Toyota Canada – The Outdoors Guy

March 30, 2017

Fish, Hunt & Ride Sportsmen’s Show – THIS weekend at EY Centre!!

Spring has finally arrived and this year’s most exciting show is near and dear to me heart and will have hunters, fishermen and ATVers heading to Ottawa in droves!

It’s hard to believe this time last spring I had just introduced readers to a new local publication – Fish, Hunt & Ride, and now this year our magazine has its very own sportsmen’s show. Talk about cool! Sharing space at Ottawa’s EY Centre with the Outdoor Travel & Adventure Show next weekend (April 1-2) I am proud to present the 1st annual Fish, Hunt and Ride Sportsmen’s Show. Organized by the team from this region’s two best magazines – Ottawa Outdoors and Fish, Hunt & Ride, our show features tons of outdoor services, gear and apparel, exhibitors, hunting/fishing lodges and more ATVs than you can shake a stick at. Come check out the Adventure Stage for informative seminars by sporting experts and FHR team members Amanda Lynn Mayhew, Ashley Rae, Jamie Pistilli and Lawrence Gunther. Even muskie Guru John Anderson will be on-hand.

And if that lineup isn’t enough to entice come visit the Fish, Hunt & Ride booth where yours truly and a handful of FHR columnists will be stationed, my FHR team and I will be handing-out mags and chatting with readers about all things fishing, hunting or riding-related. We look forward to speaking with dozens of avid local sportsmen and women who will (hopefully) stop-by to say howdy. For more information on next weekend’s Fish, Hunt and Ride Sportsmen’s Show. http://www.fishhuntandride.ca/

I look forward to seeing you all! !

Toyota Tundra fun

Toyota’s 2017 Tundra TRD Pro pickup truck I road-tested recently, made for an enjoyable week of touring the town. The new Tundra, with its 5,500 pounds of “twisted steel and sex appeal” came equipped with ample 381 hp, 5.7 liter V8 engine. The TRD Pro trim is a slick looking truck, indeed a modern ‘cement’ matte grey colour. Having read other reviews from professionals who gave this truck overall high marks but noted that it was due for a facelift, I take these rumblings with a grain of salt. Having reviewed the 2013 Tundra and several other full-size pickups from other auto makers in past few years, I had others to compare to. For me, the new TRD Pro was solid, comfortable and roomier than the one tested three years ago. As many Toyota aficionados and even the auto-maker themselves would likely argue, why change something when it’s working? This truck is as smooth and supple a ride as any I’ve seen in a pickup and with smooth Bilstein towing shocks all around and TRD coil-overs on the front, varying terrain felt as smooth as butter. The Tundra garners highest marks for reliability and resale value, both huge in my books. Fuel consumption was not stellar as I averaged between 18-19 L/100 KM, which runs a tad thirstier than some competitors. Long-term maintenance/repair costs on these trucks, combined with high residual value make them a sound investment. Thanks to Tina Allison of Toyota Canada for the opportunity of road-testing this great truck. For more info on the 2017 Toyota Tundra: https://www.toyota.ca/toyota/en/vehicles/tundra/overview
Column Anniversary

This month marks the four year anniversary of this Outdoors Guy column with your Pembroke Daily Observer, and I wish to thank managing editor Anthony Dixon and news editor Tina Peplinskie. Thanks also to the avid sportsmen, and women of the Ottawa Valley for your support over the years. As many are aware, hunting and fishing newspaper columns have all but gone by way of the dodo bird, so it’s great to keep this one going!
Ice hut removal

Pembroke District’s March 31 mandatory ice-hut removal is coming-up next week and ice-anglers are reminded that huts which end-up in waterways after ice-out are in violation of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, though I suspect the majority of huts are gone by this point. Winter angling remains open on most lakes and rivers although ice conditions would be sketchy and unsafe by this point.

August 31, 2015September 5, 2017

Toyota 4Runner & Marineland, great summer fun!

This summer was chock full of great family outdoor travel and adventure, from beginning to end!

The Morrison clan isn’t only into the hunting, fishing and conservation. Outdoor travel and adventure also play a big part during the warmer months.

This summer with the Canadian dollar sagging we chose not to cross into the States for vacation and, instead, enjoyed quality family time a short drive from the Nation’s Capital. The first leg of our journey brought us to Niagara Falls which, believe it or not, was a first for all of us.

For me, the highlight of Niagara Falls lay several miles from the Falls and hustle and bustle of Clifton Hill. It was our day spent at Marineland Canada!

