My easiest 400 mile day so far . Good roads and perfect weather, make for easy traveling. Now in Fort Saint John BC. This is the final decision point, once I leave here, I am committed to the Alaska Hwy. For the first part of the day I was ready to turn south and head to safer, easier roads, but as I rode on I figured I’m here so might just as well continue. Not an easy decision, as there are many hazards, the Alaska Hwy is generally a good road with a few exceptions, most hazardous are the construction areas, and there will be many. Not as comfortable traveling alone, as I once was.

Tomorrow is Canada’s 4 of July, and people come out of the woods to celebrate, so all hotel rooms are taken.

Generally speaking there are settlements every 150 miles or so, with limited hotels, fuel planning and sleeping arrangements are critical. I brought only emergency camping gear, and don’t want to have to use it.

As of tonight, I will continue on, spending tomorrow in Toad River, about 350 miles , then onto Johnson Crossing Yukon.

Another long day. Cold and cloudy till noon then just cool and partly cloudy. Banff and Jasper Parks are huge, almost 200 miles of one beautiful vista followed by another. Lost count of the glaciers. The roads are very good but speed limits very slow, averaging 50 mph or less.
The young black bear was out for a little stroll, not one bit bothered by the cars. The sheep were even less interested or intimidated. Saw two other black bears and one elk
Lake Louise is stunning.
Tomorrow will reach the Alaska Hwy.

Hope the pictures do justice to beautiful Glacier Park..                 Traffic very slow and heavy most of the time. Weather perfect. Exited the US at Babb, picked up Alberta route 2, and now in Macleod Albert about 2 hours short of Calgary. Tomorrow Banff and Jasper Parks.

My wife said today that I was taking this trip for validation, we’ll, she’s pretty smart and knows me well, so now I will call this my Validation Tour.

I am just now getting settled into the rhythm of this kind of riding , it’s been awhile

,

​Could not be happier with my Trusty Steed, go SUZUKI VSTROM. I have promised myself, I will wash it when I get home, once a year won’t hurt it.
Left Red Lodge late 7.30, rode route 78 to Columbus, then joined I-90 to Three Forks, 30 mph, gusty winds, then an hour of light rain, rode onto Helena, my first time, then via Hwy 12/141
to Seeley Lake

Rode some of the most beautiful country Montana has to offer.
Glacier Park tomorrow

Nearly perfect weather for today, 65 degrees to 75 degrees all day long , clear skies and little wind.                           If not for my little navigation error , costing me 3 hours , I would have had a laz day , instead I rode a little over 12 hrs. However on the plus side I discovered Wyoming Hwy 189, which is beautiful.                         Now in Alpine Wyoming for the night , tomorrow Grand Tetons, Yellowstone Park and Bear Tooth Pass. Will have full heated gear for the trip, as it’s still quite cool here in the mornings.  Great pix soon.

Well, here we go again, I say we,because I hope you follow along on my blog.I thought I was all done with these long rides but suddenly feel as I have one more left in me.     I left this morning early to avoid the extreme heat we have been having in Phoenix, it was pretty warm, even in the mountains of Arizona, all the way to Cedar City Utah .                        I plan  on riding for my sixth and last time to the Arctic Ocean via the infamous Dalton Hwy  .                       I have not learned yet how to do the captions
This is my first stab at this web-page

I will improve.

I LEFT PAGE THIS MORNING AT 6 AM AND HAD A VERY PLEASANT AND COOL RIDE UNTIL ABOUT 40 MILES FROM HOME. THEN MY FIRST REAL EXPERIENCE OF PHOENIX SUMMER FOR THIS YEAR OCCURRED.

WELL, WHAT WOULD YOU EXPECT. IT WAS PRETTY WARM BUT IT FELT GOOD TO BE HOME.

I HAVE HAD A WONDERFUL AND FUN TRIP AND IT IS NICE TO BE HOME, EVEN IF IT IS JUST TO BATHE AND PREPARE FOR ANOTHER .

THE SCORE

  1         AROUND 12,300 MILES OF TRAVEL. ABOUT 2000 OF THAT GRAVEL.

  2        NO FLATS NO FALLS

  3        1, 6 INCH EASTERN BROOK AND 1, 11 INCH ARCTIC GRAYLING

  4       12 BLACK BEARS INCLUDING 2 CUBS NOT BUT WEEKS OLD.

  5        6 ELK, ALL STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

  6        10, CARIBOU, ALSO ON THE ROAD.

  7        1,  PRONGHORN [ ANTELOPE ]  IDAHO.

  8        TOO MANY MOUNTAIN SHEEP TO COUNT

  9         1, COYOTE

  10       TOO MANY BISON TO COUNT

  11        2 SETS OF TIRES

  12       4 OIL CHANGES

PLUSES

1. 1.LOTS OF SUNSHINE AND A BIT OF RAIN.

2. 2.JUST ENOUGH MUD

3. 3.DISCOVERING CANOL ROAD

4. 4.VISITING FRIENDS AND FAMILY

5. 5. MEETING GREAT PEOPLE ON THE ROAD

6. 6. MEETING THE CANADIAN RIDERS, THEY SURE DRINK LOTS.

BUMMERS

1    BILL BREAKING HIS RIBS.

2    HAVING TO CHANGE THOSE TIRES MYSELF.

3    NOT DISCONNECTING THAT SIDE STAND SWITCH.

4    SEEING THAT BATMAN MOVIE.

5    NOT GETTING BY TO SEE THE OATES.

6    NOT GETTING BY TO SEE TANYA AND FAMILY.

7    HAVING MY CHAIN BREAK ONLY 300 MILES FROM HOME.

8.   NOT CATCHING ANY FISH.