Banff and Beyond
Yesterday Doug and I were so tired I did not blog. It was a great day. The ride was very beautiful (but what ride hasn't been since we entered Canada). We started the day in Cranbrook, BC and ended in Canmore, AB. Canmore is near Banff which is really beautiful.



This morning before we departed we talked to a couple of Harley riders touring the area with their wives. One of them noticed the cancer sign I have on my bike and we started a conversation about cancer rather than bikes. He seemed very happy to talk about cancer and I found out that his wife is a cancer survivor. She had a great attitude throughout her treatment and appears to be cured.

Doug and I met up with my friends from Germany, Michael, Petra, and Florian Flicker. Michael and I worked together while I was at Hewlett-Packard. He was a consultant from a German company called Syskoplan. He is a great guy and it was by chance his family was vacationing in Banff. I enjoyed seeing him, Petra, and meeting his 5 year old son, Florian.


After a short visit it was off we went. Our goal today was to be in Grande Prairie, AB. The ride was about 400 miles and took us to about 7,000 feet high where we both got cold and had to add clothes. I didn't need the Gerbings heated clothing but I was tempted. We passed through Lake Loise where Doug asked on the intercom, "Where's the lake?" We drove through Jasper and then on to Grande Prairie.

This is me in the snow. Doug wondered why I wanted my picture taken in the snow and I told him it was our "first" snow on the trip.

This glacier was across from where Doug and I added layers to our riding gear. As with almost all of these scenes the photo does not do it justice.

As I am writing this there is a can of pork and beans sitting on the desk in front of me. In case you are wondering why I have a can of pork and beans sitting in my room it is because Doug found it on the side of the road and gave it to me. Actually he found the can of pork and beans and a can of condensed milk. He said he would leave the condensed milk for the next traveler. I am tempted to leave the pork and beans in my room for the housekeeper tomorrow but it would be my luck they would think I forgot it and send it to my home. I guess I will pack the can and cook it for Doug in case we actually need to camp.

We are getting closer each day to the Arctic Circle! Our only worry now is we will be able to get to Whitehorse, YK before the tire dealer closes. We need to put knobby tires on our bikes to negotiate the Dempster Highway. We think they will be closed on Sunday and Monday so we need to press hard to get to Whitehorse by early Saturday.

Dell
- posted by Dell @ 7:36 PM