The entries go from most current to the oldest. Go to the first page and then click on the bottom where it says “newer entries”.
First page:
http://www.2wheelstoalaska.com/?paged=5

Also, you may recall my encounter with Monte, the wonder dog, who had the unfortunate encounter with my right foot during an exuberant round of ‘kick the ball, go fetch’…anyhoo, his owner, a wonderful young lady/school teacher from germany who was on a one year sabbatical, and had been travelling up from South America, and she wrote me as promised with the update on Monte’s condition.
Here is her email to me:

“Hi Rob,
just checking in to give you a quick rund down on your soccer buddy montys howabouts.
we took him to the clinic and there they right away said the tooth had to be taken out. so they put him under and started working, they told me an hour…….well after 3 hours they finally called. The tooth had splitted so there were a lot of little slivers in there which where hard to find. So they xrayed throughout the surgery a couple times and i have to keep checking just to make sure that they didn’t forget a thing. But he came out of the sedation alright and not much later came running with a ball again……but he had soccer holiday for a week!!!! We went back for check up and she showed me how to look and what to look for….
we already had some great hikes around the area here with a lot of swimming and tobaggening on the left snow patches.
hope your trip went alright……loved to check out your blog. Take care

if you want to learn more about the travels of your soccer buddy check www.monty-on-tour.de

bye Claudia and Monty”

thanks for the update Claudia. I am glad Monte is doing ok and is back to his old self, minus one tooth….

Also, when we stopped at the Yukon border, we met a couple from France (I spoke french to show off my linguistic skills in front of everyone:))… Anyhoo, they have a website:
http://www.motards-nomades.com/
These folks are on the road for 2.5 years, and heading down to Argentina…
Rob

And it’s my birthday. I am 50 today, July 26th! Whooo oooo, or should I say, boo hoo??? Naw, life is grand and I have so much to be grateful for. Made it home today at about 5:30. It felt weird being back after 3.3 weeks on the road.
I was greeted by hugs and kisses by Tina and Danielle. Danielle kept staring at my beard. I shaved most off keeping a goatee. I don’t think it will stay.
Here’s a vid from yesterday, when we were in Wisconsin, making our way to SS Marie, to stay at Kevin and Anna’s place. We made it at 11:30, about 6 hours late because of the weather.
Rob

James here……….. I managed to get some internet on my laptop so here are some more pictures.  These are on my way into Jasper.

 

Rivers everywhere in Jasper

 

 

 

 

So I went fishing for monster pike with my Jasper Professional Fishing Guide Mike Laplante.  

 

On-Line Sport & Tackle Ltd

600 Patricia St
Jasper, AB
T0E 1E0
(780) 852-3630

 

Wow,  what an experience.  I have never done anything like this.  Mike picked me up at my campsite at 4:00 and we were on the water at 5.  He had everything, and then some.  He supplied everything I needed….boat (0f course), rods, reals, tackle etc….  All I had todo was fish.  The line, lures, and even spotting of the fish was all handled by Mike.  Life couldn’t have been any easier.  We worked hard for them though.  This lake is only about 4 ft with 9ft being the deepest, and it’s all “line of sight” fishing.  You can see the pike swimming.  Unfortunately it was sooooooo windy (white caps in some areas) that it made it very hard to see the fish.  We did spot 2 10lb’rs  but they wouldn’t bite on anything.  after 2 1/2 hrs Mike decided to goto the West end of the lake against “The Wall” (where the mountain is butt up against the lake), hopefully because the wind was coming from the West, in that area it would be calmer, and it was.  This proved to be the best spot as I nailed 3 pike in minutes.  After that it was easy fishing.  There was soooo much structure to fish.  Lots of logs and fallen trees for Pike to hide in and ambush the prey.  Some fish hit hard, with big splashes, some pike come out of their hiding spot to follow my bait.  I didn’t catch any big lunkers, but I did get 16 in the boat, lost 4, and had about 20 or so followers.  In that last 2 hrs of fishing it was non stop action, the best I have experienced yet.  Again, Mike was awesome, very prefessional and very easy to get along with.  He’s come along way from Montreal, had a hard life.  Parents divorced when he was young,  fell into the wrong crowd in Montreal, lost his younger sister in Alberta from a freak river accident (weeks before arriving here). One day  He decided to pack his stuff up and move to Alberta to start over.  And that he did.  He is second from the top for guiding, and plans to open his own business within a year.  I told him, when he opens his own business, I will gladly come back todo another charter.  Thanks again Mike, it was a BLAST!! 

 

 

 

 

 

I arrived back into my campsite later than we planned (fished a bit later) so I had no time for UFC.  The next moring I packed my stuff up and headed down Highway 93 to Banff.

