alimar Posted July 7, 2008 Share Posted July 7, 2008 Sorry for your loss yet happy for you bouncing back to life. Been there, it's not easy... Great story, keep it going. Thanks for sharing this. Well done. Link to comment
Crazy_Canuck Posted July 8, 2008 Author Share Posted July 8, 2008 Day 7 (sort of) Today was a busy day. I got up early and had breakfast in town, after that I headed to Whistlers to catch the tram up the mountain unfortunately it was not open until 9:00am and it was 8:15am. I decided I did not want to wait and took off down 93A towards Athabasca falls which ended up being a nice ride.The Athabasca falls were pretty cool to see, after the falls I decided to head to the Miette Hot springs for a soak in the hot springs. The road off of 16 was nice and twisty and I enjoyed it a lot. I then headed back to Jasper for lunch and from there I headed back to Whistlers Mt. I got on the Tram and headed to the top of the world. The weather was not so good it was cold and windy with a few sprinkles here and there. I decided to take the trail to the summit and it was tough!!! The combination of lack of oxygen (altitude) and me being way out of shape (fat a$$) made this hike very hard, I contemplated going back down a few times but I was determined. I finally made it to the summit and it felt good. Here were some of the sights Athabasca Falls Miette Hot springs Jasper Tramway This is as far as the Tram takes you, up ahead is the trail to the summit This is the view looking down from the station. This is the same picture but with a 40x zoom Me going up the trail. Note the town of Jasper on the left. Because I was above the tree line there are no trees but there was some Alpine flora Getting Closer!! This is an Inuksuk or also know as Inukshuk. The inuksuk may have been used for navigation, as a point of reference, a marker for hunting grounds The Inukshuk is also used as the symbol because of its connotations of friendship and cooperation. I finally made it to the summit Woohoo!! Link to comment
Crazy_Canuck Posted July 11, 2008 Author Share Posted July 11, 2008 July 8th Day 8 Today I headed off for Banff. The weather was not great, mostly cloudy which kind of sucked…oh well. Today was not a total loss I saw more bears today than I ever did my whole life lived in Canada (24 years). I had one run right out in front of me and I had to hit the brakes pretty hard to avoid him, the next bear kind of got stuck between a narrow spot between the mountain where the road was made, he had a bus behind him and he was trying to get away but it was too steep to go up the sides so he had to run down the road right past me. Then I noticed some people on the side of the road and sure enough there was another bear but this one was Brown. I got a few good shots of that one. Finally arrived at Banff and setup camp. I then had a nice lunch and opted to skip out on dinner. Did laundry called Gena and made a fire. I am starting to get a little lonely and miss Gena. While typing this journal entry I just noticed something out of the corner of my eye I look over and a coyote is just walking by about 50 ft to my left. Here are the pics from today Columbia Icefield along the Icefield Parkway (93) Banff National Park starting building these bridge land crossings for animal migration. I though that was interesting. My camp setup at Banff My coyote camp mate Chow Rob Link to comment
Crazy_Canuck Posted July 11, 2008 Author Share Posted July 11, 2008 July 9, 2008 Day 9 Today I got up early got something to eat and hit the road for Moraine Lake. The ride was nice but a bit chilly. Got to the lake and I was pretty much the only one there..Sweet. The lake was beautiful as always. Next stop was Peyto lake, I never have seen it before and was looking forward to it. On the way it started to rain “nuts” I thought but I came this far I might as well go all the way. In order to see the lake you need hike up hill a ways, it rained on me the entire way. It was worth it though because when I got to the top and saw the lake the sun came out and a rainbow over the lake appeared. It truly was an awesome sight to see. On the way down back to my bike I noticed what looked like a ferret crawling in an out of the recycle container, he was very cute. Come to find out it is called a Pine Martin. Here are some of the pics for the day. Downtown Banff Moraine Lake Log floating in water :dopeslap: Peyto Lake The cute little Pine Martin Is anyone enjoying these pics or am I just wasting my time??? Cheers Rob Link to comment
Cipher Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 I, for one am enjoying the report and pictures very much. Thanks for posting. http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/images/icons/default/smile.gif Link to comment
RTTomster Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 Rob, Tom here. I (like you) hail from Edmonton and I also have an 07 RT how cool is that ! I took a similar road trip with my family 35 years or more ago. Your pics are truly an inspiration to go west again!! Currently living in Ontario, I definately yearn for the Western Landscape. I was in BC on business a year ago and they had to force me onto the plane to get back east!! Your pics and story (sorry about your loss) are a great inspiration to me and I wish you good fortune and safety on your most excellent adventure eh! Keep in touch and if you ever come east, PM me and we will hook up! Keep her tank side up bro! and keep it coming!! Link to comment
