JamesW
JamesW
Left Kalispell and headed N on 93, pleasant road to Eureka where we gassed and ate prior to entering BC. Called this ride the Canadien express cause I have been doing it for 31 years, 3rd week of June, always,and spent all the time in BC and Alberta. This trip we decided on looping up as we did cause of Canadien prices and some new sights. Into BC, followed 93 up to Y-ing off on 3 to Fernie, Sparwood and Crowsnest pass. Nice ride, light traffic and pretty backdrops. Just passed Crowsnest is the Frank Slide, worth a stop if you have not seen it. A whole side of the mountain sheared off and slide down burying lots of folks and structures, cool visiter center. Turned N. on 22, a long time favorite, kind of like Ore. only greener and not as twisty as the Ore. roads. Through the Crowsnest pass area we discerned a couple of unmarked Beige crown vics patroling, They use pop radar or the hold button untill you are very close and have the radar set on low output to avoid broadcasting to far down the road for the other fish, my escort 8500 50 still caught glimmers of them a reasonable distance away when they flashed others. Heading N on 22 we caught up with 2 vehicles, a sedan followed by a big chevy van, as I slowed down to look things over I picked up a very weak K band, briefly, figuring it was an oncoming in the middle of nowhere, not so, turned out the sedan was unmarked and working low output radar setting againest oncoming. He would sample oncoming in the flats when they got close, and would pop it on just cresting hills or in the radius of curves. Little traffic but it was interesting watching him work. At Longview we turned left on one of our major objectives, hwy 541 which turns in to 40, and it is all called the Kananaskis hwy. Absolutely magnificent ride, little traffic, great sweepers, wildlife, mountains. You end up on 1A and head West thru Canmore. When you are in the Banf area look for the Bow Highway, it parallels 1A, very scenic and a pleasant ride all the way to Lk Louise and it misses all the 1A consruction. Lk Louise is pretty, we made reservations in Valemont at a Ramada Inn, we went up the Parkway, 157.9miles on my odometer (from Lk Louise), takes a leisurely 4hrs to Jasper, awesome ride, one to do in this lifetime, ate dinner in Jasper(which is a high rent kind of place to stay) and headed out West on the Yellowhead (16) turned left on 5 to Valemount.( this is right at 77miles from Jasper). Two beds, non-smoking, pool and breakfast for $98. If you go around the side there is even covered parking for the bikes at the side entry. Toll free 1-800-811-5808 ask for Jose. Course I got the senior discount. Next morning running S we stopped at Blue River for a break, we were getting rained on from Valemont down to Clearwater where we stopped at the Caboose restaurant for eats,good food, been eating there for lots of years. Down to Kamloops and after a break and gas we took 5A around to Merrit, very nice road, can be very windy. As you get close to Merrit there is a nice spot on the side of Nicola lake where we break and essentially start winding down the trip, from there it is on the Coquihalla to Hope, accross to Sumas and down to home. I-5 or 9 whichever time dictates. If anyone around here (PNW) would like to meet for coffee and look over my maps etc and chat give me a PM this is just the tip of the trip, I hate trying to type.
