TCAT 2026 – The Full Story: Plan, Ride, Budget, Route, and Community
$50/Day?! My budget trip along the TCAT is going to be a challenge!
As I’ve just recently announced, I’ll be riding Trans-Canadian Adventure Trail (TCAT) in 2026. It’s a coast-to-coast route that winds through Canada’s backroads, forests, gravel tracks, and trails. It’s over 15,000 km of adventure, and I’m going to do it on a budget that sounds almost impossible: $50 a day!
Why? Because if I didn’t keep things this tight, I couldn’t afford to go at all.
– I’m not retired.
– I don’t have a big savings account.
-This isn’t a vacation — it’s my summer job.
Every single day, I’ll be filming, editing, and uploading YouTube videos so that you can follow the journey in real time. I’ll also be working online along the way to help fund the ride. But the $50/day budget is the backbone of how this trip will work.
I’ll be using a budgeting app that will add $50 of “theoretical income” into my account every day. Every expense — fuel, food, camping, maintenance — comes out of that pool. If I spend less, the balance grows. If I spend more, it comes from the pool.
Already, many riders across Canada have reached out with offers of a meal and a yard to sleep in. Gifts like a meal will also be logged at a fair value and subtracted. That way, the budget stays honest and transparent.
FUEL (The Biggest Expense)
I’ll typically be riding 6 days a week, averaging long stretches of gravel, dirt, and remote trails. Fuel will cost about $150–$200 per week, depending on prices in different provinces.
FOOD (Camp Cooking & Meal Prep)
No restaurants. No take-out. All meals will come from grocery stores / general stores / gas stations. Making affordable, nutritious food isn’t expensive, but it does take time and planning.
CAMPING
Most nights will be wild camping — finding free spots in the backcountry. But there’s lots of established sites are out there that are free. I’ve gotten very good at finding random camp spots in the middle of nowhere. Once (or twice) a week, I’ll take a rest day at a paid campground to shower, do laundry, do maintenance and reset.
BIKE MAINTENANCE
Routine maintenance will come out of the daily budget. But larger repairs will be part of my working relationship with KOVE MOTO Canada and tires will hopefully be handled the same way through sponsorship ( Motoz Tyres I’m looking at you! 
).
SAMPLE WEEKLY BUDGET (Rolling Total)
Fuel: $160 (~6 days per week)
Food: $150
Rest Day Campground/Laundry: $20–30
TOTAL: ~$350/week ($50/day average)
Some days will cost more (long fuel stretches). Some days will cost less (rest days with little riding). But the weekly average keeps me accountable and it’ll all balance out.
This trip isn’t about luxury. It’s about discipline, creativity, and proving that big adventures don’t need big money. If I can ride across Canada on $50/day, maybe it inspires someone else to chase their own dream — whatever it is — without waiting for the “perfect” financial situation. Just imagine the ‘luxury’ of doing this on $75/day!!
So what’s your BEST budget travel tip? Drop it in the comments — I may try it out on the trail!
And if you want to come along for the ride follow me here and on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@ithinkwemissedaturn?si=MvJ92PBzPmknqz_Y And share this with someone who dreams of big adventures on a small budget
The Budget
On paper, the budget is simple: $50 a day. In practice, it’s a moving target that breathes with the terrain. Fuel and food are the non-negotiables; everything else flexes. Most days that looks like a tank of gas, a bag of groceries, and a free or cheap place to sleep. Some days I’ll burn through more—ferry crossings, a weather-day motel, a proper meal in town. Other days I’ll spend almost nothing, just riding, camping, and cooking what’s already in the panniers. The trick is to think in averages, not single days.
Fuel is the backbone of the budget: every kilometer gets paid for. I assume a full riding day will usually cost me one tank’s worth of gas, give or take, and I treat anything left over as a bonus, not found money. Food is the second pillar. Groceries first, restaurants as a deliberate choice, not an accident. Breakfast and dinner come off the stove most nights, lunch is whatever fits in a tank bag and doesn’t melt in July. Gas stations and bakeries are allowed ambushes, but they get logged like everything else—part of the story, part of the math.
