Day 16 - June 25, 2009 - The Jouney Home

This will be the last posting as we will be in Calgary tonight ............assuming we dont hit any more rain storms. Our route will take us out of Vanderhoof to Prince George to McBride to Jasper to Lake Louise to Calgary. Today will be a long day as we had to cut our day short yesterday because of yesterdays Mother-Of-All rain storm. Todays total distance was 890 km; our longest day mileage of the trip. We got home around 10pm.

We left Vanderhoof under overcast skies but at least it wasn't raining. It was strange riding in traffic again and seeing houses, farms, ranches, etc every few kilometers. We had gotten so use to riding deserted highways and nothing but wilderness around us.......kinda sad.

Just when you think you had experience the worst weather possible, Mother Nature hits you again. We were going up Sunwapta Pass just past Saskatchewan Crossing in the rain and the temp dropped to 8C; it was freezing but thank God for electric vests. Then going over Bow Summit just before Lake Louise, the temp dropped to 4C; the coldest temps we've had thru the whole trip. Thankfully, the skies cleared and temps rose once we got to Lake Louise. The rest of the trip in was smooth and comfortable.

The total mileage for whole trip was 9140 km. Thats like Calgary to Halifax and back. However, we estimate that just over 1000 km of it was on gravel/dirt roads. Overall, it was a great trip. The weather could have been better but that is part of the adventure. Both bikes ran very well with no problems and the two of us got along (at least there was no fist fights.......just some verbal abuse). The days just flew by and it was over way too soon. If we had to do it again, we would take more days and ride shorter days so that we could sightsee more.

For those of you that followed us on our trip thru this blog, we hope you enjoyed; it took a few hours every night posting it. Thanks to Mikes Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Dave in Anchorage. It was good to meet Bob and Zack and we hope they have a safe ride back to South Carolina (if you are ever in Calgary, give us a call).

Packing up at the Siesta Motel in Vanderhoof. Overcast but at least its not raining........yet.

Prince George. Geez there a lot of cars and traffic lights here. Where are the open roads, the wilderness????

Leaving Prince George BC taking the road to Jasper Alberta.


I forgot how much I dislike traffic when riding a motorcycle.

Mike fuelling up in McBride

Riding thru Mt Robson Provincial Park.

Heavy traffic thru construction zone.

Road construction. Sand on tar filled cracks.

We are back in Alberta.

Waiting at construction zone in Jasper.

Gordon self portrait in rear view mirror.

Riding in Jasper again.

Last group photo and second-last fuel stop in Jasper.

Heading out of Jasper.

Going down the Ice Field Parkway.

Coming up to the Glaciers.

Continuing down Hwy 2 to Lake Louise.