To the Gaff Topsails ...... with a little help from my friends.

TREE · #1 08-01-2008, 06:46 PM

I got home a few days ago from the best bike trip I've had to the Rock since I started coming over on two wheels in 1973 .
( that one was two up on a Suzuki 500 to Trout River when it was still a dirt road in from Deer Lake. )

The railbed trip has been on my wish list for a long time, and was only made possible by the huge generosity of Dave Noel in Gander who loaned me his KLR ....... thank you Dave !

He did have my beemer as a deposit so a profit was possible ........

Dave gave me his KLR for 3 days to cross that wonderful terrible place called the Gaff Topsails. ( I'm using a local term here that I loved when I first heard it ).
Well the trip was blessed with amazing weather and not without a few moments of excitement either. This won't be a long detailed account, kind of a work in progress.

Here is a rough map of parts of my route for the 10 days I was on the Rock.

TREE · #2 08-01-2008, 07:01 PM

The first thing Dave and I did was an oil change which is good since I had never wrenched a KLR, nice to see the filter tube that sometimes gets thrown out by mistake.
He casually mentioned I might want rear turn signals for the highway, though he hasn't missed them for a few years since the bags went on.
I saw a golden opportunity for us to join the Pork Hunt KLR owners club.

So, did we pass the test ?

CoolHand · #3 08-01-2008, 08:07 PM

i think so lol.

TREE · #4 08-01-2008, 08:43 PM

The next step was to put new rubber on the back and she'd be good to go.
I went to a dealer while Dave was at work and picked up a new Kenda. I am used to 18 inch on the old bikes so big surprise when I got home and saw 17" on the KLR. Never assume anything.... especially if you know dick all.

It turned out well as there were no seventeens in Gander anywhere but Grand Falls had plenty. I would pick one up on my ride west. The next morning I hit the road and went to Thruway Honda who had 2 Kenda choices, full knobby or street trail. Price was about $57 for either and after discount and tax I paid about $57 total compared to $88 in Gander.

They were short staffed and couldn't mount the tire until the next day so the truck guys at Sharron's tires mounted it for me after I removed the rear wheel.
By 3pm I was back on the road.

Here is what I normally ride, taken north of the Burgeo highway on the way to Red Indian Lake at the start of the trip.

Now I'm on a KLR ....... hmmm. Can you smell a learning curve ?

TREE · #5 08-01-2008, 09:55 PM

I also saw a Spyder on the way, only the second one since Hfx . . . and they all seem to have Quebec plates.

West of Grand Falls I started running on the railbed so I could get a feel for the bike on gravel before I got to Badger.

After Badger I would be going cross country to Millertown Jct.

KLX450R · #6 08-01-2008, 10:19 PM

Good stuff, Tree...

That area of the province, through the Gaff Topsails, and right around the Red Indian Lake area, interests me the most as my next major off road adventure.

Keep it comin'...

skibum69 · #7 08-01-2008, 11:25 PM

nodraer · #8 08-01-2008, 08:40 PM

sounds like a good trip. too bad there are not more pics.

ITsteve · #9 08-02-2008, 03:15 PM

Thanks for posting this Tree

, In a week or so I will be making my way over the same trail, nice to get an idea of the terrain and also nice to see you made it OK with the exact same tires I will be running

Any Tips ? things to watch for or watch out for

.

TREE · #10 08-02-2008, 04:45 PM

Hi Steve. Nothing major to watch out for, just relax and enjoy it.
I had a couple of moments but will describe them later. It is a great trip.

I have a retired friend who is taking his wife across on an ATV soon, he used to fly over that area for EPA and always wanted to see it up close.
Now they have seen the photos they are a lot less worried about the route.