A few days in the Salmon Arm area.

Well I wrote a page full previously but somehow lost it. Hopefully I can remember some of what I had written here.

I managed to get a campsite in one of my favorite old provincial campsites, Harold park. We came to this park as a family many years ago when it was first started and before it even had running water. A good friend of mine was involved in starting up and building this park and this is how we found out about it. It has changed a lot since those days and now caters to those that demand what only used to be found in the private campsites, but it still feels good to come here.

Harold Park Campsite

I was able to visit with a couple of my friends from the reunion we had in North Van on June 6th. as they live in Salmon Arm. It was great to visit with them and I enjoyed the many good memories that we have in common after so many years. It was nice to see how well they are doing and what good parents and people they have grown to be.

I also had the opportunity to ride a Harley. Now I can at least know first hand why I don't own one. It was interesting but this old body couldn't last more than 15 minutes or so.

I went to Church on Sunday and ran into two people that I know. One was a family friend my parents age that I haven't seen in about 43 years. It was great to spend the day talking about family memories.

Time to head home after a great time with friends, family and the beautiful roads and scenery of BC. It was a great trip.I spent a nice afternoon in the sun of Nakusp  and enjoyed the the roads of the Kooetnays and then ended up at a campsite that I often seem to stop at in Yahk. Colder in the morning so glad I am heading home.

Yahk

Well I seem to have put on a little weight while away, time to get back to the exercises and get caught up on the realities of  life.

I originally started this blog due to the interest from my Daughter but as that interest seems to have disappeared I think this will be the end of my attempt to write on my motorcycle travels. As you can see there also has been a great lack of photos lately, sorry.

Over to Vancouver Island and back through BC.

I'm off to Vancouver Island to visit my Steven and family. I quite enjoy there two little ones as they are seldom boring, although I think they could be quite a handful if I was the one looking after them 24/7. The youngest at just a year old hasn't seen me since Nov. so was a  little shy but warmed up to me somewhat after a days or so. Nothing better than hugs from the Grandchildren. While I was on the Island I took the opportunity to take a ride over to Port Renfrew on the west coast of the Island and cross over to Cowichan Lake. it was another great ride and I soaked in the sun and swam at the lake which was actually quite warm. The weather has been warm and sunny most of the time I have been on the coast but a change is in the air.

Had A nice visit with fellow bikers on the ferry while leaving the Island, then stopped to pick up some things I had left at my sisters and headed up to Penticton to visit friends. It was nice ride up #3 and as it was the last day of warm weather I stopped at the beach on Skaha lake for awhile and was surprised that it was colder than Cowichan lake. It was great as usual to visit my old friends from my sidecar days and felt very welcomed as always. I try to visit everyone I know and my kids at least once a year, wish I could say the same for my siblings but they seem a lot more distant these days.

Weather was changing as I left Penticton and I ran into rain and it got kind of cold from Kelowna to Enderby but then warmed up a bit. Salmon Arm seemed to have escaped the rain, which makes for a much better camping experience. So here I am, relaxing, catching up on my blog and hopefully finding some nice roads to explore in the area.

Off to the big city.

I don't seem to be very good at proof reading so hopefully you don't mind all the mistakes.

I left Sechelt and headed to Langley to spend a few days visiting as well as having a place to stay so I could go to the get together with old friends in North Van. June 6th.

