8 Months

Today marks the 8 month (35 week) point of my beard growing journey, only 4 months left now until the goal of 1 year. I had doubts at the beginning that I would reach the goal, but at this point I can't see myself failing. The thought of shaving the beard is actually a little scary, I like the bearded look for myself. It's been an interesting journey to say the least, and I've learned a thing or two about patience over the last eight months. 

My bike got on the bench first thing this morning, and this time I had booked a room at the Holiday Inn right beside the dealership. After getting some breakfast I went back to the room to do some reading and relaxing. I had a headache for a change, and although the severity and frequency has gone down drastically since I quit smoking, they still come along too often. I'm still impressed with the staff at Gasoline Alley HD, they treat me especially well since purchasing the bike there. It's nice to finally have found a place I'm comfortable with. 

The weather had been deteriorating throughout the morning, lots of cloud moving in and ever increasing wind. I had estimated they would be done with the bike by 2pm, but by 1:00 I was leaving Red Deer. I stopped in Leduc for a quick lunch, and while I ate the rain began falling. The next 125km was pretty scary riding, my face shield in the helmet was fogging up badly and it was raining so hard I couldn't see through the windshield. On the Heritage, I looked over the windshield, and I obviously need to shorten this one as well. If I could have looked over it would have been much safer, I really couldn't see a thing. After getting gas in Westlock the rain let up a little and traffic was light, so that made the riding much safer. The rain pants I've been using were pretty cheap, and they are not very effective anymore. For next year I will need to get another pair, hopefully some that last a little longer. I also don't have rain proof gloves, so I was pretty wet by the time the rain stopped about 30km out of Slave Lake. Due to the rain all day, I didn't take the scenic route like I had planned, so I was done riding by 6pm. After a nice dinner, I checked into the hotel and got a coffee from Tim Horton's. a hot coffee and some pills finally chased away the headache. 

The weather forecast is calling for rain all the way home tomorrow, although I really hope they are wrong. Last year I did hardly any rain riding, and this year I've done a ton. I'll shorten my windshield once I get home so that I don't have to deal with not being able to see again, and will continue to search for gear that keeps me dry. Rain riding is no big deal if one can stay dry, it can even be enjoyable then. 

Stay calm, beard on, and stay in the wind!

Second Home

For the third time in six weeks I arrived in Red Deer once again, probably the last time this summer. My bike will be in the shop tomorrow morning, getting the 1600km service done. I'm over 2400km already, I don't mind getting a few more before they go over it for the first time. My plan is to do my own maintenance on the bike for the most part from here on in, it would save me a lot of money. 

I began the day with a few hours of work at the project in Peace River, mostly just confirming everything was good to go before they finish the walls. There were no problems, which is what I was expecting. 

After finishing there, I had some breakfast and then pointed my bike south. The sun was out and it was warm. On the suggestion from my brother Tim, I took the Grizzly Trail (highway 33) through Swan Hills to Westlock. I've always wanted to take that road, but hadn't thought of it now. It only added around 10km to the day's ride. The scenery is similar to that on Highway 43, but a change was very welcome. There was heavy cloud cover for most of that stretch of riding, but it never rained. Traffic was busy everywhere today, everyone was heading somewhere for the weekend. 

With all the riding I've done lately I would have expected to see more wildlife. I'm pretty sure I saw a mountain lion for the first time in my life today, it was a little too far away to be sure. Saw a black bear right beside the road yesterday. I'm always thankful when I don't see deer though!

By the time I crossed the Yellowhead the sun was shining brightly again, though the wind wasn't letting up. When I joined the traffic on the Deuce (QE2) I had some fun making my way through all the cars. As big as the Ultra may be, it's still quite agile. The more I ride the bike the more I like it, all the little options make the miles just melt away. 

I got a bite to eat in Red Deer and then spent some time in a bookstore. I got a few strange looks walking into a Christian bookstore all strung out from the road, which made me smile a little. Hopefully the book I picked out will help me on the journey of life. 

