British Columbia Discovery Route

British Columbia Backcountry Discovery Route 2015

August 23nd through August 31st

Ride is over now, below is a video of the adventure from Jeff.

Thanks everyone great ride team!

I hope you can join us next time.

Original ride plan below

Join us for this 9 day Adventure Bike Tour around British Columbia

This ride includes Vancouver Island, a Ferry Cruise up the Inland Passage, some of Canada's Best Back Routes

gpsKevin fixing a flat front tire in BC Note: WD40 in the tire and the lighter exploded and the tire seated!

This ride is a 9 day adventure bike ride around British Columbia. The ride starts in Bellingham, Washington on Sunday morning and makes an 1800 mile loop around British Columbia. The ride starts by crossing into Canada and then taking a ferry onto Vancouver Island. We ride the length of the island and then board the Inland Passage Ferry with passage to Prince Rupert. This is the spectacular route of the Cruse Ship lines.

From Prince Rupert we begin our Discovery Route to the southwest. The route is mainly dirt roads taking us by several remote Hunting and Fishing lodges. These are the type of lodges that many adventurers

use float planes to travel to these places.

Typical back route in BC Nechako Aviation Ltd.

The ride has a mix of lodges and motels. Riders will travel an average of 200 miles each day, some longer and some shorter. There are hard and easy options and several optional out and backs for the rider seeking even more adventure.

And just to top off the week, on our last evening we will be staying in the old mining Ghost town of Bralorne.

Party at Sally'z Pub!

For those that want to study the ride in great detail, you can see the ride details document below

"British Columbia has some of the best back-country riding in the world.

We are lucky to be able to come here and ride. Thanks Canada, you Rock!"

Warning: This is another gpsKevin adventure

Signup info: Sorry ride is Full: Waiting List

The cost to join this 9 day ride is $1,450. This covers your lodging for the 8 nights during the ride and the cost of the Inland Passage Ferry from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert. This includes passage for one motorcycle and one person. Rooms and Cabins are double occupancy. This also covers your ride packets which include a custom Garmin GPS Map on a micro SD card and printed ride maps and descriptions.

Note: Riders will receive ride packets in the mail one week before the ride.

Hey, these are big deal rides, if you don't know me or have not been on any of my other rides, then send me an email and introduce yourself, l will try to help answer your questions: gpsKevin@gmail.com

Riders must make full payment by July 6th 2015; ride limit is 16 riders

Note: Sorry this is an expensive ride. The cost of the inland passage ferry is expensive and lodging for 8 days in Canada is pricey. But hey it is a trip of a lifetime.

Ride Details

I know many of you also enjoy dreaming about the ride and making plans, so here is the detail

Ride Description British ...bia Discovery Route 2015

Riders going on this ride

Jimmy M (Tenere) Kenny M (KTM 990) Vaudois (KTM 500) Mike J (KTM 990)

Jeff C (KTM990) gpsKevin (Super Duper Tenere) Jack M (BMW 1200gs) Ron A (

Tim S (BMW R1200 GSA) Bill G (Vstrom)

View the ride maps below

OK since many of you like to study more detail about the ride, below are the ride maps.

I put these ride maps on the web page because I know a few of you love looking at the ride detail and dreaming about the ride. At first glance these maps do not look so impressive, but they are way cool. If you start zooming in, you can see the ride in incredible detail. I have spent a ton of hours sorting through the details of the ride for each day, so for those of you that enjoy this sort of thing, well enjoy!

Legend:

The Blue lines are MAIN routes

The Red lines are Harder routes

The Green lines are Easy options

The Black lines are the out and back viewpoints

How does the ride navigation work?

This is a self-led GPS ride; all riding is on your own. You are responsible for your own riding. You will be given a GPS map file and instructions on how to use your Garmin GPS unit. People will hook up in small groups of less than 6 riders and tend to ride together. You are not encouraged to ride alone. You are responsible for your own riding and yourself.