 

 

 The mountains get bigger when you get into the Jasper/Banff area.  I thought BC, Yukon and the Alaskan mountains were big, but driving through Jasper and Banff, the mountains are double the height.  At some points I couldn’t even look all the way up to the top from the highway while riding.  I stopped several times to view some of the scenery, how could you not, it’s breathtaking.  It was about a 3hr ride, through mountains (litterally through mountains)

 

 

This was by-far the best ride yet, several people mentioned to me that highway 93 was one of the nicest rides in Canada, and they were not lying.  Lots to see, many many scenic lookouts, falls, rivers etc….  I stopped once for gas, and noticed that I had a small fuel leak.  Nothing major, but everytime I  stopped the bike, several drops of fuel would fall from beneath my tank onto a hot bolt (sizzling).  Not good, so I figured I would find a place in Banff to get it fixed the next day. 

 

 

Arrived into Banff just after my Aunt  Judy-Ann and Uncle Ian arrived.  Relaxed a bit, got caught up on family stuff, and we headed into town to get some supper.  STEAK!!!  Thats what I had, first steak I had since I left Suds.  It was gooooood.   We then relaxed around the campsite for the rest of the evening.  They were staying there for 4 more days, then heading home, and then heading to camp in Sudbury. 

 

 

 

The next morning I headed into Canmore to see if there was a shop I could bring my bike to.  Nothing. , but in Calgary there is the best Calgary Motorcycle Repair Shop………TJ’s Cycle  One of the only shops that will look at travelers bikes.  

 

 

 

 

 While Mark (the owner) was looking at my bike, the fuel actually leaked.  What are the chances of that!!!!!!  It seems that my tank was expanding due to the heat (it was hot, riding in jeans and short sleeves) and that my gas camp was not expending the extra pressure.  Mark took my gas cap apart, and rebuilt it………………and I was on my way.  All was good to ride now.

 

 

After Calgary, there was nothing much more to see.  I could go into the States back home, but it really didn’t interest me at all and I just wanted to get through the praries………..they are BORING.   I already told Marc and Rob that I would see them back home and honestly, I just wanted to get back to my wife.  2 weeks is long enough to be away from the ones you love.  I figure I could be back in Sudbury by Friday, I would then still have another week off in which Joce and I could do something together.   I was going to ride directly to my brother-in-laws cottage on Fairbank Lake (same lake as our cottage) as he was having his 5th or 10th annual cottage weekend and I havent missed the last 5.  Well, it seems that once I start riding, I can ride, and ride, and ride and ride.  Bike is running good, great in fact and I average about 260-280 km per tank of gas and I duct taped my Ipod to my tank for easy access.  There is something about riding cross Country with music.  It somehow completes the equation, can’t explain it, you will just have to experience for yourself. 

 

 

My Ipod ductaped to my tank

 

 

 

 

I rode all the way to Grenfell Saskatchewan, just after Regina which was about 1033KM.  Pulled in when it was dark and grabbed a cheap motel.  Well….. that wasn’t as bad as I thought, in fact, it was pretty relaxing.  At this rate, I could be back home well before Friday, easy as pie.  The next morning I got up, got some breaky and gas, and hopped on the bike.  This time I rode all the way to Thunderbay, stopping for gas and food (there really isn’t ANYTHING to see in the praries haha). 

 

 

 

When entering the district of Thunderbay it was starting to get dark, and I saw 2 moose, and 3 deer on the side of the road……….not good.  I only had 100km to go and it was starting to get dark, so I tucked in behind a transport (about 3 car lengths), I figured he could hit the moose or deer first. for the last stretch to TB.  Total KM 1148.  After about 1000km my shoulder “started” to get sore, but all in all, I was fine, even my  butt still had feeling in it.   I grabbed one of the last rooms at the Travellodge (seems ThunderBay packs up mid week due to the fact it’s the halfway point to anywhere.).  Yesterday, I did the same thing, got up at 7:00 and hit the road.  I knew this last stretch would be easy, as this time I had a view (Lake Superior).  Thunder Bay to Wawa was nothing, and Wawa to  Sudbury  is just a little teaser ride. :)   I stopped in Sault Ste. Marie for a Coffee with Kevin and to return is AC adapter, and then headed back home to get here by nightfall.  Total KM 1010.  3206km since Monday WOW!.

 

Here are some more pics

 

 

 

 

Now I’m sitting here on my couch typing this out.  I have an appointment at RL Equipment to bring my bike in for a tune-up, then Joce and I are heading to Montreal & Quebec City for bike trip of our own. 

 

 

The last 5 days have been amazing and is something that I just can’t explain, to many emotions, thoughts and experiences to put into words.  It changes you, defines you, and makes you stronger.  Rob always talked aobut his experience to the East coast on his bike, and now I understand. 