Special thanks to Ann Marie Rondinelli for facilitating a wonderful day at Marineland. We enjoyed everything this famous family destination had to offer from Friendship Cove, to feeding the resident bear population, to the ultimate interactive experience with the Arctic beluga whales.

Certainly the most popular marine mammal at Marineland, belugas’ are very special creatures indeed!

The magnificent orca or killer whale also attracts a crowd at Marineland.

We were also fortunate to be offered an informative Beluga Whale Encounter by Marineland’s head trainer, Alex who did a terrific job at explaining what makes these belugas so special.

Thanks to this up-close-and-personal training session my wife, daughters and I were given a glimpse into the largest collection of beluga whales in the world, and trust me, these creatures are indeed pampered! The facilities were large, immaculately kept and run like a tight ship.

All the marine and land mammals were handled with great care and passion, and staff members all had big smiles on their faces.

But Arctic Cove isn’t the only area of interest at Marineland.

If you’re into big rides, (which I am not) the Sky Screamer is a Niagara favorite; offering one of the best views of the horseshoe falls, if you’re brave enough to give it a shot of course(which I was not). After spending time feeding the exotic deer and black bears, we were entertained at the dolphin and walrus show held at King Waldorf stadium.

The entire day was a hoot from beginning to end! Do yourself a favour this summer or next, check out Marineland in Niagara Falls. It truly is fun for all ages. For more information: http://www.marineland.ca/

Shortly after arriving home from Niagara Falls, I jumped straight into some serious road-testing with the 2015 Toyota 4Runner Limited – an SUV which has long held the title of ‘dream vehicle’ for hunters & fishermen(myself included) so it only made sense that I try one out, considering I had yet to step foot inside one of these classic SUV’s.

So much has changed with the 4Runner since its inception in 1984 while at the same time so much has not changed.

The new 4Runner now have 4 doors (5 if you include hatch) while the first generation 4Runner’s only had 2 doors, something difficult to fathom in today’s day and age but they were utilitarian then, and remain very much so today.

The 2015 model comes with a lot more class and style than its predecessor.

The 2015 4Runner is a sharp looking SUV to say the least, with an aggressive and rugged appearance overall. This year marks the 5th Generation of the almost legendary machine. Sure, there are others in its class, but none boast such a long-standing reputation among avid sportsmen than this vehicle does.

The Toyota 4Runner triumphs as THE go-to truck-based SUV for off-roading enthusiasts and, I believe, designers at Toyota continue to embraced this fact.

Having already road-tested the 2015 Highlander this spring, one might tend to make an (unfair) comparison between Toyota’s popular crossover utility and this 4Runner SUV. Upon first glance the Highlander may seem to have the edge, when really its an apples to oranges comparison between a vehicle with unibody construction versus one with traditional ‘body on frame’ construction like the 4Runner.

Die-hard off-roaders will go with the truck based 4Runner SUV every time and there’s good reason for that. This vehicle’s proven track-record heading off-the-beaten-path is legendary, with great ground clearance and standard skid plates for example. For those not in ‘the know’ CUV’s aren’t really intended for off-road use even though they’re offered with AWD capability.

For the 2015 model year, Toyota has stayed the course with the ‘go-to’ 4.0 litre V6 engine which has performed well in this SUV and kicks-out out a solid 270 horses. This engine may not have quite the ‘get-up-and-go’ on the highway of the Highlander’s 3.5 litre, but is still more than peppy enough and geared well for towing.

The Limited trim I tested boasts lots of great amenities including full leather seating, backup camera, Sirius satellite radio, generous drink holders and fully adjustable electric seat controls.

When it comes to layout and gauge cluster I found everything to be nicely appointed with large, easy to access dials and controls.

This side view of the 2015 4Runner Limited I tested, shows an aggressive and sporty look with a set of nothing to sneeze-at 20-inch (245 60R20) tires!

All in all, the 2015 Toyota 4Runner turned out to be a worthy summer vacation companion and a real head-turner as well. I only wish I had taken this beast more off-road, into the back-40 or perhaps to hunt camp. The new 4Runner remains a reliable and worthy adversary for any outdoor enthusiast and really, it felt just the way I had dreamed-about for all these years. For more information, http://www.toyota.ca/toyota/en/vehicles/4runner/overview

I hope your summer was as enjoyable as mine was!

The Outdoors Guy

June 12, 2015September 5, 2017

2015 Toyota Highlander takes on Temiscaming

My two weeks this spring testing-out the 2015 Toyota Highlander XLE included a wild and woolly jaunt through the Northwestern Quebec forests, on a 5-day trout fishing excursion to Temiscaming.

