Canada – famous for bears, mountains, forests, native peoples and broad prairies. A land of vast open skies, broad vistas, huge distances and the latest destination in the portfolio of BMW adventure specialists GlobeBusters. The Trans Canada Expedition is a landmark journey that crosses the world’s second largest country, taking in some of the most breathtaking scenery that the planet has to offer – and you can be part of it in 2011.
When budding motorcycle explorers begin planning their journeys, it seems as though many share the same aspirations. Mongolia, Siberia, Africa and South America are all common destinations for those with a sense of adventure. Canada, however, is often overlooked – the misconception being that its vast landscape offers little but frozen wastelands and dense forest. But for those who have sampled what the country has to offer, these presumptions couldn’t be further from the truth.
Official BMW Motorrad partner GlobeBusters is one of the leading names in motorcycle adventure travel and has gained a reputation for producing some awe-inspiring adventures for hundreds of motorcyclists. The company organises adventures in the Americas, Africa and Asia, and having ridden many thousands of kilometres in Canada, founder and adventure travel legend Kevin Sanders explains the reason for introducing a Trans Canada trip to the portfolio:
“When you describe adventure travel in North America, people automatically think of the USA and iconic rides like Route 66,” he explains. “They often overlook Canada, which is a shame as it’s a fantastic country. We travel through Canada, north to south, on our Trans Americas ride, encompassing places like the Rockies and Alberta. The idea with the Trans Canada trip was to travel from west to east and really discover what this amazing place has to offer. It’s not just about fantastic scenery – the people are great too and there is so much on offer.”
Despite being over 18 months away, Kevin reports that there has been substantial interest in the first trip. Starting in Vancouver, participants will journey through the breathtaking Rocky Mountains and across the vast Canadian central plains before pushing north into bear, elk and caribou inhabited forests. Labrador City, St Johns and Newfoundland all await on the ride to Nova Scotia, the penultimate destination on the trip before riders arrive at the finish line in Halifax some five weeks later. The adventure is available to all riders, however off-road experience is highly recommended.
The man with the enviable task of researching the route was Craig Carey-Clinch – one of GlobeBusters’ latest recruits. “As the company has expanded, we’ve had to employ more people to help run the trips and also investigate new routes,” adds Kevin. “Craig, one of our team members, travelled throughout Canada planning this latest trip and ensuring that riders who decide to join us will not be disappointed.”
Craig identifies some of the highlights of his reconnaissance trip, which took place in 2009. “After Banff, the road steadily descended, leaving the Rockies behind and taking us out into the open prairie plains of eastern Alberta and Saskatchewan,” he comments. “This is the bread basket of Canada and endless roads track across vast miles of open prairie, broken by the occasional farm and town. This was a long ride along largely straight roads. But far from being boring, the endless skies above added their own interest as weather systems formed and dissipated within our sight. Not for nothing is Saskatchewan known as the ‘Land of the Living Skies’.
“Entering Quebec, we were immediately struck by the culture shock of being in a French speaking part of the world that has a Canadian air about it,” continues Craig. The dialect was also unfamiliar, which caused some amusing moments as we travelled. Our route again took us northwards, though territory that led through boreal forest along terrain that was moulded by glaciers. The road rose and fell, sometimes very steeply after cresting a ‘summit’. It was stunning riding in excellent surroundings.”
The Trans Canada tour is unique as it’s the first fully-supported ‘tourist’ ride from the west to the east of the country and places are sure to be taken up in a flash. “The good thing about the Canada trip is that nobody else offers it,” concludes Kevin. “A lot of tour operators and adventure travellers have exhausted most opportunities in the USA, so heading north over the border seemed like the logical thing to do and great fun too!
Visit
www.globebusters.com for further information about the 2011 Trans Canada Expedition and other trips that GlobeBusters operate.