Shelter is where the budget really bends. Most nights I’ll sleep for free or close to it: crown land where it’s legal, rec sites, cheap municipal campgrounds, corners of the map that only make sense to people who arrive on one cylinder and a set of panniers. Every so often, I’ll cash in a stack of those cheap nights for a room: hot shower, laundry, a stable table for editing, and a roof when the forecast turns red. The goal isn’t to avoid motels—it’s to make sure that when I need one, I can say yes without flinching.
Around all of that sits a quiet buffer, the “oh no” fund. That’s for blown tires, surprise ferries, storms that last three days instead of one, and the kind of mechanical failures you can’t fix with zip ties and optimism. I don’t plan to spend it, but I plan with it, so I don’t have to choose between safety and the spreadsheet. In the end, the daily budget is just another route line: a guideline I follow, bend, and occasionally redraw so I can keep pointing the front wheel east, still solvent, still rolling, one honest day at a time.
Daily Videos
The YouTube plan rides with me and actually keeps pace now. With Starlink in the kit, the goal is simple: daily uploads from camp, straight out of the woods. The backbone stays the same—one main series that follows the TCAT west to east (and back through the Maritimes), broken into stages that match how the country feels: Island shakedown, BC interior, Rockies, Prairies, Shield, Quebec woods, Atlantic, Newfoundland finale, Maritimes cool-down. Each stage becomes its own playlist so someone planning their own run can jump straight into “Section F – Big North, Big Days” without digging through everything else.
Most days, the video will be a short vlog—about 5 to 7 minutes. Helmet cam and bar-mounted camera for the riding, a small tripod in camp, and just enough to tell the truth about that day: what worked, what didn’t, where I slept, and what the map taught me. I’ll mark fuel stops, sketchy sections, and bivy spots on the GPS as I go and bake those into the daily vlogs with quick map cutaways and captions: distance, difficulty, fuel range, bailout options. These aren’t polished documentaries; they’re daily trail notes with a heartbeat.
Editing becomes part of the nightly routine. Roll into camp, pitch the tent, cook dinner, then pull the day into a 5–7 minute episode while it’s still fresh. Starlink goes up next to the bike, pointed at the right slice of sky, and the vlog goes out from whatever cutblock or lakeshore I called home that night. On top of those dailies, I’ll drop longer episodes now and then—bigger story arcs that stitch a full section together: the whole Vancouver Island loop, a week on the Forestry Trunk Road, crossing Newfoundland end to end. Those longer videos give people the “movie version” of each chapter; the daily vlogs are the raw logbook.
Around YouTube, the orbit stays small but consistent. Facebook and maybe Instagram get a daily nugget that pairs with the vlog: one photo, one short story, one honest line about how the day actually felt. I’ll pin meetup windows so people can see where I’m generally heading without broadcasting coordinates. In YouTube descriptions and pinned comments, I’ll share cleaned-up GPX/KML highlights as they’re ready—blue official lines, red alternates, notes on fuel, water, and hazards. Comments and messages feed back into the ride: if someone flags a closure or suggests a better legal line, I can pivot. The goal isn’t just to upload a trip; it’s to live the route in public, one short vlog, one long arc, and one campfire-side Starlink session at a time.
The Route: West to East
The TCAT runs about 15,000 kilometers across Canada, mostly off‑pavement. I’ll start on Vancouver Island—riding clockwise from Nanaimo through Duncan and Port Renfrew, up to Holberg, and back to Nanaimo—before catching the ferry to the mainland and working east across BC’s interior. From there, I’ll trace the Rockies in Alberta, cross the prairies of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, carve through the endless forests and lakes of Ontario, thread the logging roads of Quebec, and finally reach the rocky coastlines of Newfoundland.
Once the official TCAT ends in St. John’s, I’m not done—I’ll continue down through Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick before returning home. It’s a complete coast‑to‑coast‑and‑back‑again loop, blending exploration with storytelling and community building.
Route Overview
Direction & Window: West → East, starting late April 2026 from Nanaimo; ~7 months total.
Daily Range Target:
Easy/mixed: 250–350 km/day
Technical / logging / weather: 150–250 km/day
Fuel Range Goal: Comfortable 300+ km between pumps.
Budget Baseline: ~$50/day (camping-first, groceries over restaurants).
