Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

[icedad]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Kevin, you and Mary have posted some absolutely stunning and beautiful pictures. I love the commentary and descriptions. I started going through your'e thread and like a good book, I couldn't put it down until I got this far. I can understand why Canadians are so proud of there land. It's beautiful up there. Thank-you so much for sharing. ThumbUp

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

:wave4::wave4:,,,seems as though Mary packs three times as many clothes as you did ,just as Donna does when we go on a little trip ,,ThumbUp ,,,,,LOL ,,, got to be a man thing . Some great imfo and just keep it coming ,look forward to it each day .....pepperpepper

Yeah, I tease her a bit, but she used all the stuff she brought, and I got no complaints about that.

Glad you're enjoying it.

Thanks for the bike info. The cooling fans looked interesting. I have power for recharging cells/etc in my tour pack for trips.

DW just got a new TG (she lets me drive sometimes) and she is loving it! Almost 300 miles now and we live on an island!

Yes, it is expensive. Even to us Alaskans. We have made the run from Prince Rupert to the USA many times, and it is beautiful.

Bear spray, did you pick some up while in BC? I know Canada customs always asks me about it...

Ride safe!

Yes, the fans are a bit weird, sound like little turbos winding up, but when the bike is running I don't hear them, and they work very well.

I should have done the power point in the TP about 3 bikes ago. It is really handy!

As you know, Alaska is more expensive than the lower 48, but Canada make Alaska look like a bargain when it comes to gas, motels and food!

Mary ordered the bear spray online before we left. Don't remember them asking about it...they might have, but the one guy at the first Canadian Customs station was stuck on asking me about firearms so many times, that is what really sticks out in my memory.

RE: Alaska, I really enjoyed it never getting dark there...while we were there. Still can't really figure out what it must be like to have months with little or no sunlight for you guys.

Kevin, you and Mary have posted some absolutely stunning and beautiful pictures. I love the commentary and descriptions. I started going through your'e thread and like a good book, I couldn't put it down until I got this far. I can understand why Canadians are so proud of there land. It's beautiful up there. Thank-you so much for sharing. ThumbUp

Thank you! Canada really has been a big surprise to me!

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Today we head out for Prince George a second time!

This is where we stayed in New Hazelton.

Recognize that bike from Destruction Bay? That's the British couple. They must have pulled in late. It is 10:30 am and no sign of them.

They've been camping a lot...we've seen them a few times since Destruction Bay, each time headed to a campground. I'm sure the motel is a nice change for them!.

Right outside of town...should be an easy day, only 435 km.

Kicking back, ready to eat up some miles...bout 270 of them.

Road is nice, Mary is playing with different camera angles, it's about 50*. We know we're on the last little bit of the trip, but we're enjoying today.

Right about the time we are settling in, we come up on a civilian (Pastor John) who has set up a road block.

A lady a ways up the road was trying to get her cat back up on the seat of her truck and ran off the road. They have the road blocked both directions.

She is not hurt bad, sore from the seat belt.

We learned a bit about the area from Pastor John as we waited for over 45 minutes for them to open traffic back up.

Not sure why they had the entire road blocked for the truck that was not even on the road, but we are back on our way.

We get to Smithers and stop in at the Harley Dealer. Talked with the owner, he's been there 26 years. Asked them if they wanted to do some warranty work and fix my reverse. The wait is 2 hours just to look at it, and he does not give me the feeling that they will be able to fix it, so we pass.

Back on the road, enjoying it. Mary shooting pics blind over my head. lol

We are far enough south now that we begin to see the land being used for farming. North of here we have seen a few greenhouses, but nothing growing in the ground except for trees.

Great road, great weather. Thoroughly enjoying the easy ride!

More in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

A different perspective.

We come up on Burns Lake. Decide to stop and

eat some sandwiches Mary has made up.

Before Mary eats hers, she needs to fix her hair, using our portable mirror.

Now she's ready to eat.

We follow the railroad for quite awhile. Great pic of one of the many lakes we passed.

I'm still amazed at how she takes these pics when were rolling at 70 mph.

We passed quite a few lumberyards. I have never seen so many trees in on location. This pic shows how deep the stacks are, from the road back.

This pic does not show how long these stacks go on for...would not fit in one picture. Mind-boggling.

Then after the timber, there were acres and acres of lumber. This is just a small amount of what was there.