The hotel I'm staying at is right beside the dealership, so I can make use of it after dropping off the bike in the morning. Time to relax a little and then turn in. 

On the Road Again

An appointment for the new bike in Red Deer was the perfect excuse to hit the road again for the first decent ride since returning home two weeks ago. I hadn't been doing a lot of riding, due in part to keeping the kilometres within a reasonable window for the 1600km service. It will still end up being around 2400 by the time they do the first service. 

It was awesome to get back in the saddle and follow the front tire down the highway, something I really needed after a tough week at work. Everything seemed to be going wrong in the last four days, which ends up always frustrating me. I really need to learn to let things slide off my back more, it's not something that comes natural to me. After a quick shower I wolfed down a salad, threw my luggage on the bike, and then headed out of town. The weather was perfect for riding, and after all the riding I did on the vacation, it felt very familiar. 

The road to Peace River is kind of boring as I've been down that road so many times in my life, but it is still fun to head south on that road. I can only wish that I was staying away longer than a few days! My original plan was only to leave tomorrow morning, but there's a project here I need to check in on, so the company rented me a room for the night so I can do that in the morning. As long as things are going smoothly at the job site, I should be on the road mid-morning. I'm not sure which route I will take tomorrow, not too many options but I would like to take something different than the routes I traveled earlier this summer. Right now it's time to catch up on a few things online and then bedtime:)

Day 28

Today will be the last day of my trip, naturally I was feeling a little down when I awoke in the morning. The skies were cloudy, and it had rained during the night. The prospect of riding in the rain didn't bother me much, but it was really cold outside today. 

My folks and I had breakfast together, and then they were off. I loaded the bags for the last time, got gas for the bike, and then hit the road. There were heavy winds, and periods of showers that never lasted too long. The big bag doesn't fit on the passenger seat very well, leading to some discomfort, but even still this bike is way more comfortable. My feet never touched ground in the first 240km of the day, traffic lights were green, and I rolled through stop signs. 

In Manning I made my final gas stop of the trip, an also ate a sandwich. Met a friend there as well, and we chatted while I devoured lunch. Back on the road, the sun was peaking out of the clouds at times, but it remained cold all the way home. It never got over 10C (50F), in the middle of summer. The new bike has heated grips, and I had them on the whole way home. 

The ferry crossing at the Peace River always signifies that home is close, another 75km left to go. Coming home is bittersweet, as I will really miss seeing new country almost every day. It will be cool to sleep in my own bed, but all day thoughts of the next trip were floating through my head. There's so much more to see, and eastern Canada is high on my list of places to visit. Anyone out there feel like sponsoring another trip?

Had dinner with my brother Tim and his wife Chrissy, and it was great to catch up with them. I'm home now, have the bags unpacked, and the laundry basket is full. Tomorrow I will be washing my clothes and the bike if the weather is good. Right now it's time to get the photos on the computer and probably look through some of them. 

Obviously now that I'm home there won't be daily blog entries anymore, a task that I quite enjoyed over the last four weeks. It's a great resource for me as well, it will help to keep the memories alive as I look back in the future. I still plan to make an entry every now and then until I travel again. Hope you all enjoyed following along on my journey, one that is really never complete. 

The Almighty granted safety throughout the trip, never even having any mechanical failures during the almost 12,000km travelled, and blessed me with amazing experiences! I feel as though this trip has changed my perspective in many ways, and strengthened my faith. Life truly is a like a road, we never know what's around the next corner, but the guiding hands of our Creator always steer us in the direction He has chosen. I look forward to seeing where the journey will take me!

Cya in the wind:)

Day 27

The worst thing about buying a new bike is the break in process, some of which I had done yesterday. It still meant that I wasn't able to just set the cruise and pound the pavement home. As it was, the weather would have made the almost 1,000km home a very long day, so it was probably a good thing to break it up. My folks were heading south on vacation, I was heading north, so we arranged to stay in the same town. Dinner and a chat would fill the evening, and then we can go our separate ways in the morning. 

