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'Round the USA trip imminent, rough planning done.

peergum said:
I don't plan to do big highways. I mostly selected places I wanted to visit or go through and furkot/google built the path between them, but I will probably just take the road that looks more attractive (using my own GPS), and I don't want to spend too much time at 60mph on boring highways... Possibly I'll also go smaller roads/dirt roads when and if the opportunity appears, and 100% road tires would be as annoying as my dunlops in those cases... Plus, as I said, the TKC-80 might behave better in snow, should I encounter some.
Click to expand...

You have already figured out the way to ride.... Highways = Boring.
Backroads = Interesting, enjoyable, memorable

I do highways when I need to put down a HUGE amount of miles in a single day... but it sucks... and I usually will plan short excursions in my route on back roads that don't slow me down too much and give me a VERY MUCH NEEDED BREAK for the SLAB! Riding through parks is a nice way to see some great scenery. You sometimes find Dams and small ferries and all sorts of really enjoyable things on these excursions.
 
potter0o said:
Are you sure it is 18? My model is a bit different but I thought the axle would be the same. I use 17mm side of the Hex Axle Tool.
Click to expand...

You were right... Went to Canadian Tire and bought a box with several sizes of hex bits (30 bucks, instead of buying a 17mm only for 10 bucks and the chance that it would be 19mm...) and tried the 17mm (there was no 18mm anyway) and... it worked. Now wondering why the manual says 18mm bolts... dumb!

Thanks anyway for the clue, you saved my day! And the good thing is, reading about straps to tighten the bike on ferries, I bought a 4 set for 25 more bucks and realized I could use 2 of them to hang the front of the bike to the ceiling in the garage, so that I can easily remove the front wheel, and I can use the straps between the front wheel and centerstand also to ensure the bike won't collapse when changing rear wheel.

Enjoyable day so far - except, again, for my wallet.
 
peergum said:
You were right... Went to Canadian Tire and bought a box with several sizes of hex bits (30 bucks, instead of buying a 17mm only for 10 bucks and the chance that it would be 19mm...) and tried the 17mm (there was no 18mm anyway) and... it worked. Now wondering why the manual says 18mm bolts... dumb!

Thanks anyway for the clue, you saved my day! And the good thing is, reading about straps to tighten the bike on ferries, I bought a 4 set for 25 more bucks and realized I could use 2 of them to hang the front of the bike to the ceiling in the garage, so that I can easily remove the front wheel, and I can use the straps between the front wheel and centerstand also to ensure the bike won't collapse when changing rear wheel.

Enjoyable day so far - except, again, for my wallet.
Click to expand...

Glad to hear it. I was going to offer to bring mine out. Just finished my fork work and off the shower.
 
Some more news... I drove to the border to pickup some parcel in Point Roberts, WA today (a weird part of the states that's physically more part of Canada, but still below the physical border line, which is convenient to use a delivery address in the states for goods that are cheaper there but would cost more shipping to Canada). When I was there, I took the opportunity to go and see the officers at the immigration desk and asked about the possibility of extending my current visa when I start my travel next Thursday. When they heard I was going through Yellowstone, and then in direction of Chicago, they were just perplexed and suggested I avoid these parts because of the snow, ice and temperatures... And then they also seemed to implied I'd have to show quite some documents proving my trip, itinerary, purpose, and the fact I quit my job will certainly not been looked well... in all case, it totally sounds like my fate will be in the hands of the officer that validates my entry... or not.

I'm already starting to think about a possible different route - in case my entry in the states is accepted - avoiding the parks/mountains in the north, and not going up to Missouri and Ohio, maybe not even Montana, or - if my entry is denied - just go to the east of canada - which will certainly be as risky or possibly more anyway...

Thing is, I planned for a trip, so trip there will be. Where to, is the biggest unknown at this point... :(

And I don't plan to start my trip to South America before the beginning of 2017...
 
I ran into the same issue years ago.....long before passports. I did a similar MC trip as yours, from Quebec down to Florida, across the south to California, then north to Vancouver arriving Christmas Day. They would not let me across the border because I had quit my job. I sat in Toronto for 2 weeks, waiting for a bogus letter from Vancouver stating I had a job waiting for me. When I crossed the border the second time, they never asked were I worked, and I was through in 30 seconds. All that screwing around for nothing.
 
I watch the show Border Security from time to time. Playing arm chair quarterback it seem the officials are usually looking for people who plan to stay in the US permanently. You would want to prove that you have ties to Canada and can support yourself financially on the journey. Things like property, investments and family would probably help your case that you are planning to come back to Canada. I would think even an approximate route plan and all the gear would help sell it.

Hope it works *crosses fingers*
 
I had a long delay on my entry to Canada way back in 2007 or 2008. I was riding alone heading to Toronto to spend a week just seeing the sights. I was kept at the booth for over 5 minutes of questioning, then directed to a parking lot where 3 border agents completely unpacked every item from the bike... after nearly an hour of that I was allowed to repack everything and was directed inside where I was questioned again for another 15 minutes before I was finally granted entry into Canada.

