Left Lethbridge at 9:30 to drive along some of our favorite roads. Went west to pick up Hwy 22 and head north along the foothills (hills and mountains on the left, prairies on the right) to Longview (home of famous 'beef jerky' and home of singer / rancher Ian Tyson) where we stopped for coffee/lunch. Then west and north along Hwy 40 over the Highwood Pass (Canada's highest paved road at 7,300 ft -- road is open June 15 to Sept 15 >> closed due to likely snow the rest of the season). A great trip, and we found ourselves above the snow line. Met mountain sheep and a 'moose' along the way -- just munching on a tree by the road. A little over 300 km today. Total actual trip (excluding the one 'day trip) turns out to be 4,100 km. Arrive in Canmore by 4:00; in time for some furniture to be delivered at 5:00. We're 'home'!!!! Oh.........and the Lilacs are in full bloom in Canmore (unlike Ontario where they died off a couple of months ago --- maybe we've gone back in time out here !!???!!
Stay tuned for a few more blog posts in next day or two.
A day off from travel today, so Roy and I decide to go to Waterton National Park. Susan gets a day to spend with Sheila and take it easy. A very nice ride along some great roads took us to the national park. A great look-out along the way. Took the road part way to Big Chief Mountain to see the view, then back to Waterton to see the Prince of Wales Hotel, some of the town and Cameron Lake. Upon leaving the lake we decided to head north out of Waterton (skip seeing Red Rock Canyon) as a storm was moving in -- we stayed ahead of it and had a nice trip back to Lethbridge. 390 km. Mike came down to Lethbridge for the evening/night -- great to see him and spend some time together. Tomorrow, we're off to Canmore!!!
A 9:00 start with sunny and blue sky -- nice. Oh, oh --- we just started and the rain clouds appeared in the south -- rain gear time -- a nice rain storm (no mud!!!). Managed to find a really bad road (50 km) with lots of pot holes to be avoided -- tiresome; Sask. seems to have a number of roads in relatively bad shape -- what we heard from others and certainly our experience --- noticed a major improvement once we crossed the border into Alberta. What views on the road -- this is definitely 'big sky' country. Lots of deer and newly formed lakes. Since we have been travelling much further north than planned (actually somewhat NE of Calgary), we headed south to Lethbridge to visit with Susan's cousin Sheila and husband Ray. Got in about 7:00pm. Great to see Ray and Sheila again, and they provided accommodation to the three of us for a couple of nights -- a nice rest not having to be on the road again. However, riding time is always on the schedule! 784 km today.
An 8:30 start today. Route change due to flooding of the roads and wash-outs. We decided to head NW to Watrous and Manitou Beach resort and spa (the detour will add about 400km to our overall trip). Mainly backroad travel. Had to get off one of the roads to let a 'house' travel by, also managed to overcome some flooding by travelling down the centre line of the highway while water flowed over the road --- they do have water here -- ponds and lakes where farm land usually exists. Today was 477 km. Lake Manitou has very high salt content (more than the Dead Sea) -- it is impossible to drown in the lake as you bob like a cork!!! Saw lots of deer today. Had a wonderful room, nice meal. A good walk around the town --- took a 'traveller' (a Rye and ice!!!) with us. Great little vacation resort and an historical dance hall (check out the pic).
First activity of the day was to clean the mud off the bike -- looked much better!! Got a later start after a previous long and tiring day -- away at 10:00am. The plan was to go to Winnipeg today and stay with a friend for a couple of days, but due to a newly 'broken ankle' on the part of our host, we thought it better to skip the visit and bypass Winnipeg. Just a few kilometres inside the Manitoba border, the trees that surrounded us much of the trip come to a sudden and abrupt end --- welcome to the prairies where at times you seem to be able to see forever. Warm and sunny. Oh, oh ---- some major storm clouds to the west and north. Maybe we'll get lucky and miss the 'severe lightening and rain storm' since we're heading off to highway 2 (south of the Trans-Canada) to get more of the small road and small town experience. Yes -- we did bypass the storms and that was a good thing. Made an ice cream stop in small town Manitoba -- the pause that refreshes. Decided to go to Virden for overnight. Nice little town and a rather good and inexpensive meal. Beer goes well with whatever we were going to eat. Nightfall is late, as we are now 'north of 49'. 665 km today.
An 8:15 start to the day at 14 celcius. Sky is clear and sunny. Stopped at Schreiber for coffee/lunch. Generally speaking a good travel day until we started to get closer to Fort Frances --- two things arose -- rain (not really a bad thing, but..............) and road construction that went on for about 20km. The construction included potholes (hidden by rain puddles) and some sections with large stone gravel that made it seem like we were travelling on large ball bearings -- not a particularly comfortable experience. While we travelled this section at reduced speed, the drivers behind us were courteous and didn't attempt to pass. Lots of lightly coloured mud covering the bikes and us. Finally ran out of the mess near Fort Frances and we were looking forward to a rest. Not to be -- wouldn't you know, a convention in town and a couple of tournaments. The tourist bureau advised that Nellis Falls was our best bet and we headed further NW, arriving just over an hour later (about 7:30) -- 948 km. A 'rustic' motel and clean. A homey / country place to eat. What wines do they have here to go with dinner -- red and white is the answer; French or Canadian we ask -- we are advised that it is French since it has a 'french name' -- further investigation of the label on the bottle reveals a Canadian wine. We're in the north; this is beer country -- we need to stop asking details on wine --- red or white is all we need to decide on. Well fed and a little drink --- good night after a long day.
Haven't been able to post to Blog as 2G & 3G telephone service (which I need) wasn't available to me (phone does not work -- true for much of this trip, so blog is written retrospectively), but Susan has 1X service - whatever that means, but it does mean that her phone works. Nice sunny day to start off from Ballentrae (north of Toronto). Met Roy at Tim Horton's at Hwy 400/Innisfil Rd; Paul C caught up to Roy at Hwys 400/7 and rode up with him -- nice to say a goodbye to Paul - a terrific riding buddy >> will miss you. At 8:20 Roy and I were riding and Susan was following in her vehicle. Always amazed at how the geography changes towards the north - all that 'Canadian Shield' granite exposed, some smaller trees and vegetation, and thousands of little lakes and ponds. Sudbury is well announced by the presence of the 'super stack' at the iron ore mine, which now allows cleaner air in that city, and plants and trees which previously did not grow, now do so -- imagine the affect that bad air used to have on people over the long term -- all in the goal for economic growth and profit! By-passed the city and headed west. Took the road around Sault Ste Marie and made it to Wawa at 7:30pm for a late dinner at a reasonably nice eatery for the town. Motel was adequate, clean and reasonable. Much more sun light later into the night since we've driven north most of the day. Saw a bear --- ran across the road in front of us (immediately after we passed an 18-wheeler >> at least the driver saw what was happening, and we all slowed down without a problem -- glad the bear got all the way across somewhat ahead of us. The trip around and near Lake Superior shore was very scenic. Temp was 16 to 25 C; mainly sunny. 924km today. Goal for tomorrow is Fort Frances.
