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2016 Road trip, SanDiego to Prudhou Bay, Alaska, seven weeks, 11k miles...

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Week 5, June 26-July 2

June 26, 181 miles, North or Prince George to Quesnel Canada

Well, good news, woke up, not eaten by bears again, this is a habit I would like to continue with. Left camp and Matt pointed at large bear tracks, fresh ones on the road next to camp. Hmm, side story, I'm in a cheap motel tonight and ate and A&W, reading about in Vancouver city a bear broke through a car window to get to a candy bar on the cars dash. Hmmm, yikes, good call on motel tonight. Back to the ride, lunch at Tim Horton's a bad habit that I need to break, I may have to go cold turkey (sandwich). But they have internet, and Janet had posted a great video of images from the wayback machine. A great flood of wonderful memories came back, and so much fun to relive those amazing images. Found a little motel, shower, bed, 55 clams, not bad and free breakfast and internet to boot. Nice people, local drunks asked me to move my bike one space over and then invited me over for beers, maybe next time. Cute little town, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow's ride, about 300 miles south, through some of the driest parts of Canada so I'm told. Sunset is clear skies and a touch of red to the west. Chatted with Janet, and the gazebo has electricity, so great news. Riding with Matt was fun and we took pictures at Tim Horton's a quick man hug and then again warm wishes at the fuel station, as we would part ways in an hour of driving as I turn south at Prince George and he continues onto Edmonton to see a friend. At the turn off, we do a fist bump, wave a couple Shaka's, and I turn south. Roads are changing as I mentioned the day before, more people, houses and livestock. Less wild animals and trees. Roads are much better wider better paved, looks like a touch more of civilization.

Suddenly it is late. More tomorrow, rock on!

June 27 - 252 miles to golf creek campsite, just 30 miles north of Whistler.

For the fear of temptation by pulling into Whistler and seeing the many expensive hotels, I decided to stop early at about 3pm. It looked like rain and I had gone through a few more road construction spots when I was stopped at yet another, and thought, this looks like a great place to camp, so turned around and headed back about a mile to a place on the waters edge (million dollar property I tell you). I've setup my tent, got my bear bag ready and am into my second saimin (Canadians must not like the stuff, as the seem to package it pretty small, hence two packages). Arriving it looked like more rain, then sounded like lots of rain, as I heard a few thunder crashes, but an hour later it is looking pretty nice out. I've assembled the cot, in case it rains, I'll be "above" it all so I hope.

Today's ride, very nice, but it did get hot in jeans and riding jacket. Tomorrow I shall see about the jacket, but all flaps on the jacket are open for maximum cooling so actually wasn't to bad. The choice to leave deodorant behind was for space, and potential animal attractants. I suspect, I'm now more an animal dispersal machine. This lead to after dinner, washing dishes and myself. But that water is pretty cold I tell you. Not sure how the prehistoric settlers did it. A portable hot tub maybe? At camp, PC so and so stopped by to collect 12 for the campsite. I think he liked the american $10, as it is currently 77 cents to the dollar. Good news, no bears in a few months, bad news a single wolf (better than a pack of them) and to be aware of Jaguars, ughhh. Guess I need to check the trees in the morning. Maybe kitten can put in a good word on the feline network for me. Should have brought catnip I suspect. Back to the ride, I've given up the 2.5 gallon of gas container at last. Filled my tank and gave it to lady at a gas station, as I needed the space. Maybe the next person to run out of gas can use it. Well dinner was great, no fire and in tent at 4:32pm. I could sleep, as I was up late last night, as it had a great motorcycle show on. A couple dudes on the east coast touring different bike places, nice. I suspect I should watch, as it gave me some great ideas. I'm over 7000 miles, so San Diego may have me at 10k miles.

Tomorrow, back on the road to Whistler, hang out for a bit with the rich and famous, then continue on to Horseshoe bay. Distance from camp the ferry landing is only 124 miles, about 3 hours as roads are twisty. Your only as fast as the giant bus motorhome carrying boats and trucks is on the road.

See ya on the flip side!