The 2014 year was a pivotal re-design benchmark for Toyota’s star Crossover Utility, marking the Highlander’s 3rd generation entry with noticeable changes and improvements over previous generations. I was the proud owner of a first generation Highlander (2005 model) but found few seminaries to this modern 2015 offering.

Upon first glance, the new Highlander doesn’t appear a lot different than its Gen 2 predecessor until you analyze the subtleties.

The XLE model, I had the opportunity of piloting for spell, came equipped with such upgrades and creature comforts as a sunroof, all-leather upholstery, upgraded driver display, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, roof rails, retractable second-row sunshades, large 8-inch central touchscreen, navigation system and a voice amplification or Driver Easy Speak system, for communicating with passengers in the back.

Of all add-ons included in the XLE package, the sizable driver display, large touchscreen and solid comfortable leather seating was most appreciated. As far as the Driver Easy Speak goes, I can see it being useful for parents with younger children however I personally had no need for it. On the other-hand, I really enjoyed the SeriusXM Satellite radio.

I found the seating on this new Highlander to be roomier, more snug and form-fitting with improved lumbar support than its predecessors, making a 7 hour road trip into God’s Country seem like a walk in the park.

My first driving impression, from a performance standpoint, was very positive and there’s good reason for that. The Highlander I tested came equipped with a smooth running 6 speed automatic with a 3.5-liter V6, rated at 270 hp with 248 lb-ft of torque. It had plenty of get-up-and-go.

Safety-wise, the 2015 Toyota Highlander boasts a 5-Star Safety Rating based on Government crash tests, and it comes standard with rear-view camera, anti-lock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front seat side airbags, driver knee airbag, front passenger seat-cushion airbag as well as side curtain airbags.

The ride quality of the new Highlander is most impressive; firm and solid with smaller bumps being soaked up in the vehicle’s ample suspension. Hauling a full load of fishing and camping gear was no challenge for this beast, as the vehicle handled no differently with a full compliment of anglers and tackle.

Developers at Toyota have evidently borrowed a page from the Lexus design manual when it comes to quietness and interior noise. The Highlander is extremely quiet with a recorded sound level of a scant 69 dBA at 110 km per hour.

The overall size of the new Highlander was impressive too, compared to my old Gen 1 model, at 191.1 inches in length and wheelbase of 109.8-inches, the 2015 model has stretched by three inches over the prior version.

The XLE Model I tested came with third row seating with room for 8 passenger. The smaller 3rd row is geared more towards smaller passengers.

The Highlander’s braking and traction control system was put to the test early-on, when a surprise wash-out at the foot of a blind hill, forced me to brake hard and swerve to one-side in order to avoid and tremendous pothole. The vehicle held its ground perfectly with no sliding or loss of control. I was relieved.

Designers at Toyota installed a clever built-in shelf on the dash of 2015 Highlander’s interior, which became the perfect catch-all for my cell phone, two way radios, sunglasses, fishing lures and even a small flashlight – a convenient touch, which came in handy on such an adventurous trip, where gadgets tend to run amok. The new shelf takes over where the center console storage and glove box leave off.

The gauge cluster I also found to be straight forward and clean.

As my father, brother-in-law’s and I meandered our way through rustic backwoods trails, over hill and dale, I couldn’t help but feel I was behind the wheel of Toyota’s classic 4 Runner; however, the Highlander’s smooth and quiet ‘unibody ride’ reminded me I was not in a ladder-frame truck-based SUV.

Certainly not touted as a hard-core ‘off-road’ vehicle by any means, the new Highlander still had more than enough ground clearance and sure-footed AWD traction, which made short work of some less than hospitable northern logging roads.

Fuel consumption with this vehicle hovered, on average, between 11.5- 12.5 liters per 100 km’s, which I found good but not what I would describe as fuel sipping by any means. It still ranks near top of the pack in fuel economy compared to others in this class, and greatly improved over its first two generations. The Highlander hybrid actually took top honors this year as most fuel efficient SUV/CUV for 2015.

After having reviewed several SUV’s and CUV’s in this size class over the years, I can honestly say the 2015 Highlander is as comfortable and convenient a ride as any I’ve had the pleasure of driving.

Anyone looking for a roomy 7-8 passenger Crossover with more sporty appeal and utility than your old minivan; combined with some pretty decent ‘off the beaten’ capability to boot, this is the vehicle for you. From front to back and from side to side, the 2015 Highlander exudes class, comfort and above all utility.

I’m not sure the Highlander enabled me to catch more fish, but it certainly made getting to our camping spot a more enjoyable experience.

For more information on the 2015 Toyota Highlander:

http://www.toyota.ca/toyota/en/vehicles/highlander/overview