Official news and information site for the International Fellowship of Motorcycling Rotarians (IFMR) for the Rotary International Convention in Montreal, Canada, June 20-23, 2010

Thursday, December 31, 2009

More "Atlantic Canada" tour details

Tour Hotels, Ferries, Luggage Storage & Souvenir Shirts

LIST OF HOTELS:  These are the hotels booked for the full tour (excluding hotels for shorter tour options).  Costs shown are in Canadian dollars for two people per room, excluding taxes and personal charges.  Hotel reservations for the tour should be made only thru Vince Byrne (except for reservations at the Hotel Imperia during the RI convention and for those choosing “Custom” trips).
  
Thursday, June 24, Holiday Inn Express, Ste Foy, QC (Quebec City), C$139/per night.
  
Friday, June 25, Econolodge, Forestville, QC, C$99.
  
Saturday, June 26, Gite/Lodge du Mont Albert, Parc Gaspecie, QC, C$180.
  
Sunday, June 27, Hotel Normandie, Perce, QC, C$109.
  
Monday, June 28, Lakeview Inn & Suites, Bathurst, NB, C$75.
  
Tuesday, June 29, Quality Inn, Summerside, PE, C$130.
  
Wednesday and Thursday, June 30 - July 1, Inverary Inn, Baddeck, NS, C$125/per night.
  
Friday, July 2, Cambridge Suites, Halifax, NS,C$159.
  
Saturday, July 3, The Digby Pines Resort & Spa, Digby, NS, C$290 (includes full dinner for 2 and breakfast)
  
Sunday, July 4, Best Western Motel, Woodstock, NB, C$120.
  
Monday, July 5, Days Inn, Riviere du Loup, QC, C$99.
  
Tuesday, July 6, Hotel Imperia, Ste Eustache, QC, C$129.  (NOTE: Reservations for nights during the convention, June 20-23, should be made directly by contacting hotel manager Benoit Turpin at 1-888-472-3336 or bturpin@imperiahotel.com, mentioning “IFMR” and “Motorcycling Rotarians. Post-ride reservations for July 6 and beyond can also be made at the same time.)
 

FERRIES: The full tour includes two major ferry crossings and one minor ferry ride.  The first ferry, on Day 2, is a short 15-minute crossing of the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord on a free ferry just before reaching Tadoussac, QC. 
   The first major ferry crossing is at the start of Day 3, on a high-speed catamaran ferry across the St Lawrence River from Forestville, QC, to Rimouski, QC.  This crossing takes about an hour and costs about C$74 for one motorcycle and two adults. 
   The second major ferry crossing is at the start of Day 11 across the Bay of Fundy from Digby, NS, to St John, NB, on the “Princess of Acadia” car ferry.  This crossing takes about three hours and costs about C$130 for one motorcycle and two adults.
   Reservations for the major ferries need to be made well in advance and will be coordinated by Vince Byrne. All ferries require passengers to be at the ferry dock one hour prior to the scheduled departure time. Prices indicated above are those published by the ferry companies as of December 2009 and may be subject to change.
   Other questions about hotels or ferries?  Contact Vince Byrne at 1-902-667-5011  or vbyrne@ns.sympatico.ca.
    Questions about the route, roads, or options? Contact Bob Shriner at 1-703-795-4355 or bob@shriner.com.
 

LUGGAGE STORAGE:  The Hotel Imperia has agreed to store luggage during the tour for riders who will be returning to spend one or more nights at the hotel at the end of the tour.  During the tour, riders should plan to carry all their clothing and gear on their motorcycles.
 

SHIRTS:  IFMR member and graphics designer Sue Spittle has designed a great-looking all-cotton souvenir polo shirt for this ride and the Montreal RI Convention using the IFMR logo.
   You don’t have to make the ride to buy the shirt.  Just send a registration form with your shirt size and your credit card information and we’ll mail you the shirt, or you can pick it up in Montreal at the IFMR booth in the House of Friendship.
  Only C$40/US$36 each (plus shipping, if required).

 




A 'Once-in-a-Lifetime' Canadian tour after the RI Convention

IFMR "Atlantic Canada" tour


Organized and led by “Backroad” Bob Shriner and Canadian IFMR ride guides Bill Smith and Vince Byrne, the 13-day IFMR "Atlantic Canada" ride will begin the day after the close of the RI Convention, on Thursday morning, June 24, at 9 AM from the Hotel Imperia in the Montreal suburb of Ste. Eustache, the IFMR-NA headquarters hotel during the Convention.  Riders will return to the Hotel Imperia for a ‘farewell dinner”on Tuesday evening, July 6.



