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sigh of relief , and took it a bit easier after that , but Steve will always remember it as the best ride of the trip .
With minutes to spare , they reached the ferry terminal , unsure as to whether their reservations for tomorrow ’ s ferry would be honoured or not , but they were put on stand-by until everyone else was loaded .
“ We were so relieved when they said they could find a place to poke us in on the ferry ,” Steve said .
As all of the accommodations had been prebooked by Dave , this change of itinerary left them without a place for the night . Dominic came to the rescue again with his brother ’ s Airbnb in Matane . Steve joked with
Dominic that he was their guardian angel .
The Gaspé Peninsula awaited on their final day , offering a fitting crescendo to their almost 3,600 kilometre journey . They rode through Gaspésie National Park , following the curves of salmon-filled rivers and scenic byways .
By the time they rolled back into Fredericton , exhaustion mingled with triumph .
“ The ride-eat-sleep routine was grueling but unforgettable ,” Steve said . “ And doing it with family made it epic .”
Back when they were planning the trip over pizza , Steve had said ; “ We ’ ll make it a good story … it ’ ll find us .”
And it did . Like Dave said ; “ It was comedy after comedy , but you have to have a good sense of humour and adventure if you are going to ride a motorcycle .”
From wildlife encounters to mechanical mishaps , from the beauty of the landscapes and icebergs to the adrenaline of racing against wildfires and ferry strikes , their journey along Expedition 51 was a testament to the enduring allure of adventure riding .
The unpaved stretches of the Trans-Labrador may be disappearing , but for Steve , Blake , Dave , and Will , the memories etched into those rugged roads will last forever . NR
Pic : Nadine Robinson
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