So it's June 6th now and I am heading to North Van to reunite with some Old friends from high school and early 20's time in my life. I was a little late as I stopped by the Costco to get my hearing aids tuned up so I could actually here what my friends had to say. Arriving a bit late I was a little overwhelmed trying to scan everyone at once and figure out who was who. So some guy come up to me to shake my hand and I have absolutely no idea who it was, trying to figure out why he was there as he surely couldn't be one of the old gang. Well after quite sometime and when I had time to just sit and look and listen I finally figure out that it was Rod. Later communication via email confirmed that he knew I had no idea who he was and had a good laugh about it. Every time I think about it now or look at the photos of us I can't stop laughing and I'm sure Rod does the same.  (The good thing Rod is, that your looking good in your old age.) So those that were there are - Rod, Doug, Ray, Norm, Wayne, Mike, Barry, and myself. I had some trouble figuring out Norm, Doug would have been a hard one except I had seen him on Face Book, the rest I could figure out. I certainly had a good time as I am sure everyone did. I'm so glad I returned early from my trip down south to attend the gathering of the old gang. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one that has a somewhat fading memory. Lots of great stories shared some accurate some maybe not so much but all fun and interesting for sure. Hopefully we will be able to get together again in the not to distant future. I think I won the beat hair contest again, as I quite often did in my younger years, Although being the only one riding a bike did put my hair at a disadvantage due to helmet hair.

I stayed another day with my sister and then headed to the Island to visit my youngest, Steven and his wife and 2 children.

Heading to the Coast, June 2015, Day 3!

Well it's been a great ride so far and lucky me in the morning it still hasn't rained so I pack up as quick as possible, put on my rain gear and head towards Whistler, and yes soon the rain begins. Stopped in Whistler to add my pin lock to my helmet visor ( it a second layer that helps prevent the visor from fogging in wet and cold weather) It's the first time have tired it and it worked great. Happened to have a nice BMW car pass me that wanted to drive fast, so of course I always welcome a rabbit in front of me to follow so as to lesson the chances of a speeding ticket.

Rain had stopped by the time I got to the ferry. I'm now heading to Sechelt to visit some good friends of mine for a few days. I had a great visit as usual with my fiends treating me like a king and spoiling me. It's always so great to reconnect with friends, no matter how long it has been. I also had some help with my online dating profile and some new and improved photos to post, well so I thought, It seems things are pretty dead in my online dating site regardless of my new and improved profile and photos, so I guess that's they way it's meant to be for now.

Well, I'm sitting in a Library in Salmon Arm right now, taking some alone time to try catch up on this blog. I have been staying with other people for the last 10 days so although I get lonely by myself it is sometimes nice for even me to be alone,( for a short time), so I can organize my thoughts a bit and also do what I want when I want. I was fortunate to get a campsite in one of my old favorite places, Harold park. I first started going there many years ago when a good old friend of mine Rod, was the Ranger there and he was involved in building the park from the beginning, so it seems special to me, although just not the same as it used to be.

Yes I know, no photos, and I'm afraid I don't think I have taken any but will check and post them later if I do, but for now packing it in for today as my hip is pretty sore sitting here and I'm getting hungry. So off to Subway it is! Take Care!

Heading to the Coast June 2015! Day 1 and 2

Well although my trip down south was kind of short and this blog was supposed to be about my travels to all 49 states and back across Canada, I have put that on hold for now so will write of my other travel adventure as the mood moves me to. I am now able to head to the west coast to meet up with a few of my good OLD friends, some of which I haven't seen for almost 40 Years.

I took a nice long route to the coast. From Creston I headed up to Crawford Bay and took the ferry across Kootenay Lake and then up to Kaslo. The road was great and the the weather just as good. This is a road I never seem to get tired of, lots of curves and lots of beauty and fortunate enough to be an a bike that makes it all even more fun. Spent the night in the town campsite where they seem to have a reputation for treating people on bikes better than some others.

Following morning the weather seems to be heading for a change but still looking pretty good. Headed from Kaslo to New Denver, An even nicer road that the one yesterday. LOTS of great curves and good pavement all while enjoying the beauty along the way. Traveling this road you will also have the view of beautiful snow covered peaks in the distance. This is a road I highly recommend riding, even if you have before, I think I have ridden it every year for the past 5 years and it's still great.

