Final Day - Kalispell to Calgary



 At last, after 11 days on the road, 5800 km, Calgary, home and Dianne came into view.  It was lovely.  The day was good for riding, relatively cool and very little traffic (at least east bound, west was another story with long lines waiting at the Banff gate).  Wilf remained in Kalispell for supplies, so Guy, Gord and myself headed to Radium to enjoy Sharie and Wayne's hospitality at Guy/Lee's Radium retreat.  Very nice.  The 3 of us rode into Calgary together and then split to head home.  Great trip, great company.  Thanks all.  Jeff


600 km today to get home.



Riding along the 93 between Radium and Castle Junction

All rivers are swollen with extra melt water this season.  Lots of late season snow.

A burned up section along Hwy 93.

Day 10 - Orofino to Kalispell Idaho and the Lolo Pass

Weather was good for the morning and then rain later in the day.  But that worked great as we did a loop through some logging area and then the Lolo Pass before the wet stuff started.  Both these segments are more difficult roads with little traffic - perfect.  An excellent coffee stop in the morning at a little hut run by 2 college girls.  The Latte was very good.  Made it into Kalispell just after 6pm in the drizzle. Tomorrow is our last day with the group splitting up for the run back to Calgary.

600km, lots of twisties, sun, cloud and rain.

Sasha Metcalfe at the coffee shop.  Latte please.

The west end of the Lolo Pass road has this fun factor indicator ...

Made it to the top.



Watch out boys, They're coming up the Lolo!



Day 9 - Goldendale Wa to Orofino Idaho. A snake, a birthday and a farewell

A most fabulous day.  Sun and clouds made it excellent riding weather.  And we were able to do the famous Rattlesnake Canyon run.  A twisty labyrinthine affair that had me giggling like a school girl.  Fun.  Awaiting us in Orofino was a great hotel right on the Clearwater River.  A real treat.  Celebrating Nancy's birthday that night was good for us as we had been practicing our Happy Birthday rendition for several nights, however it was the Macallans that Wilf brought out in celebrating the 60th that had us on our best - hope that Nancy enjoyed it too.  Marty leaves us tonight as he has an appointment in Calgary, so we shall be only 4 tomorrow.



650 km today of really great roads

 



The Blackberry Warriors in action.



Sasha visits Oregon

Canyon lookout with the 5 hombres - Wilf, Marty, Gord, Guy and Jeff

Looking down at the rattlesnake

Awesome hotel at Orofino, Idaho



Day 8, Hoquiam to Goldendale, Washington. Some sun, some rain and a mountain

Another long day that started off in the rain and drizzle.  Light enough not to be a huge bother, but heavy enough to be a pain.  At least it kept the temperatures moderate, about 12-20 through the day.  Anyway, off to Mount St. Helens, we headed, making it up to the observatory by 1pm.  After that, the sun came out and the afternoon was spent running twisties through the National Forest roads to the south and east of Mount St. Helens.  Arriving at our hotel in Goldendale around 7:30pm made for another long day.  Early to bed ...

breakfast of coffee, apple pie and ice cream.  ouch, my arteries hurt.

Mount St. Helens

my Joe Rocket gloves are wearing out (less than a year old)



An un-typical (as it's straight) National Forest road.
Most look like the construction crew followed a snake when they were making the road.

685 km and one wrong turn



Day 7: Sedro Wolley to Hoquiam - 1 ferry, 1 cell, 1 whiskey, mileage, well lots

What a fabulous day.  An early start, 7am, in order to catch the ferry.  However, Gord, was not part of the early to rise plan and had to be dragged out of bed.  We did make the ferry to Port Townsend from Coupeville and then rode the Olympic Peninsula.   First up Hurricane Ridge, then over to Clallum Bay for lunch.  After that. the amazing rain forest with such incredibly large trees all around.  Marty and I went back to Clallum Bay to retrieve Wilf's cell phone that he had left there (yes, a senior moment) while the 3 other amigos headed to Hoquiam to get the beer cold.  A long day, but incredible.  Wow.

lots of miles today (770 km, including the "where's Waldo" backtrack)

on the Ferry to Port Townsend



on top of Hurricane Ridge, looking at the Olympic Mountains





the 5 hombres - Guy, Gord, Marty, Jeff, Wilf

 

Where's Waldo?  Can you spot the missing phone?



