Trip to James Bay and northern Quebec

[TREE]

I just got back from an interesting trip up north with some friends on GS1150s and 650s.
As usual I was on my '94 RS ( the bike that thinks it's a GS ) and wanted to do the Route Du Nord road (all dirt) from Chibougamau which runs 400 kms northwest to the paved James Bay highway.

There is gas on the RDN at KM 280 at the Cree village of Nemiscau. FYI all gas north of Chibougamau or Matagami is regular unleaded, no premium available.

Tip: DO NOT buy gas at Hydro Quebec's pumps on the main dirt road for $1.25/liter when you can go into the village of Nemiscau 10 miles farther and pay .92/liter !! ( They close at 9pm ) The locals are super friendly and speak only English and Cree. They gave us a private beach to camp on and were happy to see bikes, a rare event up there.

The alternate route is the James Bay highway (all pavement) that runs north from Matagmi 600 kms to Radisson with one gas stop at Km381 .

There were 2 couples on 3 bikes and they caught up with me after 300 kms of dirt north of Chibougamau. We then travelled together west 100 kms to the paved road then north to the ocean at Chisasibi. The RDN is one of the worst roads I have seen yet and my RS did it as well as the GS bikes. ( This is on street tires........... BT54 front and Pilot Road rear ).

Bueller has written an account with great photos at this link:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47383

After James Bay I went back down the pavement to Matagami and Chicoutimi and then as far east as you can ride along the St Lawrence river to Natashquan near Labrador. This is all paved and a great road with little traffic.

I may get a page up later with photos but Gregs account is there now for anyone who wants to see it.

cheers. Tree

" Go see Canada before they pave it all ! "
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www.geocities.com/pmtreez
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[Ed Miller]

Man, you do some of the best rides. I wish I had the time and funds to follow in your tracks. Of course I also have the handicap of being on the wrong side of the continent to start off on this one.

[JimVonBaden]

Of course I also have the handicap of being on the wrong side of the continent to start off on this one. But that would just ADD to the fun!:D

Jim:cool:

[Ed Miller]

There is not much fun riding through 1500 Km of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, then another 1500 Km of Ontario just to get to the starting point of that trip. There are so many places down east I'd like to spend more time riding in, but its the extra 6000 Km round trip that creates all the logistical problems. By the time I got there, I'd be due to return. Oh well, at least I have the Rocky Mountains and BC just an hour away. I suppose I shouldn't be complaining.

[TREE]

Hi Ed. We'll have to find you a loaner bike out east here....

or as they say in Nfld: "You just never knows the mind of a squid ". :p

[Ed Miller]

Actually I have a friend in Shelburne NS, and I've considered some year doing a fall trip out there. I'd stash the bike with him for the winter, then return and pick it up in the spring for a trip home. I'll have to work on planning that one, I'd probably want to have a second bike here to ride also. Perhaps when a nice little F650GS turns up at the right price at the right time. That way I wouldn't miss the late fall and early spring riding that helps to shorten the winters here.


If ever I do manage to pull this one off, I'll have to enlist your services for tour planning. I really want to tackle Newfoundland again, properly next time though.

[TREE]

No problem, more than glad to help anyone looking to do Nfld.
I still have not made it to Cartwright yet, one of the last dirt roads of any size down here.

Labrador friend's advice.......
" The bugs will be so bad you'll have to shoot each other ! "