Picked up some batteries in New Denver and got my Spot working again and then headed towards Nakusp. Yes, yet another great road and the weather is still hanging in there. Stopped in Nakusp to stock up on a bit of food and then headed down to the ferry at Fauquier that crosses the Arrow lakes to Needles. The road on the other side is yet another great road with lots of very tight corners along the way to Lumby.

I now headed to Kamloops, skies are threatening rain but it is very hot so not putting on the rain gear yet. As I headed up to Logan lake thinks cooled off and it started to rain, so on goes the rain gear. As I drop down into Ashcroft the rain has stopped and things are heating up again and even though the skies are still threatening rain I could stand it no longer and stopped to take off the rain gear.

Massive tailings lake of the giant cooper mine near Logan Lake

Now heading towards Pavillion and Lillooet and down the Duffy Lake trail as they call it.  This is another road that is very enjoyable on a bike and well worth taking. Some rough spots but lots of new pavement in the last year so overall quite a good road. Rain started soon after Lillooet so back on goes the rain gear and then I tend to slow down as even though I have great tires I am pretty cautious in the rain. I managed to make it to a campsite just past Pemberton where it wasn't raining and actually hadn't yet rained, so quickly set up the tent hoping that I would be lucky enough for it also to be dry when I packed up in the morning.

Short on Blog entries this time around.

Well as you can see I haven't put much in my blog. I am back home and will now post a little about the trip and the few photos I took.

A few photos of my travel through Texas as I headed for Padre Island on the gulf coast. There was one other photo I should have taken but didn't. I saw something dart in front of my bike but didn't feel anything hit but then I kept smelling a burnt hair smell that kept getting stronger and stronger, I finally stopped to have a look and there was a bird wrapped around my exhaust pipe. I saw many more of these birds that would run across the road rather than fly, I thought they were road runners but not sure as they seemed to small.

Padre Island Texas, which is near Corpus Christi. This is a national park and only cost $8 a night plus the 5 entry fee that covers you for 7 days at any national park. You can camp right on the beach or just up from it where I am.

The water was amazing here, so warm and clear. It made me giggle every time I went in, to think the water anywhere could be this nice.

Lots of wind the whole time I was there so it never felt hot but the wind did get a little tiresome after a couple of days as it was constant and strong with no way to escape it when living in a tent.

I met a young couple from Germany that were spending 6 months traveling the U.S. and also a nice couple from Minnesota, out for there maiden voyage in there new Airstream trailer. he was eyeing my bike and dreaming of having one of his own, although probably a different brand.

I next rode to Galveston Island, spent the night and then caught a ferry heading towards Louisiana and New Orleans. The water all along Galveston and Louisiana was very muddy looking and unappealing for anything like swimming, no idea why it was so different.

Moss cover trees in the New Orleans city park

The levees that keep the ocean from the houses

Poor looking Palm trees

They have a really nice park in the middle of New Orleans which I road through hoping to see people playing some music but all was quiet. A little hard going into a city like that without someone directing you to places of interest. I went to the shoreline to have a look,, it's amazing how close the water is to the level of the land. There is a section before the levies that you can see from the sea shells and mud in the photos has recently been flooded, not sure if that is a common occurrence or not. Also the palm trees looked in really rough shape with hardly and leaves left on them.

On to Florida and the beautiful beaches with white sugar sand. I stop first at Henderson state park, spend 3 hour on the beach, got a little burnt, forgot photos and then rode to St. Joseph peninsula state park to camp for the night, Above photos.

Rode up to Georgia next and camped at Pine Mountain State park. At this point and after checking out the weather on the east coast and also on the route home, I decided to head for home as there was a window that I could make it in if I hurried. Riding through Tennessee the scenery was nice and I had some nice twisty roads. I had the bike suspension set up for comfort not for handling twisty roads and I had a bit of an oh crap moment as bike started sliding on the engine guard and I'm not sure but if felt like one of the tires wasn't in contact with the ground for a few seconds. I've got to replace the pins on the bottom of the foot pegs as they are all worn down, they normally give a bit of warning before any non movable parts touch

Between me not coping well with the humidity and the weather not looking good on the east coast it seemed to make not sense to carry on. No use trying to do 49 states just to prove something if it's not enjoyable. Maybe one day I can head down the east coast in the fall when the leaves are changing. Considering the predominance of deciduous trees back there I am sure the fall colors would be amazing.

