This summer I am getting ready to take an adventure on the back of my bike that will take me to many great scenic locations in Canada and the U.S. I’ve started preparing my bike to make the trip more fun and already my new seat has arrived. This week I’ll find a sunny moment to put it on, and take her out for the first spin of the new riding season. I’ve also ordered a trailer from Eaglemate Trailers too, which I should be getting sometime at the end of May or beginning of June. It’s a single wheel trailer that will tow nicely behind the bike, provide locked covered storage, and will allow me to take a bit of extra gear for the trip. I haven’t really decided on a helmet communicator system yet, but I’m still investigating a couple of good options. My passport has arrived too. I really don’t need a passport to ride into the States with, but it will sure make things a lot easier.
The best thing about this trip is that I won’t be riding alone and I’ll have some company to enjoy it with along the way. A couple of my good friends Darren and Lori will be going along with their Gold Wing. Another good friend of mine Darren Britton will be bringing his Bandit, and hopefully my best friend Christian will have purchased his Goldwing before July so that he can join us too!! Together we’ll be hitting some of the most beautiful roads you can handle on the back of a bike. I hope we come back with some good stories and some great pictures.
Last night we got together to talk about the trip details and planned out some possible routes, and stopping points along the way. It looks like we’ll be travelling for about 10 days, and make a round trip of almost 4000 kms.
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=2552568513712189944,49.132600,-113.852810%3B11506055163212848822,49.015047,-113.670695%3B16048113562675985432,48.696020,-113.816400&saddr=calgary,+ab&daddr=longview,+ab+to:pincher+creek+ab+to:HWY-6+%4049.132600,+-113.852810+to:Range+Rd+282A+%4049.015047,+-113.670695+to:Going+to+the+Sun+Hwy+%4048.696020,+-113.816400+to:kalispell,+mt+to:kennewick,+wa+to:portland+or&mra=pe&mrcr=3,4&via=3,4,5&sll=46.739861,-117.509766&sspn=6.278761,13.271484&ie=UTF8&z=6
Day 1- Friday: We’ll be leaving from Calgary and heading down into the states through Glacier National Park and to Kalispell Montanna. Highway 22 down through pincher creek makes for a nice leisurely ride through southern Alberta. As we make our way through Glacier National Park we’ll have a chance to ride the “Highway to the Sun” and catch some of the most picturesque views on the back of a bike.
Day 2 - Saturday: We’ll then make our way to somewhere near Kennewick Washington on the second day and hopefully find some interesting things to see along the way there. I think they might have some Hydroplaning Races to take in if we can time our arrival right. There are also a couple of Water Falls and Hot Springs to visit along the way too. I’ll have to check into that more before we go.
Day 3 – Sunday: We will then head further west towards Portland. Along the way we can stop in at Multanomah Falls and snap a few pics there. Darren and Lori have some family in the Portland area so hopefully they’ll have time to stop in and see them.
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=portland+or&daddr=florence,+or+to:tillamook,+or+to:astoria,+wa+to:longview,+or+to:seattle,+wa&mra=pe&mrcr=0,1&doflg=ptk&sll=43.927572,-123.563232&sspn=0.824868,1.658936&ie=UTF8&ll=45.981695,-120.234375&spn=6.36633,13.271484&z=6
Day 4 –Monday: Once we leave Portland, we’re hoping to take a bit of a pleasure cruise out to the coast and up the Highway 101 up to Astoria Oregon. Yup, the very same Astoria where “Goonies” was filmed. J I’ve had the chance to travel the 101 once before about 10 years ago. Wow is it ever beautiful driving down a highway that’s right on the coast. I hope the weather cooperates and we get some nice sunny weather for our detour down the coast. Oh man, I’ve probably jinxed it.
Day 5 – Tuesday: There should only be about 4 or 5 hours of riding to make it the rest of the way from Astoria to Seattle. I’m really looking forward to being there on July 2nd, since the Blue Jays will be playing the Mariners in Seattle on that day. Hopefully we get some good tickets down the 3rd base side. I’ve never been to a Major League Ball game before so this should rank right up there on my list of things to do in life. J I hope my cousin Marco will be able to drive down to meet us in Seattle and catch the game with us. A night in Seattle will be fun, and then the next day we might even have some time do some sight seeing. I mean, if you’re going to be in Seattle, you have to check out the space needle right?
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=seattle+wa&daddr=surrey+bc&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=47.571428,106.171875&ie=UTF8&ll=48.011975,-121.640625&spn=3.064643,6.635742&z=7
Day 6 – Wednesday: An easy day of riding. We will leave Seattle after enjoying some of the sights and take the two and half hour drive up to Surrey, BC. I hope to spend some time with my cousin Marco, and his wife and their daughter. He has a beautiful place in Surrey and I’m sure if we rounded up some fixin’s he’d let us bar-b-que with him in his back yard. There are a few friends I’d like to catch up with in Vancouver too so hopefully we can work that in on our trip too.
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=Surrey,+Greater+Vancouver,+British+Columbia,+Canada&daddr=gibsons,+bc+to:egmont,+bc+to:Powell+River,+Powell+River,+British+Columbia,+Canada&mra=pr&doflg=ptk&sll=48.719995,-123.35097&sspn=3.022352,6.635742&ie=UTF8&z=7
Day 7 & 8 – Thursday/Friday: Powell River BC offers us a chance to ride up the coast again and to see a great little community only a few hours up the coast. It is only a about a 4 hour ride in one direction but that doesn’t account for the 2 ferry rides as well as the waiting time and the occasional stop along the way to take photo’s. So we’ll probably take this ride in 2 days (even though I’m sure if you weren’t too concerned about sight seeing – you could do it in one!). I’m looking forward to this ride too. An overnighter in Powell River and then we’ll head back to Surrey for another evening (*fingers crossed*) with my cousin and his family. J
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=surrey+bc&daddr=revelstoke,+bc+to:calgary,+ab&mra=pr&mrcr=0&sll=50.27275,-118.44746&sspn=5.856085,13.271484&ie=UTF8&z=6
Day 9 – Saturday: Well by this point we’ll need to start making some miles back to Calgary. We’ve only budgeted a week for this ride and not everyone has the flexibility to stretch it beyond the 6th of July. So we’ll head back via Kamloops and make it as far as Revelstoke before spending the night. We might end up going in different directions on the way back to Calgary. Those that have the freedom to take more time may go Via Vernon, Nakusp and back up through Revelstoke. There are lots of nice twisty bits by going this route, but I’m hoping to enjoy this stretch of road later on in the summer so I’ll probably skip it this time out.
Day 10 – Sunday: Last day of riding on our 10 day trip. We’ll leave Revelstoke in the morning and travel the last 5 hours and try to make it into Calgary by the early afternoon. It will be a lot of riding and by the time we make it back to Calgary we’ll have gone almost 3900 kms. Whew!!
Let me tell you, I am stoked about this trip! I can’t wait and I hope everything falls into place. I really hope Christian manages to find a bike to take with us too. We are going to put in some long miles but the riding will be so worth it. Check back here in about 4 months and you’ll find some pictures of our adventures!!
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