AK Trip - Day Eight - Saturday, June 23nd,

Hinton, Alberta to Dawson Creek, British Colombia

As I am sure you know by now if you have followed our adventure, we have had some Internet Wi Fi problems the past couple of days, along with no cell service. I had expected this but it's still frustrating when it happens.

Tonight we have made it to mile marker one of the Alaska Highway (ALCAN) in Dawson Creek, BC, Canada. As you can see above we have taken the mandatory picture under the sign and we are ready to start up the highway first thing tomorrow. As of today we have ridden 3200 miles and it is 1488 miles to Fairbanks, AK from here.

We left Hinton, Alberta this morning and rode one of the loneliest roads I have ever seen. Not a house or person to be seen for well over a hundred miles. We finally came to a small burg and saw a sign that said the next services was 184 KM. Jeeze, guess we better gas up…. LOL

We saw deer galore, along with one cow moose the size of a horse. We have also seen two coyotes and one bald eagle who treated us to a fly by at 60 mph. The temps started in the low 40's and never got out of the 50's. The rising wind made it seem colder.

All is well and we continue to get along well. The trip is right on schedule and we both to look forward to Alaska.

"Toto, I have the feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."
~Judy Garland~

AK Trip - Day Seven - Friday, June 22nd,

Kootenai NP - Banff NP - Yoho NP - Jasper NP


Today we left Invemere, BC and rode thru Kootenai NP and into Banff NP. After picking up the NP stamp we continued north to Lake Louise and ate lunch. From there we stopped at YoHo NP and then rode the Icefield Parkway thru Jasper National Park.

For a great deal of the time, as we traversed the 145 miles of The Icefield Parkway, snow could be found along the roadway. It made for a cool ride.

Words simply can’t describe the beauty of the mountains along the Icefield Pkwy. The view is breathtaking by any measure. While you're at it, put Jasper National Park in my top five park list as well!

Colombia Glacier

We ended the day in Hinton, Alberta in another Super 8 Motel without Internet service. Well, in all fairness they did have Wi Fi but the signal was one bar in our room. Too weak to be of any use.

On a weather note, it stormed here last night. The hail piled up at the bottom of the drain spouts and remained there when we left this morning.

"Look within! ... The secret is inside you." ~Hui-neng~

AK Trip - Day Six - Thursday, June 21st,

Glacier National Park

We left Colombia Falls and headed into the West Glacier entrance early. We had decided to pick up the National Park Stamp on the return from riding the Going to the Sun Road.

The Going To The Sun Road and Glacier NP lived up to its magnificant reputation and then some. The views from this road were nothing short of spectatular. The pictures below don't even begin to do it justice.

Personally I would rate Glacier in my top five parks. My only regret was that we only rode half of the road due to snow closure.

My apologies for some of the dark pictures. We rode in early on the shady side (west) of the park. A thundercloud seemed to follow us along the way. Fortunately, we rode rain free until we exited the park where we encountered a few sprinkles. To date the only rain we have encountered.

The Weeping Wall - Glacier NP

The end of the Going to the Sun Road
Blocked by snow from here on. (mile 29)


Port of Entry
Eureka, MT - Rooseville, BC Canada

After leaving Glacier NP we rode up the west side of the park stopping in Eureka, MT to trade for some Canadian money. Six miles later we made an uneventful border crossing at Rooseville, BC. We continued the ride into Invermere, BC where we spent the night.

"If you don't know where you are going, you can never get lost." ~Herb Cohen~

AK Trip - Day Five - Wednesday, June 20th,

Did I tell you Montana is a beautiful place? If I didn’t I sure should. It’s called “The Big Sky Country” and it could not be better named!

Today was another picture perfect day with bright blue skies, little puffy white clouds and no wind. The temps started chilly but rose to the mid-seventies quickly. Another perfect day to ride!

Our goal today was to ride up thru Montana from the south to the north, via Helena, picking up Grant Khors National Historic Ranch along the way. Pictures were kinda scarce today but will improve tomorrow.