I had managed to just miss a lot of bad weather and have had very little rain, but have seen evidence of lots of rain shortly before I passed through a lot of locations. When passing through South Dakota I noticed piles of fresh looking snow on the side of the roads, which seemed strange as it was 23 degrees. Turns out they had 13" of snow a few days earlier. the last day was a little cold coming home but I did make it before the rain started, which would have made it very cold. Broke all previous records for mileage on my bike it one day. When I decide to head for home, there's not much that will slow me down.

Well it wasn't the 2 month trip I had planned on but it was a good thing for me to do regardless. I feel renewed, and ready for new and exciting adventures. I realize that when it's hot and humid, traveling on a bike and living in a tent isn't a very comfortable combination for me. I still love those Gulf of Mexico beaches with the beautiful white sugar sand and warm clear water, but I will have to rethink how to enjoy them. Maybe it's better just to fly to Mexico, although I do have a hard time staying in one place for long. As far as bike trips it would be nice to find someone to travel, I think that would help to slow me down a bit as by myself I get bored so tend to keep riding.

I'm looking forward to the rest of the summer now. Next is a get together in North Van with friends from long ago that I have re connected with through Face Book, some I haven't seen in maybe 35 years, it should be good!. While on the coast I am also hoping to visit my sister and anyone else that I can as well as heading over to the sunshine coast to see good friends, then maybe over to the Island as well, depending on who all indicates they want a visit. I will make sure I am back in Raymond for July 1st as it's a big celebration here in our small town with the population swelling by about 4 times it seems as families come home for the holiday. I also want to spend some time with Mark and family before they head out for holidays.

As for the rest of the summer it is still open, maybe the BMW national rally later in July in Billings Montana, another smaller one in Naksup B.C.  in Aug. that I usually go to but I will see if anything or anyone else exciting comes into the picture by then! I am also still dreaming of a trip to Ecuador for a motorcycle tour, and there's also the thought of a trip to Alaska, if anyone out there is interested?

Heading south!

Mileage when I left.

Well the weather looked good for the next week so I am heading south. I used Furkot to plan the trip down to Corpus Christi and so far it seems good, stays away from the interstates which is fine with me. Found a nice clean free campsite for the first night. Note to self, do not camp near rail way tracks!, no wonder it was free. They were also blasting somewhere nearby all night with blasts big enough to make the ground shake each time.

Where not to camp, trains close by.

Had some nice roads on the second day but to get to Texas without going a lot further it will mean going through a lit of prairie. Weather still nice on the second day and had a peaceful sleep in a nice spot in Wyoming. Wind River. Note, they charge non residents much more for campsites in Wyoming. 

Some of the nicer spots in Wyoming. Bottom one is where I camped. It can go from nice spots like this to very barren .

Well day 3 and it getting way to flat, I think I will just go south 

via the shortest route. Cold but sunny most of the day and then when it got hot it was threatening to rain so  left all my waterproof gear on and got rather hot.

Managed to just get the edge of this nasty storm and dodged rain for the rest of the day. In the middle of no where so had trouble finding a town with campsite or motel, finally got a Dumpy motel just as it was getting dark.

Day 4, the weather looks a little suspect and especially by the time I get to the Texas coast. Well better head off and find some food as my supplies are just about gone.

Time again for some riding!

Well I spent a week with Steven, Rebekah and Esmond, that boy is a hoot. He doesn't talk yet, well nothing that is distinguishable, but is chattering something almost constantly. He really works the crowd, constantly trying to do something funny to get people to laugh, he loves the attention. It was a good week and a nice visit as I helped a little with the move and getting things a bit organized. And of course there was the bonding with my youngest son while installing a new toilet in there place, what more could I ask. Love fixing stuff!.