—
Section A – Vancouver Island Clockwise Loop (Nanaimo ↺ Nanaimo)
Role: Shakedown loop to test gear, filming workflow, fuel range, and daily rhythm close to home.
Rough Stats (estimates)
Total distance: ~1,200–1,600 km (depends on how spicy the FSR web gets).
Riding days: 4–6 + 1 buffer/weather day.
Typical daily range: 200–300 km mixed gravel/pavement.
Core Line (Blue bias)
Nanaimo → Duncan → Cowichan Valley → Lake Cowichan → Port Renfrew
Port Renfrew → West coast/FSRs northbound → Port Alberni access
Port Alberni → Campbell River → Port Hardy → Holberg area
Return Holberg/Port Hardy → east-side Highway 19 corridor → Nanaimo
Terrain & Difficulty
Primarily FSRs and old logging spurs: potholes, washboard, embedded rock, occasional washouts.
Short pavement connectors through towns.
Short steeper pinches and loose rock in some coastal spurs.
Difficulty: Easy–moderate for a loaded dual-sport; technical mostly by weather (slimy clay, standing water).
Fuel & Range Strategy
Plan for 250–300 km between reliable fuel in the north/west.
“Never pass Port Hardy/Port McNeill fuel” late in the day.
Target 31 L / 300+ km effective range (main + aux).
Resupply Towns (food, fuel, water)
Cowichan Bay / Duncan / Lake Cowichan
Port Renfrew (limited but useful)
Port Alberni (good restock hub)
Campbell River
Port Hardy (key northern hub)
Nanaimo (full reset point)
Bivy & Camping Options
Rec sites near lakes/rivers off main FSRs.
Established gravel pits / pull-outs with existing fire rings (check fire bans).
Paid campgrounds near Port Renfrew, Port Alberni, Campbell River, Port Hardy for showers/laundry when needed.
Meetup / Content Towns
Lake Cowichan, Port Renfrew, Campbell River, Port Hardy, Nanaimo bookends.
Red-Track Ideas (Spice)
Spurs off Pacific Marine Road.
West-side coastal lookouts & dead-end viewpoints.
Holberg → San Josef Bay access spurs where explicitly legal/open.
Bailouts & Weather Logic
Highway 14 for south/west bailouts (Port Renfrew–Sooke corridor).
Highway 19 backbone on the east side for quick resets.
Heavy rain: bias paved or mainline gravel; skip soft spur roads that rut easily.
—
Section B – Mainland BC: Coast Ranges → Cariboo/Chilcotin
Role: Transition from coastal mountains into the interior plateaus; first serious snow/fire chess.
Rough Stats (estimates)
Total distance: ~2,300–2,800 km depending on loops.
Riding days: 7–12 (early-season snow and fire may slow this).
Daily range: 200–350 km depending on terrain.
Core Line (Blue bias)
Ferry → Horseshoe Bay → Sea-to-Sky corridor (Squamish → Whistler → Pemberton).
Pemberton → Hurley FSR (if open) / alternatives → Bridge River basin.
East/north via Lillooet → Cariboo / Chilcotin lake and plateau networks.
Exit towards Williams Lake / 100-Mile / 150-Mile House region, then angle to AB line via interior TCAT.
Terrain & Difficulty
Big-view mountain valleys, glacial till gravel, shelf roads.
FSRs with water bars, washouts, fallen rock post-storm.
Higher-elevation passes (Hurley, etc.) can hold snow into June.
Difficulty: Moderate, with pockets of intermediate+ if washed out or wet.
Fuel & Range Strategy
Plan for 250–350 km between stations on backcountry days.
Top off in: Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton, Lillooet, Clinton/Cache Creek, Williams Lake corridor, 100/150-Mile House.
Carry extra water for hot, dry interior stretches.
Resupply & Reset Points
Squamish / Whistler / Pemberton – early backcountry launch.
Lillooet – fuel, groceries, possible rest day.
Clinton / Cache Creek – crossroads & resupply.
Williams Lake – major restock, potential tire/oil service.
100-Mile / 150-Mile House – intermediate resupply.
Bivy & Camping
Lakeside recreation sites and FSR spur pull-outs.