It was less than 100km before the rain started, no breaks from the weather just because I got the new bike. I didn't really mind the rain, I've come to terms with it by now, but man was it were cold! The rain was steady for the next 150km, in a few places there were downpours. In Mayerthorpe I pulled over to use a restroom, and ended up chatting with two bikers from Quebec for 15 or 20 minutes. I had planned to stop at Tim Hortons in Whitecourt to warm up with a coffee. The two guys wanted to stop there as well, and we arranged to meet. 

It was good to get out of the rain, and the three of us sat there for almost an hour. They are headed up to Dawson City in Yukon Territory. If I didn't need the money, I would postpone work and ride with them for a few weeks. Funny how a random encounter can lead to an immediate friendship, that just doesn't happen riding in a car. By the time we finished the sun was making an appearance, so we all got ready to ride. I wished them a safe trip and I was off. 

The sun didn't even last an hour, and the dark skies ahead promised another patch of rain. It was another 100km or so of hard rain and gusting winds, every bikers dream riding conditions. The final stretch was dry, which was nice. I arrived in Valleyview a little after 5pm, and took notice of two couples on trikes arriving just before me. It wasn't that long ago I was looking at South Dakota plates, and here they were again. Naturally I decided this called for a conversation, and I short order I learned they were all headed up to Alaska. They found it quite interesting that I had just been in their state, and now they were in my province. After chatting with them for 15 minutes I checked in and brought the bags to the room.

The hotel here is attached to a Tim Hortons, and having survived the very cold ride, another coffee sounded good. To my surprise, the two guys I had coffee with in Whitecourt had also stopped again. They had gotten gas next door, and also wanted a warm drink before their final leg of the day. 20 minutes later my folks had arrived and I again wished the bikers safe travels. 

I spent the evening with my parents, having dinner and then visiting. It was nice to have arranged this, a good way to spend the final evening of the trip. Tomorrow I plan to arrive at home, time to face the real world again. Four weeks sounded like a lot of time when I started, but it has flown by. I'm already thinking ahead to the next trip, it can't come soon enough! Time to win the lottery so I can do this for a living:)

Day 26

It kind of felt like I had come full circle this morning as I headed over to Gasoline Alley HD in Red Deer. They got my Heritage in the shop first thing to go over it and establish a value for trade in. I hadn't realized the sales department wouldn't be in until 9, which gave me time to do breakfast. 

When I returned, the sales guy and I spent some time talking, although I pretty much knew what I was looking for. Patrick Cousine is the man to talk to if you're coming here, he's a rider from way back and knows what's up. The staff here is very low pressure, they never made me feel like they were in a rush to get it done. He set me up with a demo bike, same thing I was looking at, and told me to get a feel for the bike. There was no limit on mileage, just be back in three hours. He probably knew this, but that made a big impact on my decision. 

This trip has taught me a ton, and I think I can finally call myself a biker. I tossed my jacket on the floor at one point to sit on the bike, and after I picked it up the sales guy made an observation. He said that over all his years in the business he'd learned how to pick out the actual riders from all the people he sees. I guess me tossing my jacket on the floor instead of hanging it up, or getting him to hold it put me in the "real" rider group. Probably just trying to butter me up:)

The demo ride was exactly what I needed. I took it out on the freeway, back roads, and city streets to get an idea of how it felt in all different situations. I was blown away by how smooth the ride is, and how agile it was for a big bike. Features like cruise control, and even the stereo, are all things to make the trip more comfortable as well. Overall, the entire package makes the Ultra Limited a great machine. 

Once I got back it took a few hours to get everything in order after I said yes to the deal. The service and attention to detail was impressive throughout the day. What I really liked was that they never seemed shady, every number was discussed, every question answered without reservation. The whole buying experience was low pressure, every decision was mine to make. I don't plan on buying another bike for a long time, but wouldn't even consider any other stores for the next one. I highly recommend this shop for anyone interested in a Harley!

