Every year thousands of Canadians hop a plane for destinations abroad, or skip across the U.S./Canada border for holidays, but what are we missing out on at home?

Two Canadians wanted to answer that question, after returning from an eight-year stint in Australia and New Zealand, where they filmed “Australia Inside Out” for their production company, Curbsyde Productions.

Joe and Flora Lloyd were about to embark on another international journey, when Flora suggested staying home. 

“We’re just as guilty as everyone else of going elsewhere,” Joe said. 

That’s when the couple decided to film their next adventure – a cross-Canada journey by motorcycle starting from Victoria, B.C. 

Joe admits the two of them had never been past Drumheller, Alta., a shock for a couple who have dedicated their lines to exploring world destinations. Joe is originally from Vancouver, and Flora hails from Kelowna. 

“I’m a little bit embarrassed of not seeing Canada,” Joe said, adding that his destination of choice for the documentary, before Flora suggested Canada, was Mongolia.

The couple started out by heading north – way north – to the Yukon, in particular, Dawson City. They took the infamous, but scenic, Top of The World Highway south and worked their way across the country all the way to Newfoundland. They then followed a southern route back towards Vancouver, stopping in Jasper for a two-day stint. After they left Jasper, they decided they had some unfinished business, and returned to film more of the Icefields Parkway and Jasper area. 

“You could easily say it’s one of the highlights of the tour so far,” Joe said of Jasper. 

In total, Joe and Flora had travelled 32,500 kilometres by the time they reached Jasper. When they arrived back in Victoria they had driven 34,000 kilometres altogether on their motorcycle over four months. Flora rides on the back of the bike while Joe drives. He then does the production and puts together an eight to 10 minute webisode after each destination, which can be viewed online at  www.curbsyde.com. After the entire trip is over, Joe will go through the 34,000 kilometres worth of footage and make a 13 episode documentary, each an hour long, that will also air online. Joe expects the entire project to be finished in the first quarter of 2011. 

Travelling on a motorcycle provides a unique view of the Jasper National Park. With no roof, the view is 360 degrees. The downside can be the cold weather, as Joe and Flora experienced as they cruised into Jasper at 2 C. 

“You’re thinking a lot about a hot shower as much as the scenery,” Joe said. 

When they did get to Jasper the first time, Joe and Flora made a bee-line for Mount Edith Cavell, where they found snow drifting down from the clouds. The mountain still shone as a highlight regardless. On their return to Jasper, the pair explored the Whistlers Mountain via the Jasper Tramway and took their time getting to the Columbia Icefield with stops at Maligne Lake and the Athabasca Falls.

“We really want to showcase the scenery,” Joe said. 

Highlights of the entire trip were hard to pinpoint, with such an incredible journey as self-described “super tourists”. Flora said every province had its own unique culture.

In Dawson City, Joe did the world-famous (and disgusting) Sour Toe Cocktail at the Downtown Hotel – a staple of almost any tourist’s visit to the Klondike. On their return from the Yukon, the Alaska Highway’s herd of bison thrilled.

“We were able to stop and just be immersed,” he said. 

The Vancouver couple said the entire province of Quebec was a huge highlight, especially an authentic Sugar Shack outside of Montreal that still makes maple syrup and candies the traditional way – straight from the tree. 

“He [the owner] wanted to keep that tradition alive,” Joe said. 

In B.C.’s Nass Valley, Joe and Flora watched a master Nisga’a First Nation carver at work. 

“Between himself and his apprentices he did [everything from] totem poles to traditional canoes,” Joe said. “Very cool.”

Also in B.C., the pair got to stay at historic Fort St. James, a former fur trading post. 

“Just us and the sheep on a piece of Canada’s fur trade history,” Joe said. “Again, very cool and amazing to stay in a house that old and that significant.”

Joe and Flora also spent time at an original Slave Lake homestead, where they found an original homesteader’s son had preserved all of his father’s memorabilia.

“It became one of the highlights of Canada for us,” Joe said. “So very unique, and tells a really amazing story of how tough this land would have been to colonize.”

With the end of “Reconnecting With Canada” near, Joe said they hope to do yet another Canadian version in the future. 

“There’s just so much to see here, there’s just no reason to go anywhere else,” Joe said. 

After leaving Jasper, Joe and Flora were eventually heading to Rossland, B.C. with a few stops in between that were still to be determined. 

Not knowing where they were headed was a change from their regular routine. Joe and Flora had a strict schedule set up before they left, and have largely stuck to it. 

“It’s all very regimented,” Joe said. The schedule left in enough time for Flora to get all the shots she needed. “Filming itself takes an insane amount of time.”

The longest trek they made in one day was the 890-kilometre trip from Winnipeg to Thunder Bay.

Returning from Australia and New Zealand, Joe said they were happy to see some wildlife on this trip. 

“They have nothing but possums and birds. Even a squirrel excites us,” he said. 

Animals they saw included bear, elk, sheep, deer and eagles. 

Each day riding on a motorcycle gets old for Joe and Flora, so the documentary has focused on people for most of their journey. 

“You can only see a motorcycle for so much, then you want to see people,” Joe said.