Into British Columbia

You can't always take your gear off for photo ops....too much work.

A German tourist caught us at Bow Falls in Banff along with other tourist types:)

These highway crossings are used by animals to travel safely through Banff National park.

 No I was not riding and taking pictures, Gayle was the photo contributor here.

Starting to see many more riders as we get further west. 

See why we love to ride!

Castle Mountain

Now we are talking scenery folks, back to BC on a ride to Banff then on to Golden "the long way round." We travelled through the Vermillion Pass (1640m) then the Sinclair Pass (1486m) down hwy #93 to Radium Hot Springs. Time for a late lunch before heading north on hwy #95 with the Rocky Mountains on the right and across the Columbia River valley the Purcell Mountains on the left. There is something about being in the mountains that touches my soul. Temperatures reached 36 degrees Celsius and we kept moving just to have a breeze! Now I know why people like Mesh gear!! :)

Would have liked to make it to Revelstoke today, but we were wiped and needed to get out of the heat!! Actually too tired to get into the pool at the Travelodge and had the air conditioning on all night. 

Back on to the Trans Canada for the ride to Revelstoke the next morning. (The last time we were on this stretch of road was 40 years ago) definitely time to repeat and we had the pleasure of being two up on one fantastic motorcycle. Hard not to enjoy yourself with a ride like this under you!

Continental Divide marker.

Summer colours abound!

Snow sheds to deflect avalanches in the winter months cover the road on this section and over the famed Rogers Pass through the Selkirk Mountains at 1327m in Glacier National Park. This was a tourist stop where we had the opportunity to witness a helicopter at work lifting sections of some structure being built up in the mountains. Time changed yet again on this trip, this time from Mountain to Pacific.

Biker chick undressing again because of the heat.

A tourist photo op if I ever saw one :)

Furry friends from under the rocks entertaining the tourists. Are they paid as Federal employees?

Another tourist stop for me to finally see the Revelstoke Dam and powerhouse. This facility was under  construction  when I worked for BC Hydro helping to commission the Peace Canyon facility on the Peace River. It presently holds 5 machines and has space in the powerhouse for one more. Its output is listed at 2480 MW today, still below the WAC Bennett facility that I work at in Hudson's Hope, back in another life. That powerhouse contains 10 machines with a rated output of 265MW each.

They have an informative Visitor Centre.

This is the spillway with the switchyard beyond.

An attempt at shooting through a plexiglass display case containing a Revelstoke unit display.

Very impressive location just the same. You can probably Goggle it and get all the facts, so I won"t bore you with any more techie stuff! :)

A few e-mail checks and phone calls had us change plans and headed south on hwy# 23 along the Upper Arrow Lake to catch the ferry at Shelter Bay to cross the lake to Galena Bay and drive to Nakusp. Talk about ferry Karma ......we were literally the last vehicle loaded. Major lineup and because we were on a bike, we were picked out of the line and asked us to squeeze in just behind a Harley. The couple on that bike were on a ride out of Kamloops, B.C. Ferry crossings are an enjoyable break from saddle time and I'm aways interested in quick chats with other riders, about their machines and where they are off to. Gayle enjoyed the cool breezes out on the lake as well.

The lady from Victoria with the high viz jacket (next to her Honda Shadow) was talking with the Harley guy from Kamloops.

Check out the size of the cedar "sticks" on the truck!

Cool biker chick enjoying the breeze.

 

We rode south-east on hwy # 6 from Nakusp to New Denver after a liquid refreshment break and calling ahead from the tourist bureau to confirm a cottage at Village Dome Quixote for the night. Temperatures in the 30's again and really wanting to get off and rest at the end of this ride. A short nap after settling in, a walk around town, then a late supper at Rory's on Main before retiring for the day.

We met two friends in the parking lot the next morning who were riding in the same direction as us for part of the day. We took the time to chat as we loaded our bikes. One guy riding a 2002

BMW  R1100RS was a retiree from Courtney on Vancouver Island and his friend an industiral mechanic who works at a Hog Fuel generating plant in Williams Lake (originally from Courtney) was riding this 2010 Buell XB12SS Lightning.

If you think it looks a little dirty, it is because it had been ridden into the ditch just the day before.

