With Mixed Emotions

I sit Thursday morning at my home computer to make this final entry. Emotions are as mixed as chocolate chip cookie dough. We are glad to be home and at the same time wish we were still on this terrific adventure. Our final day on the road yesterday was far and away the best weather day of the trip. Leaving first thing in the morning Deb did something she hadn't needed to do the whole time, put on her sun glasses. There were a few clouds off in the distance but they disappeared quickly as we passed from Oregon into California. A right turn onto hwy 96 just north of Yreka, Ca and we were on our way to a most pleasant 4 hours of two lane twisty mountain road with no traffic.


As can be seen the road follows the Klamath river for a quick 140 miles. We have decided since the weather is giving us one final beautiful day we will take the long way home and cross over to 101 for the trip south to Lake County. This will also allow for a final special treat, a meal at the Samoa Cookhouse. After a fabulous lunch we are back on the road.


The skies are a brilliant blue and the temps are warmer than any we have experienced in the last 16 days. For the first time on this trip we replace our heavy riding jackets with our mesh jackets for the final 2 hours. With Clear Lake in sight we know the time is near that this adventure is coming to a close.


Mt Konocti in the distance says we have less than 30 minutes and this one is but memories.


I hope you have enjoyed reading this and traveling with us as much as we enjoyed the trip and creating this blog. Planning is already begun for the next one. Until next time!!!!!

Ellensburg, Wa

Booked into a room in Ellensburg,Wa looking out at angry Black skies with winds blowing 25-35 mph and gusts to 50. I believe we were very lucky today getting as far south as we did with mere minutes of rain falling on us. The forecast was for constant rain all day. The forecast for tomorrow is much the same, rain all day and winds to 50 mph during the day. There is snow failing in the Casades north of where have finished for the day and that could have created issues tomorrow had we not covered the ground we did. If we can make it to the Or, Ca border tomorrow we will get in one nice night of camping and be home on Wed. A day early driven by weather. Next entry will be from home.

Headed South

After a terrific weekend with a friend at the Birch Island Campground we are headed south and will be back in the USA today. The visit included a trip into Wells Gray Provincial Park with some spectacular waterfalls.


The weather hasn't been completely cooperative as we rode in 4 hours of rain getting here last Fri and it looks like most of today will be spent in the wet stuff as well.

Headed north and beyond

Wed we arise to the nicest day we have seen in a while. Being well east of the mountains to start the skies are blue but will change significantly the closer we get to the parkway. The first rain falls while still 100 kilometers from the entrance gate on highway 11 back into the park. The day is a mix of rain and sun going back and forth. It does not dampen the enthusiasm for the scenic beauty that unfolds before us. The first bear seen is a black bear just before the park gate.

The second is playing in the river near a picnic area.

After the bears the biggest attraction on the parkway was a large variety of water falls both big and small. One site known as the weeping wall had this.

I never did find the name of this next falls.

Then last and certainly not least the Athabasca Falls looks like this.

From there it was on to Jasper and then highway 16 east to Hinton. We will work our way north tomorrow on hwy 40. The goal is a photo of Deb at the 0 mile marker for the Alcan Highway. Just east of Jasper we found this.

The group of sheep in the left corner of the photo crossed the bridge in front of that truck and before we reached the end of the bridge. The rest of the day was pretty uneventful. We are stopped for the night in Hinton. It will probably be early next week before this gets another update. Thank you for the comments. I hope you continue to enjoy.

On the Road Again

Tue morning comes with the cloudiest skies to date. Rain is the forecast of the day, in fact of the week. We are meeting another couple that has offered to ride with us and then take us back to their home for the night. We meet in Cochrane just west of Calgary and decide the weather will not deter our choice of roads and west we head for Banff, Lake Louise and the Icefields Parkway.





Riding 1A instead of 1 from Banff we find a few of the local residents being lazy on this hazy day.





Yes, that is a black bear showing his best side to Deb. We continued up the parkway to highway 11 east toward Rockie Mountain House. As we exited the parkway our attention was being paid to the pass check stand and when I glanced to my right I had a good sized black bear about 25 ft from the side of the motorcycle. He was as startled as we and turned quickly and headed for the woods. Too fast for Deb to get a photo since the camera was in her pocket due to the weather. Heading east we had numerous opportunities to view up close deer and big horn sheep. Our friends then took us to their 160 acre ranch where they served up a wonderful meal that included buffalo meat. Very good and tender. Tomorrow we will retrace some steps and continue north to Jasper and beyond.

