North: KTM Summer of Adventure – OneWheelDrive.Net

North: The KTM Summer of Adventure – 19: Port Hardy to Nanaimo, BC

Is that a bloodstain on the carpet? Last night when the Ferry docked in Port Hardy, at the northern end of Vancouver Island, I found myself casting around for a hotel room, the Thunderbird Inn seemed to fit the bill. The lady at the front desk, congenial, plump and bespectacled, seemed only too willing to…

North: The KTM Summer of Adventure – 18: Prince Rupert to Port Hardy, BC

“Wake up” and 4:45 AM are not connected concepts in my mind, unless you’re talking about staggering to the washroom as a matter of necessity. According to BC Ferries, I need to be checked in two hours before the ferry to Port Hardy departs. That means packing the bike, and being at the boat by…

North: The KTM Summer of Adventure – 17: Stewart to Prince Rupert, BC

Last night I snuggled into the coziness of the Bayview Hotel, which is part of the Ripley Creek Inn complex. A restored period piece sitting above the Bitter Creek Café, the Bayview Hotel is refreshingly authentic, comfortably homey and decidedly inexpensive, and the café below puts the weak offerings of Bell II’s cuisine to shame….

North: The KTM Summer of Adventure – 16: Telegraph Creek to Bell II, BC

The River Song Café doesn’t open until noon on Sundays and that’s not helping my morning any. I’m a breakfast person and right now my blood sugar level is off, riding feels like the toughest thing in the world. I’m not a morning person, and this morning has had a unique start.

North: The KTM Summer of Adventure – 15: Watson Lake, YT to Telegraph Creek, BC

So KTM, would now be a good time to mention that my off-road history could be measured in quantities prefixed with “mili”? Likely not, because the ride from Dease Lake to Telegraph has me debating subtleties of throttle control like never before. By the way KTM, the fuel injection is a tad jerky at low speed isn’t it? Give there’s a billion-foot drop to the left I’m all about control.

North: The KTM Summer of Adventure – 13: Whitehorse to Watson Lake, YT

The 990 Adventure and I skulked from the Dempster like a rebuffed dog. The weather drove us forward, but eventually the Yukon took over pulling us along. Backtracking in the sunshine, the road to Whitehorse was represented and replenished by a more moderate pace and sunny breaks. Untethered from a single destination, the ride began…

North: The KTM Summer of Adventure – 14: Air Force Lodge, Watson Lake, YT

The Air Force Lodge is a restored 1942 pilot’s quarters so there’s an austere military sense to the place, right down to shared washrooms and showers assigned to each gender – don’t let this deter you. The Air Force is clean, hypo-allergenic, efficient, social with a large common area table around which guest congregate and…

North: The KTM Summer of Adventure – 12: The Dempster

You only need to know about the Dempster Highway – it hates you. It’s a cold hearted, fickle, and tempermental highway that never wanted to exist, and would like nothing more than to take it out on you given half a chance.

North: The KTM Summer of Adventure – 11: Dawson, Yukon

I’ve spent the past five days alternately enjoying the Dawson Music Festival and waiting for a break in the weather. Here in “the Land of the Midnight Overcast” I’ve been taking in the sights, the music, the hospitality and a few drinks in the beer swamp. Beer garden is too pristine and dry a term….

North: The KTM Summer of Adventure – 10: Whitehorse to Dawson, YT

Hideous downbursts of rain should have ruined the ride, but the 990 Adventure and I have the groove on. That’s largely owing to a new rear tire, a complete lack of enforcement from Whitehorse to Dawson in the Yukon Territories, and the good graces of Jim from Tourism Yukon who’s offered to carry the luggage in a support vehicle. So much for going “solo”, but damn the bike feels so good I couldn’t give a toss.

North: The KTM Summer of Adventure – 9: Whitehorse and Kluane National Park

Is it incongruous that the friendliest, most helpful, warm, and kind dealership experience has required me to travel well over 2500km to Whitehorse, YT? Whitehorse Honda is the local KTM dealer, and frankly I’ve never had a dealership this genuine and helpful. Period. Full stop.

North: The KTM Summer of Adventure – 8: Watson Lake to Whitehorse, YT

I should have just camped. The Belvedere Hotel has one of the few licensed lounges in Watson Lake, making it the hot spot. Having a room overlooking the parking lot was good for the bike’s security, but bad for sleep as staggers of drunks exited and then loudly discussed what or who to do next…