Anybody have plan ride from calgary to Vancouver?

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QuietMonkey
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#11 Unread post by QuietMonkey »

KarateChick wrote:I think there's been more days in the past 2 weeks I've gotten up and found that overnight white stuff all over the ground than not!

Any better in Calgary yet?
The weather has been fine about half of the time in Calgary for most of the past 2 months. A bit chilly (-5 to 10C mostly, so not exactly spring riding), with a few week long snow-ins here and there. But it warms up just enough to dry out soon after the rain and snow hit. The gravel is still everywhere, so someone may not want to risk a nice expensive sportbike or shiny cruiser out there, just in case of taking a spill. As usual the majority of riders only come out when it's sunny and +15C and I can only think of 2 or 3 days lately when i saw a bunch bikes on the streets, rather than just a couple each day.

Today was the worst day in the past couple weeks, it was alright riding to work, but the 24-hour weather forecast was accurate enough (precipitation, possible snow, getting colder), and i rode home in a nice little slushfest, with blowing sticky snow... it wasn't bad, but not the greatest if one was to ride for an hour or two it would require proper gloves and a rainsuit or decent textile gear like an Aerostich suit, (maybe a nice electric vest and heated grips like the touring crowd is keen on)... but considering i wasn't really too concerned that it'd be unrideable going home I was wearing my standard street gloves, leather jacket, and only brought a pair of rain-pants to toss over my jeans, and it was alright for the commute.

i think in Calgary the weather changes frequently enough for the better that some times it's just a matter of how much you prefer riding, versus other modes of transport...
"Zounds! Zorched by Zarches, Spaceman Spiff's crippled craft crashes on planet Plootarg!"

For Sale: Ninja 600 with parts bike, needs minor work, $30, no title... (GEE THAT DOESNT RING ANY WARNING BELLS DOES IT?)
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#12 Unread post by QuietMonkey »

summer2short wrote:So, can i see a schedule, we can enjoy it

anybody else have plan also? i want take my dog with me :roll:
I usually dont "plan" trips to the west coast much anymore, it's a predictable enough trip in that there are plenty of good routes, no worries about finding fuel (unless you try hard to get lost) and I prefer a little adventure and adversity. The last time i went i left all my my "plastic" money at home, put $500 in my pocket and decided to see if i could make it all fit together on a fixed budget and a little fun. This requires a little extra planning and/or discipline, and I cheated a little bit though, because i was with a couple friends and they ended up loaning me about $100 to make it back, but that was mainly because when i started to run low on cash, i could have simply sprinted the last day back home, covering only fuel, but i chose to stay with them and take a slower route back and we stopped in a motel.

As for routes to consider, all through the interior of BC there are nice roads. You just decide if you want to go along a northern route, through Rogers Pass and around Revelstoke, Kamloops, etc., or south via the Crowsnest Pass, and you can cross routes from North to South or vice-versa take ferry rides acorss the Okanagan, into the interior, along the lakes, through twistier bits. If you have more time, the trip can have little interludes into small towns, checking out animuuuls, and you can go hiking in the Rockies, bathe in various hot-springs, being touristy or whatever. Kelowna is a nice hot spot in the summer if you like beachesm swimming, etc... it usual gets to 35C in the summer months...

Check out the tourist info:
http://okanagan.com/maps/

and you should find other posts on this web-site from various people about BC...

Good luck with the dog on the trip, that would be fun addition to plan on a trip... a sidecar is too easy, and not my cup-of-tea, but a doggy bubble like maybe a Givi trunk with transparent cover would do the trick (chuckle), or teach the puppy to "hang on"... :laughing: velcro booties and a wool seat cover!
"Zounds! Zorched by Zarches, Spaceman Spiff's crippled craft crashes on planet Plootarg!"

For Sale: Ninja 600 with parts bike, needs minor work, $30, no title... (GEE THAT DOESNT RING ANY WARNING BELLS DOES IT?)
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KarateChick
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#13 Unread post by KarateChick »

High_Side wrote:Today's not bad. The optimistic 5 day forcast is still looking good....
Sunny Alberta... :laughing: :roll: *sigh*

Definitely got hit with snow (again!) and today it's still drifting on down. Heard Red Deer, Calgary got it worse though?
Ya right, :wink: there are only 2 kinds of bikes: It's a Ninja... look that one's a Harley... oh there's a Ninja... Harley...Ninja...

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#14 Unread post by High_Side »

The weather is sucking large here at the moment. Woke up to about 4" of snow.
I REALLY feel for the Edmonton Oilers though at the moment. All ready to hit the golf course and then snow happens...... :P
Last edited by High_Side on Sun Apr 22, 2007 2:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
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#15 Unread post by High_Side »

High_Side wrote:The weather is sucking large here at the moment. Woke up to about 4" of snow.
I REALLY feel for the Edmonton Oilers though at the moment. All ready to hit the golf course and then snow happens...... :P
Er, on second thought: have 'em wait up for the Flames.....they'll be there shortly :whistling:
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#16 Unread post by KarateChick »

High_Side wrote:
High_Side wrote:The weather is sucking large here at the moment. Woke up to about 4" of snow.
I REALLY feel for the Edmonton Oilers though at the moment. All ready to hit the golf course and then snow happens...... :P
Er, on second thought: have 'em wait up for the Flames.....they'll be there shortly :whistling:
:laughing:

Uhhh, wait. Maybe not. :frusty: both teams.
Ya right, :wink: there are only 2 kinds of bikes: It's a Ninja... look that one's a Harley... oh there's a Ninja... Harley...Ninja...

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#17 Unread post by QuietMonkey »

Funny how you guys keep posting after the crappy weather, and i login after catching a few good days of riding. I think Apr20 that Highside refers to was Thursday or Friday, which did suck, but Saturday wasn't too bad and Sunday, better, almost nice nice... and now here we are at Monday and it's like +15 out there.

Today, in fact was the proverbial day when you are think about quitting your job and taking a trip, and in my case reality seems more often to mimic these little fun thoughts, and after listening to yet-another-mindless-gripe from another wanna-be-important-boss, my five minutes at work turned into "this is me quitting" (HUGE LAUGH) :mrgreen: and riding my bike back from work i was thinking about all the good riding I could sneak into the next week, and then s'ppose i will find another employer or go back to an old gig. :roll:

aahhh.... summmer is closer than ever.... i better toss some things in my backpack, change the oil, and fuel up the tank... It's nice to still be able to make some good luck for oneself while the rat's race on :)

//monkey

p.s. another bit of serendipty was once i returned home i had time to read the April issue of Motorcyclist, a great trip along the Ho Chi Minh trail, and i also spotted a pet carrying trunk! It's called the "Road Hound Pet Carrier" and looks to be Snoopy's home on wheels. http://www.petgadgets.com

p.p.s. also the Dan Walsh stories are hilarious, if a bit sordid:
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/featu ... n_the_run/
"Zounds! Zorched by Zarches, Spaceman Spiff's crippled craft crashes on planet Plootarg!"

For Sale: Ninja 600 with parts bike, needs minor work, $30, no title... (GEE THAT DOESNT RING ANY WARNING BELLS DOES IT?)
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#18 Unread post by summer2short »

:roll: so after all, who will be interested to go on this trip vancouver or south valley?

8)
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