Before we knew it, we were in Prince George!

PG is quite a large city. No pics, but when we went grocery shopping we got turned around on the way to AND back from the store. Ended up seeing a lot of the city.

 

[slick rick]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

ThumbUp,,,,As usual ,,,FANTASTIC,,,, made my morning . I normally scan each morning to see if you guys posted just to start my morning great pics and good editing . BE SAFE !!!:wave4:

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

ThumbUp,,,,As usual ,,,FANTASTIC,,,, made my morning . I normally scan each morning to see if you guys posted just to start my morning great pics and good editing . BE SAFE !!!:wave4:

Cool! Thank you.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

At the motel in Prince George. Did not know Mary took this pic. Do not know what I was doing. Looks like I am still asleep when I should be packing the trunk up for our ride to Cache Creek. lol

Not going to Vancouver today!

There it is, Cache Creek. Another easy day of riding.

Cache Creek is where we will stay the night before getting on the Sea-to-Sky Highway.

Really enjoying the ride and the good roads.

Passing thru the scenic town of Quesnel.

As we head south, it is a bit warmer, there is more and more farming going on, there is more traffic and power lines....

there are no towering mountains with glaciers, but it is still big country and good views!

Did not hang out behind this guy at all!

This pic reminds me of the signs I've seen the few times we entered Canada...something about turning off your radar detector, they are not legal in Canada.

I think I've gotten a pretty good feel for how Canadian drivers handle the really low speed limits.

Of course, I DON'T know how the RCMP will feel, have not been stopped. But in open road like this, the limit is mostly 56 mph, but most Canadian travel it at 65-80 mph. I'm doing about 70 mph in this pic.

Does this pic need any words?

More in next post.

 

[slick rick]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

........ThumbUpThumbUpThumbUpThumbUpThumbUp.......

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Pulled into this little station about halfway between PG and CC.

Mary snapped this pic before we filled up, then we sat on the bench out front and had some lunch.

In most of our travels in Canada and Alaska there have been very few choices on main roads to take...and when there was, very few big official looking signs like this. We're keeping left!

Towns & Cities are getting closer and closer together.

A little bit of road construction, and

a little bit of rain.

We start heading up thru a pass in some hills/small mountains.

Coming down the other side of the small pass, there is a lot of traffic moving sort of slow...way to many to play leapfrog passing 1-2 at a time to get ahead of them all. So we settled into a slow pace and enjoyed this cool green valley, commenting on this house or that house on how well it was situated.

I'm not sure how long that lush green valley was, maybe 15 miles or so. Then all of a sudden, within a 1-2 mile stretch, it transitioned into an almost desert like terrain. The air temp went up 20-30 degrees. If was quite a surprise!

In the morning we'll be doubling back 5 minutes to take this turn-off, Hwy 99 South, which will turn into the "Sea-to-Sky" highway.

We got a motel in Cache Creek, went down to the pool for a swim. Even though it was 80 degrees out, the pool felt ice-cold. Neither one of us accepted the others dare of diving in. lol We went and ate at the Subway that shared the same parking lot. Then walked across the street to the convenience store as the sun was setting. Yep, it is getting dark at night now.

Saw a payphone booth. It was enough of a novelty that we snapped a pic.

Next report will be on Hwy. 99!

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Part I

We're leaving out of Cache Creek, headed toward Horseshoe Bay.

Horseshoe Bay is in West Vancouver. Mary has scoped out a ferry that will take us & the bike, from there, over to Vancouver Island.

Today we take the 99 south, which turns into the "Sea to Sky Highway" about halfway down.


This is the view from our motel room in Cache Creek. It was quite a fast/surprising transition into this high desert type area yesterday.

A slightly different angle...Mary is about ready to roll!

btw, the bike is dirty by normal standards...but we are still hitting construction zones everyday...so the only thing we are cleaning regularly is the windshield.

Backtracking about 5 minutes to get to the 99 turn-off.

Here we go! Not very many km, but Lots of pics...gonna be a two-parter.

Almost immediately we begin climbing and getting some good curves and a twisty every now and then.

I get the feeling early on that this is going to be a great riding day!

WOW! It looks inviting for a swim...but we know...that water is ice cold!

