Riding across Canada

[jkersh1]

Friends and I are talking about a US Four Corners ride this year. For the Maine to Washington leg we're looking at going across Canada. I'd like to do this ride in April to beat the heat in southern US. Can someone brief me on what the weather would likely be in Canada then? Routing is still in the planning stage but we'd probably pick up the TransCanada Highway. We can handle rain, but snow and freezing temps would not make these Arizona boys happy.

[bharrisjr]

FWIW; I rode from Hyder, Alaska to Winnipeg, Manitoba in late May 2005 without any problems at all. One suggestion, take a Shell gas credit card with you. Shell is all over Canada and the USA; most open 24/7. Oh yeah; the maximum speed limit for the most part is 60MPH. Ride safe and have fun!

[meese]

I rode from Montana up to Swift Current, SK then across to British Columbia and down to Portland, OR in June this year. I got a lot of rain in Montana, and lots of strong wind through Alberta. The national flower of Alberta must be the wind turbine, based on its abundance. Never had any trouble getting fuel with a MasterCard/Debit Card. Just be sure to fill up often when riding lots of back roads, as some of those towns can be an awfully long way apart. If you're staying on the Trans-Canada Highway, you shouldn't have any trouble with fuel or other amenities.

Enjoy the trip. I haven't done a Four-Corners Tour yet but would love to.

[BlackWing18]

April?? APRIL?? I must have read you wrong...I thought you said April, as in the 4th month of the year, the one after March when we tradionally have the most snow of the year...
Yea, welllll you can try. Be prepared for snow. At the least freezing rain or VERY cold rain...April showers and all. There is always the possibility of a 'chinook' near Calagry but then again it could be minus also. I got snowed out in Baniff on July 04th a couple of years ago...
Anyway, you can take your chance. By the way, any credit card is good in Canada, you don't need a brand specific card for fuel anywhere. Visa is better than MasterCard but only now and then. Diners Club is not your first choice at the smaller 'ma & pa' outlets... And hey, U.S. $$ are good everywhere!!! You might get shafted on the exchange but they WILL take your money.

Jim

[starky]

April is probably too cold for much of the way. I've often gone from Hamilton ONtairo down towards the blue ridige parkway at that timeof year and the parts through Pennsylvania and New York are often very cold, IE: my fingers freeze. However, that was before getting the LT.
The Trans Canada is a very long highway. You can pick it up somewhere along its 8000 km route. Some of thsoe locations in April will for sure experience ice in the mornings and possibly the evenings and maybe even during the day. Mountain areas especially. The east coast will have less ice along it at that time than the west caost/rocky mountains. The prairies may have long stretches of wind and rain at that time.

Gas is not a problem anywhere except making sure that you have enough before setting off on a long stretch.

Many of the areas are stunningly beautiful but APRIL may not be the month to do alot of it.

Have a great ride and travel safely.

[mkiesel]

By the way, any credit card is good in Canada, you don't need a brand specific card for fuel anywhere. Visa is better than MasterCard but only now and then. Diners Club is not your first choice at the smaller 'ma & pa' outlets... And hey, U.S. $$ are good everywhere!!! You might get shafted on the exchange but they WILL take your money.

Jim

Last July my wife (who's a minister) flew off for a ministry conference in Oregon - so I decided it was a great time for an Iron Butt ride into through Ontario. Both of us using the same credit card account in different places outside of our home state, during the same time period, triggered an automatic shutdown of our account. I was in the middle of nowhere Ontario when it quit being accepted. Luckily I had a card from another account or I'd have been in deep doodoo. BTW one of the reasons I decided to use my credit account was to get the best exchange rate. When I got the credit bill I was amazed to see extra $$$ tacked onto each purchase. When I questioned why, I was told that the card companies always tack on a surcharge for out of country usage and that is standard practice.

[BlackWing18]

When I questioned why, I was told that the card companies always tack on a surcharge for out of country usage and that is standard practice.

WOW!! I fly for a living, around the world, (corporate), and that is the first time I hear of that kind of 'highway robbery'... My Visa card is issued by the Royal Bank of Canada and its use in Moscow, Hong Kong, Sydney, Podunk,etc has never resulted in any charges other than the prevailing exchange rate at the time the charge is posted to Visa. You were right to assume it is the best way to get an honest exchange rate...I would question the integrity of the card issuer...

Jim W.

[strsout]

BTW one of the reasons I decided to use my credit account was to get the best exchange rate. When I got the credit bill I was amazed to see extra $$$ tacked onto each purchase. When I questioned why, I was told that the card companies always tack on a surcharge for out of country usage and that is standard practice.

I notice that when I went to Alaska.
Passing thru Canada when I used my AmEx I got the exactly exchange later, when I used my VISA they surcharged 2.5% on each sale. I appears as one debit on the last line showing "Exchange Currency Fee".
Next time will be using the AmEx only.

[jkersh1]

BlackWing18 and starky, thanks, did I say April? Living in Arizona for the past 30+ years has distorted my recollection of what and when seasons are. I was thinking of the month when the white is off the road. I'm trying to schedule the ride so I can be at my daughter's college graduation (May12), put my son on a plane to France (June 1), and be at Mother-in-Law's in Minnesota for July 4. June is looking better and better.

