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210:, and as a result, many roads were being paved and certain areas were being cleared. As Muma stated in news articles that covered his trip, "I want to see more of the north land, because it's changing so rapidly....I want to get there before the changes."
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Muma disassembled an older
Motobecane for spare parts to bring on his trip. He also brought approximately 50 pounds of gear, including a tent, sleeping bag, clothing, tools, food and water, spare fuel cans, and oil to mix with the fuel.
549:. He continued through Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, eventually reaching the border of Ontario. By this point, his moped, which had been brand new when starting out, was now very dirty and completely loaded down with equipment.
367:. By mile 384, although it was June 26, Muma encountered a large patch of snow next to the roadway left over from the previous winter. By this point, the terrain was becoming increasingly mountainous, as Muma continued through the
325:. In 1979, only the first 90 miles of this highway were paved, with the remainder, until reaching the Alaska border, laid as gravel. At the time it was fairly remote- however, some years later, it was paved over in its entirety.
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and worked as an accountant in a small firm for eight years. In recent years, he has run his own computer consulting business. He is also an experienced field botanist (and gives lectures on the subject) and a photographer.
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He had also developed an interest in photography previous to his trip. Throughout the three-month journey, he took a number of photographs of mountains, streams, his campgrounds, and a variety of other natural settings.
127:
He attended Jesse
Ketchum Public School and Northern Secondary School. Three days after graduating high school in 1974, he set out on an 800-mile bike ride to northern Ontario. He also hitchhiked his way out to
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and Alaska. From Watson Lake, he headed North up the Robert
Campbell Highway. A side trip included up the Nahanni Range Road and back. Continuing on the Robert Campbell Highway, he passed the
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182:. This model was Motobecane's top-of-the-line moped offering at the time. It was capable of about 25-30 mph top-speed on even roadway and averaged 150 miles per gallon.
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for six months. Eventually, he found employment in the
Canadian post office and as a driving instructor in Toronto. He took a course in accounting and finance at
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and back South to
Whitehorse. Please expand on this side trip to Inuvik. How did you cross the Peel and Arctic Red Rivers as there were no ferries in 1978.
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Muma continued to tour, backpack, hike and canoe in Canada and the United States after his record-breaking moped trip. He also visited
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305:, however he did have some difficulty with a few dirt roads. Three weeks after beginning his journey, he reached the border of
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His total trip took approximately three months, covered 11,500 miles and ended back in
Toronto on September 7, 1978.
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During the 1970s, Alaska and the northern portions of Canada were changing significantly as a result of the large
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in 1975. That year, he toured most of
Ontario and parts of the United States. In summer 1977, he rode to
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man who is on record for completing a 3-month 11,500-mile (18,660 km) journey across Canada and
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After passing Wawa, Muma continued along the main Trans-Canada
Highway route, along the edge of
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Near mile 401, Muma took a short side trip on a partially washed-out road to the abandoned
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to Wawa. No other towns exist between these two, however the road passes along the
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Muma began his trip on June 3, 1978, leaving his home in
Toronto. He rode to the
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239:. The Chapleau Route itself is a desolate stretch, extending 215 miles from
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After passing the mines, he resumed traveling the Alaska
Highway, passing
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passes nearby. Further travel, after 300 miles had passed, brought him to
405:, photographing more mountain sheep. Near mile 504, the road follows the
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1087:
Methodology: Rides of >30,000 km (>3,000 km before 1930)
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Al Strange (July 5, 1978). "Moped traveler likes to see the country".
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and restorer of books; both his parents affiliated religiously as
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457:, and then back to the Alaska Highway. He took a side trip to
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84:. The journey took place during the summer of 1978, began in
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Muma spent some time wandering on side roads throughout the
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or record-setting transcontinental or intercontinental ride
461:(which was then only accessible from Yukon), passing the
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After heading out of Dawson Creek, Muma crossed over the
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485:, eventually resuming his trip on the Alaska Highway to
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South Canol Road near the headwaters of the Rose River
235:, and continued North on the highway, curving west to
116:, Canada to Robert and Dorothy Muma. His father was a
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50v, which was equipped with a 49cc, 2.5 horsepower,
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deposits located there. Companies were moving in to
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343:After 186 miles, the highway actually passes over
167:For his 3-month trip in 1978, Muma purchased a
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613:Two Wheel Power Hour - Clear Channel radio
501:Muma left Whitehorse and proceeded on the
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163:1970s 50V model, the same model Muma rode
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409:for some time, eventually winding up in
321:Dawson Creek marks the beginning of the
677:Walter Muma (Fall 1978). "Moped Trip".
642:"Who is Walter Muma? A brief biography"
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363:and eventually travelled alongside the
258:. A few miles off the highway, east of
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815:Zoltán Sulkowsky and Gyula Bartha
662:Motobecane America, Ltd. (1980).
529:, and then back towards Ontario.
489:. Further side trips included to
1153:Northern Secondary School alumni
800:Clare Sheridan and Oswald Frewen
607:Larry Ward (February 14, 2005).