I was out of the door before 4:00, itching to start the break in process. I cruised all through the streets of Red Deer, and then eventually got out on some of the back roads. The actual name of the bike is the Electra Glide Ultra Limited, and it really does glide! Had I known last year what I know now, this is the one I would have started out with. I could have ridden the same roads in a car, and it wouldn't have been anything close to this experience. Riding a car is like watching something on TV, everything is framed by the windows. Riding is actually get out, no climate control, no frames, just raw nature. There is simply no better way to travel, period. 

Like so many days in the last month, today felt surreal. I've been totally blessed to have the experiences I've had, and will forever remember this month of my life. I finally got to live the dream, which has created many more dreams! The trip isn't quite over, I will probably take two days to get home, just because I need to take it easy on the bike tomorrow. I certainly want to break it in right, it's got to run for many years now. Part of me is looking forward to coming home, especially catching up with people. None of my friends and family back home have blogs for me to read, so I'm looking forward to catching up. A big part of me wants to keep this going, but alas, that's not my reality at this point. 

I wish the pictures could capture how amazing the yellow is out in the sun, the pearl coat is sick!

Electra Glide Ultra Limited, FLHTK (aka Geezer Glide, Bagger, Full Dresser)

Day 25

With a relatively short ride planned for today, I was able to enjoy my morning coffee. The sun was out, but the temperature was cool compared to what I've become used to. It was very comfortable outside getting ready, and once I got going the cool air felt very refreshing. Highway 93 heading northeast out of Radium Hot Springs is a great road to start a day on. The traffic was light, and the scenery was fantastic. At one of the stops I got to talking with a couple from Grimshaw, pretty close to home. As usual, they seemed surprised that I was travelling alone after asking me about my vacation. 

As I turned into Highway 1 the traffic got significantly heavier, but I carved my way through them with ease. My bike seemed to enjoy the ride today, it's getting smoother the more I ride. After making the transition onto the Icefield Parkway, the traffic lessened a little. I didn't take a lot of pictures today, as I took a bunch coming through last year. It was kind of fun to just ride and not worry about trying to capture all the great sights. 

After getting gas and some food at The Crossing, I proceeded to head east on highway 11. This road also features majestic scenery, but it felt much too quick as the mountains began to fade in my mirrors. If it's not clear by now, I enjoy the mountain landscapes! Another thing I noticed as I got away from the park was the large increase in bugs. It made me realize how few bugs I've dealt with in the last three weeks. I can only imagine that they will get worse as I get closer to home. 

My sister and brother-in-law are camping close to Red Deer with his family, and it was only a few kilometres out of the way to stop in and see them. I ended up spending a few hours there, and they even fed me! It was relaxing to sit and enjoy the outdoors, and I think I would probably throw on a tent the next time I take a trip like this. Doing a mix of renting and hotels would be a great way to change it up, and probably save me quite a lot of money. Big thanks to Fred & Vanessa for inviting me over and feeding me dinner. 

It was about a half hour into Red Deer from there, and after checking in, it was time for a well deserved shower. I'm quite tired after the shower, and I would like to be at the dealership first thing tomorrow. I'm still unsure what I will do, but if the right deal is there I could be changing bikes. I guess we will have to wait and see what happens. 

Short distance out of Radium

Still on highway 93

On the Icefield Parkway

Camera washes out how deep the color of the water actually was

Along highway 11, outside of the park

Day 24

Today began early for me, one of the earlier starts to a day on the vacation so far. I decided it would be good to get out of the house the same time as Stan, not that I was going to be pressed for time, but I do lose an hour due to leaving the Pacific time zone. I could easily have stayed in bed another hour, and contemplated it, but once I was up I was good to go. Stan and I said our goodbyes and he was off to work. A few minutes later I had the bike loaded and I rolling. 

While getting gas for the bike I got a hunger pang, so a stop at Ihop for breakfast was in order. I was glad I took the time, because I felt much more ready after the meal. 