I will say I was very impressed with how well Canada recycles and how pristine their parks are and how many families take advantage of them. Lessons I wish could be learned here in the US.
Also I was surprised that almost everywhere I went instead of having single checkout lines, they had a Que of 1 line that would be directed to whichever register became open next... that is great for not getting caught behind someone that has items that are slow to check out, or just a slow checkout clerk.

Oh yeah.......Tim Horton's! That place is packed no matter what one you go to... and they are EVERYWHERE. I got addicted to Tim Horton's that week... still waiting for them to find their way south of the border!

So... if you DO go to national parks... be prepared for it not to be as clean as they are up north. Also you'll find Starbucks doesn't hold up well to Tim Horton's (IMHO). Maybe try the smaller privately owned coffee shops if you are a coffee addict....
 
Last edited:
I have acquaintances who are citizens of Canada and are the ultimate snow birds-in the summer they travel back to Canada, but from Oct/Nov-April, they live in Florida. They never have had an issue crossing borders-even with towing their horses. They are retired or 'work from home' and don't have issues at the border-as long as they have health certificates and passports for the horses.
 
potter0o said:
I watch the show Border Security from time to time. Playing arm chair quarterback it seem the officials are usually looking for people who plan to stay in the US permanently. You would want to prove that you have ties to Canada and can support yourself financially on the journey. Things like property, investments and family would probably help your case that you are planning to come back to Canada. I would think even an approximate route plan and all the gear would help sell it.

Hope it works *crosses fingers*
Click to expand...

Yeah. I came to the same conclusions. As long as I don't scare them with ideas of riding in the snow at the top of mountains I think they'll let me in [emoji6] if not I'll lose my faith in American people [emoji1]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
netizen said:
I had a long delay on my entry to Canada way back in 2007 or 2008. I was riding alone heading to Toronto to spend a week just seeing the sights. I was kept at the booth for over 5 minutes of questioning, then directed to a parking lot where 3 border agents completely unpacked every item from the bike... after nearly an hour of that I was allowed to repack everything and was directed inside where I was questioned again for another 15 minutes before I was finally granted entry into Canada.

I will say I was very impressed with how well Canada recycles and how pristine their parks are and how many families take advantage of them. Lessons I wish could be learned here in the US.
Also I was surprised that almost everywhere I went instead of having single checkout lines, they had a Que of 1 line that would be directed to whichever register became open next... that is great for not getting caught behind someone that has items that are slow to check out, or just a slow checkout clerk.

Oh yeah.......Tim Horton's! That place is packed no matter what one you go to... and they are EVERYWHERE. I got addicted to Tim Horton's that week... still waiting for them to find their way south of the border!

So... if you DO go to national parks... be prepared for it not to be as clean as they are up north. Also you'll find Starbucks doesn't hold up well to Tim Horton's (IMHO). Maybe try the smaller privately owned coffee shops if you are a coffee addict....
Click to expand...

Just to be clear I'm not (yet) Canadian and the only thing I like at Tim Horton's is the Timbits and the donuts. I honestly think their coffee sucks... I prefer Starbucks for coffee. Closer to the expresso we have in France - I don't usually drink drip coffee besides the one I brew.

Regarding parks I won't judge people. I'm visiting them for the landscapes not for people anyway. But I agree if people can't put their trash in the cans it sucks...

I'm sorry about your bad experience at the Canadian customs. Thing is, for me both Canadian AND American customs can be a PITA since I'm a foreigner in both cases. Just a bit less possibly in Canada because I'm a permanent resident... This said I'm fine if they want to unpack all my stuff as long as they let me start my damn trip! [emoji1]
 
davidc83 said:
I have acquaintances who are citizens of Canada and are the ultimate snow birds-in the summer they travel back to Canada, but from Oct/Nov-April, they live in Florida. They never have had an issue crossing borders-even with towing their horses. They are retired or 'work from home' and don't have issues at the border-as long as they have health certificates and passports for the horses.
Click to expand...

As said before I'd have issues on both ways, in and out, in my case like a ping pong ball that nobody wants LOL. Thing is they're scared because I can easily find a job... It's just me who don't want any but they won't believe me I guess [emoji1]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Just remember that every county really wants you into their country so as to aquire your money. The job of the border folks is to aquire your money. Once they have your money, you are allowed into the county, so other folks in the county can aquire your money. They just do not want the thief who is out to aquire their money!
 
davidc83 said:
I have acquaintances who are citizens of Canada and are the ultimate snow birds-in the summer they travel back to Canada, but from Oct/Nov-April, they live in Florida. They never have had an issue crossing borders-even with towing their horses. They are retired or 'work from home' and don't have issues at the border-as long as they have health certificates and passports for the horses.
Click to expand...

I know even "dumb asses" need passports, but
Horses need passports too??
 
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