Boring? I don't think so :-)

Some might think that riding 430 miles across Saskatchewan would be boring but not me.  HUGE skies, beautiful bit of tarmac, my motorbike (running like a dream), my wonderful husband and a group of friends to share it with.  What more could a girl ask for.  You can take me out of East Anglia but you can't take East Anglia out of me. 

These photos are courtesy of Paul but I won't tell you what he was doing when he took them

Miles and miles of this in the sunshine and when we stopped for fuel this is what we saw, it came round the corner blowing its horn Casey Jones style.

sunshine all the way until about 40 miles from the end when the heavens opened and we had to find somewhere to put the waterproofs back on.  We followed a fuel tanker for about 20 miles and it was a bit like we were water skiing.

When they returned, Dave and Tony jumped in the hot tub as quickly as possible.  They wouldn't let them have a beer in the tub so eventually had to get out.

That will have to be the lot for tonight as the internet connection is particularly slow.  It is our day off tomorrow and some guys that we have been in contact with from the Canadian Legion are coming to meet us.  Weather is not predicted to be very good.

Riding Into the Badlands

Drumheller is in the Canadian Badlands.  Don't know why they call it that but it is a bit like East Anglia with attitude.  You ride miles and miles of flat countryside (the satnav shows green with a line through it) and then all of a sudden there is the most spectacular landscape.  This is dinosaur country and everything is about dinosaurs.

We have had our first day of bad weather and those that were going to go the full distance and visit the park decided to come the shorter route.  It has rained big style since leaving Banff, the wet weather gear has been well and truly tested.  We stopped in Calgary to change t shirts as the rain came in the neck and worked its way down.

Us at Calgary after a welcome cup of tea and a change of t shirt and gloves

When we got to Drumheller we took a detour to Wayne which is a ghost town a few miles out of Drumheller.  Its a good ride out across 11 wooden bridges with a pub at the end.  We were all dripping wet by then but just for Jim here is a picture of Gary with a smile on his face, even in the rain

We all went down there but our group didn't partake of food and drink.  We passed Jackie, Andy, Tony, Leighton and Dave on the way back.  They did take on rations and I am told the beer came in Jam Jars and the steak pies were very good indeed.  Perhaps we missed a trick.

We got back to the hotel and the sun started to come out, and I am now typing this sitting in the garden overlooked by the dinosaur.

Tomorrow is a long long day at 430 miles across what sounds like a real East Anglia.  Very few fuel stops and not a lot to see.  Hopefully the weather will be better than today.

Always look in your mirrors

When riding the Icefield Parkway you must always remember to look in your mirrors because quite often the incredible view in your mirrors is better than the spectacular view in front of you.  I cannot describe what I am seeing and photographs just don't do it justice.  Even the footage I have on the on-board camera is pretty boring when I look back at it.  Nothing can show the enormity of the place and the feeling of being "in it" is just awesome (and I do hate that word)

My bike (and Garys, and us) with a glacier...

and Lake Louise....

very touristy, bus loads of people but Gary managed to get this shot without anyone else in it to spoil the view

Wenlock and Mandeville have also been on tour again today

The wildlife has been out in force today.  Started with a chipmunk in the car park

and then we saw some more bears.  Yesterday we didn't manage to get a photo but today, along with loads of others who had stopped at the side of the road, we managed to get some shots.  There was a mummy bear and two little baby bears.  If you look closely you can see one peeping out from behind the grass.

and an Elk but it was hiding behind a tree so you can only see the antlers

and because the Elk wouldn't come out to show himself, we had Elk burgers and Elk pizza for tea!!

We are off to Drumheller tomorrow, into Dinosaur country.  We are a split party as some of us really want to get to Drumheller and visit the museum and Ghost Town that Barbara has found, we will be taking Route 1 and bashing out some miles on the motorway.  Others are going to follow the original planned route which is 325 miles and goes into the Dinosaur National Park.

Bears and Beers

Today, some of us saw bears.  Gary and I saw a bear on the side of the road between Clearwater and Jasper.  Tony and Dave also saw bears.  The wildlife has been out in force today, some have been stopped by deer in the road, some have seen eagles and Gary and I saw something cross the road that looked a bit like a weasel but got no idea what it was really.  The mozzies are eating us alive.

The highlight of the route today has been Mount Robson.  I suppose it is the icing on the top that makes it really stand out from the crowd.  The photos all look like someone has stood us in front of a painted backdrop.  As requested the photo is of Wenlock and Mandeville on tour as it is coming up to one year to go till the opening ceremony of London2012.