Four days of not riding felt strange after being on the bike every day for three weeks, but it was very enjoyable to be in the wind once again. The miles melted away today, probably due to being well rested. The four days with Stan & Jessie in Pasco were awesome, and I will miss the two of them, and I will even miss their dogs:). Sometimes it sucks when good friends are far away, but I'm glad that we do get to stay connected. This whole journey so far has really made me wonder at times where it is that I belong, I feel like a man without a home some days. It was my hope that I would find some answers on this trip, but so far I'm left with more questions. 

The temperature has been very warm for the last two weeks, and today it never warmed up too much. It seemed to get cooler as I made my way north, a very nice temperature for riding. I took highway 395 north, which eventually merges with I-90. A little way into Idaho, I turned north onto highway 95, which would take me over the border. It was 3:15 MST when I crossed over into my motherland, another quick and easy crossing. By the time I arrived in Cranbrook a light rain was falling, but not enough to get uncomfortable. I stopped for a snack and then continued on. 

A little south of Fairmont I pulled into a rest stop for a little break. Prairie dogs have built themselves quite a city there, and it was kind of neat to sit and watch them. I probably say there for half an hour before hitting the road. The Tim Hortons in Invermere was calling my name, nowhere in the USA was I able to find coffee like we have at Timmy's. A bowl of chilli and a sandwich would be enough for dinner, the coffee was exactly what I needed. 20 minutes later I was checking into my room at the Crystal Springs Motel in Radium Hot Springs. 

Even though the miles flew by, it still took 9 hours (plus the hour I lost) to get here. A bit of a short night, combined with riding all day, have me feeling tired. I will sleep well tonight, and then ride through the Canadian Rockies tomorrow. It looks like I will be heading to Red Deer once again, this time to look at possibly trading my cruiser for a touring model. Time will tell, I'm a little uncertain, especially after how well the bike has worked for me.

Shortly after this the landscape begins to change

Northern Idaho, not far from the international border

Just after crossing through customs, curious lack of flags from either country at the crossing, unless I somehow missed them

Beautiful country coming up highway 93 from Cranbrook

This little guy was quite brave, all the rest disappeared anytime I got within 15 feet. I'm only about 5-6 feet away from this dog

Where I lay my head is home:)

Day 21, 22, 23

One might think that the lack of blog entries means I've been really busy, but it's been the opposite actually. I've had a great time just hanging out, doing a few things, but mostly just really enjoying the great weather and being with friends. We have had slow starts to each day, drinking coffee in Stan & Jessie's backyard in the morning sun. They have been working very hard to totally transform it, and it's turned into a great place to spend mornings and evenings. 

Stan and I went to his shop on Friday to meet a few of the guys, and he wanted to show me the way things work here. It seemed organized quite well, and the guys I met seemed like great guys to work for. It's a large company, so a totally different environment than I'm used to back home. 

After we finished there we headed over to Rattlesnake Mountain HD to look at some bikes, something Stan suggested we do. He's got the riding bug still stuck in him, and maybe someday we will be able to ride together. I sat on a few bikes, trying to get a feel for the Ultra Limited that I've been thinking of. I can only imagine how awesome it would be to own on for travelling. If I thought I knew what I wanted before, I for sure know now!

On Saturday the three of us played some golf, which was fun. We played a par 3 course, which kept it from being to daunting of a task in the heat. We didn't play well, but still enjoyed getting out and hitting balls. After a short nap and a shower, we spent the evening with their friends from church. Being a bit of an introvert, it's always hard to put myself out there, but I enjoyed meeting new people and getting to know some of their friends. It didn't hurt that the brisket that had been on the smoker for 14 hours was delicious! There's hardly any bugs out here, so sitting outside in the evening really is very enjoyable. We've done a lot of catching up outside the last few days. 

It's been another rejuvenating day again so far today, and though I'm looking forward to making miles again, I will very much miss Stan & Jessie when I leave. I'm so glad that it worked out for me to spend some time here, because it is important to me to keep the friendship alive. I'm not really looking forward to getting back to reality, this has been too much fun, and I'm glad it's another week yet. 