Long Weekend

A planned long weekend with friends in Calgary found us taking a car tour of some of the surrounding area. Below are some scenic shots taken while on that tour.





Then on Mon we went to the site of the 1988 winter Olympics in Calgary.





Tue is departure day and we will again hit the road. The target is the Icefields Parkway from Lake Louise to Jasper.

Western Montana and into Canada

Day 4 was a lazy short mileage day riding through some nice parts of western Montana. We wanted to wait until Fri am to cross into Canada. Having the extra time we decided to stop and walk down to the Kootenai Falls and the Swinging Bridge

The day ended early as we took a room at a small motel in Eureka, Mt to avoid a very strong thundershower.

Fri morning we awoke to just partly cloudy skies and began the short 7 mile run to the Roosville border crossing. Less than 2 minutes and we were on our way into south eastern British Columbia. We paused for a quick cup of coffee and a bagel at the first Tim Horton's we found in Fernie. Climbing the hill out of town to the east we found this next photo.

Into Alberta we traveled then turning north on hwy 22 and on our way to visit very good friends Doug and Victoria.

We will be staying with them through the weekend before heading out again Tue morning and working our way through the Canadian Rockies. The following photos are of the Rockies off in a distance.

Lewiston, Id and Missoula, Mt

Day 2 started under grey skies and the rain threatened most of the day but the weather angel worked her magic and we suffered under less than 10 minutes of wet stuff. The skies were BLACK and angry as we departed Enterprise heading north towards Lewiston but they held their water. We arrived in Lewiston to find partly cloudy skies and decided to risk a night in the Hells Gate State Park a very nice facility on the east bank of the Snake River 4 miles south of Lewiston. That was a great choice as the skies continued clearing and we had a wonderful night in the park. We awakened to the birds chirping and very mild temperaures. Photos below are of the roads ridden during the day, and the campgrounds.
Day 3 started as lazy as we could make it. Several cups of coffee as we broke camp waiting for the Discovery Center to open. A quick visit there to find out the location of the Nez Perce National Historical Visitors Center where we would spend an hour exploring the history of the Lewis and Clark expedition and their interaction with the Nez Perce people. Departing from there we stopped for an excellent breakfast at the casino nearby. By noon we were on our way across hwy 12 headed for the Lolo Pass and Missoula. Under partly cloudy skies for the most of the day we had the opportunity to see lots of beauty and a raging river, the Clearwater River. Continuing east we then reached the Lochsa River and the weather started to change as we started climbing toward the Lolo Pass. The skies turned angry the higher we climbed and 20 miles from the top I suggested we adjust riding gear. A quick stop to add some stuff and in the next 1/4 mile we encountered the first of the rain and hail we would ride through. The temperature dropped to near 40 and in a couple of stretches we had slush on the roadway. Safely through the pass we are spending the night at the home of our Motorcycle Travel Network hosts. Tomorrow we will ride the western part of Montana headed north stopping just short of the Canadian border.

Day 1, Burns, Or

Down the road we traveled with the goal for the first day being Burns, Or. That would be the longest riding day of the entire trip a total of 475 miles. That is quite abnormal for the start of our recent trips as I was usually traveling to the east coast in under 3 days to meet Deb and begin the adventure from there.





A short break during the day led to the shot at the right. This was a vista point along 299 just west of Fall River Mills, Ca. The vista overlooked the Burney River with a small water falls. You will note the shadows indicating sunshine. We did not see much sun on this first day as shown by this next shot. This photo is of Lake Albert in southern Oregon along hwy 395.


The weather angel on the bike, Deb, was able to keep most of the rain away. We did however choose to stay in a motel in Burns and both recommend the Horseshoe Inn just east of town on hwy 20/395. Clean good size rooms and very reasonable rates. Tomorrow we will work north at an even slower pace going only as far as Lewiston, Id

On the Road

Canadian Flight 2008 on the "wings of Gold" is ready for departure. Weather will be the biggest challenge as we are forecast for a week of rain, but that will not deter. We have been looking forward to this for too long. More soon.

08 Adventure, Planning in ernest

In just a few short days, or long days as it is, my wife and I will begin the 08 travel season. The motorcycle has been upgraded to an 2000 Goldwing from a 1991 and we are ready to roll. First stop on the journey when we pull out Mon morning is Burns, Or. We will be camping and staying with hosts from the MTN, Motorcycle Travel Network, so I don't know how often the entries will come. Ride along and enjoy the adventure!!!!!!!!!!!