I've yet to meet a Rallymaster who didn't have a bit of a sadistic side. But to know the rules of engagement, is to embrace the tactical strategy. The Roaming Rally has always been pray your skill doesn't run out before the daylight does. Because no matter the classic or expedition edition, you best bring out your big girl panties.
We weren’t but an hour into the ride, and the entire road surface in the horizon begins to shift. It seems that we have a gaggle of sleeping turkeys that have now paused their dust bath preening to greet us. By the time we have our sights on them, they are now at full on Turkey Trot. Meanwhile, a turkey trot is a catch all name for a foot race the day after Thanksgiving, a nice Texas 2-step dance, or fine bourbon. And I am not entirely certainly what omen this might foresee, but I am certain that Turkey’s trotting down the track are certainly an unusual start. And it's not even November!
Turkey Trot --// 1 1/2 oz Makers Mark Bourbon / 2 oz Sprite / 2 oz Ocean Spray cranberry juice // Add ingredients one by one into a highball glass filled with ice starting with the bourbon, followed by the cranberry and finishing with the sprite. Stir and drink
While I did bring the micro 4/3rds camera, it will see little use on this trip. This trip simple won't have that sort of spare time to wanderlust the moment. And for that, it will be mostly the go-pros in action. It's not really that we are the fastest team but we have a strong strategy of starting early, taking few breaks and when we do, we keep them short and keep moving at a strong pace. I don't want to be on the trail after dark!! Also our navigation skills are good which tends to cost some teams a fair bit of "lost" time.
The track takes us a is a bit under 8 hrs of ride time to clear the 253 miles of dirt, gravel and tarmac. As we leave the city-scape of Ottawa to our backs, the track is great flowing curves some high speed gravel and a dash of technical two-track. We have everything from whiteout dust storms, to idyllic covered bridges, to a Canadian version of a water crossing which usually means you are riding part of river with cross current. Yes, we will call that our own ‘Turkey Trot’.
We weren’t but an hour into the ride, and the entire road surface in the horizon begins to shift. It seems that we have a gaggle of sleeping turkeys that have now paused their dust bath preening to greet us. By the time we have our sights on them, they are now at full on Turkey Trot. Meanwhile, a turkey trot is a catch all name for a foot race the day after Thanksgiving, a nice Texas 2-step dance, or fine bourbon. And I am not entirely certainly what omen this might foresee, but I am certain that Turkey’s trotting down the track are certainly an unusual start. And it's not even November!
Turkey Trot --// 1 1/2 oz Makers Mark Bourbon / 2 oz Sprite / 2 oz Ocean Spray cranberry juice // Add ingredients one by one into a highball glass filled with ice starting with the bourbon, followed by the cranberry and finishing with the sprite. Stir and drink
While I did bring the micro 4/3rds camera, it will see little use on this trip. This trip simple won't have that sort of spare time to wanderlust the moment. And for that, it will be mostly the go-pros in action. It's not really that we are the fastest team but we have a strong strategy of starting early, taking few breaks and when we do, we keep them short and keep moving at a strong pace. I don't want to be on the trail after dark!! Also our navigation skills are good which tends to cost some teams a fair bit of "lost" time.
The track takes us a is a bit under 8 hrs of ride time to clear the 253 miles of dirt, gravel and tarmac. As we leave the city-scape of Ottawa to our backs, the track is great flowing curves some high speed gravel and a dash of technical two-track. We have everything from whiteout dust storms, to idyllic covered bridges, to a Canadian version of a water crossing which usually means you are riding part of river with cross current. Yes, we will call that our own ‘Turkey Trot’.
Later in the day, we are nice cruising pace. We spot a 20+ pound turtle in the middle of a 40 ft dirt road. We slow down to grab U-turn, and we can’t find him. Literally, he has completely evaporated in the span of less than a few minutes. Yet, I am still amazed how we have perception about slow turtles.
We’ve made some excellent time this morning, and pop out of the woods at the first gas stop. Since we elected to skip out on the free hotel breakfast which was certainly a good 45 min ordeal with 30 riders and 1 wait staff, we were some of the first riders up. Nobody passed us on the trail. And we find no fresh tire tracks on the trail. Imagine our surprise when the gas station has a half dozen adventure bikes lounging about. It’s worth a good chuckle to know that there is also a Roaming Rally Highway edition in full swing.
One of the marvels about Canada is there is no lack of water. In fact, if you don't have to swim down a river for 50m with a cross current it wasn't even a proper trail ride.
We’ve made some excellent time this morning, and pop out of the woods at the first gas stop. Since we elected to skip out on the free hotel breakfast which was certainly a good 45 min ordeal with 30 riders and 1 wait staff, we were some of the first riders up. Nobody passed us on the trail. And we find no fresh tire tracks on the trail. Imagine our surprise when the gas station has a half dozen adventure bikes lounging about. It’s worth a good chuckle to know that there is also a Roaming Rally Highway edition in full swing.
One of the marvels about Canada is there is no lack of water. In fact, if you don't have to swim down a river for 50m with a cross current it wasn't even a proper trail ride.
 Since we've come to know and love out Rallymaster, we also find out that he is the last to depart the lodges in the morning. His goal is hunt down the pack and hopefully be the first into the next lodge. To confuse him, sometimes we give a few extra tracks to wonder about.....and few more for him to know that he's not the biggest dog :-) |  |
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The track after lunch is typical Canada. Highspeed Gravel Travel. Even though we have road this before, it is completely different today. Dusty, white out conditions. And to make matters worse, it seems that the little town of Parent is draining for the weekend. We can only surmise by watching the oncoming vehicles that every Canadian is issued a boat, ATV and a snowmobile at birth. And it seems the dirt dirting pickups have even mastered the fine art of drifting with their toy trailers.
The most quizzical thing though was this sign. I understand there is no gas/propane on this road. Trees, trees everywhere a tree it's hard not to see but 167 clicks of toilette! Really, what am I missing?
The most quizzical thing though was this sign. I understand there is no gas/propane on this road. Trees, trees everywhere a tree it's hard not to see but 167 clicks of toilette! Really, what am I missing?
As we pull into the lodge, it's a great homecoming. In 2014, they were offering a helo tour but we got in too late. This year, we are in spritely early but alas the little red helo is no where to be found. Nonetheless, the chef tonight was classically trained in France. I've been told never trust a skinny chef, and tonight, there are no worries. The lodge is cute as a button from exquisitely appointed animals, to well furnished rooms. And the 4-course dinner will fill the hungry soul in all of us!
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This is one of the spoils of the explorer edition. No need for a sleeping bag, we are all out glamping in style!