Right now it's time to take a shower and get out of the house for a while, so cya on the road:)

Day 20

For the first time in almost three weeks I was not spending the night in a hotel, and that translated into a great night of sleep. Waking up refreshed, knowing that the day was going to be quite lazy was also something I looked forward to. It tuned into a very restful day, even featuring an afternoon nap! 

The only real plan we had was to take in the fireworks in the evening, but first we had a fantastic dinner. I've been treated to amazing food and great company here, a big change from just being another customer on the road. 

After dinner and great conversation, we headed out to watch the city's fireworks display. It was a great show, the organizers did a good job with the presentation. I'm more tired now than I have been while I was travelling, so it's time to turn in for the night. 

Day 19

After a nice breakfast, and some more coffee in the room, I was back on the road. This will be the last day of riding for a few days, as I will be spending time with friends in the Tri-Cities area in Washington. I've been looking forward to doing some catching up with them, celebrating the 4th of July here, and just getting a chance to rest a little. Three weeks if riding every day isn't something my back is used to, although I haven't gotten to tired yet. 

It was a breezy day for the most part, and I would fight headwinds and crosswinds all day. My fuel mileage was well down from the normal as well. The wind deflectors lasted until Boise, where I pulled over and took them off. They just created terrible wind patterns on my current setup, which was too bad. 

It was a nice day outside, a little cooler than it has been, but still very warm. Despite all the wind, the miles went by quickly, and I enjoyed the ride. Shortly after entering Oregon I entered the Pacific Time Zone, the first time zone change in my entire trip, encompassing 2 provinces and 9 states. I hadn't thought about that in the morning, but it still worked out well. 

Throughout my journey so far, I've met many bikers, and today I met two that stood out. There was a younger one, probably late 20's that was doing his first out of state run, and I could identify with his enthusiasm. The other was an older gentleman, riding an '06 Triumph Bonneville, making what he said was his last hurrah. It was kind of sad to think of him making his last big trip, hopefully he gets to keep doing them in the future. There is always a story to every person we meet, and I always like to hear ad much as I can. It doesn't matter where we come from, race, gender, or age. People all seem to have a part of them that needs adventure, to find what's around the other bend, and to develop human connections to share with. 

I arrived in Pasco right around 6:00pm, and had a happy reunion with Stan and Jessie. It was really nice to see familiar faces, and as we sat and visited the evening just flew by. Sometimes the days are much too short. Right now it's late and time for me to get some sleep!

Day 18

I find it hard to believe that 18 days have gone by, this vacation is quickly slipping away. The day began in a bit of a rush, after I overslept a little. I couldn't fall asleep last night despite being dead tired. My neck and shoulders are all cramped up, causing pretty nasty headaches the last couple days. I know I've been drinking more than enough water, mixing in some Gatorade with it to replace what water can't. 

I made it to Chester's Grand Teton HD a few minutes late. The guys at this shop are the best I've come across from any HD shop I've visited. They got me in on short notice, and they worked as quickly as they could to get me on the road. The location is good, and I got a walk in and then relaxed over coffee and a muffin. I did some reading, just enjoying some leisure time in the shade. When I got back to the shop, I spent some time looking at bikes. The more I look, the more the Ultra Limited is growing on me. I can only imagine how comfortable that bike would be, I would only need to bring a small bag into the room every night. The cruise control would be a serious luxury, one that I would very much enjoy. 

It was after lunch by the time I was on the road again, in the blistering heat. I felt absolutely brutal for that first hour, my stomach was turning and I felt very lethargic. After a stop where I drank a bottle of Gatorade and ate an ice cream sandwich, I took a few migraine pills, and began to feel better. I would not totally shake the headache today though. 

