[Nova Scotia Strommer]

So who is planning on doing the TLH this summer and when?
A friend and I will be heading out from Nova Scotia on the 19th of August.We are going to run counter clockwise.The plan is to burn through NFLD and get to Labrador as quickly as possible where the schedule ends and it's day by day from there.From Labrador we will travel the Gaspe and the north shore of New Brunswick and on to home.
The plan is to camp as much as possible as long as the weather and bugs permit.

Maybe we will see you en-route.Keep your eyes peeled for an orange DL650 and a blue DL1000(carrying extra gas)lol .

 

[GT_Hawk]

last 2 weeks of july is when I am headed out

 

[WEE4ME]

I'll be ther Aug 5-9 clockwise, orange wee.

 

[GT_Hawk]

getting close now less then 2 weeks, besides the coolant leak, new tires (k60) to mount and needing to changing oil the bike is almost ready lol. :thumbup:

 

[WEE4ME]

Hey GT Hawk what tires are you using for the trip?

 

[GT_Hawk]

leaving Toronto area on the 15th. Idea is to be at manic 5 mid day on 17th. Some friends who leave on the 16th will meat us at manic 5 on the 18th morning and we start going from there. scheduled 5 days on the route. So we get to the end on the 22th afternoon/night. Need to see if we cross that friday night or the Saturday morning. Issue is the GF taking the coastal boat to meat us at Balanc-Sablon. so if her boat is late or we run late idea then its Saturday morning. The we spend tell 27 or 28th on the rock and cross to mainland from Argentia to main land. take 2 days and do cabots trail then race home. Arriving home on the holladay Monday.

 

[bumper]

So who is planning on doing the TLH this summer and when?
A friend and I will be heading out from Nova Scotia on the 19th of August.We are going to run counter clockwise.The plan is to burn through NFLD and get to Labrador as quickly as possible where the schedule ends and it's day by day from there.From Labrador we will travel the Gaspe and the north shore of New Brunswick and on to home.
The plan is to camp as much as possible as long as the weather and bugs permit.

Maybe we will see you en-route.Keep your eyes peeled for an orange DL650 and a blue DL1000(carrying extra gas)lol .

If you take the ferry from Godbout to Matane there is a camping near the beach in Godbout and there are also nice B&B's.


Have a good trip.:thumbup:

 

[Black Lab]

There is camping in Matane too. As you come off of the ferry, ride straight through the traffic lights, turn right at the next set of lights and follow the road up a hill, then take a left. Right on the river. I use this place EVERY time I ride the Gaspé. I have stayed there 5 times.

 

[Jimm]

I'll be taking the ferry north from Matane to Baie Comeau some time during the 3rd week of July after a run round Gaspe. Unfortunately I'm turning left at Baie Comeau and heading for Godbout and up the Saguenay from there. I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for Trans Lab bound stroms though.

 

[GT_Hawk]

I'll be taking the ferry north from Matane to Baie Comeau some time during the 3rd week of July after a run round Gaspe. Unfortunately I'm turning left at Baie Comeau and heading for Godbout and up the Saguenay from there. I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for Trans Lab bound stroms though.

if u see a black wee, 2 klr's, 1 1200gs and a 650gs then its my group :biggrinjester:

 

[GT_Hawk]

Woo leaving in 4 days. Anyone got nay recommendations or suggestions on gear to bring, hints to the road or stuff like that

 

[Nova Scotia Strommer]

I haven't done the road yet but have been planning and researching for a year now.
TKC-80's or Heideneau K60's,Plug kit and pump,dust masks and goggles.Travel as light as possible and keep your eye on the road ahead and adjust your speed accordingly.You may not need it but extra gas might come in handy.BUG repellent.Lots of chain lube.A spare air filter for the end if the dust is bad.First aid kit and tools.

I met a fellow Strom rider a couple of weeks ago on his way home to NB from the Trans Lab. He only had 100kms of experience on dirt before he headed out.He said there were a couple of ass-puckering moments but overall he felt the road was not as bad as he expected.He was loaded down pretty good and had TKC-80's on the bike.He said he aired down to 25lbs at the beginning.The bugs were bad on the first day but then it got cold and rained for for the rest of the trip through Labrador.Said he had the heated gear on high the whole way.He said the road was easier to "read" when wet and cruised at 110kph quite a bit. He said he figures the road conditions change daily.He said he actually ran out of gas at 299kms.I should have questioned him more on that because that seems excessive to me.
Maybe some veterans will chime in with some advice?

Have a safe and enjoyable trip and post lots of picts and maybe a ride report.

 

[GT_Hawk]

I lived 5 days on the highway. k60's worked well tho I think I would use a tkc80 on front and keep the k60 on the rear. the tkc just has bigger spaces between the blocks which might have been helpful in the really sandy bits. and don't kid yourself its sandy there.

Labrador Adventure – Oh Shit … | CMG News
we ran into these guys (editors at that online magazine) on the rock a day before they hit the highway. so gives you a idea how bad it can be when guys with way more experience then me can't make it past 80km on the graval. Sometimes better to be lucky the good I guess. Great guys tho.