 LODGING:  Vince Byrne has contracted for great lodging along the way, mostly with 3- and 4-star hotels and motels, most of which include continental breakfast.
   Lodging costs for the trip will depend on whether riders are double- or single-occupancy. Lodging costs for the trip begin after departure from the starting point and include a final night back at Hotel Imperia. You should make your own reservations for nights prior to the start of the tour. 
   Estimated cost for double-occupancy for the full tour, including 13% tax, is estimated to be about C$990/person, single-occupancy about C$1650/person.  Therefore, when requested on the registration form, Vince will try to match individual riders with possible room-mates.
   So you won’t have to call each of the establishments to make room reservations yourself, Vince will take the lodging requirements and credit card information from the registration forms then make all the individual room reservations with the various hotels and motels. You then merely check in when you arrive at each hotel, using your credit card or cash to finalize payment.  However, as noted above, you should make your own reservations for nights before the start of the tour.

OPTIONS: Since some riders may not have time for the full trip, several shorter options have been pre-planned for those who need to leave early.  Four shorter tour options are available.
   Option 1 (4 days) leaves the tour group on Day 2 at Tadoussac, QC, and travels up the scenic Saguenay fiord and around Lac St Jean, then back to the Montreal area, stopping overnight in Chicoutimi and Roberval.
   Option 2 (6 days) leaves the tour group on Day 5 at Campbellton, NB, and returns to the Montreal area, stopping overnight at Riviere du Loup, QC
   Option 3 (11 days) leaves the tour group on Day 11 at St John, NB, and returns to the U.S. via Calais, Maine. (The “CAT” ferry from Yarmouth, NS, to Maine is no longer in operation.).
   Custom:  In addition, IFMR riders who wish to join the group along the way for one or more days, or those who wish to leave the group at points other than the pre-planned options, are welcome to do so and should mark “Custom” on their registration form and briefly say when and where they plan to join and/or leave the group.

REGISTRATION & CANCELLATION:  To register, fill out and return the registration form to Bob Shriner by email (rshriner@ifmr-na.org), fax (1-540-349-8799), or postal mail (7347 Stuart Circle, Warrenton, VA, 20187) by January 31. There is a limit of 25 riders (bikes).  Forms received after that point will be accepted only on a ‘space available’ basis.  So get your registration form in early.
   If you did not received a copy of the registration form and would like to obtain a copy, email your request to bob@shriner.com.
   Cancellations and changes will be accepted until May 15.  (Cycle rentals must be canceled directly with the rental agency, not with IFMR-NA.)  

CYCLE RENTALS: Bill Smith has made arrangements with Hamel Honda in Ste Eustache for rental bikes for those who need them.  Several models are available.  Bill has arranged a 15 percent discount for IFMR off the dealer's usual rental rate.  To arrange your rental contract, contact Jean-Francois Jacob at 1-450-491-0440, ext. 7501 or jjacob@hamelhonda.com and mention "IFMR" and "Motorcycling Rotarians". Make your  reservations as soon as possible.
   A two week rental is required, varying in price for the various models from C$449 (Canadian) to C$995 per week, including 500 km (310 miles) per day, leather jacket, helmet, saddle bags, and insurance.   A credit "deposit" of C$2,000 is required; the credit card paperwork would be activated only in case of an accident or theft of the bike. 
  Other questions about bike rental? Contact Bill Smith at  1-518-744-5304 or SmithatLG@AOL.com.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

IFMR Convention Headquarters


 Imperia Hotel Named IFMR Convention Headquarters
    IFMR-NA president Raymond Plue has designated the new Imperia Hotel in Montreal suburb Ste-Eustache as the official headquarters for IFMR members during the 2010 Rotary International convention.  With the assistance of long-time IFMR member Bill Smith, who lives in the Montreal area, 35 rooms have been blocked at the hotel for IFMR members at a special group rate of C$109/night during the RI convention.  The hotel is conveniently located near the 640 expressway, a short distance from the Honda dealer who will provide rental bikes for IFMR members, and a short cab ride from the Metro train station for travel to central Montreal convention sites.  There will be reserved parking for motorcycles, with regular police patrol.
   The Imperia Hotel will be the starting point for the 13-day IFMR "Atlantic Canada" motorcycle tour at 9 AM, on Thursday, June 24; and the tour will end back at the Hotel Imperia with a 'farewell dinner' on Tuesday evening, July 6.
   To make reservations for rooms during the RI convention, contact hotel manager Benoit Turpin at 1-888-472-3336 or bturpin@imperiahotel.com, mentioning “IFMR” and “Motorcycling Rotarians. Post-ride reservations for July 6 can also be made at the same time.