The Journey Has Begun...

[intotherain]

just wondering, how much has this all cost so far? 7,000 miles is a lot of gas, and gas = money.

[dr_bar]

I guess when I get my Visa and Mastercard bills I'll be able to give a real accurate cost...

[dr_bar]

I was going to update this right after dinner, got to my room and sat on the edge of the bed to stretch out my leg and didn't get back up until now... I guess todays trip tired me out a bit...

I started the day under sunny skies in Malta, that lasted for about 20 miles. As I was going down the highway, I could see the clouds stacking up so I pulled over and zipped on the outer shell of my gear and zipped in the waterproof liner. I was about three minutes early on that as it started to pour. There was at one time, two seperate storms, one on either side of the highway. Big dark lightning ridden clouds on the north and it's twin on the south, blue sky in between. Thank God it didn't last all that long.

Now, upon leaving in the morning, I was riding into a slight head wind, by the time the storms hit, it was an incredibly strong head wind. Strong enough to prevent me from keeping the bike at the posted limit at times. I'd be riding along when a gust would hit me like a brick wall, the bike would shudder and almost 10 kms would drop off the speedo... It was weird to have that big engine held in check.

Well, all that changed pretty quick after I hit Shelby MT. That's where the highway swings north to the Canadian border. That head wind all of a sudden, became a crosswind... HOLY CRAPPOLA!!!

I rode from Shelby to Lethbridge leaning to the left to counter that wind, (and to think I was complaining about the crosswinds the previous days... ) Needless to say, those were the toughest kms of my trip. I was blown across the complete lane and onto the shoulder several times. The buffetting from even small cars as they went by, tossed that big bike around like it was a toy. I pulled into a hotel in Lethbridge not a minute too soon, as that's when the rain started up again. I don't think I could have done that stretch in the rain...

Thank God for the hot tub at the hotel...

Distance travelled: 470.9 kms (felt like 1400)

[KarateChick]

...Well, all that changed pretty quick after I hit Shelby MT. That's where the highway swings north to the Canadian border. That head wind all of a sudden, became a crosswind... HOLY CRAPPOLA!!!

I rode from Shelby to Lethbridge leaning to the left to counter that wind, (and to think I was complaining about the crosswinds the previous days... ) Needless to say, those were the toughest kms of my trip. I was blown across the complete lane and onto the shoulder several times. The buffetting from even small cars as they went by, tossed that big bike around like it was a toy. I pulled into a hotel in Lethbridge not a minute too soon, as that's when the rain started up again. I don't think I could have done that stretch in the rain...

Thank God for the hot tub at the hotel...

Distance travelled: 470.9 kms (felt like 1400)

Geez doc, well I guess all those fables I've heard about the Lethbridge and south of Alberta crosswinds weren't fairy tales. Umm, thanks for umm, confirming that... I'll now.

[dr_bar]

Geez doc, well I guess all those fables I've heard about the Lethbridge and south of Alberta crosswinds weren't fairy tales. Umm, thanks for umm, confirming that... I'll now.

Well, there are all these wind generators down there, I wonder if they're there for any specific reason???

Yesterday apparently had unusually strong winds, I think there was a house or two flying by as I rode up hwy #4(US15)

[dr_bar]

So, after yesterdays wind issues, I decided to sleep in and get some extra rest. Well it worked I woke up at 8 feeling refreshed and ready to go. I had a small breakfast in the lobby, packed my things in the trailer and got ready to ride...

Hmmm, why do I smell gas????

Hmmmm... Why are there little puddles of gas sitting on my engine???

Well, I guess it must be because there's a freakin' hole my my bleeping tank

I know that this bike had sat for quite awhile in a garage before being traded in on a new bike, I guess the moron never put anything in the tank to stabilize or rid the fuel of water. It probably sat there for a few years rusting it's little heart out and it finally brokethrough after the bumpy ride yesterday. (I guess I forgot to talk about that eh???)

So I walked to a Crappy Tire store er, umm, I mean, a Canadian Tire store and found some gas tank repair goop. I followed the instruction as best I could and tried to plug the pin hole sized leak in my tank. As soon as I pressed up against the leak, I got a surprise, the hole got much bigger, and now I have a nail hole sized leak. one hand plugging the leak, other hand fumbling with patch goop, managed to plug the hole but it was still seeping. You're not supposed to drive for two hours after the patch is placed on, so I bought some waterless car washing stuff and got rid of quite a bit of road grime while I was waiting. It was still seeping just the tiniest bit after two hours so I headed for lunch, then checked it again and the area seemed dry. So I hit the road and went as far as Fernie BC. I could have gone farther but decided that because of the late start, I would call it a day and be sure of my patch, it seems okay, but I guess I'll need a more permanent solution when I get home.