Crazy_Canuck Posted July 11, 2008 Author Share Posted July 11, 2008 Thanks RTTomster I am glad you liked it. You will have to make a road trip out west yourself eh? ;-) Link to comment
Albert Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 Rob, Sorry for your tragic interuption. The pictures and story are fantastic though. Thanks, Link to comment
mrduck Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 Allways wanted to go there, what a great trip! Keep 'em coming, absolutly hot and miserable here, you ain't missin' nuthin! And Gena will be real glad to see ya when ya get back! Link to comment
flyingreg Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 Is anyone enjoying these pics or am I just wasting my time??? Great pictures Rob! Glad you are having a good time up in the great north wet. It has been too hot here, stay north as long as you can. See you later, Link to comment
alimar Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 Your time is only wasted when you no longer enjoy what you are doing. I'm sure you are enjoying the ride. Do you enjoy the writing of the tail? I know I would as it keeps me in touch with this most excellent community. Link to comment
barryNmarin Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 Rob, buddy, I'm digging your tale! I haven't been able to post as I've been visiting relatives in Oklahoma for 11 days and they barely have electricity much less a computer with an internet hookup. Love the photos and seeing a lot of great places when I took my trip up to Alberta and BC last July. I guess I'll have to go back and see the rest of it!! Thanks for the great tale and photos. Barry Link to comment
Todd_Z1 Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 Rob, I loved your pictures! Thanks for sharing them. My good friend David and I will be headed north next spring from the 23rd through the 31st of May. I am doing route planning and he is following and says he does not care where we go as long as we are back for his daughters high school graduation in June...So, I plan on hitting Banff along the way. I can hardly wait and it is only 1189 miles from Incline Village NV. Wooot! Cheers! Todd Link to comment
Les is more Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 Rob, This is a wonderful tale and I thank you for sharing it. All of it-the joys and the sorrows. My heart goes out to you and you wife. I hope you found some healing on this journey!!! Link to comment
Crazy_Canuck Posted July 12, 2008 Author Share Posted July 12, 2008 July 10, 2008 Day 10 Today was a long and tiring day. It started out at 4:30am CST got up and packed up camp. I was on the road by 6:00am. I took the long way to Abbotsford I want to say 655 miles and 12hrs. Most of the ride was nice and scenic with no traffic and curvy roads. The last part of the trip was a little hectic. Once I past Osyosos the wind really picked up and then it rained hard. I topped off my gas in Princeton BC it was still raining pretty good as I started up the mountain, I noticed a temperature drop which is normal when going up the mountain but this time it kept dropping and dropping then the snow flake icon started blinking…34F…what the heck? Then the rain turned into snow it managed not to stick to the road but it sure did stick to my windshield and helmet visor. I had to wipe off my visor everyone 3 secs or so to keep it clear of snow. It was hectic for a while but as we came down the mountain the snow turned back into rain. I made it to my buddies house in one piece...Woohoo! Who would of thought I would have rode through temps as high as 107F and down to 34F with snow (in July) within a couple week period?? Sorry no pics, I did not want to bore you with family pics. Link to comment
azkaisr Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 NO PICS IS NOT WORTHY! We don't bore that easy amigo. And when I came back from Ouray III the temp went from 29 to 114 in one day for me. Link to comment
Crazy_Canuck Posted July 12, 2008 Author Share Posted July 12, 2008 NO PICS IS NOT WORTHY! We don't bore that easy amigo. And when I came back from Ouray III the temp went from 29 to 114 in one day for me. Now that was a temperature change for sure Tom!! I still got you beat with the snow!! :grin: Link to comment
Crazy_Canuck Posted July 12, 2008 Author Share Posted July 12, 2008 OK this is just for you Tom becausee You are worthy Big Horn I think The sheep on the right got his horn stuck on a tree branch (smaller branch not seen) I would have like to help him out but I dont think his buddies would have approved. As a matter of fact when I reved my throtle the one on the left reared up on his hind legs and was ready to go at it. My buddies house. Gord and I were best friends since we were 7 until I married my wife Gena and moved to California. The house sits on top of a mountain and has an awesome of Mt Baker. View from the back of his house Link to comment
barryNmarin Posted July 12, 2008 Share Posted July 12, 2008 So Rob, how does that compare to your backyard view in Bakersfield??? Link to comment
Crazy_Canuck Posted July 13, 2008 Author Share Posted July 13, 2008 So Rob, how does that compare to your backyard view in Bakersfield??? Doh! You funny guy you! Link to comment
Bullett Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 Rob, I too, am enjoying your tale and pictures. Please keep 'em coming. Link to comment