1138:Long-distance motorcycle riders
757:Long-distance motorcycle riding
596:. Peace River, Alberta, Canada.
469:. Other wide trips included to
441:and eventually wound up at the
100:, and finally back to Toronto.
281:On June 12, Muma crossed into
1:
1066:Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge
820:Augusta and Adeline Van Buren
491:Inuvik, Northwest Territories
98:Inuvik, Northwest Territories
92:and Alaska, continued up the
664:Motobecane Owner's Handbook
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72:(born 5 August 1956) is a
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1013:Simon and Monika Newbound
721:Muma's moped trip website
693:"Spring coming in Durham"
864:Robert Edison Fulton Jr.
795:Avis and Effie Hotchkiss
780:Erwin "Cannonball" Baker
537:Next, Muma followed the
1123:Canadian travel writers
1028:Kevin and Julia Sanders
503:Stewart-Cassiar Highway
459:Atlin, British Columbia
449:. He then followed the
223:Toronto to Dawson Creek
1128:Canadian photographers
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139:Muma bought his first
1148:Seneca College alumni
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124:. He has one sister.
1143:Writers from Toronto
1118:Artists from Toronto
1023:Chris and Erin Ratay
377:McDonald River Gorge
361:Indian Head Mountain
233:Trans-Canada Highway
155:Record-breaking trip
132:, Yukon, Alaska and
16:Canadian moped rider
965:Carol and Ken Duval
856:Carol and Ken Duval
790:Carl Stearns Clancy
543:Hudson Bay Mountain
445:, near the town of
338:Sikanni Chief River
1038:Claudio von Planta
810:Bessie Stringfield
594:The Record-Gazette
564:for two weeks and
539:Yellowhead Highway
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353:Steamboat Mountain
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785:William Chadeayne
609:"Radio Interview"
262:, he visited the
180:two-stroke engine
108:Muma was born in
88:, passed through
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507:British Columbia
497:British Columbia
421:Yukon and Alaska
330:Kiskatinaw River
307:British Columbia
277:Mississagi River
245:Mississagi River
130:British Columbia
94:Dempster Highway
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533:Back to Ontario
521:, reaching the
519:Ningunsaw River
515:Coast Mountains
509:. He passed by
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439:Finlayson River
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401:. He camped at
384:Churchill Mines
369:Rocky Mountains
345:Trutch Mountain
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640:Muma, Walter.
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570:Seneca College
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556:After the trip
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479:Taylor Highway
475:Haines, Alaska
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395:McDonald River
388:mountain sheep
323:Alaska Highway
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317:Alaska Highway
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268:Kakabeka Falls
229:Chapleau Route
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218:Trip itinerary
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41:(age 68)
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943:21st century
934:Austin Vince
914:Nick Sanders
883:
825:James Wilson
701:. Retrieved
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646:. Retrieved
616:. Retrieved
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547:Fraser River
536:
523:Bear Glacier
500:
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357:Muskwa River
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311:Dawson Creek
291:Saskatchewan
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249:Aubrey Falls
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145:Newfoundland
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1108:1956 births
1003:Danell Lynn
929:JĹ«gatsu Toi
899:Benka Pulko
884:Walter Muma
874:John Gerber
805:Robert Sexé
644:. wmuma.com
487:Dawson City
443:Pelly River
411:Watson Lake
407:Liard River
403:Muncho Lake
373:Summit Lake
365:Tetsa River
334:Peace River
260:Thunder Bay
169:French made
134:Nova Scotia
70:Walter Muma
23:Walter Muma
1102:Categories
1071:Hyder Seek
993:Allan Karl
988:Geoff Hill
983:Pat Garrod
909:Jim Rogers
904:Max Reisch
889:Neil Peart
869:Pat Garrod
679:Sporadical
648:2010-06-15
577:References
541:, passing
463:ghost town
455:Quiet Lake
451:Canol Road
447:Ross River
399:Toad River
371:, passing
293:, passing
173:Motobécane
118:bookbinder
104:Early life
35:1956-08-05
1033:Ted Simon
924:Ted Simon
846:Dave Barr
839:1930–2000
562:Australia
467:O'Donnell
355:near the
287:Red River
247:and near
241:Thessalon
176:Mobylette
773:Pre 1930
697:The Post
618:June 22,
545:and the
517:and the
471:Carcross
340:valley.
283:Manitoba
74:Canadian
52:, Canada
1058:rallies
703:5 April
527:Stewart
511:Cassiar
303:prairie
299:Alberta
231:of the
196:mineral
190:Reasons
122:Quakers
114:Ontario
110:Toronto
86:Toronto
58:Website
50:Ontario
46:Toronto
1133:Mopeds
765:Riders
477:, the
295:Regina
149:Quebec
78:Alaska
566:India
481:, to
453:, to
435:Yukon
415:Yukon
208:drill
141:moped
90:Yukon
82:moped
705:2016
620:2009
397:and
375:and
309:and
237:Wawa
206:and
204:mine
198:and
29:Born
505:to
465:of
200:oil
96:to
80:by
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628:^
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