Motorcycle Guide to The Town of Gaspé

ultimateride

SEASON 26 | EPISODE 9

Part Nine | Arrival in the town of Gaspé

Ultimate Ride Episode 9

So this season during our annual fall ride we’re in the province of Quebec exploring the scenic Gaspe Peninsula with our ultimate goal to reach the town  of Gaspe and it’s famous Percé Rock located about six-hundred and fifty kilometers north east of Quebec City… after a couple of days of solid riding on a pair of K1600GTs we set out today under a cold steele grey and sometimes rainy sky and the town of Ste. Anne des Monts hugging the south shore of the St. Lawrence as we headed east.  Now, after pushing eastward for a couple of hours the sun has broken out just in time to announce our arrival in the town of Gaspé.  Leaving me to marvel as to what Jacques Cartier might have felt when he sailed into this region and named it for New France back in fifteen thirty-four.

Dave

Well Norm, here we are, it’s the end of day three… about four PM… mission accomplished, we’re in Gaspé and I have to say we’re right here on a little main street and I’m surprised, this is not what I expected at all.  This… this kind of looks like a mini version of Moncton.

Norm

Yeah, yeah, quite a bit so and also the rest of the city, as we were riding in I noticed it’s big, it’s a mini metropolitan and not what I was expecting.  I was expecting Gaspé to be quaint, quiet with cafés by the water and that was it.

Dave

Yeah, so we just rode in here and the sun has finally burst through, there’s some blue sky but man it’s been a crazy day right from the get-go.  They started out at Ste. Anne des Monts this morning, at eight thirty, it was cold, it was damp, it was raining and the first, I guess the first half of this journey was just following the coast, do you remember what that was like?

Norm

Oh it was beautiful, I mean the mountains coming right to the edge and the road skimming around the side and all the cute little towns that were hidden away in the coves and yeah everything changed.

Dave

Yeah we got to Gran Valle, about half-way point for us in the journey and then all of a sudden the road kicked us out of the forest and up the mountain.  It was another experience all together.

Norm

That twisty road was some fun, it was just up and down and sideways and uh it was like, wow, this is pretty cool here.  So it’s a nice mix of the two for that journey.

Dave

I tell you, there was one little stretch in there it was just a ribbon, we were back on one of those old Matel hotwheels tracks and you took off.  It was fantastic.  And then I guess the big payoff at the end was just the last forty kilometers we actually arrived at the park and that was like really scenic.

Norm

Spectacular view there and it’s been there… all the birds were dive bombing the school of fish with the big cliffs in the background it was just really cool to watch.

Dave

Yeah, over all, my impression of the day is a little bit of everything ut the stand out for me has just been the scenery, it’s been spectacular right through.

Norm

Absolutely and even at the park, when we got to the park, you know, we didn’t go through it, but that’s another option for you if you have time because it dead-ends on the north side and the south side so another option for you is to go into the park because that’s where the real beauty was.  So take the extra hour, or whatever it’s going to take and get in there and do it.

Dave

Right.  I know you mentioned our hotel is just up the road here but still tomorrow we’ve got almost three quarters of a day ahead of us to do some exploring in the region so I say we go check-in and get a bowl of soup.

Norm

Absolutely.

Dave

Tomorrow let’s see what we can see.

Norm

Perfect.

Dave

Fantastic day.

RIDE GUIDE TO GASPÉ, QUEBEC

Gaspe is one place, as a motorcyclist you want to see, it’s a motorcycle mecca, it’s all about the ride. There’s a lot of history here as well but this one is all about the ride. You’re on the coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, you’re on the coast of Baie des Chaleur. You can go in and out of the Gaspe peninsula on these various roads and you’re going to get changing scenery continuously so it’s a real cool place to go as a Motorcyclist.

TECH, GEAR & INNOVATION WITH HARLEY-DAVIDSON

Over the twelve part article Dave Hatch talks to Harley-Davidson about how to shop and fit a bike, get the right gear, suit up for the season and pick the right accessories for your ride. These riding tips will keep you safe and prepared but more than anything get the most out of your ride.

THE ART OF TOURING

Season 26’s “Winging It” was all about the art of touring and celebration of Honda’s iconic touring machine the Gold Wing’s 40th anniversiry. Ken Edick a veteran touring biker and owner of a Honda Gold Wing shares his best tips on touring. The tips include everything from the proper riding gear to take along on a long tour, the equipment, the additional tools and things to take along just to make sure that you keep moving and enjoying your experience.

Test Your Motorcycle Riding Skills

Recently we’ve been working on improving the riding skills of Anthony Mann by putting him through a series of motorcycle riding skills exercises designed by Matt Fletcher at Yamaha Motor Canada. Matt had hoped this friendly little challenge would show us all how we can become better riders when we practice our sport.  All you need is some open pavement like an empty parking lot and a couple of make shift cones or pylons.

PROUD SUPPORTER OF

The mission of the TELUS Ride For Dad is to raise funds to save men’s lives by supporting prostate cancer research and raising public awareness of the disease. Our goal is for men to continue to be there for their families and friends for years to come. The parade of vehicles grabs the attention of the masses and the media on ride day, the research helps find hope for the future and the awareness has the potential of saving men’s lives today.