(see my ride Navigation Video)

Are you right for this ride?

When something goes wrong on a ride, would your riding friends say that you are more likely to need help or more likely to give help? You should be in the more likely to offer help camp. This ride is filled with riders that are more likely to give help, so most of the time the riders never need help. Additionally there is all the normal stuff, come prepared to maintain your bike, fix your bike on the trail, repair flat tires, deal with bad weather and rain and make a joke or two.

How do I make the GPS stuff so easy?

I develop very high quality ride maps custom for our ride, they come from much of what I and others have ridden. I take the best from all my rides and make new ones.

(See my Custom Ride Maps Video)

Note from me, gpsKevin

My goal for this ride is simple, great riding, so you can count on great routes and places to ride.

But in addition: The ride is about discovering new places, meeting new friends, seeing new parts of the world.

Thanks

gpsKevin

FAQ's

Q:What will the weather be like this time of year?

A: In August, the weather is most often nice. That is why I go this time of the year. It could be a little cold in the morning and in the mountains. Sometimes there can be rain. Wet and muddy routes can force us to change our routes. Come prepared with extra gear for cold and wet. Also inland it can sometimes be hot. Come prepared bring extra gear.

Q: Would this be a good ride for new riders?

A: No, this ride is for intermediate and experienced riders only. The riding has easy route choices and tough route options. Each evening we will study the following day's choices. You will find lots of supportive people at the ride.

Q: If I truck my bike to Bellingham is there a place to leave my truck for the week during the ride?

A: Yes, I will be leaving my van at the Bellingham Airport long term parking during the 9 days. It is cheap and near the start.

Q: Do I need a Passport?

A: Yes, we will be crossing the US and Canada border a couple of times, both countries require passports

Q: What are Motel room arrangements?

A: Rooms are double occupancy, meaning each rider shares a two queen bed room with another rider.

Q: What bikes are right for this ride?

A: Target bike for this ride was my Yamaha Super Tenere. Bikes including and in between the Suzuki Vstrom, the BMW 1200GS and the KTM990 all can do well by choosing the easy or hard route options. Frankly even some can do this ride on a dual sport bike, if they seem to have magic to haul very little gear and still keep themself safe and comfortable.

Q: Will I do this ride again next year?

A: No, sorry I hardly ever repeat rides as I love to develop and discover new places and rides each season. And I have a long dream list of rides now. So this is likely the only time for this ride. Remember: Everytime we say no to a ride that is one less ride in life

Q; What do I do if I don't have a garmin gps?

A: Buy one, you need it, we will show you how to use it. You can get a great one for under $200 bucks. ( See gpsKevin's gps recommendations)

Q: Do I need insurance?

A: Yes, you must carry proof of medical insurance and liability insurance for yourself/motorcycle.

Q: Is there a Support Truck following the ride?

A: No, the ride is unsupported. Riders need to come with a newer bike in good condition and well tuned up with new tires and plenty of tools to effect their own repairs along the trail. Riders need to ride conservatively with plenty of margin as to not hurt themselves.

Q: Is the riding really on my own?

A: Yes, but everyone hooks up and rides with a friend, or a new friend or me.

Refund Policy

Do not sign up for this ride unless you are serious about coming. I take your signup very seriously and start planning for you the minute you sign up. If you need to cancel up to one month prior to the ride start date I will give you a full refund but I will keep $100 to cover the planning work. Sorry but I make non refundable commitments myself so it gets hard for me. "I hate this world of non refundable deals myself." If you need to cancel within one month of the ride I can not give a refund unless I can find a replacement rider. In the case of finding a replacement rider, I will gladly give you the full refund minus the $100 to cover the planning work. In the event of ride cancellation you will be given a full refund.

Just for fun: Pics from my 2012 BC Camp off your motorcycle ride

This is a motel adventure.

Go to: New gpsKevin Website