I mentioned a bumpy ride just now and I realize I never related to it in my update yesterday. Well, after putting up with the first part of my rain filled morning, I reached the town of Havre. It was with much disgust that I found out that there was no way around this town. Why would I want to avoid this place??? Try because of the fact that just about every road in town was dug up. I had to ride through 3.5 miles of mud and gravel while trucks going the other way did everything but slow down for the puddles and got my bike (and me) more than a little bit muddy. That 3.5 miles was a rough pot hole ridden stretch of road, and the bike and trailer took a real beating... Construction plans at their worst...

It was this afternoon, as soon as I got through the foothills and into the Crows Nest Pass area, I knew I was almost home. The mountains, (yes real mountains, not the fake ones they try to pass off in the east...) rise up and dominate the sky. I'm sure that of all the places I've seen on this trip, two areas stand out as the most scenic, the Thousand Islands area where gummiente lives, and the mountains of BC/AB. Yup.... I'm home

Fernie holds a little of my family history in it's memories. My grandfather and grandmother emmigrated here from England way back in the 1890's. My father and aunt were both born here as well. I believe I still have a second cousin living here, but I don't know her name, and she's got to be in her 90's I wish I knew where she lived , I don't imagine there will be many other chances to visit or say hi to her...

Anyway;

Distance travelled: A paltry 207.6 kms

[jstark47]

Well, I guess it must be because there's a freakin' hole my my bleeping tank

......be sure of my patch, it seems okay, but I guess I'll need a more permanent solution when I get home.

That bites. I'm sure a new tank for the Valk is gonna be $$$

Why would I want to avoid this place??? Try because of the fact that just about every road in town was dug up. I had to ride through 3.5 miles of mud and gravel while trucks going the other way did everything but slow down for the puddles and got my bike (and me) more than a little bit muddy. That 3.5 miles was a rough pot hole ridden stretch of road, and the bike and trailer took a real beating

You need a V-Strom !!

It was this afternoon, as soon as I got through the foothills and into the Crows Nest Pass area, I knew I was almost home.

Hmm....... Mapquest says 600 miles to Cocquitlam. I guess that's not much compared to the 7,000 you've done already.

The mountains, (yes real mountains, not the fake ones they try to pass off in the east...) rise up and dominate the sky.

Hey!!!! Our mountains are "cute"!!! (To appreciate this: dr_bar asked me what I thought of the Canadian Navy, and I, a Yank, told him I thought it was cute!! He didn't have a quick comeback.....)

[dr_bar]

That bites. I'm sure a new tank for the Valk is gonna be $$$

Probably just get it repaired and lined...

You need a V-Strom !!

Do they do more than 45mph???
(To appreciate this, you'd have to have heard Mrs. jstark47 complaining about how slow we were travelling... )


Hmm....... Mapquest says 600 miles to Cocquitlam. I guess that's not much compared to the 7,000 you've done already.

Well, 570 but who's counting at this point? Truly a drop in the bucket...


Hey!!!! Our mountains are "cute"!!!

HILLS!!!!

(To appreciate this: dr_bar asked me what I thought of the Canadian Navy, and I, a Yank, told him I thought it was cute!! He didn't have a quick comeback.....)

Hmmmm seem to remember something about the White House that you couldn't respond to...

Maybe next time we meet will be at an International TMW meet... (HINT HINT HINT - Mr. Total Motorcycle!!! )

[dr_bar]

In regards to that White House story... I always seem to forget to mention the true American hero in that story... Nope, not the President, not even the American commander or any of the soldiers under his command. The First Lady, no, not her body guards, they had already run, but yes, I believe it was Dolly Madison that rescued a whole lot of artifacts from the White House, including a portrait of G.W. No... Not Mr Bush




Here is an account of what happened from an American perspective, (and remember, us Canadians were still classed as Brits in the eyes of Americans.)

By the third week of August invasion was imminent and the city was in a state of chaos as the British approached. On August 22, President Madison left town to review the troops, Mrs. Madison remained in the city. As the British troops moved forward on August 23 Mrs. Madison packed government papers into trunks. The next day, with James Madison still off with the army, Dolley Madison found herself guarding the gates of the executive mansion. By that afternoon the British were drawing too close to be ignored. After filling a wagon with silver and other valuables and sending them off to the Bank of Maryland for safekeeping, she decided there was one more task to be done: to save the irreplaceable Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington lest the British burn, or worse yet capture and bring back to England, this picture of the icon of the new republic. She has the canvass cut from the frame, and as the enemy closed in she fled in the nick of time. The British burned the White House.

Afterwards her husband was politically abused for cowardice in the face of British troops. Dolley Madison's courage, spunk, and political savvy helped compensate for her husband's dutiful modesty. She became the heroine of the War of 1812.

[jstark47]

You need a V-Strom !!

Do they do more than 45mph???
(To appreciate this, you'd have to have heard Mrs. jstark47 complaining about how slow we were travelling... )

I was SIGHT-SEEING, dammit!!!!!!! I hadn't been down that road since around 1985.