The road is so nice. Today we only hit two short road works areas...most of the time it was this really nice smooth stuff. You all may laugh at my pre-occupation with road surfaces, but I will never take it for granted again after the Yukon and parts of Alaska. lol

Those of you that have ridden with me know that I am fully enjoying and taking advantage of the TG's exceptional handling on this road!

Looking back and to the right at a river we have been following.

More in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

The straight road is only there leading up to the next curve!

Getting into the zone.

It is still a bit desert like, but it is much cooler and greener.

We've traveled less than 100 km's and we got 255 to go! Yeah!

Not sure if it is because we are nearing the end of our time in Canada that I am so stoked on this road...I think it is just because it is because there is so little traffic and the TG is made for this kind of riding.

Looking back at where we have ridden thru, and

looking forward to more curves and twisties!

I am in the zone, time does not exist, it is just Mary, me, the TG and the curves!

This is the kind of road, that when it straightens out, I normally turn around and ride again...but there are a couple hundred km's of this and we do have reservations in Horseshoe Bay.

More in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Check out Mary in the mirror! She is a trooper. I am running these curves almost as fast as possible, she's just snapping pics.

I do slow down in the straights and take in some of the amazing sights.

It is my intention to ride this road again some day.

We have been following this river for awhile, I start looking for a place to pull over, where we can get down to it.

This looks like a good spot!

We explored around here for a bit...and guess what...NO clouds of mosquitoes!!!

I can only imagine what it is like during the winter...but it is fantastic in July.

Mary climbing down closer to the water.

Ride to Horseshoe Bay to be continued.

 

[slick rick]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

ThumbUpThumbUp,,,,,AMAZING ,,,,,ThumbUpThumbUp,,,,,

 

[Blondie Gal]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Having such a good time, "riding with you"! Can't tell you how great this 'diary' is for TT!

 

[Lucky]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Great pics of a wonderful trip.Sure enjoying it. THANKS FOR YOUR SPONSORSHIP WIthout people like this place would not be here for us.RIDE SAFE

 

[dano309]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

really enjoy keeping up with your journey.....JUST AMAZING.......wish we were there....

 

[slick rick]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Having such a good time, "riding with you"! Can't tell you how great this 'diary' is for TT!

,,,YEP ,,my first stop every morning just to see what's new . I would love to do just half that with my wife but she doesn't love it as much as I do.,,,,,:Shrug::Shrug:

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

ThumbUpThumbUp,,,,,AMAZING ,,,,,ThumbUpThumbUp,,,,,

Having such a good time, "riding with you"! Can't tell you how great this 'diary' is for TT!

Great pics of a wonderful trip.Sure enjoying it. THANKS FOR YOUR SPONSORSHIP WIthout people like this place would not be here for us.RIDE SAFE

really enjoy keeping up with your journey.....JUST AMAZING.......wish we were there....

Thank you! We never thought when planning this trip that it would be as big an adventure as it has been. BC, Canada Rocks!

,,,YEP ,,my first stop every morning just to see what's new . I would love to do just half that with my wife but she doesn't love it as much as I do.,,,,,:Shrug::Shrug:

Hey Rick, I see you are less than 200 miles down the road from where we live. Would be cool to meet up sometime. PM me if you ever get up toward Memphis.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Part II to Horseshoe Bay.

We stayed here for awhile, enjoying this little bit of river.

Getting ready to pull out, one last pic.

Within 5 minutes we saw this deer on the side of the road...looked like she was going to cross, then changed her mind.

Not 2 minutes later we saw another.

Came up on this single lane wood bridge.

Stopped for a couple of pics...the right side

and the left.

I think I already mentioned how much I'm enjoying riding this road.

I hope you're not getting bored of the road pics...I enjoying cruising on straight road, but getting into the curves and twisties really is a whole different level of fun.

More in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Here's some more.

The scenery is pretty amazing too.

Still following the same river.

One of the bigger waterfalls, on this section of road, that feeds the river.

Elevation changes coupled with curves.

And some more!

Came around a corner, WOW...was not expecting that.

Besides being a great riding road, there has been very little traffic.

Check out Mary in the mirror!

More in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

The last few days we have not seen much in the way of snow covered mountains...we sort of thought as we headed south we would not see anymore.

We were wrong.

If you're bored with the windy road pics...they are almost over. Mary got over 150 of them...I've just posted a few.

There were more than a few 180 degree turns, but they are sort of hard to photograph from the back of the bike...this is the best one we got.

