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@michael_b avatar
UTC

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GTS 300 ie - traded in; Honda CB300FA; Honda Ruckus scooter
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@michael_b avatar
GTS 300 ie - traded in; Honda CB300FA; Honda Ruckus scooter
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Location: Toronto, Canada
UTC quote
I've just returned from a 12-day tour, following the coast of Georgian Bay and also following the Deer Trail route. Actually, the main goal of the tour was to experience the incredible beauty of the remote Algoma Country - the very scenic roads 129 and 546 (Deer Trail). There are very few dwellings, more bears than people, and off-season even hours can pass before one encounters a car. It is the most beautiful area of the province of Ontario. Experiencing it from the saddle of a motorbike had been my dream.
Deer Trail route is about 250 km. In the counterclockwise direction, starting in the small town of Elliot Lake, it heads north via Mississagi Provinical Park. In that section the road is mostly straight, but there are many hills, some of them quite steep. Once through the Provincial Park, road 546 takes over and follows Little White River. It's all crown land (public land) there, and wild camping is allowed. This section of the route is the most scenic. The road is bumpy (but not harshly so) and in some places has a sprinkling of gravel, so higher speeds are not possible; but why would anyone rush through such gorgeous nature?

As to the Georgian Bay Coastal Route, the east and north sides are mostly along major high-speed highways (90 to 100 km/h legally), though still pretty. The west side is much more interesting, going through the paper mill town of Espanola, and then continuing through a hilly and very scenic section to Manitoulin Island (supposedly the largest freshwater island in the world). Then there is the ferry across Lake Huron from the island to the town of Tobermory.
From Tobermory it's along regional roads (speed limit of 80 km/h) back to Toronto. Actually, I went off the main regional roads and followed some scenic sideroads. It payed off, as I hit a jackpot = Beaver Valley. When you're riding along this road and all of a sudden it drops down into the valley and the valley opens in front of you, it leaves you speechless (well, at least myself). It's a deep valley with some dramatic looking hills. Its picture shown below doesn't do it justice - it must be experienced in person to truly appreciate it.

The whole tour distance was 1498 km, split over 12 days. I preferred to stay in campgrounds, but in some places it wasn't possible or there were those two days of rain. Except for the two rainy days the weather was picture perfect.

Day 1 - Earl Rowe Provincial Park campground (busy regional roads nearby)
Day 2 - Six Mile Lake Prov Park campground (next to a major highway)
Day 3 - Sturgeon Bay Prov Park campground (away from highways, but some trains)
Day 4 - Sudbury (hotel, bloody expensive)
Day 5 - Elliot Lake campground (small, cheap, looked nice, by a road but quiet at night)
Day 6 and 7 - Tunnel Lake Trading Post motel (clean, inexpensive, but looked like a cave or a tunnel [dark grey plaster on walls looking like dark concrete])
Day 8 - Chutes Provincial Park campground (train nearby)
Day 9 - South Baymouth motel (very cozy and quiet, though not the cheapest)
Day 10 - Sauble Falls Provincial Park campground (nice and quiet)
Day 11 - Knights Inn motel in Flesherton (inexpensive and clean)
Day 12 - back to Toronto

Here are links to short videos from the tour:

Deer Trail (the section along road 546):
https://youtu.be/IgEctEsVYKw

Road 129 (Algoma Country):
https://youtu.be/ScvF4cPEyto

Waterfall in Chutes Provincial Park:
https://youtu.be/nqdNZQG3U9s

The ferry:
https://youtu.be/8KF4DuEiBlY

The ferry cost $35 CAD and runs twice a day.
The largest wild animal I've encountered were chipmunks.
Approximate route of the tour
Approximate route of the tour
Georgian Bay Coastal Route
Georgian Bay Coastal Route
Six Mile Lake Provincial Park camground
Six Mile Lake Provincial Park camground
sunset, Sturgeon Bay
sunset, Sturgeon Bay
sideroad through Canadian Shield, by Sturgeon Bay
sideroad through Canadian Shield, by Sturgeon Bay
one of the campsites; food hanging
one of the campsites; food hanging
Deer Trail
Deer Trail
remote wilderness, Mississagi Provincial Park
remote wilderness, Mississagi Provincial Park
narrows
narrows
crown land (public land), wild camping allowed
crown land (public land), wild camping allowed
road 546
road 546
Little White River
Little White River
road 129 by Mississagi River, Algoma Country
road 129 by Mississagi River, Algoma Country
road 129
road 129
evening glory, Sturgeon Bay
evening glory, Sturgeon Bay
fog in Algoma Country
fog in Algoma Country
waterfall, Chutes Provincial Park
waterfall, Chutes Provincial Park
south of Espanola
south of Espanola
automated (motion sensors) deer crossing warning; getting close to Manitoulin Island
automated (motion sensors) deer crossing warning; getting close to Manitoulin Island
this swing bridge is the only land link to Manitoulin Island,  It swings 90 degrees to let ships through.
this swing bridge is the only land link to Manitoulin Island, It swings 90 degrees to let ships through.
OP
@michael_b avatar
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UTC quote
more photos from the tour
just a few more pics.
10 mile lookout, Manitoulin Island, Lake Huron
10 mile lookout, Manitoulin Island, Lake Huron
lighthouse, South Baymouth, Manitoulin Island
lighthouse, South Baymouth, Manitoulin Island
waiting to board the ferry
waiting to board the ferry
deep in the guts of the ferry
deep in the guts of the ferry
South Baymouth, from the ferry's deck
South Baymouth, from the ferry's deck
Sauble falls
Sauble falls
not knowing where exactly I was, but heading in the right direction - exploring sideroads
not knowing where exactly I was, but heading in the right direction - exploring sideroads
Beaver Valley - pictures don't do it justice
Beaver Valley - pictures don't do it justice
Beaver River in Beaver Valley.  It offers about 18 km of easy canoeing .
Beaver River in Beaver Valley. It offers about 18 km of easy canoeing .
@owie avatar
UTC