June 28, 363 miles - 30 miles north of Whistler to Port McNeill, North side of Vancouver Island

Well, didn't get eaten by any animals. Up early bright and shiny day, actually an amazing blue day, waking next to a rolling creek, and breakfast. Packed and ready to roll at 7:30am. Whistler was nice, a bit touristy, and with parking at 8/day, I decided to tour via bike and then continued to roll south. Amazing passes and valleys at every turn. A bit of road construction about 15 miles north of the ferry system at Horseshoe Bay, people would get out of their cars and talk story, I tried to avoid taking a nap on the bike in the warm sunshine. Watched "Porsche Experience" roll by, about 30 Porsche rolled by with happy drivers inside, and a zillion gopros attached to the cars. Looked like fun, but not my bucket list. On down to the ferry system. A bit nervous it was really very easy. Follow the other motorcycles and see what they do. Once again, we get to roll to the start of the line. I asked about tying the bike down and that wasn't needed. Big boat, about 2 hours I guess to the port on Vancouver island. Meet a number of interesting people, from a guy that looked to be pretty young and divorced working on ROV's for some fish company, to a guy who just purchased a used Harley for the engine as he is rebuilding a similar bike. Nice guy who offered to tour me about the island. I thanked him, and once at port, rolled on. Ran into Michael the ROV guy at a stop light and we both laughed. A travel secret, in Canada stop at the tourist information center for free WiFi, a great deal. I meet a couple that introduced themselves as I was taking a photo of a totem pole. They recognized the Hawaii license plate and where also traveling on a motorcycle. Retired, they were taking care of grandchild #7, as both parents where police officers. Nice couple and we talked for over 40 minutes. Great suggestions, and once again, do the long beach drive, but avoid the hippies at the end of the road. I'm now at a campsite in McNeil, about 30 miles south of port Hardy, my original destination, but at 9pm, I think this is fine far enough for me. Ran in to Bambi and a tiny little deer about 10 miles out of town (didn't hurt them, but cute and they stayed out of my spokes). Getting gas I asked for directions, but the lady who lived here all her life said "left, left and then you are there". That didn't work, but found a tiny provincial camp next to the port. Eating single serving chili with beef and beef stroganoff for campers, not bad, but not good. I suspect I will pay the piper tomorrow with the chili and beans. But it is filling and warm, as the air is a bit cool. I guess on a bike, I don't need to worry about off gassing my passengers.

Tomorrow's plan, head to long beach. Apparently this is the surf mecca of the island. At about 280 miles that is a ways away over yonder. Then I would like to find a motel near Victoria and do the museums, before heading over to Olympia national park. Today is one month since the start of the great journey. Sometimes I question myself, why am I doing this, but then the sites are amazing like the dears, or glaciers. Music and audio books have been fun to listen to as well. The many stops at internet places to touch base has worked, and I should have more internet in a few days being back in america. Speaking of that, I need to lose some of this Canadian change.

TTFN

June 29 - 309 Miles - Port McNeil to Ucluelet

Up early, 5am, on the road by 6:30am, a good day and amazing sky yet again. I suspect it will rain once I'm back in the states. The weather gods have been very good to me thus far. Music is epic interleaved with "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle maintenance" is an interesting listen. Way metaphysical, back and forth with the philosophy and his son, as well as aspects on life and people. I can only listen in spurts, then put on Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd and other mind bending music to think about what has been said. It really sinks home and makes me think about life. Of course I sitting at a bar across the street from my camp. Drinking beer and life is good. Onion rings, wings and beer, life is good. I've shaved the beard in preparation for society. Not sure if that is good or not, but it is gone, so it is what is was. I should note, this info comes after a second beer. I really enjoyed today's ride, started out with breakfast in Port McNeil, about done, paying bill and going for a second cup of coffee a fellow asks if that is my bike. We talk for some time, about his wife and traveling to San Diego, his A/C going out, and finding a junk yard, telling his wife to lock the doors and not let anyone in, even him... He get the compressor and gets it installed, his very pregnant wife is happy and they are still married. Fun chatting, but the road is calling, and it is still early. I had woke up to gray skies and cool weather. Sleeping, I've mentioned three layers. Although a radiation oncologist at a campsite suggested sleeping in the buff to stay warm, hmmm, I still think that is a line to use with the wife... I have a orange bag liner, that is actually very warm (Keeps everything clean and is easy to wash), then a 30' lufsa bag, packed, about 2x4" small packed, but duck down and warm, then another bag that is a bit bigger and when cold I just keep adding the layers. I've come to realize, just use all three to stay warm. Nothing like waking up cold, and being old people waking up have got to get up to pee, that is not fun and best avoided at all costs. I'm staying warm and doing great, that is key to happiness. I'm amazed today is the 29th, I'm on the downhill side of the trip. Still need to stay alert, it is the last few yards, when shit hits the fan. Or in construction, the last 10% takes 90% of the time, need to stay sharp, eyes on the prize. Tonight at a camp next to Howler a family restaurant. It is walking distance so beers are allowed. I hope after two large beers I can make the cross walk safely back to my tent. Tomorrow is Victoria, or victory, as my last day in Canada. Leaving, I will find out if I've earned speeding tickets and other issues to contend with, hard to bolt across the border, as it will be on a ferry to Olympia park. I plan to be up early, Janet has booked me into a great little motor inn, a 60's place that looks great. I plan to hit up the maritime museum and other places I didn't get a chance to look at in 2006. On the backside, I'm glad we didn't spin up to port Hardy in 2006, as it is like Prudhoe bay, nice, but once is more than enough... And I never did find the chocolate factory.