Damn, that pie was good!  I wonder what's for dinner?




She who found the cell, and we shall call her Mel.



on the Hoh Trail.  So inctedibly large trees.  Douglas Fir, I think.

 


the Pacific

I love you valentine - lit up today alot with k, ka and laser



Day 6, Colville to Sedro Wolley

An awesome day!  Great roads and great company.  Drove west across all of Washington, primarily on highway 20, which is one of the premier motorcycling roads in the US.  And it was.  Tomorrow we head out to the Olympic Peninsula.  Weather forecast is good.  Cross fingers.  Here is a video of one of the many fabulous roads - this one covered in a forest canopy (turn the sound down).

All the way across Washington, east to west



At the Inchelium-Gifford ferry crossing



Day 5, Dianne to Calgary and Jeff to Colville



Rode the Flowery Trail again.  Very nice.



WeSTOC finished Friday morning with everyone scattering to the winds.  Rain is forecast so early departures - Dianne returned to Calgary with Arlene Powell and Jeff continued on to Colville in Washington with Guy and Marty.  Met up with Wilf and Gord and Part 2 to the trip begins.  Olympic Peninsula, here we come ...

Day 4, Ainsworth Hotsprings and Hail

We got absolutely dumped on by rain and hail on the way back from Ainsworth Hot Springs.  The hot springs were really nice, however I can confirm that my new gloves are NOT waterproof.

before the hail ...

Day 3 and 350 km to Grand Forks

The warmest day so far and sunshine.  Loaded up and headed out to Christina Lake and then on to Grand Forks.  A really nice lunch at Clyde's Pub.  7 of us riding together and the roads were pretty good.  The first part of the ride had us take the Pass Creek bypass at the turnoff to 6 north.  A good road that likely followed an old stage coach route.  And it was just as narrow and twisty.  Dinner back in Nelson with 9 at Jackson's Hole was really good and then back to Rod's room and patio for some beers, wine and stories.  A fun day.

Day 3 ride routing

Dianne wants one.  NO WAY!



Marnie and Tony Collins



Bob, Rod, Ken, Dianne, Guy and Ian




Ken and mascot



Funky organic cafe in Nelson



Day 2, Nelson BC and area, 300 km ride

Day 2 and we did the famous New Denver to Kaslo stretch in our route.  This is rated as one of the best motorcycle roads in BC and one of the first really twisty roads that Dianne and I have been on together.  Someone had arranged a helicopter to photograph this large group and we all gathered in the parking lot as a chopper hovered overhead.  A pretty impressive sight.


Looking east, nothing but bikes



Bruce and Arlene Powell, graciously brought some gear for us from Calgary.

View of the river from the back of the hotel, where many hours were spent

Jeff and Dianne in front of V4FUN

and looking west, also, nothing but bikes

Day 1, Calgary to Nelson

Made it!  However we missed Guy in Radium and ran into Marty in Cranbrook, although as we were all riding, we didn't know it was him.  Sun, cloud and drizzle the whole way.  Only heavy downpour was for 10 minutes just before arriving at Nelson.  But the clouds parted as we arrived.

This is where Guy stood us up ...

At the opening remarks to WeSTOC  XVI

And what a collection of people and bikes at this gathering.  250 people, over 190 bikes, 120 of which are ST's, all the same but all different.  And a great crowd.  Lots of events organized, for the 4 days we are here.  Sponsors kicking in freebies and demos.  Wonderful.  We have the entire hotel booked, the beautiful Prestige Lakeside Resort & Convention Centre. This resort is right on Kootenay Lake. We had some opening remarks from the organizing group, draws for prizes, a local police talk about safety and the area roads and an old CN rail hand talk about the history of the area.  After that, the welcome bbq was exactly what the Dr (Rod) ordered.  Lots of mingling with old friends and new ones.  However after being assured that the bill for the 1/2 ltr of Canadian Red really was $35, we did a quick dash to the offsite.  Tomorrow, the weather looks good.

1 day to go!

Dianne and I head out tomorrow on the ST motorcycle for the ride to Nelson to join up with the WeSTOC crowd .  A annual event that attracts a couple hundred folks for some riding and story telling.  http://www.westoc.ca/    This will be our first trip to one of these.

Our intended route, 635 km ...

Day 1 route to Nelson.