Yummy Breakfast made by Steven

So off I go Wed. morning all packed up and ready to ride with one short stop to help a long time close friend with there computer, unfortunately without success. The weather was great as I headed towards Port Renfrew, enjoying the familiar smell of that ocean breeze. The road was much better than the last time I road it some 5 years ago and I enjoyed all those corners at a somewhat exhilarating pace but without getting carried away. Was following a Yamaha R6 for awhile and pulled in at a view point to have a little visit with him. He seemed somewhat surprise that I was keeping up with him on my fully loaded touring bike. I didn't let him know that I just riding a mostly leisurely pace, although he was 74 so he was doing pretty good and I hope I can still be riding at the age too.

The road from Port Renfrew to Cowichan lake is now paved so I went that way and enjoyed lots more curves and nice warm sunny weather. I was aiming for long beach on the west coast of the island so headed up to Parksville and then on to Port Alberni and the west coast of the Island. It was another nice curvy road with only few occasional problem slow vehicles so was quite enjoyable. It was cooler as usual on the west coast but really not to bad. Very little wind which was nice as far as not getting to cold but there was very little wave action as a result, but it was still enjoyable walking barefoot in the sand, which I love.Went to the beach in the evening and again in the morning and then headed back to Parksville on the lovely curvy road once again.

I got all set up at Rathtraver Park and then went to visit my Dad again in the hopes he would be having a better day and recognize me. It was a good visit. As soon as he saw me he focused on me with the look that he was happy to see me and he appeared to know I was someone close to him. He was saying somewhat more complete sentences although not enough to really understanding his thoughts. When the nurse came in he said something to the effect that she was his number one son and gave her a hug, so I knew the thought was in his head somehow that his son was there.

Tomorrow I will be heading of to see long time friends of mine in Sechelt.

Well it's been way to long since I have written anything here. I am reserving this blog for when I am away alone on my bike.

The winter/cold spring has been way to long but it is finally time to forget others in my life and take care of myself, and what better way than to get away by myself on my bike. I used to hate being alone but now it seems to be the best thing for me.

Left home kind of late Mon. morning, but it's sure nice not having to meet a schedule like I always had to when living where the ferries have control of the times you travel. I was feeling still feeling pretty sick this morning but am on my way regardless. It's sure good to be on another journey by myself, go at my pace stop where I want and do whatever I feel like doing. The weather is not as warm as I would like it but not to bad either. Quite a few rain events but they were all short.

I am on my way to visit my son Steven in Nanaimo and my Dad in Parksville. My Dad is in a home and may not be around much longer, just hoping he can recognize me as his memory is fading fast.

I am riding the #3 to the coast and the scenery beautiful as usual. On the ride from Osooyoos to Keremeos the air was filled with  sent of  sage, it felt so refreshing, I love this kind of climate. The road from Princeton to Hope is always a favorite of mine as I love all those curves, although it's a sad thing that they are working on straightening the road. I landed for the night at a forestry campsite on the other side of Stemwinder Provincial Park. It was a little cool at 3 degrees by morning but I still had one of the best sleeps I have had in months. It's time for a new sleeping bag as this one has many, many miles on it but I just can't seem to find one that is similar to the one I have.

Tue. morning and thankfully this will be  a shorter day than yesterday as my body is pretty beat up and in lots of pain. It scares me to think that I may have to stop riding, but hopefully I will heal and the trip will get easier. Stopped more often today to try alleviate some of the pain. Arrived at the ferry about noon and visited with several other bikers, a couple I could relate to, but as for the Harley riders and there loud pipes, I'm afraid I just don't get it. It was good to arrive at Steven and Rebekah's, I haven't seen them in a year and it will be good to get to know my grandson Esmond. They are expecting my 9th grandchild in 3 weeks, sure is exiting to have so many grandchildren already, with lots more to come! Wed. morning and I just had an even better sleep than last night. Hopefully sleeping better will help the body heal a bit.