Avoid camping under large burned snags in fire areas.
Strict fire-ban compliance in peak season.
Meetup Towns
Squamish, Pemberton, Lillooet, Williams Lake.
Red-Track Ideas
High-elevation loops and old passes when snow free.
Lakeside dead-end spurs for camps and B-roll.
Lesser-used FSRs paralleling the main TCAT to assess conditions and filming spots.
Bailouts & Weather/Fire Logic
Highway 99 & 97 as primary escape grid.
Snow or slide closures: drop elevation and track east first, north later.
Fire smoke: favor routes with quick access back to 97 and larger centers.
—
Section C – Alberta: Front Ranges & Forestry Trunk Road
Role: Long gravel spine along the Rockies; big scenery without full park traffic.
Rough Stats (estimates)
Total distance: ~800–1,100 km.
Riding days: 3–6 + rest/maintenance stop.
Daily range: 200–300 km.
Core Line (Blue bias)
BC/AB line → Hinton/Jasper access → south along the Forestry Trunk Road / Hwy 734 and related access roads.
Pass via Nordegg → Sundre zone → Crowsnest Pass region, aligning with TCAT where possible.
Terrain & Difficulty
Rolling gravel, washboard, loose marbles on corners.
Occasional river/creek fords in low water; can spike in fresh rain.
Embedded rock and corrugated climbs/descents.
Difficulty: mostly easy-moderate, risk goes up fast with rain or traffic.
Fuel & Range Strategy
Plan for 250–300 km range per leg; stations can be far apart and keep short hours.
Key fuel: Hinton/Jasper access, Nordegg, Sundre, Crowsnest corridor.
Treat late-day fuel as “no-skip” in small communities.
Resupply & Reset Points
Hinton / Jasper access – pre-FTR stock-up.
Nordegg – fuel, basic supplies, good story stop.
Sundre / Cochrane access – off-route option for chain/tires.
Crowsnest Pass towns – service + rest day if needed.
Bivy & Camping
Provincial recreation areas along rivers.
Dispersed camping in legal zones – fully bear-aware.
Avoid camping in low wash areas if storms are forecast.
Meetup Towns
Hinton, Nordegg, Sundre, Crowsnest Pass.
Red-Track Ideas
Short climbs to valley-rim lookouts.
Legal side roads that bypass busy weekend sections.
Old cutblocks with open views for overnight setups.
Bailouts & Parks Logic
East to Hwy 22 or 2 for fast pavement retreat.
West into National Parks (permits/fees, speed rules) if needed for shelter or services.
Heavy rain = avoid water crossings; choose park or highway detours.
—
Section D – Saskatchewan: Grids, Big Skies, Wind Ethics
Role: Mental reset and mileage builder; learn to ride wind and weather windows.
Rough Stats (estimates)
Total distance: ~1,200–1,400 km.
Riding days: 3–5.
Daily range: 250–350 km (weather-dependent).
Core Line (Blue bias)
Enter SK near Cypress/Maple Creek/Leader region.
Weave grid roads, gravel, and two-track across to the Yorkton area, staying north enough to feel remote but close enough to services.
Terrain & Difficulty
Grid gravel and hardpack clay; very slick when wet.
Grassy two-track with ruts in low spots.
Wind is the main hazard; storms build quickly.
Difficulty: easy when dry, can be nasty when wet/windy.
Fuel & Range Strategy
Plan 200–250 km windows; plenty of fuel but hours can be short (especially Sundays/holidays).
Top off when entering long grid runs or when cloud walls are forming.
Resupply & Towns
Swift Current region
Leader / Maple Creek corridor
Mid-route small towns (case-by-case with TCAT line)
Yorkton region
Bivy & Camping
Municipal campgrounds (often cheap).
Legal riverside spots, coulees, and shelterbelts.
Choose sites with wind breaks; stake tents aggressively.
Meetup Towns
Swift Current, Leader/Maple Creek, Yorkton area.
Red-Track Ideas
Detours into the Great Sandhills views.
Old grain elevators and historic sites slightly off grid.
Bailouts & Weather Logic
Trans-Canada Highway and other major east–west routes for quick retreats.
Wet clay forecast: commit to pavement or very well-drained main gravel.