I can almost see Hawaii, well, I'm at the beach on the pacific coast. By tsunami, Hawaii is only what 4 hours away?? Camping has gotten easier, sleeping on the ground is not the issue I thought it would be, and I'm very comfortable. I save the micro cot for nights of 2" rock or the suggestion of copious rain. I've come to really enjoy the camping more than I thought, almost more than the micro inn's I've stayed at. Fresh air and being outside is really amazing.

Cheers to one, and all, a final thought...

"Half the fun of the travel is the aesthetic of lostness." ~~ Ray Bradbury ~~

ok, I never get lost, I'm just looking for alternative routes. Last night I wandered off about 20 miles, seemed like a nice road tho...

If you have suggestions of things to do in Victory, message me!

June 30 - 171 Miles, Ucluelet to Victoria

The last day of the month, and a month on the road. Camping at Ucluelet was amazing, next to the ocean, great to smell the pacific again. Water wasn't as cold as I thought, but no surfing for me. A gray morning, a bit cool to leave, but up early and ready to hit the road. No bears, but great scenery. Bike still hard starting, and looking forward to the starter Steven is holding onto for me. Overall, the weather warmed up, stopped at a stream a ton of people where swimming at the day before, and then an old grove of red cedar trees. Beautiful place to walk the trails, and enjoy the country. That reminds me that the beach area I drove through is a world heritage area, and beautiful to see, so glad it is being protected. More gas and a burger and coffee for lunch, and back on the road. 120kmph is nice, but is only about 75 mph. Americans could take a lesson from the Canadians, with two lanes, most traffic is on the right side, with people pulling into the left lane only to pass, then back into the right lane, civilized. Driving into Victoria, the traffic isn't bad, but leaving the city, looks like mass exodus, miles of non moving traffic, so glad I'm not a part of it. Janet has booked me into a great little place called Paul's Motor inn, nice and a 15 minute walk to the city center. Imax calls to me after wandering a bit, and I end up watching a couple shows, room is dark and cool, hard to stay awake, but great shows. First is a 3D of national parks in the US and the history behind it. Great footage and in 3D, narrated by Robert Redford, very cool. Speaking of that, watch Bill Bryson's "Robert Redford a walk in the woods". Great little movie, watched it before the trip. Second movie was about airplanes, or air travel, not as good or interesting, but nice to see. Back into sunlight, it is a beautiful day in Victoria. People are out, boats are on the water and the town is prepping for Canada Day. I head to Olympia National park tomorrow (back in the us of a, boys you don't know how lucky you are...". Only four ferries to Olympia, so may try for the early one to insure I get a spot on it I really want to avoid Vancouver as the slow traffic would make travel on the bike difficult with no fan for cooling. Bike needs an oil change at a tad under 9000 miles for this trip, the miles have truly added up quickly, but not over the speed limit... Looking forward to sailing with cousin Doug this weekend, and seeing Steven et al on the 4th.

