Kansas to Prince Rupert, BC, Canada or Bust!

Remember, you are there to relax and have fun. Don't forget to stop and smell the roses along the way instead of being there to just stick to following a schedule. Glad to hear you're having a good time on your trip. Ride safe and have a good one. I'm still jealous. You're there and the others at R3 and me sitting here on computer.

 

So you did get a stretchy Cargo Net,,.. good deal, they seem to be infinitely expandable, still room for the Mother-In-Law under there.


Your Digital Clock shows 2AM?,,.. But then Theory shows, The Faster you Go, the More you go Back in Time (don't get caught).
You'll get across Saskabush in no time. Even Alberta is mostly Flat.
Hopefully you've already converted to Kilometers (hold SELECT button down for 2 seconds).
3 liters of 10W40 (non diesel) now on site.
If you're riding in the Rain a lot, Lube the Chain everyday.

Yup, nothing like Traveling Adventures,,.. Stuff Happens,,..

 

There is an understatement right there. I go to R3 every second year. Just because the wife raised an eyebrow when I went two years consecutive in the beginning. This was supposed to be my year to go. But other travel plans for me this year threw a wrench into those plans. Reg called me at 06:45 this morning. The bastard! But I was already up and wondering how things were going there anyways. I really wished I was there.

I would dearly love to be riding along with AM too. What a journey she is having! Yes, smell the roses from time to time. But I do understand the lure of just getting on the bike and riding as many miles as you can in a day. I have done that a few times. The great news is we will likely be enjoying her company for a night when she rolls through here. I might get to ride along with her for a bit on arrival and departure. Depends on the cherry tree. There is about 60 pounds up there getting ready for harvest right about that time. Love fresh cherries.

BTW. You do recognize the difference between moose and cows don't you?

 

Still looks like a great time AM. The closer you get to the west coast the curvier the roads will become. Promise. The Trans Canada Hwy can at times seem long and flat as you head through the prairie provinces. Still lots of scenery, especially if you've never seen any of it, and the odd moose. LOL

As you head into the Rockies, the Trans Canada has lots more in the way of twists and turns so you'll get some more technical roads and some more stunning scenery. When I was a kid, my family lived in Edmonton, and we used to holiday in the Okanagan and Kootenay region of BC, and we also spent a lot hours on the road visiting my grand parents in Winnipeg. The drive to Winnipeg at a young age was visually inspiring with the vast fields of grain stretching out as far as you could see, waving fields of crops, and the wild life along the highway. Playing "eye spy" with my brother in the back seat of the family station wagon. My dad worked for AGT (Alberta Government Telephones) when I was younger and one year a guy my dad worked with mentioned this little resort with cabins on the shores of the Okanagan Lake in Kelowna. He told my dad how fantastic a place it was to spend a couple weeks relaxing in the sun on the beach, so we took a trip out west. I can remember that age 5 the long drive from Edmonton to Jasper and on to Kelowna seemed so awe inspiring. The roads went from straight and somewhat featureless to twisty with large rolling hills, then very winding with huge mountain peaks all around, waterfalls, and all manner of wild life like deer, elk, big horn sheep, mountain goats, moose, bears.

I truly envy the fact that you'll get to see it all for the FIRST time, but on a BIKE. Looking forward to more pictures and reports. Such an adventure.

 

Ah! She has turned into a Timmies Groupie. They do have Tim Hortons down in the USA now you know. But not like here.

 

Doesn't matter where you go in Canada, there always seems to be a Timmies nearby. Truly a member of Canadian culture. LOL. That and the word "Eh".

Honestly though, it's NOT always cold up here in Canada (or snowing), it can get truly HOT. Hope things warm up for you a bit in the near future.

 

I am watching with envy.
I have to wait till September for my next cross Australia ride. 5000km in 8 days.

 

If on your travels you come across a Canadian Tire, Marks Work Wearhouse or (less likely unless you look for one) a Mountain Equipment Coop pick up a set of Hot Paws hand and foot warmers. They are disposable and come in packs. You simply open the package squeeze and they the small flat pads warm up quickly and can last up top 12 hours. This is a link to the MEC website but the package is small enough to carry on a bike and If you stuck one in your glove on the back of your hand it might help to keep you warmer. At the very least you could open one up when you stop to warm your hands with. But a good cup of Timmies works as well. LOL

http://www.mec.ca/product/5038-968/heat-factory-hand-warmer-24-pack/?q=glove+heaters

 

Well, of course. You don't hunt cows. lol

 

Thrills & Chills (no spills)

Yes, you need to Stay Warm. If you pass a certain point it takes forever to warm back up.
No fun gettin DiaperThermia. If it stays Dry you'll be OK.
Our Rain is colder than American Rain.
Always travel with a Turtle Neck. I even use a Neck Tube from Skiing.

All the "Fox" you are seeing are probably Coyotes. There are about 10 Coyotes for every Fox out there (maybe 20).
You remind my of my Wife, who considers all 4 legged creatures "horses",,.. there are "long legged horses", "short horses", "fat horses", "furry horses and "horses with antlers"",,.. gotta send her to Aminal School,,.

 

Don't know if you have a heated vest AM but if not, it might be something you could look at in one of the local motorcycle shops along your journey. They can vary greatly in cost, but might help keep you warmer when the weather turns cooler. I had one when I lived in Calgary and spent a lot of time riding in the mountains and foothills surrounding Calgary. Probably the best $100 I ever spent and back then they only had ones that had two settings, off and HOT. Did wonders to keep you comfortable though and all you had to do was connect it to the battery, and remember to unplug yourself BEFORE you get off the bike since it has a cord. LOL.

 

As a temporary fix if you do not go the heated equipment idea, you might try putting some of those hand warmers in the backs of your gloves. They are very cheap, disposable and found in many places. They make footwarmers too that are little bigger. When it is around 45-50 degrees here, I have done this and dropped one in the bottom of my boot and put one on top of my hand under my glove. Helps provide a little warmth and lasts several hours. Get the HOTHANDS brand as they heat up and last the longest. Saw that in a review of those and agree with them. Others don't get as warm nor last as long.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Air-Activated-Handwarmers-HH-2ACS/202525488

Also, remember, it is best to keep your core (chest/abdomen) warm and helps your hands and legs to take care of themselves. So put on another layer of thermal top if nothing else. Good luck.