We are in Southern California for a week.We  have seen Disneyland - one more day of that to come - plus we have been to the Petersen's car museum, a Zoo, an airplane musuem and the science discovery center.

Here are a few pictures to enjoy.

http://photoshare.shaw.ca/view/11854257578-1354720503-12260/

Cheers

Kevan and Karen

Nakusp 2012

I was able to attend the Horizons Unlimited Canwest 2012 Travelers Meeting in Nakusp last weekend. It was a weekend of amazing travel stories, photos, meeting new friends and seeing a lot of old ones. This is one of my favourite weekend get together.

Highlights were:

• Acting as MC for 210 of my best motorcycling friends. Apparently they did not realize how nervous I was standing up there talking to them.
• Doing a tire repair course with Grant Johnson, founder of Horizons Unlimited and one of my motorcycling heroes.
• Riding some of the best roads in BC, possibly Canada !
• Watching Tom Mamic’s presentation on Africa. I gotta go and see it for myself.
• Presenting my Road Side Repair seminar to a huge crowd who seemed to really enjoy it.

Here are some photos of the weekend http://photoshare.shaw.ca/view/11854287720-1346368234-56740/

If you are a motorcycle traveler and have not gone to a Horizons Unlimited event I encourage you to go. If you have not traveled to the Kootenay area of British Colombia, go, go now. Put the computer away and head off to Nelson, Kaslo, Nuskusp area. You will not regret it.

Cheers

Ibby

 

Adventure versus Vacation

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines adventure as:

• an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks b: the encountering of risks adventure>
• an exciting or remarkable experience adventure in exotic dining>
• an enterprise involving financial risk

Vacation is defined as:

• a respite or a time of respite from something,
• a: a scheduled period during which activity (as of a court or school) is suspended b: a period of exemption from work granted to an employee
• a period spent away from home or business in travel or recreation “had a restful vacation at the beach”

Now riding a motorcycle to Alaska and back to ride a steam train may not exactly be a vacation it certainly was an adventure. We did not reach our original goal of Denali Park in Alaska due to various factors but we certainly did have an adventure. Actually Mark is still on his.

You see we were just coming through the Fraser Canyon and had passed through China Tunnel just south of Boston Bar. Having taken a short rest period, nee pee break, we took off again. I looked back in my mirrors and noticed Mark had pulled over – we both quite often forgot to plug in our electric vests – but did not take off again. I did a u-turn to see what was up.  When I rode up I saw what I thought was a snake on the ground by Mark’s bike. But what it actually was, was the chain drive for his motorcycle.

The chain had separated at the master link. When this happened it also broke part of the rear chain sprocket. This was one of those repairs that could be bodged but is better fixed by a professional with new parts.

This is one of those times where having BCAA coverage paid off. BCAA dispatched a towing company that showed up with a truck and trailer and all the proper strapping. Ten minutes later Mark was on his way to Chilliwack to get the bike repaired and I was on my way to catch a ferry.

I spoke to Mark this afternoon. The repair was completed this morning and he was on the ferry heading home to Nanaimo. It was expensive, over $500 with parts labour and to replace the worn rear brake pads, but it could have been a lot worse. Many times when a chain breaks it also comes forward, jams up around the front sprocket and can break the engine case. So instead of $500 it could have been many thousands.

The good thing about all this is that we would take off again tomorrow and due a trip again. Even with the shitty weather (13 days of rain – sometimes biblical downpours), multiple day delays and both being sick we enjoyed – or possibly endured – an adventure that we will be glad to tell the grandkids someday.

Have a look at the photoshare as I have added some more photos to it. http://photoshare.shaw.ca/view/11854267794-1338778639-67525/

 Cheers

Ibby

Almost there

We have made it as far as Prince George. Both Mark and I are sick with colds and are looking forward to getting home.

We have ridden through rain, sleet, hail and now storm force winds in the past few days. Plus the 3 days in the Yukon waiting for road repairs will make this a memorable trip. I will try to update some photos and hopefully some videos of the trip when I get home and sorted away.

Cheers for now

I|bby

Ted Simon notes one of the important lessons a traveler can learn is patience. Waiting is part of travelling. Well we are waiting again. This time in Teslin waiting for the road to be repaired so that we can head south.

The road washed out 3 days ago due to heavy rains and melting snow pack. They are making a temporary repairs with a “Bailey Bridge” which will allow for single lane traffic. The local department of highway advises that it should be open tonight but priority will be to the ,many transport trucks on both sides of the washout to allow fuel and groceries to be delivered. They are hoping to allow for passenger cars, and motorcycles, to go through after 6:00 am tomorrow.

So we sit and wait with other travelers. In the campground which, is attached to the local fuel station/restaurant/gift shop/museum, the echo of “any word yet” is heard every 15 minutes or so.

I'm not worried. We have lots of food, water, fuel and a good campsite overlooking the lake. Plus there are lots of people to talk to about what is going on, where they are going and where they have been. Waiting is not fun but it can be interesting.

