Wherever I May Roam: Day 34

This morning started off a little cooler than the last few, although not much and it didn't last. In the shadows it was actually chilly for the first hour and I though about putting on my jacket but it warmed up quickly. Having travelled the roads I'd be on today before, I didn't need to look at my Google maps, which added some more relaxation to the ride. I picked the route through Golden and Jasper for the scenery, which is better than highway 5 through Kamploops and Valemount in my opinion. It was a little more kilometers, there would be more tourists on the roads, but it was worth it.

Taking in the mountain scenery is so much better on a bike as there's nothing to obstruct the views, and I enjoyed this more than the last time I passed through in a cage. You get all the smells as well as the warmth of the sun. I stopped in Golden for gas and an ice cream at Dairy Queen before continuing on to the Icefield Parkway.

As much scenery as I've seen the last couple years, there is still nothing that beats the scenery right in my own province. The 250km or so that I rode on the Parkway today gets me every time. There aren't the awe inspiring switchbacks of Beartooth, or views from high up on the mountains, but being surrounded by mountains that reach to the sky is awesome! It's quite possibly my favorite place on earth and a certain peace comes with being there.

I stopped at the Saskatchewan crossing for a pee break and ended up talking with two guys from Wisconsin. My experience, limited as it may be, of the area seemed to help them decide what routes they were going to take. They had never been in Canada before and it was nice to hear them say they liked our country. Both of them mentioned that it didn't seem much different from the USA, and there really aren't that many differences other than prices, the money, and the way we measure things. They asked me some questions about our political system and the availability of work. We got interrupted a few times by some transient that would rant about Guns N Roses, Lady Gaga, and the BC premier. He was completely off his rocker, cursing the above mentioned parties, as well as expressing his desire to kill them. I'm not sure what he was on, but that man needs Jesus!

The temperatures at the Columbia Icefields was cold, so I put my jacket on for the first time since day 28. That was short lived because it was back to 30 degrees by the time I stopped in Jasper for gas. That town is hoping this time of the year, and I enjoy the touristy atmosphere there, but it was getting late and I needed to keep going.

As I rode from Jasper to Hinton it began to hit home that this trip is as good as over. It will be good to get home, go to work and make some money, but I'd love to keep this experience going. I will have been gone for exactly 5 weeks but it feels much shorter in some ways. When I think back to the beginning of the trip it kind of feels like a long time ago, but not really. The days tend to blend together, passing far too quickly. There is nothing I enjoy more in life than sitting on the bike and making miles through God's beautiful creation. I just need to figure out how to do this for a living lol! I rode slower than usual on that last leg, enjoying the evening and not wanting it to end.

I arrived at the hotel around 9pm where I'll spend my last night on the road. Tomorrow I'll make the trek home, unless by some miracle the dealer in Edmonton would have time to change the tires on the bike. I could probably squeeze a few thousand kilometers more out of them, which is probably what I'll do. They might even last until spring which would be nice for the bank account, though I doubt that's possible.