A few pictures of Esmond. Took him to the park so Mom could pack in peace. This was on Wed, In the  afternoon I went to visit my Dad who is in a home in Parksville, he is in pretty rough shape and had no idea who I was, and doesn't even seem to know Marnie these days so it was pretty sad to see him like that, hopefully he won't have to live much longer and will soon be released from this mortal life to be reunited with my Mom who passed away this time last year.

Today is moving day for Steven and Rebekah, things should go well as there isn't to much to move. I'll be off to Victoria with them tonight so will get a little time on the bike. Next week I hope to do some riding over to the west coast of the Island to port Renfrew and up to Duncan, and hopefully before I leave the Island I can get over to Tofino.

I'm Back!

It's been a  hard month since I last posted, as the ones that are following this blog know I had to cut my trip short after hearing of Mother passing away. As I was about as far away as I could get in the U.S. from where my parents live I had a long journey home of about 5000 kms. which I managed to do in 4.5 days. Ya I am a little obsessive and when I decide I am heading home not much stops me. I must say though I hope I never do that again, I do not like the interstates to begin with as they tend to be very boring plus the many sleepy moments and the pain I was in was a bit too much. After I got home I rested for a few days and then off to Vancouver Island in Beth's Van to my Mother's Funeral. I must say I do a lot better pain wise on my bike than in the Van but glad we took it as the weather was nasty and I brought a lot home from my parents home as my Dad is also in a home I now have a lot of his tools. It's nice to keep things in the family but also hard to see my Parents things.

I have a few days of my trip that I didn't write on so I will try to remember a few things here and post some nice pictures I got.

Off to the Everglades. The weather is warming up now. Apparently I am at the end of the tourist season so they have closed a lot of the campsites in the Everglades as the rainy season will be starting anytime so I am lucky to miss the rain. On my last trip I didn't get to see Alligators so that is a high priority for me this time. Apparently they have panthers also in the Everglades but they are seldom seen.

I camped in a campsite that surrounded a small lake hoping to find Alligators but couldn't see any. There was one other person camping there so I talked to them and they said there was there were lots of gators in the canal along the road, so off I went to get my pictures. I see why they live there, the amount and size of the fish in the canals were amazing, lots of food there for sure.

It was very warm over night so I left the fly off, by morning everything was soaked due to the humidity. So here I am at my pick nick table having some breakfast and I look up and there is an Alligator not more than 30 ft. from me crossing from the bush behind my tent over to the pond, he was so quiet I almost missed him, but I did get some awesome pictures after hurriedly scrambling to find my camera.

    

The other sunny side of the lake was his destination, apparently after they eat they lay in the sun to warm up as it helps digestion.

On to the Florida Keys.

Well I thought $36 was expensive for a campsite, here it $43.

These crabs live in holes on dry land, not sure what they eat or if they even go into the water.

The weather was finally getting nice and hot and I am starting to relax and enjoy the warmth after riding far to many miles in less than warm weather. The Keys are not known for and abundance of sandy beaches, although I did find one and was just heading there as I got the call from my sister about my Mom passing away.

A  few pics from my trip to Vancouver Island at the end of May.

The weather was a little extreme for the end of may, it might have been a little difficult on my bike.

The home where I grew up as a child. For sale - only 1.28 Million!

Well as far as continuing my trip to complete the U.S. states on my bike, I'm not sure at this point as it is getting a little late now, I have a father and son camp out next week with my son and grandson and then that would only leave me a month before the BMW national rally in Salem Oregon which I wanted to be at. I may try head out in Sept., go across Canada and then down the east coast and across the south into Arizona for awhile, just not sure how I would get back home with my bike in Nov.