Hooked
Vespa GTS 300
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Location: Napier, New Zealand
 
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@owie avatar
Vespa GTS 300
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Location: Napier, New Zealand
UTC quote
Beautiful Holiday
Hello Michael B, thank you for that lovely tour, great photos and movies, good to see that you appreciate all that natural beauty around you and what better way to see it, on a scooter and camping, roll on summer. I think if I was on that route it may take me a bit longer as I would have to do a spot of fishing, there would have to be trout in those rivers! surely. All the best, Owie.
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@michael_b avatar
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UTC quote
Thanks, Owie. Yes, I agree - experiencing the land on a motorbike and camping are the best (as long as the weather is nice; camping in rain sucks )
@gasboy avatar
UTC

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300ie Super, P200e
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Location: Carpinteria, Ca.
 
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@gasboy avatar
300ie Super, P200e
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Location: Carpinteria, Ca.
UTC quote
Thanks for that trip. Beautiful scenery. Didn't look as though you saw another vehicle.
@xantufrog avatar
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1980 P200E - "Old Rusty", 1976 ET3 Primavera
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@xantufrog avatar
1980 P200E - "Old Rusty", 1976 ET3 Primavera
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Location: Atlanta, GA
UTC quote
great shots, thanks for sharing!
@bilbo avatar
UTC

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GTS 300
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Posts: 270
Location: Northern Cal
 
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@bilbo avatar
GTS 300
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UTC quote
Great photos and write-up. Your photos inspire me to break out of my habitual shots.
I will be following part of your route tomorrow. Tonight I'm in Webbwood, ON and tomorrow will go to Sudbury then south on 400 to may-be Niagara Falls if I get that far. I'm on somewhat of a schedule so can't take the backroads route.
Thanks for the inspiring post.
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@michael_b avatar
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UTC quote
Thanks, guys, for the comments. BIlbo, I'll get to reading your report during the week. My schedule has been hectic since returning and tomorrow is back to work. Too bad I couldn't say "Hi" to you in person.
@bob_copeland avatar
UTC

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2013 Vespa 300 Super, 2022 Kymco AK 550
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Location: Minneapolis USA
 
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@bob_copeland avatar
2013 Vespa 300 Super, 2022 Kymco AK 550
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Location: Minneapolis USA
UTC quote
Top Knotch Photography
Michael B,

Your tour really motivates me to get on the road.
What kind of a camera were you shooting with?
I really must congratulate you on your pictures.
Nothing "back Lit", great framing, great color, Wow.

Thanks for the visual adventure.

Bob Copeland
Minnesota
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@michael_b avatar
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GTS 300 ie - traded in; Honda CB300FA; Honda Ruckus scooter
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Location: Toronto, Canada
UTC quote
Hi Bob,

thank you. Most of the pics were taken with iPhone 5.
Some with a Sony CyberShot camera. In decent light the iPhone
takes great pics. I didn't take the dSLR as I had no more space.
Cheers, M
⬆️    About 1 year elapsed    ⬇️
@rocky69 avatar
UTC

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vespa gts 250 ie
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Location: piqua ohio
 
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@rocky69 avatar
vespa gts 250 ie
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Location: piqua ohio
UTC quote
Great pics,thanks for taking me along
@duane1 avatar
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2005 et4
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Location: oshawa ontario canada
 
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@duane1 avatar
2005 et4
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Location: oshawa ontario canada
UTC quote
Just looked at this thread again and makes me think I will have to ride that route, or part of it, in 2017.

Lovely photos.
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@michael_b avatar
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GTS 300 ie - traded in; Honda CB300FA; Honda Ruckus scooter
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Location: Toronto, Canada
UTC quote
duane1 wrote:
Just looked at this thread again and makes me think I will have to ride that route, or part of it, in 2017.

Lovely photos.
Thanks, Duane1, it's definitely worth it.
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