Not long after the stop I got to Craters of the Moon National Park. What a unique piece of land that is, some of it feels almost like another planet. Doing the loop road is 7 miles, and I took quite a few pictures. Unfortunately I didn't see that something went wrong, and almost none of the pictures on my phone turned out good. I was almost done with the loop road when light showers started falling, and it was great relief from the heat. For the next ten miles showers came and went, but I eventually out ran them. 

The rest of the ride was super hot, and I was very disappointed with the wind deflectors I had installed on the bike. They don't make much of a difference, and when I use the highway pegs I actually get worse buffeting from the wind. I will give them another try tomorrow, but they are on borrowed time. 

I stopped in Mountain Home for the night, beat from a combination of the heat and the ever lingering headache from the last few days. I've ended up with possibly the most arrogant and ignorant people on earth in the room beside me, which could mean a long night ahead. I guess that comes with staying in hotels, but I don't understand why people can't just show a little respect for those around them. 

Tomorrow I get to Washington state, and I'm very much looking forward to a few relaxing days with friends and no hotel rooms. It took 9 months to get to 1000 views on this blog, and now the next 1000 came in 11 days. I guess the key is to travel and post often:)

Craters of the Moon NP

Day 17 - Canada Day!

As the day began today I thought of Canada, my home, and had to celebrate alone today as I did not meet anyone from the homeland. The day started like every other, eating a little breakfast and getting fuelled up with some coffee. The bike loading routine is robotic at this point, everything has a spot and goes on the same way every time. 

I headed south on main street in Logan, where they could use a little help numbering the streets and keeping road signs visible from behind trees and shrubs. It is a beautiful town, don't get me wrong, but I'm blaming them for me missing the sign and the having to back track a mile or so:). Once I finally found Highway 89 (clearly visible this time around), I pointed my front wheel east and got out of town. No interstate riding in the plans today, instead I happened upon a twisting, winding road. No better way to start the day than by grinding down my highway pegs. 

Construction season has been in full force throughout my vacation, yet I've had very few delays. A few miles down the road I was stopped for about ten minutes, and being the first in line, I got into a lively chat with the flag boy. He had just graduated, and he was amazed at his surroundings. It was a nice morning, and the scenery was easy on the eyes, but this kid hadn't been out of the city much in his life. He told me how his heart was racing, and how awesome it was to be out in nature. It was great to see a kid that excited to experience just being outdoors. In my opinion, there's far too many kids in North America that never really get to see nature, instead they are trapped behind screens living a virtual reality. The sights and smells of our great countries, and the freedom to explore them should not be taken for granted. 

After leaving that stop I continued on my way, stopping again at the overlook just before making the descent down to Garden City on the shores of Bear Lake. I took a few pictures, read a few plaques, and then got back to riding. I turned north once I got to the lake, electing to stay on highway 89, and travelled through a series of villages until I stopped to get gas in Montpelier, ID. 

There was a lot of amazing country after that, and I really would love living in southwestern Wyoming. I just really enjoyed the ride today, knowing that I only have a few more days before returning to more familiar country. It's not that I won't enjoy the trip home, but very little of that trip will be new to me. I guess the thought of returning to reality kind of hit me for the first time, I don't want to go back to reality! It was perfect weather today, not quite as stifling hot as the last few days, just nice and warm. 

I finally rolled into Jackson, and after a quick lunch there, it was off to see Teton National Park. I wasn't able to get this in while I was in Yellowstone, and knew I would regret not seeing the Tetons. They are impressive, mostly because of the tremendous vertical relief. It goes from a flat valley to 13,770 feet at the highest point, 5000-7000 feet above the valley floor. Riding on the park road was impressive, and then riding up to the summit of Signal Mountain was another spectacular view. One can see for many miles from up there, it was a great view. Got to talking with a man from Colorado up there, it was fun to share the view with someone friendly. I'm going to miss all the spontaneous chats with strangers. 

Coming back on the main road south to Jackson, our line of vehicles was stopped so that a herd of horse could be moved to a range across the road. It was an interesting sight, not a frequent one that's for sure. 

