Retired or long distance trippers in Ontario

WingriderKev

WingriderKev

Joined
May 30, 2023
Messages
41
Age
56
Location
Kitchener
Bike
2025 Honda GL1800
2026 Miles
012477
Just curious. How many here are riders in Ontario (southern) who are retired (or have lots of vacay time) and find themselves riding long distance and enjoy one, two, three weeks away touring around? I'm not talking about Iron Butt rides but rather 600-750km days with odd days of 800-900kms crossing prairies or deserts.

What kind of trips do you do?
 
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WingriderKev said:
Just curious. How many here are riders in Ontario (southern) who are retired (or have lots of vacay time) and find themselves riding long distance and enjoy one, two, three weeks away touring around? I'm not talking about Iron Butt rides but rather 600-750km days with odd days of 800-900kms crossing prairies or deserts.

What kind of trips do you do?
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I’m just down the road from you in Stratford. I do some long distance rides. Last year I did the four corners of Canada, rode up to Tuktoyaktuk for the solstice, went to Vancouver Island, then headed for Newfoundland via Labrador then to Point Pelee, and returned home. Around 24,000kms in 53 days.
This year doing a little trip through Northern Ontario prior to the ONSToc event in Bancroft.
 
kiltman said:
I’m just down the road from you in Stratford. I do some long distance rides. Last year I did the four corners of Canada, rode up to Tuktoyaktuk for the solstice, went to Vancouver Island, then headed for Newfoundland via Labrador then to Point Pelee, and returned home. Around 24,000kms in 53 days.
This year doing a little trip through Northern Ontario prior to the ONSToc event in Bancroft.
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Wow, that is very impressive with the 2025 ride you did. That is no small feat. I have a friend in Calgary that rode up to Tuk last year as well. You also went to Newfoundland and Labrador; very nice! I thought of going there this year but the average summer highs and amount of rainfall kept me away. Maybe someday still. When you travel, do you prefer hotels or are you a camper? Do you follow James G Gow (Jim) who goes by "Old man on a bike" on YouTube? He was going to lead a group around NF last summer on bike but did so with his car when his bike wasn't quite ready.

I did a ride to British Columbia last summer as well. Not near as impressive as your ride. Just shy of 12,000 km in 21 days that included a stop for three days at that friends place in Calgary. What a great province (BC) to ride in. Would like to go back in 2027 perhaps.

I think we knew each other almost 20 years ago, Kiltman. When I rode a 2005 ST1300. Enjoy OnSToc! I'm heading down east in a couple of weeks for WoodSToc with George (Catcher).
 
WingriderKev said:
Wow, that is very impressive with the 2025 ride you did. That is no small feat. I have a friend in Calgary that rode up to Tuk last year as well. You also went to Newfoundland and Labrador; very nice! I thought of going there this year but the average summer highs and amount of rainfall kept me away. Maybe someday still. When you travel, do you prefer hotels or are you a camper? Do you follow James G Gow (Jim) who goes by "Old man on a bike" on YouTube? He was going to lead a group around NF last summer on bike but did so with his car when his bike wasn't quite ready.

I did a ride to British Columbia last summer as well. Not near as impressive as your ride. Just shy of 12,000 km in 21 days that included a stop for three days at that friends place in Calgary. What a great province (BC) to ride in. Would like to go back in 2027 perhaps.

I think we knew each other almost 20 years ago, Kiltman. When I rode a 2005 ST1300. Enjoy OnSToc! I'm heading down east in a couple of weeks for WoodSToc with George (Catcher).
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In 2022, Jim hosted RollingRockStoc, we road around the rock for two weeks. I saw Jim last summer when we were in Newfoundland. He and I have lots of friends in common from the theatre industry.
If we met 20 years ago that was before I was part of the ST community as I got my first (1990) ST 13 years ago. (Please refresh my memory as it doesn’t always fire on all cylinders)
 
kiltman said:
In 2022, Jim hosted RollingRockStoc, we road around the rock for two weeks. I saw Jim last summer when we were in Newfoundland. He and I have lots of friends in common from the theatre industry.
If we met 20 years ago that was before I was part of the ST community as I got my first (1990) ST 13 years ago. (Please refresh my memory as it doesn’t always fire on all cylinders)
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Jim is such a nice guy. Too bad his YT channel got highjacked and he had to start over. But in doing so, I started watching all of his videos from when he started uploading them again. I used to just watch his odd video. Been a while since he has continued the ongoing saga of his 2024 trip. Hope he is just enjoying the riding season. I do look forward to the conclusion of his 2024 ride. He inspired some of the places I recently visited during my California trip and he had been many places I was in 2025 while in BC. I hope to meet him someday in person.

Geez, your call sign "Kiltman" is so familiar. I've been around this group since 2005 when I had my new ST1300. But I had left for a while after 2012 for career and family reasons. Just rode solo and did not associate with any groups when I started riding again seriously again in 2018. Had 3 FJR's during that time before retiring and getting the 2025 Wing as a present for self. Maybe we will meet up some day.

Love to hear stories from others as it gives me some ideas. Neat that you are just 30 minutes down the road.
 
Howdy, I'm next door and frequent the Hortons on Ottawa between King & Weber along with many other bikers of all sorts. Due to recent unpleasant/unplanned events I limited to day trips but a few regulars to Hortons do many longer trips. If you see a white '25 GoldWing there, that would be Craig's & he does multiple long trips every season... he lives in Doon.

Also, there's a bike meet at Hortons every second Friday: the next one is next week.
 
JetRanger said:
Howdy, I'm next door and frequent the Hortons on Ottawa between King & Weber along with many other bikers of all sorts. Due to recent unpleasant/unplanned events I limited to day trips but a few regulars to Hortons do many longer trips. If you see a white '25 GoldWing there, that would be Craig's & he does multiple long trips every season... he lives in Doon.

Also, there's a bike meet at Hortons every second Friday: the next one is next week.
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That's too bad to hear of your unplanned/unpleasant events and limiting you to the day trips. Hope you are able to get some longer rides in soon. Maybe we will meet in person some day. Like you said, you are just next door! :)
 
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