The lesson learned today was “NEVER – EVER” force Miss Garmin to do something she does not want to do. About a month or so ago, while I was adding way points for the National Parks, I changed the route suggested by Miss Garmin to what “appeared to be” a quicker route to Grant Khors. Against her better judgment she drew the route where I wanted it. Today we paid the price for that lack of judgment when she led us up over a five mile long, dirt pig path, over a mountain to take us in the back way. I’m pretty sure by now Ted thinks I’m conspiring against his Wing.

Kevin P., you may be right, he might be better off with TKC Knobbies before we’re done… (When we get back, don't mention Beck Hill Road to Ted... LOL)

Grant Khors Ranch Long Horns

Salmon Lake - LoLo National Forest

Ted bringing up the rear.
We've taken turns each day leading the ride.

Got Bugs?
They've sure got em in Montana!

Swan River National Forest

One more interesting tidbit:

A BMW GS passed us today clipping right along at a good pace. A few miles up the road we stopped to take a break and there was the GS pulled over. It turns out he was from Santa Barbara, CA and was on his way to Kalispell, MT. While we talking to him he made the comment that he was getting way too old to be making long trips at age 58. After he left we both looked at each other and burst out laughing. I guess we need to quit and fly home …. LOL

Today was our first relaxed pace day. We drove about 350 miles and the total for the trip is about 2300 miles. We both would like to thank Mike Jennings for his expertise and hard work planning this trip. Mike knew we would need some easier days and he was sure right.

We are spending the night eleven miles outside the west entrance to Glacier National Park doing laundry. We are told The Going to the Sun Road is snow blocked 29 miles in, but open to that point. We plan to ride the part that’s open tomorrow. We will make the return trip back out and head up the west side of Glacier NP to enter Canada.

Thanks again to all who have commented. It sure makes posting to this blog seem worthwhile.

There are two cardinal sins from which all others spring:

Impatience and Laziness.

~Franz Kafka ~

AK Trip - Day Four - Tuesday, June 19th,

We left Riverton, WY at 6:15 am riding in a chilly 45-degree temp. The temp stayed cool until mid-afternoon and then climbed to the upper seventies. Our route led us in a steady climb up 9,000 ft into the breathtaking Teton Mountains. Nothing beats the view from the seat of a motorcycle! I was also amazed that the ride smelled like you were riding through a Christmas tree. I have ridden in pine trees many times before but never with quiet that same smell.

While climbing between 8500 and 9000 ft we came across a five-mile section where the pavement ends. The highway dept. had simply removed the road and were routing traffic onto wet dirt, mud and some gravel. That made for an interesting ride on Ted’s Wing. Fortunately the V Strom was right at home.

One other interesting thing happened today. While riding up one of the mountains I had a small bird fly up off the side of the road and hit the stem of my left mirror. The bird simply exploded all over my cb radio and my left jacket sleeve. I doubt it ever knew what happened. Oddly, that's the second time I have had a bird commit suicide in a similar manner.

Hwy 26 (West Yellowstone Hwy) winds through the Teton Mountains and directly into the southern entrance to Yellowstone National Park. We entered there and went straight to Old Faithful where we found droves of tourists. We collected our NP stamp and left while over 500 people lined Old Faithful waiting for it to erupt. Not my idea of fun!

We followed The Grand Loop up the western side of Yellowstone, visiting Mammoth Hot Springs and exiting at Gardiner, MT. Tonight we’re staying in Belgrade, MT a suburb of Bozeman, MT.

As of today we have ridden 1805 fun filled miles. Tomorrow we ride to Glacier NP and the next day we cross into Canada. I continue to find excellent Wi FI coverage on this trip. I'm sure there will be days when I don't have Internet access or we simply arrive at the motel too late.

Ted and I appreciate all the comments and well wishes we are receiving. I hope you will continue.

"Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart."
~Confucius~