I've been to Alaska through western Canada the past couple of Junes and found the weather on the way up rainy both times, but that seemed to keep the riff-raff off the roads. This last year I returned via Routes 1 and 2 until I crossed back into the US at International Falls on Canada Day when the weather had finally turned beautiful.

FWIW I call my credit card companies and tell them I'll be traveling out of the country. Discover doesn't charge a currency conversion fee either, but is not as widely accepted.

[meese]

It also depends on your bank. I've used my MasterCard in three states and three countries in a 24-hour period, and never had it questioned. Of course, I also travel regularly through the US, UK, Europe, and Asia, so my bank knows what sort of charges to expect.

The only time I had a problem was when I ordered a $700 item from Korea, while I was still in the States. They couldn't get hold of me to verify it, so they held the charge until they talked to me. After that, no problems.

[pkpr1998]

Traveling through Ontario last year we used the ole' Visa card and was never charged a service fee (or whatever); we just got the current exchange rate.

From the looks of the picture, I would wait until warmer weather before traveling across Canada.

[garry_kramer]

I would suggest doing the Canadian thing in July or August. We did the Toronto to Victoria and back in July, Couple days were cool. We did the to Victoria trip through Canada and the return thru USA. It was 105 d F going thru Montenna. We did the Toronto to Boston/ Mt Washington the first weekend in August. Not too bad, 12,000 km in approx. 12 day, SO was not impressed as her behind suffered. I think this year we may go to Grand Canyon/ Vegas in August.

BTW I had an hour ride on Christmas eve day, untill it started raining. It was about 2 dC.


Friends and I are talking about a US Four Corners ride this year. For the Maine to Washington leg we're looking at going across Canada. I'd like to do this ride in April to beat the heat in southern US. Can someone brief me on what the weather would likely be in Canada then? Routing is still in the planning stage but we'd probably pick up the TransCanada Highway. We can handle rain, but snow and freezing temps would not make these Arizona boys happy.

[BkrK12]

I would suggest doing the Canadian thing in July or August. We did the Toronto to Victoria and back in July, Couple days were cool. We did the to Victoria trip through Canada and the return thru USA. It was 105 d F going thru Montenna. We did the Toronto to Boston/ Mt Washington the first weekend in August. Not too bad, 12,000 km in approx. 12 day, SO was not impressed as her behind suffered. I think this year we may go to Grand Canyon/ Vegas in August.

BTW I had an hour ride on Christmas eve day, untill it started raining. It was about 2 dC.


I hear you on the Montana heat. I rode through there a couple of years ago, on my way back and forth to Victoria, BC, from New Hampshire. On the trip back, it hit 106 degrees and stayed there all day. It actually melted the plastic connector to my low beam and I wound up doing roadside repairs in the parking lot of an auto parts store.

On the way out, I pulled into a hotel in Butte at 7:30PM and it was 92 degrees. When I walked out the door at 5:30 the next morning it was 42. I asked the desk guy if the weather did that often. He told me that it had snowed just a few days before I got there, so I was lucky. Never expected that kind of heat or that much variance.

[toronto]

.....the key to good riding is getting lucky with the weather, the roads, the hotels, the people you meet and the money. Maybe not necessarily in that order.....but whatever, the weather could be great in April and May, or, really, really bad. For instance, it's January 13, 2006 and it's great riding weather in Toronto, dry, 10 d C, sunny, plug in and ride. Well, except for the salt dust in the City. Anyway, if you are willing to put up with possible great days, sunny and slightly cool and bright, but also very bad days, freezing rain and cold, then April is fine. If not, wait a bit.

The money converstion is likely not your card, VISA, etc, but the bank that issues the card. All banks will and can charge something different for their service, essentially, whatever they think they can get away with.

Also, remember, on the TransCanada the hotels and gas bars can be miles apart, and I don't just mean 20 or 30 miles..........

Have fun - I did the Lake Superior thing last fall, great riding.

Rod.

[lagreen]

:) Living in Canada let me warn you do not try this trip in april. It will be cold and you will hit snow and ice. Save the trip for June or later. Don't stay on the trans canada all the trip, hit the side roads as much as you can you will see a lot more and have a better trip. visa and mastercard are accepted just about anywhere and you can always get cash at a bank machine. Watch your gas crossing the prairies there can be some long runs off the main highways between stations. Have fun and enjoy your trip.

[Caper11]

I live in Canada and have lived in every province at one time or another. Going thru northern Ontario in April cud be very dangerous on a M/C. Its cold at nite and there could be still lots of snow and ice around. I wud suggest traveliling in June if you can. Visa/Matercard or Amex can be used anywhere. Occasionally Amex cud be a problem. If you are looking for scenery ride around the Lakehead route above Lake Superior/ThunderbayYou will not be disappointed. Have a safe one.

[GregK100rs]

If you are going to travel in Canada, start out around the 2nd or 3rd week of May. The weather tends to settle down, then gets darn right hot out and muggy depending on the province you are in at the time.

I'm not sure what the method of payment issue is, Canada is one of the most progressive countries in the world, certainly more so than the US. If you can't get it Canada, it probably isn't available.

Ride safe, and enjoy the greatest country in the world.