Dixie To Deadhorse!

[Gail]

Thanks for the updates! Y'all look fresh as daisies DO BE CAREFUL! It is a long way to Alaska, in case you didn't know. Gail

[Vance]

Made it through Glacier Park today on Going To The Sun Road. The west side was cold windy and rainy but out the east side the weather turned much nicer. We took Jim Dubick's advice and once into Canada ventured into Waterton Lakes National Park to visit the village and dine with Jim' neice Deb and her husband Steve. Wow, what nice folks! The village is an awesome place that requires park admission. However, I dropped Deb & Steve's name to the kid, told him us poor boys from Alabama were already running out of money...and talked our way into the park! After a great lunch in such a beautiful spot it was waaaay too far to Pincher Creek (At least 50 miles or so) and sleep in a tent!! So....we took Steve's advice and booked a room at the Bear Mountain Motel for the night...a very cool retro mom and pop kind of place in the heart of the Waterton Village. Here are some shots from the day...

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[SteveHebert]

Vance,

Is that your new riding partner? Nice gear!

I see Russ is making friends and spreading the word with his motorcycle friendly message. Does that qualify him for ambassador status?

We are all envious of the ride!

[Gator]

Sounds like a great trip so far. Going to the Sun road looks deserted. Hope it stays like that when we get there. Just made a reservation in West Glacier. We'll be there in a couple of weeks. Ride safe.

Gator

[beemererik]

I have a good friend that is Canadian. He said you guys are just south of Banff National Park which is one of his favorite places in Canada. Looks like you guys are having a great time.

[jdubeemer]

Hey Vance I see you had the famous Bison Burger and I heard through the grapevine that y'all had a good time in Waterton. And yes the pictures are making us all jealous. Who the heck was that "Glacier Girl" in your picture? You guys better behave.

[R90srider]

Hey Vance, you didn't need to wear your helmet while cuddling up to your new young friend, but you really may need it when you see Mari in Salem ;-).

The photos are great, thank you for posting.

[BMWWANDRR]

Looks like your having a good time. I missed the Glacier Girl. Wrong side of the mountain. Stay safe.

[Gail]

[QUOTE=R90Srider;13462]Hey Vance, you didn't need to wear your helmet while cuddling up to your new young friend, but you really may need it when you see Mari in Salem ;-).

Well at least he is wearing protection. Hope you guys are having a good time, and I am sooo jealous. Gail

[Vance]

OK...two days without good wi-fi...so here is the update....

We really had a great time in Waterton. But it is time to leave Glacier Girl behind. She belongs to the mountains...and must remain....

Left Waterton and headed up through Pincher Creek past that dump where we were supposed to tent...lol. We are high class people so we stayed in the "park" last night. Beautiful day but windy...no I mean really windy! We had to work west today of our planned route due to the flooding and road closures around Calgary. So we went about 100 miles west and found plenty of road construction on that route too. Oh yeah...and rain to go along with it! But we cut back east and intersected our planned route near Lake Louise. From there we came up the Ice Fields Pkwy. This is about 100 miles of nothing but tall mountains on either side of you with waterfalls and glaciers. The afternoon sun made perfect riding conditions. Temps around seventy and bright sun. When we passed Bow Lake (Google It) the sunlight had the water shining the most brilliant emerald colors against the backdrop of snow capped mountains. It made me feel very small and insignificant in this big ole world. Words and pictures just do not do this scenery justice...it is magnificent. Stopped for the night in Jasper. The accommodations came down a bit in scope tonight....yep tents. Nice temps though in the low 50's. We were up and away by 8 AM.

Today we continued north on a 200 nile stretch of nuthin' (as Gail would say...well and me too). These folks grow some trees, pump some oil and mine some coal. Big trucks and big hills! We are in Dawson Creek tonight...mile 0 on the ALCAN. We were supposed to tent but....well, I needed good wi-fi to post this update so we are in a hotel room....that's my story and yes...I am sticking to it!!

Tomorrow we head for Watson Lake a distance of 600 miles. Gary is over there resting up...I prolly should be too! lol...Updates again as we can....ya'll should be here!

Here are a few pics from the last two days...

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[SteveHebert]

Awesome!

[jdubeemer]

I just looked at spot walla and they are back tracking, hope everyone is OK.

[R90srider]

Thank you for the heads up Jim. The Google Earth view of the highway where they turned around shows it to be well paved and with only easy to maneuver curves. The road is sunken with berms on both sides, so if an animal ran in front of them, there would not have been much warning. Lets pray that it is nothing serious.

[Norwood]

Russ's bike has issues...now with Hall Sensor, they are OK...just trying to remove and replace....
perhaps had to ride back to nearest community..for food or supplies... appear to be in a good pull over... got a message from Vance...sorry I didn't update earlier...they are OK!

.... Appears Vance has made couple trips back to Wonowon General Store .... food and fuel Esso Station.. There are couple Oil Company camps in the area.. I purchased fuel from one in 2010...and possible some secure camping if necessary.


Told Vance in message if Russ rides Bitch back to Fort St. John...we want picutres!

[jdubeemer]

Thanks Don, I have been checking in several times today wondering what was going on.