—
Section E – Manitoba: Parklands & Lakes
Role: Transition from open prairie into more wooded, lake-country feel.
Rough Stats (estimates)
Total distance: ~900–1,200 km.
Riding days: 3–5.
Daily range: 200–300 km.
Core Line (Blue bias)
Border → Dauphin / Neepawa corridors.
Angle through parklands and aspen stands, potentially sampling Interlake area depending on final route.
Push east toward Ontario line via TCAT-style forestry/crown land.
Terrain & Difficulty
Fast gravel, small hills, wooded lanes.
Clay sections that turn greasy when wet.
Some beaver activity – undermined culverts, puddled sections.
Difficulty: easy–moderate, with surprise mud holes.
Fuel & Range Strategy
Plan for 200–250 km legs.
Fuel & groceries in: Dauphin, Neepawa, Interlake hubs (e.g., Gimli) and several smaller towns.
Bivy & Camping
Lakeside public sites and rec areas.
Bug intensity ramps up as temps rise – head net mandatory in season.
Prefer breezy points to reduce mosquitoes and blackflies.
Meetup Towns
Dauphin, Neepawa, Gimli/Interlake access.
Red-Track Ideas
Lakeside sunrise/sunset spurs.
Short detours to heritage sites and small beaches.
Bailouts & Weather Logic
Multiple paved east–west corridors for bypassing rain cells.
After heavy rain: skip low forestry roads; stick to higher-standard gravel.
—
Section F – Ontario: Big North, Big Days
F1 – Northwestern Ontario (MB border → Kenora → Dryden → Thunder Bay → Superior North)
Role: First taste of the Canadian Shield; longer fuel gaps and more serious remoteness.
Rough Stats (estimates)
Total distance: ~1,500–2,000 km.
Riding days: 4–7 + 1 buffer.
Daily range: 200–300 km.
Terrain & Difficulty
Granite shelves, exposed rock.
Puddled bedrock depressions post-rain.
Chunky gravel and short rock ledges on logging roads.
Difficulty: generally moderate, with technical bits when wet and rutted.
Fuel & Range Strategy
Plan 250–350 km fuel windows on remote days.
Major hubs: Kenora, Dryden, Sioux Lookout access, Thunder Bay.
Treat Thunder Bay as a reset hub (oil, chain, tires if needed).
Bivy & Camping
Crown land near lakes and streams (check current regs).
Many informal sites off logging roads – practice strict LNT.
Fire bans common in dry summers.
Meetup Towns
Kenora, Dryden, Thunder Bay.
Red-Track Ideas
Shoreline lookouts above Lake Superior.
Old rail grades, only where clearly legal/open.
Bailouts & Weather Logic
Use Highway 17 as the main weather/mechanical escape.
Thunderstorms: avoid exposed ridges and long, slippery rock runs.
—
F2 – Northeastern Ontario (Superior East → Wawa → Chapleau/Timmins → QC Line)
Role: Deep forest and logging corridors; long days, real isolation.
Rough Stats (estimates)
Total distance: ~1,500–2,000 km.
Riding days: 4–6.
Daily range: 200–300 km, slower in heavy logging zones.
Terrain & Difficulty
Long forestry haul roads, less-maintained spurs.
Some sand, embedded rock gardens, and rough bridges.
Bridges / culverts can be out after storms – alternates are essential.
Difficulty: moderate+, with high consequences if unprepared.
Fuel & Range Strategy
Plan 250–350 km legs.
Hubs: Marathon/Wawa access, Chapleau, Timmins corridor, Cochrane region.
Short station hours in mill towns – aim to arrive mid-day.
Bivy & Camping
River flats near bridges and fords.
Bugs intense mid-summer – prioritize breezy sites.
Hang food / use bear-resistant practices.
Meetup Towns
Wawa, Chapleau, Timmins.
Red-Track Ideas
Waterfalls and rapids accessible off main roads.
Fire lookout knobs and hydro line parallels when dry and clearly legal.
Bailouts & Weather Logic
Planned north/south connectors to Hwy 11/17 if conditions deteriorate.
Any sign of washout on a marginal bridge: retreat early, don’t “just try it”.
