Weekend dans La Belle Provence.

I spent my weekend in Montreal at my friend's place, and the better part of Monday riding along the Quebec side of the Ottowa river. Truly stunning vistas.

About an hour west of Ottowa I decided to hit the back roads and ended up a cottage town called Norway Bay. The town was very much anglophone despite being in QC. I got a very "Lost" vibe from the town - reminded me of the Dharma barracks.

Toronto, take note, this is what bike lanes should look like.

Hydro dam.

Gourmet campsite cooking.

Interrupting movie night at Christian camp.

Leaving at 7p did not leave me much time to find the hottest camping spots. At sunset I pulled into a RV/camp site near Cobourgh. Office was closed, but I did find the caretaker at the nearby annex/theatre - movie night at the trailer park.

She informed me I had entered a Christian camp and there will be no smoking or drinking. Cheap tent sites though. Made my first cup of cowboy coffee in the morning.

First leg: Toronto to Portland

Getting from Toronto to Portland (6,000 km)

For the first leg of my trip I will be heading West. Instead of taking the Lake Express ferry across Lake Michigan (as I typically do on my rides to Milwaukee), I will be heading through the Sault Ste. Marie region in upstate Michigan. After celebrating July 4th weekend in Milwaukee, I will be taking a closer look at the Cheese State's interior and the great plains.

Highlights

• Black Hills

Starting with the Badlands, this National Park in South Dakota should be my first break from the monotony of the Plains. The Black Hills sport some amazing views, as well as the Needles Highway, a very narrow road between eery rock formations.

• Yellowstone

More than just "Old Faithful", Yellowstone sports many impressive natural wonders including a fall twice as tall as Niagara Falls and the Morning Glory Pool (see link).

• Going-To-The-Sun road

This narrow, winding road is considered one of the more difficult roads in North America, but is the only way through Glacier National Park.

What will I forget, and how badly will I miss it?

Of preparation and nervousness.

Twelve days from now I will be leaving on a three-month motorcycle journey across the US, followed by a ten-day trip to Japan (by plane, not motorcycle). I spent the last few months or so planning this trip. Planning only gets you so far though, and now is the time when the rubber meets the road.

In 12 days time I have yet to sublet my place, find a spot for my cat, and move my few personal belongings to a friends'. On the other hand, I do have all gear ready (I travel and camp light), and have a comprehensive pack list and travel planner ready as well, which covers everything from routine maintenance on the bike to easy camp meals.

In the next few days I will be posting about my final prep work, my planned route and hotspots I can't wait to visit, and post plenty of pictures of my loaded bike. In the next few weeks and months, I aim to post 3 or 4 times a week and update you on the adventures that can be found on .. The Road To Everywhere.