 

 

 Just over 10,000 km in 2 1/2 weeks, kept the bike vertical, no major malfunctions, great scenery, great company, one outstanding experience. 

 

 

 

 

 

Guys, be safe riding home.

 

 

James

 

On the border of North Dakota and Minnesota. Rooms are very cheap. Only $36.00
Some pics….
Rob

Driving towards some huge storm clouds in Montana. We finally made it to some town (we can’t remember names) after dark. Every hotel was booked, so we settled in at a campsite, set up in the dark and a HUGE storm came through. Very hard to sleep…..lots of wind and lightning..and, oh yea, rain…
Rob

Marc and I are in Montana. Drove in from Cranbrook BC. We pitched our tents are one of the strangest campgrounds I ever seen in Cranbrook. It was surrounded by streets, in town. Cars, people going by. No walking around in my sponge bob boxers shorts!

While there, and in the morning we were leaving, a fellow camper, from Germany, who was travelling for 6 months, had a friend over, who also was from Germany, and was taking a whole year off to travel. She had travelled from South America, on up. She’s a school teacher on sabatical. Now that’s one way to take a year off!

Anyhoo, I felt so bad. She had her dog, Monte, a beautiful, smart, border collie, who came over with a ball in his mouth, dropping it at our feet, for obvious reasons.

I threw the ball many times, with Monte running full tilt after it, and returning it at my feet everytime. Then started kicking it. I tossed the ball, in the air, right in front of me and Monte jumped right in to grab it before I had a chance to kick it. Instead, I gave him a full roundhouse in the side oh his head. He yelped and staggered away. I thought I killed him. He was chomping and stagerring. I felt sick to my stomach. Anyhoo, I had knocked out one of his teeth. The lady was very understanding. I offered to pay any vet fees, as that was where they were taking him. She refused.

Gawd, did I feel bad. The whole day while driving I kept re playing that scene. Crossing the border into the US we were delayed by over an hour, but eventually made it.
Heading east down highway 2. Beautiful scenery and awesome, warm weather…
Rob

Met with Dominique, my neice, at her work place….
Rob

Hey all, yup, I made my way to Jasper after leaving Prince George.  I always wanted to see Jasper and Banff (way back when I used to ski frequently) and Marc and Rob wanted to head to Kelowna, so I set off on my own.  What a ride it was.  Like Rob mentioned in his post below, we always think it can’t get any better, but it does.  The road was awesome, sunny, WARM, and LOADS of wildlife.  I pulled into Jasper around 3:00 and toured around the area.  Snagged a campsite at the “Whistlers” campground here in Jasper (I think it’s a rule that you have to camp out while your in Jasper. ) just at the base of the mountains.  Again, wildlife everywhere. I had an elk eating beside my tent (was annoying after awhile), and there are blackbears all over.  Today I got up, had my oatmeal and headed into town.  It’s National parks day today, and there is a huge festival going on, lots of information, booths, shows, and stuff about the parcs and area.  I then took another ride up to Patricia & Pyramid lake for a crapshoot.  Finally get to ride with just a T-shirt on.  Again, loads of bears, mostly on the hiking trails (YIKES!!!!!!). 

While sleeping last night, I had a dream of fishing for big monster pike (I normally have dreams like this, but the pike are never that big hahaha), and while I was in the village today I walked into a fish and tackle shop to look around.  Immediately there were pictures of people and their catches, rainbows and MONTSTER PIKE.  Well, that made my decision right then and there.  So I booked a guided fishing excursion for this afternoon on Talbot lake for some Monster pike.  The owner of the store is from Welland Ontario, and his mother is from Wahnipitae, small world.  First thing I asked him was “Do you love what you do?”.  That started the  45 min conversation. :)  When I get back tonight, I’m heading to the Sawridge resort to catch the last 3/4’s of the UFC on Spike.  Tomorrow I head to Banff where I am meeting up with my Aunt and Uncle.  What are the chances that my Aunt and Uncle are in the same area while they are on their cross Country adventure.  It wasn’t a hard descision to stay an extra day here in Jasper so that I could meet up with them tomorrow.  After talking to the locals it seems the road I will be taking Highway 93 is one of the nicest in Canada.

Anyways, all is great!!!  Rob, Marc, ride safe & I will see ya back home.

Cheers all.

James

Here are some images (Straight out of camera as I’m at an internet Cafe) 

 

For you know who.

Here’s some more images. NOTE: Most of these images that James and I been posting have been taken with our little Canon point and shoot cameras.
Rob

While in Skagway Alaska a local told us about this graveyard…..
Rob