Marion waiting for the cloud to lift so she could get a shot of the whole mountain

As it was only 200 miles, we left early and the roads were really good, we arrived at our little cabin in the woods in time to get some washing done and hung on the line

then out into Jasper for a couple of drinks and a look see.  This is what I saw (just for Jim really)

and this

Its a very pretty place, although its a bit touristy.  Found a nice pub with a local nutter and had a few drinks and then back to the woods for a BBQ.  A good time was had by all, cooked by Dave and Paul after Craig and Barbara had been out food shopping. 

The meal was finished off, as is becoming custom, with a joke from Dave.  Tonight it was the mohammed joke, we were promised the moth ball joke as well but that did not materialise.  Perhaps another night.

The night was brought to an end by the mozzies, we just couldn't stand it anymore.  The very thoughtful xmas present from my husband came into use even though it did look like I had a shopping bag over my head

Party mode for Dave is obviously very easily turned off too

Tomorrow we have a trip down the icefield parkway.  Only 174 miles but lots to see.

All Hail Highway Engineers!!

Oh WOW!!! Highway 99 Route Engineer is King!  Brilliant, brilliant bit of Tarmac in a most beautiful location.  Don't know what the spec of the road is but you lot at Atkins should take note.  I have never ever ridden such a smooth winding road, not one pot hole in sight.  Route 97 wasn't quite up to the wonders of 99 but then we finished off on route 24 which had yet another brilliant road and sights like the one below

Left early this morning and got out of Vancouver pretty quickly, weather is brilliant and as I say above roads are great.  Took us about 8 or 9 hours to ride the 345 miles which is probably not a good average but included a few stops for either bike fuel or body fuel.  Some of the mountain stuff was done at less than 50mph due to being stuck behind RV's or just not wanting to take hair pins at anything more than 30mph.

My bike with a mountain....

Stop for fuel in Lillooet..

The best bit of todays ride was between here and Clinton on route 99.
My bike and a lake....

Gary and I at the lake..

Very very smiley.  Only on day 1 and this trip is worth every penny.  If its all like this will not want to come home at all.

All arrived back at the hotel in dribs and drabs but safe and sound with our own parking bay right outside reception.

Less mileage tomorrow, only 200miles.  We go into the National Park, via Mount Robson at 4000 ft to stay at Jasper.  Our accommodation tomorrow is in log cabins and we believe they have BBQ pits so a good old Cub Scout camp fire tomorrow night.  We go through our first time zone tomorrow too and lose an hour of our day.  Reminds me that from the time we left Vancouver we are always on our way home. 

Busy Busy Day

We started the day with the thought that we had to do something about packing ready to leave tomorrow morning.  The luggage seems to have regenerated in the few days we've been at the hotel and really not sure its all going to go back into the panniers.

We spent the morning doing something about that then getting ready for our group ride out to Grouse Mountain.  Wenlock and Mandeville now have a front row seat ready for the ride across to Hallifax

John and I have both put our bikes on the floor today.  One of those standing still domino effect situations.  No real damage to body or bike and therefore we are hoping that is all the incidet either of us are going to have for the rest of the trip.  The ride up to Grouse Mountain was great and just a small taster of what is to come.  Didn't want to get off the bike or come back here to Vancouver just wanted to keep riding.  Tomorrow will be 345 miles up into the Rockies and I just can't wait.  Two group shots at the end of our ride and doing the tourist bit at the Mountain

When we got back, Craig got us all together for the pre trip briefing

and then our first group meal, which was a brilliant choice of restaurant.  Superb company and great Italian food.  A good time was had by all and we are all just itching to get on the move tomorrow morning.

Next blog entry should be from Clearwater, hopefully wifi will be available.

Crossing the Canyon

Had free day today so Gary and I went to visit the local Triumph dealer.  Forgot to take any photos though so you'll just have to believe that we went.  The dealer here reckons that he can't give Triumph Tigers away let alone sell one.  He reckons Canadians are too short and fat and prefer the traditional Bonneville or the Storm 1700 cruiser.  Nice bloke though and a great parts department and he has said that any problems we have across Canada he will be able to ship us parts really quickly if we need it.  Its good to know.

The afternoon we spent at Capilano Bridge.  We should have gone there first thing though as you will see from the photos it was just packed with people and would have been much better with less people.  The suspension bridge really rocks when you have a bus load of school kids making sure.  Great place to hug a tree or two

Someone saw this photo and said Jake the Peg.  Didnt notice until that :-)

The following photo is just for Jim.  Saw this and thought of you

Tomorrow is a group ride out to Grouse Mountain.  Should be interesting.  Followed by washing and packing ready for an early exit on Saturday heading out to Clearwater a journey of 345 miles.