Washington Trip - Day 12

Today started with breakfast and some more visiting, a good start to a tiring day. Leona and I want to thank you so much again for a great stay Peter & Lenora! You made us feel right at home, and your hospitality was more than you would have had to do. It was a blessing to spend time with your family, all the best in the coming months. 

The ride out of the city was quick and easy, and shortly after turning north on 44 the rain began coming down. We had gone over 4,000km with really no rain, but made up for it today. It rained pretty much the whole way home, the precipitation stopping around North Tall Cree. At times it was light rain, but for the most part it came down fairly hard. 

The bright spot of the trip was in Red Earth, of all places. Getting gas there has never been fun when it's raining, because the place is just a mud hole. The new Esso just opened this week, and the yard is paved, which is awesome in this kind of weather. I now have a go to spot for gas there, and hope that lots of people stop and keep that place going. 

It was right around 6pm when we arrived at home, tired, wet, and cold. No amount of rain gear seems to work when it rains all day like this, or maybe I just don't have the right stuff. It was an ugly day to be riding, but after a hot shower it felt much better. 

The trip total ended up being 4,670km, short but packed full of good times and memories. We thank the Lord for safety on the highways, and for getting us home safe. We were blessed by time with friends, as well as in the many conversations with strangers. I also thank God for Leona, she made the trip a lot of fun, and is tough as nails when she has to be. She sat through as rank a day today as there really is on a bike, and didn't complain once. Not many people I know would be as capable as she is, she's either stone cold crazy, or she just loves riding!

My biker wife, tough as nails

Can't really tell, but the leaves are changing a little in color

Washington Trip - Day 11

We woke up this morning in Pincher Creek, the clouds and rain gone, replaced by sunny skies. Though the sun was out, it was still quite chilly, but not so much that it was cold. After the amazing day yesterday the ride was relaxing, almost boring, despite the nice scenery in southern Alberta. 

One thing I forgot to mention in the last post was some funny stuff from the short ride on highway 17 in Montana. It takes you from highway 89 to the Chief Mountain border crossing. It's free range country, which means cows can be on the road at any time, and they were. It's a little un-nerving not knowing what the cows will do, and Leona and I had some good laughs as we dodged cows and cow pies on the road. It felt so strange, certainly not something we were used to. 

In Olds, after getting gas, we stopped at the grounds of Olds College to lay down in the grass and rest. It was nice to feel the sun and be able to close our eyes for a while. The last leg of the day's ride was up the Deuce to Edmonton. There was a lot of traffic, but it moved smoothly until we got onto the Henday. The last few kilometres were bumper to bumper. 

It was awesome to get to Peter & Lenora's, where we got to unwind and enjoy dinner with them. We all went out for ice cream yet, and got a chance to catch up. It's nice to be able to spend time with friends on the road, always feels more like home. 

It was close to midnight when we finally shut down for the day, drifting off to sleep quickly. 

Heading west on highway 3

Another look at the mountains in the Bragg Creek area

Pounding slab north on the Deuce

Almost at Peter & Lenora's 

Washington Trip - Day 10

During the winter of 2012-13 I was doing research for the upcoming bike trip for the summer of 2013, and discovered the Going to the Sun road in Glacier NP. I was stoked to add that to the list. I arrived there on Jun. 20/13, only to find the road was not yet open. One year later, I tried the road again, only to find an avalanche has closed it temporarily. Last year I didn't try the road on my trip. For over three years that road has been beckoning. Today was finally the day!

Leona and I started in Kalispell, departing at 10am under sunny skies and chilly temperatures. The ride to West Glacier was relaxing, though the anticipation was building in me. I half expected to be turned around again once we got to the park. Quite the opposite, we actually got in free (we still donated $20) because of the National Park Service's 100th anniversary!

In 2013 I was able to ride up to Avalanche Creek, but there's not much to see up to that point. The views just kept getting better after passing that point. Riding up to the Loop was relaxing, but it became exhilarating after that. Though I'm fairly comfortable on most roads, the fear of heights still rears its head on a road like this. It's absolutely amazing how far down it drops beside the road, no pictures can show it accurately! Leona and I were both a little nervous, but the majestic views were so worth it. 

One keeps climbing, hugging the edge of the mountains for miles, the views ever changing and becoming ever more beautiful! We will be coming back again someday I'm sure. We spent a lot of time at the look offs, drinking in the scenery and talking with people from all over the USA. There were so many people in Glacier today, but traffic moved smoothly, and it never really felt congested. 

It was around 4pm when we got to St. Mary, five hours to ride 80km. We got there just in time, as the clouds opened up minutes after arriving. We decided it was the perfect time to eat dinner and wait out the storm. By 5:30 we were back on the road, crossing back into Canada at 6:00. We caught a few drops of rain into Pincher Creek, though it was hardly worth mentioning. It did rain quite a bit after we arrived, but we were dry in the hotel room. 

The wait for today was worth it, and to share it with my beautiful wife was the icing on the cake! We have had an awesome trip together, enjoying each other's company and learning more of each other. It's such a blessing to be able to do this together, and we look forward to more of this in the future!

Just getting started

Turning at The Loop, it got crazy after this

Beside the creek in the middle of the picture, way down there, is only a few minutes away

Road hugging the side of the mountain

If you zoom in you can see the road way down there

The arches are beautiful

Amazing how far one can see

Picture of me taking a picture lol

Almost at St. Mary, looking west along the lake

Chief mountain

Back in Canada 

The pictures don't do justice, go and see this park yourselves, you will never regret it

Washington Trip - Day 9

Today we found ourselves with very little on the agenda for most of the day, and we took advantage of it. We slept in, had breakfast, and then hung out in the room until 11:00am check out. We got gas and rode a few kilometres up the interstate to the Grizzly Harley Davidson. We spent nearly two hours there, buying a few things and chatting with other riders. By then we were both a little hungry so we found some lunch. 

The timing for lunch was great, as showers passed through while we were eating. Time was starting to slip away, though we only had a short ride up to the Kalispell area. We caught a handful of raindrops shortly after leaving Missoula, but not enough to even count as rain riding. For the record, I consider this trip to be rain free, and it's the furthest I can remember ever riding without rain!

The ride north on highway 93 is beautiful, especially once you get to the Flathead Lake area. We checked into our hotel just south of Kalispell, freshened up, and rode back down to Lakeside. 

Once in Lakeside, we found the home of Issac and LaDawn, where we were treated to an awesome dinner. We spent the entire evening there, visiting and getting a tour of the YWAM (Youth With a Mission) base. It actually used to be a US Air Force base, established in the 1950's during the Cold War. They have worked with YWAM for over 20 years, and have had a huge impact from what I could tell. 

I was especially encouraged in talking with Issac tonight, he is a wise man who is being used by God for great things. Despite all he has going on he genuinely had time to talk one on one with me, and also when the four of us were together. I expected to have a good evening, but it was so much better than expected. Living a Christian life can be tough at times, but it's always because of our failures as humans. The great spiritual chat was welcomed today, and I learned a lot from Issac and LaDawn. I don't know if you guys read the blog, but if you do, Leona and I can't thank you both enough for taking the time to visit with us tonight! We were both really blessed by our time with you!

Tomorrow we finally ride Going to the sun road, unless something crazy happens. It should be an awesome day, filled with beautiful scenery, and I for one can't wait!

Cool looking Harley shop

Sign made me chuckle 

Thankfully we didn't see any

Once again, Leona gets credit for some of the pictures, thanks again for taking them baby:)