Looking back is useful

Reflecting on a trip helps me learn my edges while traveling so that I can do it better and perhaps continue doing it longer. Here are the reflections of my motorcycle adventure to Desolation Sound.

Rugged and Beautiful

This loop took me through the rugged and gorgeous coastal lands on the southern tip of Vancouver Island and inland from Desolation Sound south along the Sunshine Coast.

The ride was extended en route to include new friends …

and new (to me) roads east of the coastal mountains.

Finding great motorcycling roads day in and out is ideal on any motorcycle trip. This loop delivered!

Riding with a group

Most of my past rides are solo trips. This ride, by design, was meant to be a group ride from pretty early on. As it turned out, it was a different group than originally planned 🙂

Let me say that this was a wonderful group of four. We are very close in age and temperament, and all comfortable on motorcycles and camping. Communication among us was very good and I felt we blended eating schedules, fuel stops, coffee time(s) and breaks during the ride very well.

The group-related transitions were slow and linear on this trip. I spent the first day traveling alone, meeting Harald at the end of the ride. Then, the two of us rode together through the next two days. The group expanded to four, including Marie and Herbert, that evening. With the next day together site-seeing and sailing, everyone got a chance to get to know each other. Only on day five did we all start riding together. Each point of the transition felt comfortable and relaxing.

I found breaking away from the group for brief periods of time to take pictures diminishes the feeling of being part of a “parade.” For example, on Day 6, I rode ahead of the group a few miles on the Princeton-Kamloops Highway and waited for them to catch up 🙂 That ended up with some cool photos and helped me change my perspective on the day.

Inexpensive trip

Because both Harald and Marie and Herbert opened their homes to me, and because we carried both fresh food and dehydrated meals, this was a relatively inexpensive motorcycle adventure.

Harald was good at stopping to pick up supplies in the evenings. Things like bagels for sandwiches, cheese, bananas, and yogurt for the mornings. I could learn better habits around eating while on the road and he was showing the way.

I was pleased that the weather cooperated with our plans to camp several nights along the way. Packing away the tent was quick when it stays dry overnight. We couldn’t ask for better.

Finally, I was able to save money on many of the ferries through the use of Harald’s BC Ferry’s Experience Card. He paid for both of us and I would reimburse him.

Dehydrated meals review

I have tried all three of the Backpacker’s Pantry meals and one of the Good To Go meals. All were tasty but I think the Backpacker’s Pantry meals rehydrated with a consistently better texture. And as I recall, the Good To Go meals were more expensive.

My old brand, Mountain House, as well as either of these brands, work well as travel food for occasional use.

Metzler Roadtec 01 tires

I really like the new tires. The casings for the HWM version of the Roadtec tires are designed for heavier weight touring motorcycles like the R1200RT. That said, they feel less stiff than the Pilot Road 4 GT tires, both when cold and warm, translating into a smoother ride with more feedback. Cornering felt linear and predictable, wet or dry. Let’s see how many miles they last, to determine their overall value relative to the long lasting Michelin PR4 tires.