 

[Nova Scotia Strommer]

Gt _Hawk glad to see you made it home safely. I wonder just what caused the guy on the beemer to go down?From all the reports I have read the most common cause of crashing up there seems to be a head shake(tank slapper) getting out of control on an already overloaded bike.
I hope to avoid that as I have installed a Scotts stabilizer.It has already proven it's worth off road and on road.Sometimes with experience comes overconfidence and carelessness..a dangerous combination.
The TKC80 front and K60 rear combo are in the garage and will be going on next week.
How was the weather and bugs? Any tips would be appreciated.
I plan on taking my time and hope conquer the Trans Lab and not have it conquer me....but shit does happen.

 

[GT_Hawk]

Gt _Hawk glad to see you made it home safely. I wonder just what caused the guy on the beemer to go down?From all the reports I have read the most common cause of crashing up there seems to be a head shake(tank slapper) getting out of control on an already overloaded bike.
I hope to avoid that as I have installed a Scotts stabilizer.It has already proven it's worth off road and on road.Sometimes with experience comes overconfidence and carelessness..a dangerous combination.
The TKC80 front and K60 rear combo are in the garage and will be going on next week.
How was the weather and bugs? Any tips would be appreciated.
I plan on taking my time and hope conquer the Trans Lab and not have it conquer me....but shit does happen.

Well I had 2 full on tank slappers in the fire island area . ITs when you are getting close to labadour city. Relay bad stretch with loats of turns going over train tracks. but its hard pack with a layer of sand and a sprinkling of gravel on top for flavor. both times just goosed the throtel and that k60 bit in and moved me. Even the klr's where dropping there tire pressure and holding on for dear life in this area. At that point in time I was running 30 psi front and back. Front went to 26 after that.

I never did have the scotts dampener, wish I had and I did plan on it for the trip. But never did come up with the funds.

weather sucked some days ran and cold. Its not that warm up there and same for the rock. they have been having a rather cold summer there. With rain. bugs where a royal pain, recommended bug netting, for bear minimum your head. And the best bug replant you can find.


When in Churchill falls, go to town hal or whatever it is, smaller building but there you can book a tour of the facility. Very good to do and its free. Also they will tel you a good spot in town near the church you can set up camp. Its right next to there main town building that's a go to for everything including washrooms. And if early enough even showers. there is a hotel in that building to and a restaurant but its dry. Bar down road had beer ofcourse.

 

[Nova Scotia Strommer]

Hawk thanks for the info. I will be going counter clockwise so the bad spot will be after Lab city for me...correct?
I hear ya on the weather.It has been pretty bleak here in NS this year also. El Ninio has the weather crazy everywhere this year.
I am ready for the bugs.I have some Watkins and some DND issue stuff that takes a layer of skin off and melts plastic but works if they get real bad.:yikes: Also have a bug jacket and head net.
I was checking the weather history up there and on August 27 2009 they actually got 6cm of snow.That would keep the bugs down......I wonder how the TKC80/K60 combination works in the snow????

 

[Jimm]

Hey NSS. Not meaning to be a stranger just been busy. How's the trip prep coming? Time's getting short?

 

[Nova Scotia Strommer]

Jimm I am taking Friday off to swap out the tires and change the oil. I will go for short ride to scrubb in and get a feel for the tires and then head to Mooseland for some time with the family.If you are down that way stop in for a cold one.
I did a "shakedown" run a couple weeks ago to Cape Breton fully loaded.Camped in Meat Cove Saturday and entered the Highlands at Wreck Cove Sunday.Ran the Highland road out to Cape Clear and then out at the south entrance.Cape Clear is a must see!!!
The bike handled well considering the tires I was running.The upgraded suspension front and back as well as the Scotts stabilizer were well worth the money.
How was the Gaspe ?

 

[Jimm]

I plan on doing Cape Clear in September. You'll probably want some time away from the bike by then, but I'll definitely check in with you for some directions.

As far as Gaspe went, I had everything except snow, and in the Chic Chocs I could see snow. Great trip none the less. The cold and wet made me appreciate the heat wave in Vermont that much more. Because of my company, I stayed on the pavement, but I did see some interesting roads cutting between the Cascapdedia road and Murdochville, which I'll have to go back to explore. It's big country.

 

[Nova Scotia Strommer]

I plan on doing Cape Clear in September. You'll probably want some time away from the bike by then, but I'll definitely check in with you for some directions.

Jimm I am always up for a trip to Cape Breton and some other friends have been expressing interest in going also. The directions are easy peasy. Drive in about 39kms from the south entrance and turn left at this sign. Then follow the road most travelled to the end,park the Strom,take a short path through the bushes and prepare yourself for some breathtaking views. I think a trip in the fall with the leaves in colour would be the time to go although that time of the year anything can happen up there(snow?).
TAKE your CAMERA. My picture taking ability's and pocket camera do not do this place justice.I also have the coordinates locked into my gps.