Cheers

Ibby

“There are worse places to be stranded” seems to be the saying of the day. You see we have been talking to various patrons of the motel we are staying in here is Skagway about road conditions. There was a mud slide yesterday that has closed off the highway between here and the rest of the world, actually between here and Carmack in the Canadian side of the border. Plus there is another slide north of Watson Lake – our next destination – so we are effectively stuck here for a couple of days. Like I said there are worse places.

Although Skagway is a tourist town it has lots or real history that has been preserved and lots to do. Yesterday we road the steam train from Skagway up to the Canadian border. A very unique experience that Mark has been waiting to do for nearly a decade. For him it was a ride of a life time, much like a your first visit to Disneyland as a child, he could barely contain himself. He actually spent more of the ride on the outside viewing platform between the train cars where he could take pictures and really enjoy the experience. Good on you Mark !!

The trip takes you up the Chilkoot pass to only an elevation of 2888 ft (who measures these things) but the terrain changes from coastal woodlands like we have at home to almost a barren tundra like landscape. Have a look at some of the pictures we have uploaded to see what we mean.

By the way we also ride through this terrain on the motorcycles as well. Up and through the pass that still has snow banks 8 ft high, and it is the second week of June! “Spring is late this year” we hear quite often from the locals. No shit.

Due to the delay and my ongoing issues with a serious cold we have decided to head south after this. Well actually I decided to head south as I have been feeling like crap and riding each day in rain and cold weather has not helped my cold and probably has prolonged and enhanced it (now into it's 5^th week). Mark has decided to stay with me to make sure I make it back to the Island in one piece instead of carrying on alone to Dawson. Although he is more than welcome and encouraged to go north as a true friend that he is he would rather accompany me just in case. You know the old saying “ a friend will help you move; a good friend will help you move the body”. Well Mark is the kind of guy who would bring the shovel if asked. He noted last night at dinner that we have accomplished what we had started out to do: ride the steam train and make it via motorcycle to Alaska.

We will both come back and visit the north again due to the beautiful vistas, great riding and nice people. If you have not been north I would encourage it. If you have been here before come back again before it become too civilized.

Have a look at the picture link as I have added some new photos.

Cheers

Ibby

Whitehorse like bread after 3 days is getting stale. It is a great city for walking around, seeing good museums with real history, eat good food and meet nice people. But as this is a motorcycle trip I am longing to get riding again. Also as I am still recoving from a cold and riding actually makes me feel better.

I have updated some of the photos here: http://photoshare.shaw.ca/view/11854267794-1338778639-67525/

Please have a look at Mark and his big beaver.

Cheers

Ibby

From the road to Alaska

In Whitehorse for the next few days.

We have ridden 5 days straight from Nanaimo to get here. Along the way we have camped in Williams Lake, stayed with Ian and Heather in Burns Lake and got sodden wet riding into Watson Lake in the Yukon.

We have seen lots of wildlife. Probably 30 black bears, lots of caribou, birds and even a beaver. Don't even make a comment about the beaver. We also so a snowy owl but that is another story.

Things that we have learned: that the speedometer of our motorcycle is optimistic and so is the temperature rating of my sleeping bag. Please note when they tell you the sleeping bag is good for zero degrees Celsius they don,t really mean zero. They really mean probably 10 degrees. Or maybe zero if you are wearing every piece of clothing that you own. I actually had to purchase a fleece blanket to add to my bag as I froze  my nuts off at Stewart BC a couple of days ago and it was only 2 or 3 degrees.

We have also learned that water proof is somewhat like the temp rating of the sleeping bag. It may of seem liked a possibility at the factory but when it faces reality it pretty much sucks. I guess when they designed these things, like boots and jackets, they are not calculating that someone might actually wear them for 8 hours a day in a real rain storm. A shower maybe but not a real rain storm. Hence we are off to the motorcycle store tomorrow to look for “booties” to fit over our riding boots and Mark is going to look for a pair of waterproof gloves. Note that the neoprene fishing/hunting gloves that I have been wearing work great. Take that Tourtech !!

We are off to see the sites of Whitehorse and off to ride the train on Friday. I will upload pictures when I can. Miss you all and will see you the end of June.

Cheers.

Ibby

We are stuck in a very expensive, but very old and dated motel in Watson Lake YK. The wifi is dial up - we think - so it is very slow.

Here are some current pictures http://photoshare.shaw.ca/view/11854267794-1338778639-67525/

We should be in Whitehorse in the next day or so and I will try to update on what we have been through to get to here. Think rain, rain and more rain.

Cheers

Ibby

Back to the Artic.

Well actually I am heading to Alaska this time. I have a couple of weeks off between jobs so my buddy Mark and I are heading off to see Alaska. Karen can't make it as she took all her vacation time in September and October this year for a cross Canada trip. Stay tuned for tales from the road and photos.

Kevan