—
Section G – Quebec: Abitibi to Gaspé-Facing Gateways
Role: Long logging corridors and river crossings; language and logistics challenge.
Rough Stats (estimates)
Total distance: ~1,800–2,400 km.
Riding days: 5–8.
Daily range: 200–300 km.
Core Line (Blue bias)
Enter near Abitibi region (around Val-d’Or/Amos/La Sarre).
Work east via logging grids and river corridors.
Exit toward Rimouski / Baie-Comeau or similar, depending on final TCAT line.
Terrain & Difficulty
Wide fast gravel primaries, sometimes with heavy truck traffic.
Side roads tightening into embedded rock and puddled clay.
River valleys with soft shoulders and potential washouts.
Difficulty: moderate, truck awareness critical.
Fuel & Range Strategy
Plan 250–350 km windows; some stretches have few services.
Key hubs: Val-d’Or, Amos, La Sarre, then a series of resource towns eastward.
Always confirm fuel hours before relying on a town.
Bivy & Camping
River bars, sand/gravel islands, and small rec sites.
Watch for soft shoulders on riverbanks post-rain.
Bug and bear protocols similar to ON.
Meetup Towns
Val-d’Or, Amos, Rimouski/Baie-Comeau access (depending on line).
Red-Track Ideas
Lookouts above major rivers.
Historic bridges and older alignments.
Occasional Atlantic-facing shoreline detours as you near the St. Lawrence.
Bailouts & Weather Logic
South to Hwy 117/132 networks for quick services.
If trucks are heavy / visibility bad, favor mainline only and skip side explorations.
—
Section H – New Brunswick & Prince Edward Island
Role: Gentler cadence and coastal flavor on the way to/from Newfoundland; decompression from the logging grind.
Rough Stats (estimates)
Total distance (combined): ~1,000–1,400 km depending on loops.
Riding days: 2–4 in NB, 2–4 in PEI (longer on return).
Daily range: 200–300 km.
Terrain & Difficulty
Coastal gravel and quiet backroads.
Farm lanes, short sandy or muddy bits near beaches.
Frequent small towns and services.
Difficulty: mostly easy.
Fuel & Range Strategy
Fuel every 150–250 km is simple.
Use larger towns for groceries and data top-ups: Miramichi, Moncton, Charlottetown, Summerside.
Bivy & Camping
Established campgrounds, some municipal/coastal options.
Occasional wild-ish spots off farm lanes where legal (verify).
Coastal sites = wind exposure; inland = more bugs.
Meetup Towns
NB: Miramichi, Moncton.
PEI: Charlottetown, Summerside.
Red-Track Ideas
Lighthouse loops, shoreline at golden hour.
Quiet farm tracks parallel to main roads.
Bailouts & Weather Logic
Dense paved grid for any rough weather.
Big wind: avoid coastal ridges; run inland tree-lined roads.
—
Section I – Nova Scotia (Mainland & Cape Breton)
Role: Flexible finale/return playground; inland if windy, coastal if calm.
Rough Stats (estimates)
Total distance: ~1,000–1,400 km including Cape Breton.
Riding days: 3–6.
Daily range: 200–300 km.
Terrain & Difficulty
Forest gravel and backroads inland.
Coastal segments with short steep grades and tight turns.
Occasional rough secondary lanes and potholes.
Difficulty: easy–moderate.
Fuel & Range Strategy
Fuel every 150–250 km is easy.
Larger hubs: Truro, New Glasgow corridor, Antigonish, Cape Breton towns (e.g., Baddeck).
Bivy & Camping
Provincial parks and private campgrounds.
Occasional roadside lake access (respect No Camping signs).
Coastal camp = watch tide lines and wind forecast.
Meetup Towns
Truro, Antigonish, Baddeck.
Red-Track Ideas
Coastal overlook spurs.
Cape Breton highland detours where legal.
Bailouts & Weather Logic
Highways 102/104/105 as main reset axes.
Choose inland forest routes in high wind; coastal loops in stable, calm weather.
—
Section J – Newfoundland: Across the Rock to St. John’s
Role: Grand finale and narrative peak; weather-sensitive with big views.
