So out of the Okanagan. Bye lake!!
COLD lake!! But I went in!! Went swimming. Crazy Canuks.
I had developed a phrase that was very useful in describing Canada.
"Fuckin' BURR!"
A little north to meet up with the Tran-Canada Highway.
Across Mt Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks.
Some amazing mountains!
I camped in Golden the first night at a camp/hostel. Because the peak season is over he let me stay for free seeing that I was the only one there. SWEET! Hot shower, and a kitchen! In the morning headed into Banff National Park.
Lake Louise
Went off the main highway on an alternative route directly south.
Most of the roadside is like so:
Fun with the odometer. 101010 in honor of the digital age. (Actually I wanted to get 10,000, but I got distracted.) 4077 (M.A.S.H.) when I started.
I want a howitzer and two machine guns in my yard!!!
There were a lot of little historical markers along the way. All of the trip. I'd still be in Missouri if I stopped at all of them.
Here was a fascinating one: The Frank Slide. I didn't get that good of a picture of it, but, you can kinda see the expanse of it along the road. Went for quite a bit out from the road as well.
Buffalo!
NO MOOSE! I've been wanting to see a moose. Not yet!
There were so many signs saying:
Moose are loose.
Watch your caboose,
or they'll cook your goose.
Ok, so they didn't exactly say that....... Too much time in my own head.
Now that's awesome! If for nothing else, but, to get to write it as your address!
Passing near Fernie I stop by Tim Hortons for a cup of coffee. Tim Hortons is the large chain eatery throughout Canada. They're everywhere. I been in the habit of tying to search out local places to stop all during this trip. Even avoiding chain gas stations if possible. I know all gas is megacorp, but, I like those little funky gas stations.
I don't stop by many eateries, instead, sustaining of my own little ration of food that I pick up on rare market stops. Eating out is expensive. so are hotels. (more on that later)
Anyway, you're pretty much guaranteed to find motorbikes in front of Tim Hortons, if not, wait, they'll be there.
But I was craving something hot and caffeinated........ riding all day and starting to get cold. (more on that too).
So, Timmy's it is. As I pull up, another bike pulls up as well, (Kawi 800, whoa, my mind just went blank and I forgot his name. Bear with me, I writing this down over a week later. That's what I get for not writing it down immediately!) I talk with him a bit. He's a coal truck driver that moved to Sparwood to work. Offered to let me crash at his place. More good luck. All the bikers I met on this trip have been really nice. They'll usually stop if they see you on the side of the road and make sure you're not broken down or something. "Nope, just taking pictures. Thanks."
I had the opportunity to help a guy out at the Canadian border. He ran out of gas and I keep that extra gallon with me.,
So taking off from Sparwood, I soon hit the beginning of the prairie.
See all that behind the house. Yup, that's pretty much it........for three days............
I think Saskatchewan means "Land of cows" cause that's all I saw.
(Actually, I think it is a variation of "It flows swiftly") ............Though that doesn't make any sense either. Nothing was "swift" about the prairie.
Little neat moments like, the hat fence.
Sunsets
One of the perils of traveling east is you lose time. Traveling west you chase the sun and can get about an extra half an hour or so.
Another peril:
What you get for waking up too early.
Pretty much have to go by farmer's time on the road to get the most of the day.
Trying to look for a camp when it gets dark is no good. No telling what you'll wake up next to.
(HAHA That kinda applies to Burning Man too.)
"Fuckin' burr!" Mornings are VERY cold! It still gets warmer during the day. But, you can feel it coming.
Made it a bit past Lethridge, then found a campsite in Taber, Alberta. Fire ban though. so no fires in this area. Bummer.
That means yet another cold morning.
Pretty long uneventful day.
Stopped by another Tim Hortons and sure enough, a few bikes there.
Met these guys.
This is Dave and Lenny. Paul took the picture. They live in the Winnipeg area.
They though was I was doing was pretty cool. Crazy, but, cool.
Dave thought I was crazy for wanting to take the route I had planned.
He said the roads were terrible and I'm going to get run over by a semi.
He was wrong on both counts. Turns out that there was a lot of construction done recently on the road. Only a few spots where the road was like Dave said. If was all like that I could understand why I was recommended not to go. So there, no excuses now Dave.
I have a friend back home that took 8 months doing a similar trip and he remembers the road being crappy too.
Turns out the road conditions we the least of my problems.
Weather was. But not today.
They helped me find a camping spot outside Winnipeg. and gave me a gift certificate good for a couple cups of coffee at Tim Hortons. See what I mean.
Actually could have a fire, so, that was nice.
That was the coldest morning.
I think these guys are trying to tell me something:
I reach the Ontario Province.
One of the most beautiful days on the trip. Well, the fairest weather days at least.
Also neat because The land did that same thing that Nevada to California did.
Seemingly endless prairie, then when I reached Kenora, suddenly the land turns to the forest!
Another thing happens. These things start showing up.
Rock stacks. Who knows.
I don't know much about it, but what the hell. Decided to add my first contribution.
Kinda soothing stacking rocks. I have my moments.........hippie.
..Or is that EMO?
Some leaves are starting to turn.
I'm so jealous of that.
I'm putting this blog over two post because it huge. So, *ding* turn the page!