The rider was game to ride today, but feeling the pain. Just several years ago he had hit a mule deer wrote that bike off and ended up in the hospital with a ruptured spleen! Just one more reminder to be careful out there.

We rode out of New Denver following these two east on hwy #31A to have breakfast at the same restaurant in Kaslo. They had been on this road before and definitely enjoyed the many twisties. They were surprised that we kept up with them on a bike the size of ours and riding two up to boot! :) Needless to say I enjoyed myself on this stretch of road having them riding lead!

They were going to take the ferry at Balfour across Kootenay Lake to Kootenay Bay to ride a section of hwy # 3A to Creston (which Nicholas and I did in 2010, at Nolan Schann's suggestion) and turn around and return to New Denver for the night. Does that tell you something about this ride?

Gayle and I took a different section of hwy #3A from Balfour to Nelson. Stopped by the tourist bureau to use their computer to try and track down Craig Swendson, a cross Canada rider (2013) whom I had met in NB on his return run from Halifax to his home in Nelson. All I could find was his e-mail address, so we mounted up and finished our day's ride to Fruitvale to look up my cousin Janet and her husband Nolan Schann. 

They like ourselves retired from the city and have a wonderful mountainside acreage above the town.

Nolan cooked a tasty fish supper while the conversation continued on towards midnight. What an enjoyable time playing catchup. We certainly do not get to spend as much time with these folks as we would like. The miles do get in the way! Family talk, retirement talk and comparisons about our respective local wild life in BC and NB made our single night stay fly by. One day is definitely not enough of a stop over in such a beautiful setting! Be sure to stay longer with us at Longscreek when you make it back east next time.

 

Canmore, Alberta

Did we not say we were going to stay off the TransCanada as much as possible on this trip? Today's ride began with threatening skies after a middle of the night thunder storm containing hail! Did it sound louder because we were sleeping closer to ceiling than normal?  (Really just a few feet above a normal bed height at this point.)

The "Shaw" version of a hide a bed. When not required crank it up out of the way!

We took our latest hosts suggestion to reach the next Quilt store. Out of Three Hills on Alberta hwy.# 583, then south on 791 to 582 bypassing Didsbury to hit 22 south to Cochrane. Ron was right, finally some hills. We had a lunch snack before riding out on hwy # 1A and look not just hills but turns in the road.

Highway 1A follows the Bow River into Canmore, today's destination. Mountain peaks abound. 

Be careful where you walk, because in this town the tendency is to look UP!

Well for some of us at least! 

After this visit, it was off to the Canada Post for another bag to ship the haul from Camrose and Canmore to N.B. :)

While unloading the bike at the motel, I was approached by an owner of a Suzuki 100cc V-Strom who was from Missoula, Montana.(two kayaks and another couple in the truck on this trip) He had been here a year ago on his bike, on the September long weekend and loved it. Nicholas and I spent some time in Missoula on our cross North America tour in 2010.

Weather build up suggests thunder storms again tonight.

Three Hills, Alberta

Check out the "Easyrider" style hardware we saw recently. Put together from a 750 Honda by a Frenchman from Kelowna, BC. That's water from a thundershower, not oil under the bike!

The skills that some people possess is amazing!

I'm beginning to think that our Blog should have been named "How many Quilt stores can I find in Canada." We took  a slight detour (Roy's idea, not mine) after heading south on Alberta highway # 21 into Camrose. Why pray tell Roy would you do such a thing? Did you forget to gas up? Did you need sustenance? Oh, perhaps a washroom break? No, the real reason folks was:

A successful visit...... Score! Check out the smile.

You may ask what would draw us to the little town of Three Hills which is off the beaten track south east of Red Deer, Alberta? And the answer is, two of the most precious people that we have had the pleasure of knowing since the late 70's. Ron Shaw was a "super" protection and control techt. with BC Hydro before leaving the company to go back to school to learn to be an aircraft mechanical techt. at SAIT in Calgary and then attending Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills. As if that was not enough, he and his wife Jacqui signed on with Africa Inland Missions and moved to Nairobi, Kenya with three young children. GOD had called and they were brave enough to answer! Flying is a passion and to serve and do it in Africa....... A dream fulfilled.