"You do not need a therapist if you own a motorcycle, any kind of motorcycle!" - Dan Aykroyd

Happy Canada day to one and ll

July 1 - 77 miles, Victoria to Lake Ozette

Ok, I cheated, most of the ride was on a ferry today ,But what a fun, long and wonderful these winding roads where sure fun (shits and grins...). Being back in the US of Ahhh was great feeling, a different feeling. Oh that was the feeling of my wallet being squeezed at the gas pump and the polite Canadians no longer are about the place, but super amazing people. Up early great breakfast of steak and eggs, at Paul's Motor Inn. They call A1 steak sauce, HP, but made by the same company. Back at the room, watch news and pack in prep of heading off to the ferry. All morning is news about 149th anniversary of canada, and many interesting facts. I can't help but think of the joke of how Canada was named. Two guys looking for a name, decide to pull letters from a hat. "First letter gets pulled and the Canadian tells the other Canadian "C", eahh, then "N" gets pulled with N, ahhh.. you get the picture.. I remember I'm about to experience America's border crossing (like the TSA but maybe worse) so take the full 1.5 hour pre flight arrival at the ferry landing, and a good thing as well. People are great and I'm second in line in the bike lane. A couple from Vancouver headed to Seattle for some fun time. Then a Husband and wife and daughter on a set of two more bikes and finally a semi young couple on two more Harley's. Wechat for some time and all are fun people, most people are escaping Canada Day, and several for America's fourth of July. One lady mentioned she can't remember being in Canada for Canada day in over thirty years, and I did notice the mass exodus of people leaving Victoria. I wish I could have stayed longer, but morning news showed ferries being sold out, and I didn't want to be "stuck" in Victoria. One of my students of yesteryear apparently now lives in Victoria, and on facebook, we had been at the same stream only a few days apart. She suggested touching base, but I'm now away from Victoria. Cruise was simple and easy 1.5 hour ride, other then tying the bike to a wall, and blocking the heck out of the bike to keep it from moving about, not a problem. Again, meet more people, beside the family of three on the bike, newlyweds on the matching Harley's and a couple greeting away from Vancouver, sat at a table with a nice guy, but with such feelings of sadness. He had lost his fiancee to a heart attack six years back, and still to this day is very devastated about it. Misses his father who used to take him flying and now at about age 45, tours about taking photos of air shows. I think it made his day chatting about photography, and I wish him well, as I get up to leave his small dark deep pool of depression, but I'm sure he will survive. Life is good, so hug the ones in your life as you never know what tomorrow will bring, or not bring. Off the Ferry (yippy bike still starts) and in search of a campsite. Crescent lake at the end is full, another spot with a name I can't pronounce is full, and Bear campsite is sorta full, but I would need a special pass, and two ladies seem to be interested in sharing a campsite, so off I go. Onward I go, and get to a place 20 miles away at an information center. They suggest Lake Ozette, another 20 miles farther away and camping at the "Last Resort". Nice place, run by a young Russian lady (Julyu, spelled differently I believe) who came to America to study English, from Siberia. She makes a mean sandwich, and I spend some time sampling the beers on tap before ordering a couple brews, hanging out using up their internet. Campsite is nice, a stone's throw from the main lodge, but the area is bloody wet, so I ended up getting stuck in the grass at the campsite, rear tire in the mud and had to work to get loose. Tired, I almost drop the bike as I put the center stand up, on alas a hill, and gravity tries to take over with the bike pulling away from me. I'm lucky and recover from the potential mud spill and put the bike back on the side stand and setup camp. Cot is setup tonight as it looks really wet out now and later for sure. That should keep me from the water, as my boots are now soaked from the wet grass.

Tomorrow is at Cousin Doug's, it will be great to see him and hopefully we get to sail on his Cal 20 a sailboat I grew up on, as our father had one at a dock near our house. Now to start planning my final downhill trip. Nubees on the 11th, Mary and Greg's on 12, and then haul hush puppies to San Diego to drop the bike by the 13th, as I fly out early on 14th. That is a long trip of over 475 miles or about 8 hours, not to bad, but I would need to leave very early to get there during working hours. Toss in traffic, I'm pretty sure they have bad traffic, could add to severe heartburn and aggregated sweating, swearing and other copious amounts of stresssss. So Nubee's on 10, Mary and Gregg and 11, then someplace on highway 101 on 12, might be better. Good news, is I can still hit the coast from Seattle to Fresno area as it is about 1000 miles to sisters, then only another 120 to Mary and Gregg's. Rock on, off to the tent. It has been a gray day since I got up, with tinkles of rain along the way. What will tomorrow bring, stay tuned for more travels on the road....

