North east Canada destination decisions!
 

Hello all, I’m set to leave on my first motorcycle adventure at the end of the month here and I have one large detail to be ironed out. I’m heading up to Nova Scotia and I really want to take the ferry to Newfoundland and then on to the trans Labrador highway back down to Quebec. BUT!!! I have less than 3000 miles under my belt and I don’t exactly have all the skills to “fix a flat tire on the side of the road”. So the real question is, am I really missing a lot by not doing that swing? Is Newfoundland a must visit ($240 ferry one way) and then turn around and back to Nova or should I just say screw it and stay on land. Or maybe stop being a baby and know that if I get in a tough spot the road magic will come to my rescue? I think what I’m really asking is “is Newfoundland a must?” I don’t want to regret not going up there but 500 for a round trip ferry is a lot. Thanks for reading this nervous pre roadie ramble, and any insight would be very much appreciated Cheers! -Coco

I think Newfoundland (and Labrador, too) are worth seeing....but that assumes you’ve got the time available. Be sure you’ve had a least a bit of practice on gravel before setting off.

As far as changing a flat, why not learn to change a flat between now and the end of the month? It’s not that hard, generally speaking, and that’ll give you a chance to try out your tools and techniques.

Plus: even when I was up that way in the mid-eighties, then again in the early nineties, Newfoundland had plenty of traffic and Labrador had at least some. There’s always the risk you’ll get a flat, hit a moose, or get airborne over a frost heave, but someone will be along to help you out of whatever jam you get into. It’s not Mars.

Hope that’s helpful.

Mark

All I can say is learn to fix a flat in your garage before you need to do it on the side of the road, whether it be installing a plug in a tubeless tire, or replacing a tube on a tubed wheel. Get yourself the tools to fix a flat, including a pump and a tube if your moto uses them.

Do you know how to change a tire on your car? I assume yes, so the same skill is essential with a moto.

After that, the world of adventure is yours and you won't have to worry about where you can go.

You say that you want to ride up the trans labrador highhway then ride down to Quebec at the end of this month.

Northern Quebec is my back yard, I'm told that this year they had snow and cold weather like never before. So expect that it could snow and could be quiete cold still in the spring.

Make sure you know what you need and how you will react riding if you encounter bad weather.

Talk with friends adventurers they will be happy to share their own experience and guide you.

Good luck