Now with children grown (daughter Danielle serves with AIM in Uganda now) they both serve at Prairie 

in their flight training program.

This amazing couple have been truly great friends to Gayle and I, keeping in touch over the years when it wasn't always easy to do. Life has taught me the value of friendship and our love for these two is unique. They continue to teach me about myself with gentle nudging and insight each and every time we are together.

Coffee connoisseur at work, post supper!

The ladies enjoy the results.....tea shared as well.

Thank you both for sharing your oasis with us, before we mount up to move on "down the road" we enjoyed the opportunity to join them on a favourite evening walk. A ritual that we should certainly incorporate into our lives.

Don't they look like they are enjoying themselves? Can they motor......

Open evening skies and field of wheat west of Three Hills, AB.

As we ready for the continuation of our ride, someone thought they should mount their fierce Honda powerhouse and head out on the road with us. I think they should tie a tether to the BMW and save gas. What do you think?? 

Edmonton

Highway 2 north from Calgary to Edmonton is a busy busy transportation corridor within Alberta and for me this divided black top section has been one of the most boring times on the ride.

The only good thing about riding this section of road is that my brother Jim lives at the end of it. The hard part of visiting is seeing him in ill health. He has been holding his own, it appears, since the last time we saw each other and that is a good thing.

Gayle had the opportunity to "shop" at the warehouse that Jim's wife Mel manages. No retail prices this day, but more goods to ship home. Because it was the end of the work week for Mel we ordered out for supper  and had more time to catch up with each other. I'm amazed at how much I look like my older brother. Perhaps it is because we see each other so seldom that I don't notice the similarities.

Gayle took the opportunity to have a pedicure while we were in the big city and it was time to take the K1600GTL in for it's 11,000km warranty check. I had tried to get it in to Blackfoot BMW in Calgary, but they said they were to busy to consider a "traveller" on a few days notice. I was told they incurred some flood damage and had a back log of work. Understandable I guess.

The bike spent much of the day in Argyll Motorsports getting a check over, new 100% synthetic oil, filter and computer systems checks. It passed with flying colours but needed new tires. The rear was down to the cords. (You know me trying to get the most out of each dollar) A little early for new skins by my reckoning, but I must watch my pressures a little closer on this set to try and get better longer wear. I had them install the same tires originally supplied by BMW....Metzler Roadtec Z8 Interact Sport Touring. I have been a big fan of Metzler since purchasing my R1200GS motorcycle in 2009. (Total on two machines,...they have carried me for 80,000km so far.)

Gayle - a million thanks to Jim for taking me to two of Edmonton's best quilt stores -- yes more quilt stores! Mel, thanks for the shopping spree. And thank you both for the warm hospitality.

We stopped in Sherwood Park, and drove by 63 Garland Crescent, where we once lived. It was ugliest house on the street, and it had Christmas lights on it! No, we didn't take a picture.

Mel and Jim Day in the Hazeldean area of Edmonton.

Time to pack up once again and move on. Thanks Mel and Jim. Be well and take care of each other till next time.

Calgary

On the ride from Medicine Hat to Calgary we pulled off for a break from the wind and chatted with Troy  who was riding a Harley Road King. He had come south from Rocky Mountain House in pouring rain just the day before to pick up Stephanie and they were on their way to Banff for an over nighter. Someone else is clocking up the miles this summer.

The  last  time I was in Calgary was 7 years ago and I thought it had grown too fast then! Well it's hugeness has continued to expand. The reason to come here at all was to catch up with long time friends Jim and Gerry, who we were fortunate to see briefly in NB in May and my second cousin Vonda, her husband Ernie and son Cole.

We were able to get out to Glenmore Park for a walk about and bird watching the first evening after a Chinese supper.

Jim is actually a very knowledgeable bird watcher and volunteers at the Wild Bird Store by taking those interested on weekly walks to familiarize themselves with western residing feathered friends.

The next day our hosts were gracious in driving us around town to 3, count them, 3 different quilt stores and keeping us out of the afternoon showers with a visit to the Chinook Mall. Gayle- so much gratitude for the quilt shop hop and for taking me for my second Starbucks chai latte of the trip. 