"I don't want a pickle, I just want ride on my motorcycle. I don't want to die, I just want a ride on my motorcy.........cle." - Arlo Guthry

July 2, 214 miles - Lake Ozette to Cousin Dougs....

Lake Ozette, nice place, wet cool weather, not really raining, but a gently falling mist, more like hanging in the air. Ok it is wet, but still nice. I keep looking for sasquatch to walk by or something as insane. Sleep was good after a warm lodge and warm food. Siberian lady practicing piano in the distance was great. Slept through the night and up early at 5, packed and loaded and on the road before 7. I'm only about a half mile from the national park, and arriving, it is early and wet there as well. I turn back and a few lanes of traffic are closed on the highway back to Seattle, turns out to be a motorcycle trying to stop a car, not good results. My goal of off the line food continues with a search for Monica's bakery, I circle the block a few times to find it. Breakfast is nice, cold fruit, quiche and the nectar of the gods, good coffee and a morning chat with Janet, life is very good. I stop for quiche and coffee at a little out of the way place along one of the ocean inlets. Nice, the day is warming up and looking to be warmer and maybe drier. Back on the road, the guy who tried to stop a car with his motorcycle is seen wandering the highway, strangely enough, same guy, but 15 miles later, so wondering what he is looking for, lost parts, marbles?? Not a good place to be stopped on a freeway. The ride is nice, stop for gas and bathroom, cold morning, bathroom first. I get the key, but am told it is occupied, five minutes later two people come out, then more, then more, I wonder if this is the magic clown bathroom. Finally the last of the Chinese family members emerge and I go in, wondering how they could fit so many into a one room, truly magic Chinese acrobats?? Gassed up and ready to go, I continue to Cousin Dougs. I turn back and head to Renton, avoiding previous roads driven, I take the toll bridge and head north into Seattle. I round the corner to a toll bridge, nice bridge, for only six bucks on a credit card, it works. Realize on a motorcycle, you pull up to a booth, no windows to roll down, I stop the bike, brake on, gloves off, find wallet in pocket, remove wallet, remove card, hand card over, get it back and reverse the procedure, card into wallet, wallet into pocket, all this with a zillion cars waiting behind. Finally I move on, and on to the highway passing through Tacoma and into Seattle.

I know I'm into civilization as there are more, and more cars. A few motorcyclist drive by and we exchange the secret hand sign, sort of a hand dropped below the handle bars into either a peace sign, or two fingers. I usually try for the Hawaiian shaka sign, but I suspect that just confuses many who wonder, what does that mean, "police ahead, bagel shop, rock concert...". I think about the previous bike accident as I'm approaching the city, traffic is starting to get very busy, and people on phones, not paying attention is never fun. I see a lady with a ponytail driving a kawasaki ninja orange in color, weaving in and out of traffic, we do the head node in greeting. I continue on at a steady pace and keep catching up to her. We wave a few times, and continue for about 30 miles. Finally I turn one way and she the other.

I've made it to cousin Doug's, great to be here, and I look forward to a soft bed and laundry, lots of laundry. We decide to see a mariners games, and it is a ton of fun. The day has gone from cool gray, to pastel blue skies with the warmth pressing down. Stopping at his boat, a cal 20 "Nawiliwili" that brings back many memories of my dad's boat growing up, we don't have time for a sail, maybe next time. Off to the game and a fun one it is. I chat with Steven before we roll (he has my starter and I really miss the kid), but they are off the the lake tour, and I'm most happy that the evening has turned out so nicely for them. I hope to see him tomorrow as he heads off to work. Well at midnight, I'm pretty tired, so fall asleep waiting to talk to Janet. At least I'm not worried about feeding the bears or other omnivorous of the forest, and I'm warm and dry, life is good.

"People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs.", Alexei Sayle

be safe, and have a fun day!