Rick Bertino Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 Hey there Rob!, Geese, I just remembered this site and and here are the details of the trip! Damn! I wish i had remembered it sooner... I see you are Just getting into Portland... Glad to see your trip has been a good one despite Life's Surprises. Just created an account here so I could post... Dont go getting too impatient to get home... most wrecks happen close to home buddy... so dont let your guard down, keep your head up, and we'll see ya in a week... You are wondering who this is? I should have my info updated by the time you can see this... Happy Trails. Link to comment
Kitsap Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 I had the pleasure of hosting Rob today for a little ride to my hometown of Poulsbo for lunch. He's aiming for Yreka tonight, Portland traffic will not be fun for him. Link to comment
Rick Bertino Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 Hey Rob, Really hot and boring down I-5... Just an idea to wrap up your trip and make the final stretch a nice one.... You might want to head for PCH for the rest of your trip (cut across at Santa Margarita)... Link to comment
Crazy_Canuck Posted July 17, 2008 Author Share Posted July 17, 2008 July 12th The last couple of days were great visiting my best friend (and his family) from child hood (we were best friends from the age of 7 up until I was 24 when I moved down to California to marry my lovely wife. My best child hood friend and his kids July 13, 2008 Day 13 Today I headed over to Victoria via the BC Ferry. This was my first time on a Ferry and was excited to ride my motorcycle onto it. I also was anticipating the nice view as we traveled through the channel islands towards Victoria the only problem is I met a nice couple who rode on a BMW GS 1100 and ended up talking to Shelby (the husband) the entire boat ride. It was all good as I really enjoyed his conversation. Once I arrived in Victoria I headed out for Murchies an English tea and coffee place like the stuff used at the Empress hotel. I was there looking for some tea for my brother in law, come to find out my brother in law Jason wanted 3lbs of coffee!!!! My wife decided to volunteer me for this…does she not remember that I am riding a motorcycle fully packed?? Well I managed to get 2.5 pounds of coffee somehow into my bags. I then proceeded north to meet up with Dave, who also was a good friend from my years living in Edmonton and is also cousin to Gord (my friend that I just met in Abbostsford). I met Dave at the local Costco and followed him home. They were currently in between places and were renting a little apartment above a garage. We had a nice dinner and conversation before I went to sleep on their couch. BC Ferry to Victoria Daves House (for now) My Buddy Dave and I Daves dog Blaze who is 2/3's Wolf...can you see it? Link to comment
Dances_With_Wiener_Dogs Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Each person deals with grief differently. Rob, I just joined this thread and am sorry that your father in law died, but happy that you had such a positive relationship with him. Link to comment
bmweerman Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Hey Rob. Haven't been around much lately so I am just catching up. So sorry to hear about your loss! On the other side glad you continued your trip and thanks for the great ride tale a pix. Link to comment
Crazy_Canuck Posted July 19, 2008 Author Share Posted July 19, 2008 July 14, 2008 Day 14 Today I left Victoria and got on the Coho Ferry over to Port Angeles. The Coho is a much smaller ferry and therefore moved around much more. There were a lot of motorcycles waiting to get on the ferry and I had a chance to meet a few of them and had a lot of great conversations with a lot of people. I arrived at PA around noon and proceeded to head to uncle Dannys repair shack. Of course he gave me bad directions and I missed it, after another cell phone call and some bantering he managed to guide me to his shop. After spending some time at the shop I was tired and rode up to Uncle Dans house for a little nap. I had a nice dinner with Uncle Dan and Aunt Marie. July 15, 2008 Day 15 Today was a long day but a good one. I said good bye to my uncle Danny and left Port Angeles about 8:30am and headed over to Port Townsend to meet Wade (kitsap) from there I followed Wade to Poulsbo. Wade was nice enough to give me the personal tour of Poulsbo which is a Norwegian town. I found Pouslbo very interesting and I enjoyed it a lot, I just wish I would have had more time to see it. From Poulsbo I headed to Yreka which seemed like forever to get there. My butt was more sore then normal? The ride turned out to be very hot, when I hit Portland the temp was 100F and rush hour traffic…not fun. The sun went down as I approached Yreka and there was a lot of smoke from the forest fires. I could not use my high beam as it made things worse (like fog). Well I finally made it to the Super 8 and the bed never looked so good. Getting on the Ferry My Uncle Dannies house is an acerage (spelling?) has a nice view of Victoria from Port Angeles Washington. You can see Vancouver island in the distance. His property has a house from around the turn of the century. Way cool I think. My Uncle Danny and I Following Kitsap to Pouslbo A Lutheran Church built near the turn of the century I guess it is good luck to rub the Vikings head. Pouslbo is known for its famous bakery and here is some of the goods. Link to comment
Twisties Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 That bakery looks enticing. The ferry looks like a bit of an adventure. Looks like a great ride! Your spot tracker link in your signature line goes to a blank spot page? Jan Link to comment
