and they point us at Woodstock across the river.

so we cross 'the worlds longest covered bridge" and we're on our way.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3517.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3518.jpg

does merc's heart proud to see the Union Flag

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3519.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3521.jpg

we find the campsite with few issues, and get set up for the night.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip057.jpg

about 260 miles for the day as I recall... a good day

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/day5.jpg

hmm... is that thunder in the distance?...

[Trailace]

Keep it coming. P^

[g®eg]

day.... 6?

it's getting a little hazy.. possibly due to copious quantities of inexpensive (because merc will tell you "it's not cheap") wine....

I wake up to the steady patter of rain... again

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip058.jpg

oh well... there's a Tim's up the street & if sleepy gets up at some point we can go eat & have coffee in the dry.

by the time merc rolls out the rain has stopped.. this sleeping in thing might have some merit. we head up to the Tim's and get some food & coffee in us and look over the map. merc spots some dirt roads heading south on the map (540 and 630) so we decide to try them out. 540 turns out to be paved, but 630!!!! we absolutely hammer down 630 laughin & grinning ear to ear, great road!

at the end of 630 we join up with NB rt 3 at Andersonville.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3524.jpg

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we head into St Stephen & stop at the Tim's before the border... we're getting as bad as winter-time cross-Canada rider Paul Mondor!

we cross with little drama (as opposed to the little nazi border guard we dealt w/ last year) and set out for Lubec Maine & the easternmost point in the US.

lighthouse at Quoddy Point

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3529.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3543-1.jpg

whole lotta nothing...

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip065.jpg

we head into Lubec itself

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3548-1.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3547-1.jpg
not much going on there either.. must be desolate in winter

and then we ht a campsite down on the water.
great place!!

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3556-1.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip071.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip075.jpg

merc wanted this house badly!

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3563-1.jpg

but he was satisfied with a beer instead

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3565-1.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip074.jpg

some sausage for dinner...

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3570-1.jpg

we actually sprung for wood.. only $2.50 / bundle so we bought two!

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip081.jpg

life is good

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip082.jpg

end of the day: 160 odd miles, with plenty of dirt!
a GOOD day!! P^

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/day6.jpg

[g®eg]

day 7... almost home!

so the day begins with... you guessed it... BACON!

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3574-1.jpg

merc approves P^

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3580-1.jpg

bit foggy out on the water

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3581-1.jpg

this fellow was hanging around looking for free food.... bit shy about getting too close though. eventually when we weren't looking he shot in and grabbed the bit of bread.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3585-1.jpg

got on the road and headed south
we took 191 along the shore... bit cooler than we'd expected with fog rolling in

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3592-1.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3594-1.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3595-1.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip087.jpg

the shoreline in northern Maine is very nice, beautiful scenery & not much traffic... however when you get further south traffic becomes an issue.

stopped at the DD for a coffee and saw this

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3601-1.jpg

very Miami Vice...

bit later on (after a brief shower courtesy of g®eg wearing his Klim pants) we stopped for lunch. they promised "a healthy helping of clam strips"...so we went for it.

healthy

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip089.jpg

merc liked 'em.. he was running a fried food deficit at the time

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip091.jpg

we ride way too far get south of Freeport and decide it's time to stop. The Garmin isn't being completely helpful as the campsite it points us to is an empty lot. we end up at "baileys camping resort" (the word resort has us worried). merc: "how much for a site?" them: "you on motorcycles?... hmm we don't allow bikes". took a while and finally the boss says "$47 for the night". we say goodbye

he comes out though and says "well.. it's late, how about $30 and I'll put you over there?" so we decide OK, and stay. for a place that doesn't allow bikes there sure seems to be a lot of 'em around.

we setup & proceed to consume alcohol.

another fairly long day, 240 odd miles, and we're really quite close to home

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/day7-1.jpg

[Trailace]

:Popcorn

[Alan]

Enjoying your trip posts, looking forward to more. P^

[g®eg]

last day...153 miles from home (for me).

we get up early, even the merc is ready to go!
head south through Maine into NH. quite a bit more stop & go rt 1 than my mind could deal with, so I head towards 95.

at the junction of 95 / rt 1 and 128 merc & I split company. I continue on down rt 1 and over the Tobin (bikes should not have to pay tolls)......I make sure I delay everyone as much as possible

through town it's getting hot & I just want to be home....

the end of the journey

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip093.jpg

the tale of the GPS

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip096.jpg

and one shagged TKC 80 rear....

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/gaspe/gaspetrip098.jpg

merc also made it home safe

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/Gaspe%202008/IMGP3608-1.jpg

good time in Gaspe, I would highly recommend it!
remember to load the base map for Quebec though if you go....I forgot, and it didn't help. other than that, great time, great people, and I think it'd be nice to go back and see more of the interior. camping at the "Camping de Carleton (http://www.guidecamping.ca/cdcq/en/fiche_camping.asp?no_cdcq=390)", in Carleton-sur-Mer was amazing. It'd be a good place to use as a base to explore the interior.

If anyone wants the MapSource files for the trip, shoot me an e-mail & I will hook you up.

almost time for 2009 adventures to begin P^
thanks for reading.

[coopdway]

Thanks for the report guys, brings back many pleasant memories of the Gaspe'. I wish I could remember some other things as well as I remember those days.