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Travelling, Friends, and Trips
Started by RichNCT at 07-02-2009 10:11 AM. Topic has 3 replies.
  
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 07-02-2009, 10:11 AM
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RichNCT
 
Joined on 03-02-2006
Connecticut, USA
Posts 3,197
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It was a arduous and lovely trip! The two of us rode from Connecticut north thru Mass, Vermont, and Montreal and up to Radisson, QC (and back). Didn't care for the highways and traffic in Montreal much, but the overall ride was great. Camped one night on the James Bay Rd, with some prolific mosquitos, and got a great "english speaking" tour of the LG2 Robert-Bourassa HydroQuebec power station in Radisson. Beautiful riding on the JBR, if you like natural scenery and nothing else! We rode for hours on end (the JBR is about 420 miles long with one gas stop) encountering literally no traffic on our side of the road, and only an ocassional oncoming vehicle. It changes one's perspective to ride until "reserve" is gone, and then divide the spare gas between two bikes to make it to the fuel stop. No cell service anywhere. From Thursday departure at 2:30 P.M. to return home at 1:00 P.M. Tuesday we covered 2,670 miles on a GL650I and a GL500I, with the longest day being almost 700 miles and 15 hours of riding. It's a good thing we both like riding! Both bikes performed as one would expect from a Honda twisted twin, that is to say in a word, perfectly. Probably less than 1/3 of the miles were "interstate", and very few were gravel. Mostly just rural two lane blacktop, and endless forest or farmland. Gently sweeping, rising and falling, on and on (and on). The JBR is not the only long uninhabited stretch on this route, two other runs are a hundred or more miles long and "lonely" too. Since it's the province of Quebec, French is the predominent language, of which I speak only a few words (horse de vores, Molson, and I can't remember the other one), so communication was part of the challenge. I don't speak Cree either, but then, neither do most Crees, so that was not a problem. Fortunately, some folks we met were from Montreal, where they have a passing aquaintance with english it seems. About a half day of rain made us appreciate the dry days all the more. Finally, it was reassuring to re-enter the US, where my health insurance is valid. We only saw one moose, but I suspect many more saw us, albiet somewhat blurred . . . Most of the Canadiens we met were very kind and courteous to us, some extremely so. And we got to see the wild Rupert River rapids, which will be "turned off" this November to divert more water to the hydro projects up north. I would recommend this trip to others. There is plenty of summer left.
Born to be relatively wild (for a grampa)
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07-02-2009, 11:43 AM
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wildmanwill
Joined on 05-25-2008
Chester County, Pennsylvania
Posts 3,683
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Thanks for the report! Sounds like it was a fun trip!
1983 CX650 T
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07-02-2009, 5:07 PM
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DaveF
Joined on 06-11-2008
Lawrenceville, GA
Posts 968
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That sounds like quite a ride, Rich! I'm happy things went well and you had such a great time.
 RichNCT wrote: | | ...Both bikes performed as one would expect from a Honda twisted twin, that is to say in a word, perfectly... |
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No surprise here.  We know how reliable they are given proper maintenance, and yours has certainly had some of the best.
I really liked your charging system backup idea, and it obviously worked perfectly. Much like how carrying an umbrella along keeps it from raining. 
My Home Page
1982 GL500
1983 GL650
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07-04-2009, 8:54 AM
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RichNCT
Joined on 03-02-2006
Connecticut, USA
Posts 3,197
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The aux battery unit was a nice reassurance, the help I got here concerning the wiring and components was just right.
At the LG2 hydro station in Radisson our tour took us inside a running alternator. Standing within a few feet of the spinning (133 rpm) vertical shaft with the magnetic rotor (18' diameter?) overhead, the stator circumference actually above and behind us (we walked under it as we entered). We were actually inside the operating alternator! It was very much like our engine stators, except vertical and much larger (and not oil bathed). They generate at 13,000 v (3 ph AC) and the transmission lines operate at 700,000 v. The generator room is deep undeground in solid rock and the largest underground hydro generator room in the world. As an electrician, I was fascinated. QuebecHydro provides 96% of Quebec's electricity needs from hydroelectric generation, impressive. The tour we had was free, english speaking (by advance request), the two of us were the only visitors, and the guide spent 3 hrs with us (we were full of questions  ). Dave F, here's one for you. One of their transmission lines goes to Boston, and it's DC, at 400,000v!
P'Amish Rally is next. Then the New England Rally in September in Vermont. Hope to see a bunch of you at one or the other!
Born to be relatively wild (for a grampa)
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Honda CX500 & G... » CX500 GL500 Tra... » Travelling, Fri... » Re: Radisson, QC Trip
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