eyesurgeon Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Rob, really enjoying your trip reports thus far. Sounds like the trip of a lifetime. I also was born and raised in Canada but find myself now living in California just up the road from you. Looks like it was our wives that did it . Looking forward to the rest... Link to comment
Crazy_Canuck Posted July 22, 2008 Author Share Posted July 22, 2008 July 16, 2008 Day 16 Today I got up to hit the road, there was still a fair bit of smoke due to the forest fires burning in northern California. I headed for Benicia where I met Richard. Richard was kind enough to give the tour of the town. Did you know the Benicia was the state capital for approx 1 year? Yup it was the state capital from 1853-1854 after that it went to Sacramento as we know it today. I was treated to an excellent lunch in downtown Benicia. Later on Jaqueline got off work and made Richard and I a great dinner!! There was great food and great fellowship. I enjoyed to get to know Jaqueline a little better...she is one witty girl. Thank you Jaqueline (and Richard)!! Smokey Yreka Made it to Benicia and met the infamous Richard Enjoying some good chinese food This is where we got the good grub Some of the history in Benicia California State Building (1853-1854) The Senate We also visited a church that had some Norwegian heritage Check out the rafter\beams of the chruch, They were made from Viking ship hull beams. Richard can better explain it. A great night of food and fellowship July 17th Heading home. My wife was wanting me home and in light of what just happned to her I felt I needed to be there. I left Benicia at around 5:30am to try and beat the San Francisco traffic. I was surprised at how much traffic there was even at 5:30am as I approached the Golden Gate bridge, I can only imagine what it is like at peak rush hour. As I started out on PC 1 it got really foggy and I was not able to see a thing the entire way until I hit Cambria. As I neared Cambria I noticed all these Elephnat seals on the beach so I pulled over and watched for a while. These guys were very interesting to watch and listen too. They make the weirdest noises with thier snouts, you will have to hear for yourself sometime. This Trip was an adventure in many ways, good and bad. Although the sudden death of my fahter in-law did dampen this trip immensely it was not a total loss. I was able to connect with my brother like never before. I was able to meet my childhood best friend after not seeing him for many years. I saw a lot of great wildlife. I met a lot of great people along the way not to mention old friends from this board. Overall I feel very blessed to have had this chance regardless of the circumstances. I hope you enjoyed this tale. Life is short...enjoy it. God Bless Rob Link to comment
Jacqueline Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 I agree ... Most Excellent Adventure!!!!! It's what life is all about... the good and the bad. Thank you so much for sharing it! I need to go see those Elephnat seals... those bear... those snow cap mountains...those ice fields........ I just need to go see... A huge THANK YOU for including Richard and I in your adventure and spending some time with us. I enjoyed your company and hope that you come back again... soon! Link to comment
Crazy_Canuck Posted November 14, 2008 Author Share Posted November 14, 2008 I know this is a little late but I came across some more pictures from my trip this summer and thought I would add a few from my trip I believe this is the lower falls in Yellowstone Upper Falls a Grizzly smelling something The Road to Freedom Elk Whistlers Mountain in Jasper Cheers Link to comment
SageRider Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 I can't believe I missed this thread until now! Fantastic report and photos! Rob, So sorry on the loss of your father-law. Link to comment
BeniciaRT_GT Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 late? Really? Cool pics though. Link to comment
Crazy_Canuck Posted November 17, 2008 Author Share Posted November 17, 2008 and a few more pics... Mt Whistles in Jasper Moraine Lake Peyto Lake This pic was taken in Northern Californina during the fires over at Big Sur that we had this summer. This was one of the water bombers used to help fight the fires. Link to comment
TyTass Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Thanks for sharing. Very inpirational! Link to comment
Crazy_Canuck Posted November 4, 2014 Author Share Posted November 4, 2014 Oh how I miss my bike and riding adventures Link to comment
Crazy_Canuck Posted May 23, 2016 Author Share Posted May 23, 2016 Boy do I miss my bike. Link to comment
MyR1100RT Posted June 1, 2016 Share Posted June 1, 2016 I just found this thread. I love that you got to take this trip, and I love the pictures. That's what motorcycle touring is all about. Good on you and the wife!!! I did however, want to say, that while I loved hearing about your adventure, I found myself scrolling through your posts looking for your riding pictures - more importantly I found myself looking at your bike and the other bikes in your pictures. Guess I'm a certified motorcycle junkie :-) I'm very happy that you and your wife had this opportunity - hope you are already planning your next adventure..... Derek Boise/Meridian ID Link to comment
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