Rough Stats (estimates)
Total distance: ~1,600–2,200 km depending on how much exploring you add.
Riding days: 5–9 (weather and ferry timing).
Daily range: 200–300 km.
Core Line (Blue bias)
Ferry landing → Port of entry town (likely Port aux Basques/Argentia scenario).
Traverse via a mix of legal off-highway corridors (including sections of the T’Railway where permitted) and secondary roads.
Move through Corner Brook → Grand Falls-Windsor → Gander → Clarenville → St. John’s region.
Terrain & Difficulty
Rail-grade gravel in places – straight, steady, sometimes whooped by ATVs.
Rocky double-track, puddled depressions after rain.
Wind-scoured barrens and fog-prone coasts.
Difficulty: moderate, compounded by weather and visibility.
Fuel & Range Strategy
Aim for 200–300 km legs; a few stretches may push that.
Anchor resupply at: Corner Brook, Grand Falls-Windsor, Gander, Clarenville, St. John’s plus smaller intermediate towns.
Plan conservative on days far from the Trans-Canada.
Bivy & Camping
Coastal bluffs and viewpoints (only if wind allows safe tenting).
Sheltered woods inland for storm nights.
Absolutely respect private land, gates, and “No Camping” signage.
Meetup Towns
Corner Brook, Grand Falls-Windsor, Gander, St. John’s.
Red-Track Ideas
Bayside and cliff-edge coastal spurs.
Historic sites and small harbors; short detours only so you don’t blow fuel/wind windows.
Bailouts & Weather Logic
Trans-island highway as primary reset route.
Heavy fog or high wind: drop off high/coastal spurs and run main highway or sheltered inland roads.
Moose risk: slow down at dawn/dusk, especially near wetlands.
—
Country-Wide Playbook
Pacing & Buffers
Total riding days: ~90–140 including buffers, rest, and content days.
Buffer rule: Minimum 1 buffer day per week, extra stashed for BC high country and Newfoundland.
Daily Template (applies everywhere)
Morning: Coffee, pack camp, chain & tire check, quick route brief.
Ride: Prioritize blue (core) line, sample a red (alternate) if legal/dry and fits the day.
Midday: Fuel + water top-off; record budget; waypoint hazards/POIs.
Afternoon: Aim for camp 60–90 minutes before dark.
Evening: One-pot meal, gear triage, track cleanup, log notes.
Night: Edit episode; sync GPS apps; post a short daily update when bandwidth exists.
Fuel & Water
Treat half-tank = search mode in remote sections.
Never pass a pump late in the day if next leg is uncertain.
Carry 3–4 L water capacity in hot or remote zones plus treatment.
Wildlife & Hazards
Bears: BC, AB, ON, QC – store food well away from camp, cook/clean 50–100 m from tent.
Moose: ON, QC, NL – slow down in low-light and marshy areas.
Weather:
Prairies: crosswinds & fast-moving storms.
Quebec/Ontario: slick clay and flooded culverts after rain.
Newfoundland: fog and gusts; visibility can vanish quickly.
Red-Track Policy (Global)
Legal first: Public, open, signed; no forced gates, no trespassing.
Seasonal sanity: Avoid soft/thawing ground and post-storm ruts.
Time/fuel discipline: Only add alternates that fit energy/weather/fuel windows.
Community input: Use FB threads to collect alternates; credit contributors in video/notes.
If you find what we’re doing here at all helpful or valuable, your support would be invaluable. Well, I guess it would actually have value! There’s nine billion digital services needing to get paid to do what we do. Not to mention keeping fuel in the bike and coffee in the belly. I know not everyone can contribute financially, but if you can…..
Info straight to your Inbox!
Why the heck should you subscribe to the Newsletter? Simple, get all the latest news on new routes, downloadable maps, cool stuff in the store, and updates to routes you may already have. You know, because things change!! What, you don’t want 34 emails a day from us? We hear you. We don’t either. So, don’t worry, we’ll send the good stuff your way only when there’s something you really need to know…
Get the Newsletter
Want to get ALL the current up to date info in the BC Moto World? Join the Facebook group! It’s a place for us to post all the goodness, but also a place for you! Ask questions, report trail conditions, and post up all those pics after you have that awesome adventure!