Traffic was insane in Jackson, the little town is bursting at its seams during the peak summer tourist season. Getting onto highway 22 towards Victor, ID it felt like rush hour in a city. Traffic was barley moving all the way to the base of the Teton Pass. The pass was intense, 10% grades up and then the same grades down. The turns are sharp, which is kind of fun when coming down. Left a lot more chrome from the pegs on that stretch of road. In Victor, I took highway 31 west, finally out of lineups. There were a lot of vehicles going in the other direction, but hardly any going my way until turning onto highway 26 at Swan Valley. There's a lot of nice farmland east of Idaho Falls, I could see myself living on a farm out here. I'm getting all nostalgic and I'm not even gone yet:)

I was tired by the time I got to the hotel in Idaho Falls, and was surprised to find that they actually have a complimentary dinner buffet. It's salads and homemade soups, and it was a great supper. The Cajun Corn Soup was delicious, and it was nice not to have to try and find something yet. By the time I was out of the shower it was after 9:30, and now it's time for bed. 

Not sure how much riding I will get done tomorrow, my bike has an appointment for a service job, and I may add a thing or two as well, depending what I find. Either way, I will at the very least ride highway 20 to Mountain Home, a route that comes highly recommended. From there it's one more day to The Tri-Cities, where I will spend a long weekend catching up with friends. 

This is the spot where the flagger was so excited:)

Looking down at Bear Lake

Back in Wyoming

Teton range, there's the vertical relief I mentioned

From the summit of Signal Mountain, looking east

Looking in a more southerly direction

This one's for you Mom, figured you would like the flowers

Crop of canola not far from Idaho Falls, makes me feel right at home, and I know Pops is gonna like that

Day 16

After a great night of sleep, I was ready to get back on the road this morning. No matter how tired I am at the end of a day, by morning the blacktop is once again calling. I've wondered many times why I have such a desire to see new places, and it must just be the human instinct to see what's around the next corner, over the next hill. Riding a motorcycle has been a great way to experience this journey, there are no distractions from electronics. Just me and the open road, all the sights and smells, nothing standing between me and the elements. 

The day started in Grand Junction, a sunny and warm morning. For some reason, I had it in my head the Utah would be boring, thinking the only scenic parts were in the south. I don't know why I have these preconceived notions in my head, but they seem to always be wrong. The heat of the day was coming quickly, but I was ready for it. Riding today, I once again thought of the early travellers through these lands. What must have been going through their minds. It must have felt like they were at the end of the earth. The rock formations are magnificent works of creation, and once again I didn't even see the best of the state. There is much here left to see, and I will be back. 

The route today had me on some interstates and some two-lane highway. Shortly after Green River, I turned north on US-6. The interstate system is awesome, and when the traffic is light it's easy travelling. Traffic was very steady today, but there are plenty of passing lanes on US-6 to keep it flowing nicely. There were two times today where I thought I was getting pulled over, both times the trooper passed me and stopped someone else. The way the bike is geared, 65mph is the worst speed to try and stay at. I don't like the high RPM in fifth gear, and feel like I'm lugging the engine in sixth. 75mph is the perfect speed, and it's where I get the best fuel mileage. Another interesting thing I've noticed, even with my full load, the uphill stretches don't hurt the fuel mileage as much as the downhill sections help.

All throughout the journey so far I've thought often how different the places feel compared to home. Yet everywhere I travel people are right at home. A quote by Crazy Horse has lingered in my head, and it carries so much truth. "My lands are where my dead lie buried". 

One thing that has stood out to me has been the friendliness of everyone I've met. I've had great chats with complete strangers, and a lot of friendly small talk. I've been treated very well everywhere I've gone, even like family by some. Bikers of every type are friendly, and it's a comfort to know that they all would seem come to my aid if needed. 

Here's a few pics from today, quite a few of which were taken while riding (safely of course). 

This picture almost doesn't look real, the blacktop was really black here. 

Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honour depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge Psalm 62:6-7