Even though the skies looked threating, Gayle was game for taking the bike across town to enjoy Vonda's offer of supper. The traffic was a challenge for us on the bike because these city types do not want to respect a bikers right to space and safety. Thank goodness for the onboard Garmin GPS. We arrived a little late just as it started to rain, but we had time to get on to the deck and inside before the thunder and lightening really gave us the weather's worse. It truely was a torrential downpour!

A most tasty supper and enjoyable conversation with Vonda, Ernie and Cole. They are not regretting    their move from Halifax to Calgary several years ago and are already proud Calgarians. (Ernie is a city employee with the water labs) interesting to see Cole growing up so fast! (We haven't seen him since he was an infant) He was most engaged with his toys and the thunder and lightening when it brought on the rain. It does my heart good to see the younger generation make choices to move forward. Thanks for having us over for a too quick visit. Be well.

Ernie, Cole and Vonda Hare

It was suggested that we stop and play tourist on the way north by checking out the Bass Pro shop at Cross Iron Mills near Airdie. The colossal store has many stuffed large game samples throughout the place, as well as a BIG aquarium stocked with western species of sought after game fish. I can't begin to tell you what they stock for the out of doors enthusiast! WOW.

Check out the biker chick with the reflective patches on her clothing.( that helps me find her when we are out and about.) :)

It has been hard saying our good byes to family and friends alike, but we are thankful for being allowed to share some time with each of them. 

Jim and Gerry St. Laurent sending us on our way to Alberta's capital city.

Medicine Hat. July 15, 2013

Upon leaving the motel we were off to play tourist once again. Checked out the giant sculpture of "Mac the Moose" and the "Snowbird" on the pedestal, both near the town tourism office. If that doesn't say you are in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan; I don't know what does!

The "Snowbirds" are officially known as the RCAF's 431 Demonstration  Squadron and is Canada's only active flying aerobatics team. They use the CT-114 Tudor aircraft shown here. Admit it....Wouldn't it be fantastic to fly one of these?

The wind greeted us with the worst cross winds experienced to date between Moose Jaw and Swift Current on the Trans Canada as we rode with determination to miss the threatening weather that was just to the north of us.......dark and looking at times like a funnel cloud. Definitely raining there, but no twisters reported when we checked later.

Gayle - I'm developing the neck muscles of a Formula 1 driver in these winds. At times I had to push against my helmet with the palm of my hand to give my neck a rest. I could also feel my helmet lifting off the top of my head. Bike felt very steady though.

We dismounted at Tim's in Swift Current for a break and sandwich. The remainder of the day's ride into Dunmore, AB (a little east of Medicine Hat) saw clearing skies and decreasing wind speeds. I asked Gayle whether the "side winds" were the worse and she said she felt it was buffeting her from every direction, not just sideways! There were actually rolling hills in this short section to help with the monotonous table top terrain that is "the prairies". Boy am I now looking forward to the Rockies and BC.

Wait.....we have just arrived at Jamie's place for an over night visit and to see what all the grand parent's hoopla has been all about! Mykala (sp) is Jamie and partner Chris Erwin's daughter.

(Gayle's brother Bob and wife Lynn's second grand child)

While Chris's two daughters (Brook-8 and Hayley-6) put up Jamie's hair, and kept us all entertained with questions of how old we were and how long we have been married, Gayle and I each took turns holding the sixteen day old miracle Mykala.

Easy to see why being a grandparent can puff up your chest. Your heart must enlarge when you hold such wonderful little creatures. (At least it feels that way!)

When Chris arrived after work, I got to see what Bob had mentioned to me in Saskatoon the surprise that he had in his garage. A 2002 Austin Martin DB7 Vantage sports car!!! Can you imagine taking this out whenever you wanted a little fun.

Oh ya, back to the other baby and Jamie...

So good to see her happy and caring for her new found love.

Chris took over the kitchen and had supper on the table in no time flat. We certainly have felt catered to by so many great cooks of late. Thanks so much for our first corn on the cob of the year, steak, salad and lemonade. Chris & Jamie you are welcome at our place any time and we will return the warm reception we felt in your home. We dragged our heals the next morning before heading out to Calgary, so that we could once again have snuggles with Mykala.