Everything up to this point has been the 99, and it rocked! Now, starting in Whistler we are on the "Sea to Sky Highway".

Lakes everywhere in BC.

Did not stay near this guy for long!!!

Outside of Whistler, headed to Squamish.

The road is bigger, and

there is more traffic. So we are taking a more leisurely pace.

More in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

This is Shannon Falls.

We decide to go explore. I am not as good with the camera as Mary...that white right above her head is the waterfall.

We spent a bit of time here, just soaking in the beauty,

and getting stuck on rocks.

Sooo, we have seen so many thousands of lakes in Canada and Alaska, some of them 50-60 miles long....

We rode along this one for quite awhile....

enjoying the scenery...

before commenting to each other "this is a really BIG lake!

Soon after we realized...

This is NOT A LAKE, it is the Pacific Ocean!

More in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

What an amazing day of riding and sights!

Here's our turn-off to Horseshoe Bay.

A pic of part of the town from above.

Here's our room!

We stayed here for 3 nights, catching up on some work, doing laundry, taking the ferry over to Vancouver Island.

 

[slick rick]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

:Coffee:,,,,Morning,,,,,Kevin speaking for myself I don't get tired of any of the pics weather it be the great roads you guys travel or the beautiful scenery that the majority of us will never see . Tell Mary to keep clicking you keep driving and we'll keep coming back to see more .ThumbUpThumbUp,,,,,,,,,,drive safe my friend.......
PS,,love those friggen phone booths you know how many we see in this area

 

[427dave]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

Great pictures and commentary. I have loved following your trip. I also check everyday to see what is new and where you all are.

 

[dano309]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

I'M really enjoying reading and taking all this trip you guys are doin' in......would really love to do something like this when i retire in a couple more years.....like all the rest have posted,I check every day to see where you guys are....lol you guys are an amazing couple......RIDE ON........

 

[NEWTrk]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

You and Mary have inspired us. We now have a copy of the Milepost and a map to start planning with. We are talking of 2015 being the year we go to Alaska. Thanks for all the inspiration that you have provided with each and every posting!

PS Pacific Ocean pictures might be a close second to the cloud pictures!

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

:Coffee:,,,,Morning,,,,,Kevin speaking for myself I don't get tired of any of the pics weather it be the great roads you guys travel or the beautiful scenery that the majority of us will never see . Tell Mary to keep clicking you keep driving and we'll keep coming back to see more .ThumbUpThumbUp,,,,,,,,,,drive safe my friend.......
PS,,love those friggen phone booths you know how many we see in this area

Cool!

Great pictures and commentary. I have loved following your trip. I also check everyday to see what is new and where you all are.

Thank you.

I'M really enjoying reading and taking all this trip you guys are doin' in......would really love to do something like this when i retire in a couple more years.....like all the rest have posted,I check every day to see where you guys are....lol you guys are an amazing couple......RIDE ON........

Definitely our most adventurous trip so far! Hope you're able to when you retire. It is quite an experience.

You and Mary have inspired us. We now have a copy of the Milepost and a map to start planning with. We are talking of 2015 being the year we go to Alaska. Thanks for all the inspiration that you have provided with each and every posting!

PS Pacific Ocean pictures might be a close second to the cloud pictures!

That's great! I know you'll enjoy it.

Yeah, it was really a shocker when we realized it was the ocean and not another lake. LOL

 

[DK Custom Products]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

We spent a lazy day in Horseshoe Bay...tomorrow is the ferry over to Vancouver Island.

Catching up on emails and some biz.

It's a small town, basically seems to be there for the many ferries that run between Vancouver and the Island.

Lots of restaurants and tourist shops. We are in the only motel in town, it is right across the street from a small grocery store, which was convenient.

There's a nice park right between restaurant row and the water.

Enjoying lunch in the park.

You can see the ferries in the background, seems like there is always one coming in or leaving.

Vancouver Island report tomorrow!

 

[Nana]

Re: Ride Report- Mississippi to Alaska & Back - Pic Heavy

I've ferried out of Horseshoe bay so many times. What a beautiful spot you are in!!! We lived in Victoria (on Vancouver Island) for three years when I was a child, and my husband and I stayed on Bowen Island (not far off the mainland where you are now) for about 6 months early in our marriage. Your pictures and stories bring back so many memories!