AM in R3 & AK

Discussion in 'Trips & Events' started by A.M, Mar 1, 2017.

  1. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

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    Yeee, go read and hope you enjoy, especially the photos <3 <3

    I'm working on 9 more days of updates as well as mileage/gas reports and a bit on reintegration back into normal daily life (I'm still struggling through the process)...lolzzz...kinda

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  2. VFR4Lee

    VFR4Lee Member

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    Just call it Post Trip Stress Disorder. ptsd.
    School doesn't start for a few weeks. :D
     
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  3. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

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    Oh my...that's exactly what is!!

    I need a leather couch...

    To sleep on each night at my friends' homes as I just go on the road full-time. The only cure.

    Wait, no leather. I be allergic to chromium. Pleather?

    Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
     
  4. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

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    Tuesday, June 20th to Banff

    The plan was to take off Tuesday morning for Calgary to pick up the rest of my gear I didn’t bring to Alaska. So up early I was to head out.

    Glenn and I said our goodbyes. It hurts knowing I may not see him and other friends for a year or more, but I’m always thankful for the time we have together. We took a pic of our poory poory injuries...

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    ...then I was off!

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    It was a beautiful day for slabbing it to Calgary, grab my thingies, and make it into Banff to set up camp and go see my beloved Moraine Lake and see Peyto Lake for the first time!

    Boy was it getting steamy already once I made it to Calgary! Yeppers…

    Canada can get sooo hot! No place up here is immune to hot temps…heck, I had just missed the 90 degrees up in Tok, Alaska! The heat was okay though as I needed to get acclimated.

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    I rearranged my load and off I was headed back to my favorite mountains: The Canadian Rockies!!

    Not. So. Fast.

    Took my jacket off at the gas stop that would get me out of town and…

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    ...could not zip my jacket back up!

    My riding jacket zipper finally ate it. I’m surprised my sewing job I did before riding to Alaska held up that long…that’s not even the thing that broke. Soooo…detour to Honda for ROK straps to hold my jacket shut.

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    Such zipper woes…my tank bag zipper has been busted a long while too on this trip!

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    What can I say…I LOVE on my gear…just LOVE on it!

    Really, all my gear has seen thousands of miles in all kinds of ridiculous weather conditions. I have nothing bad to say about the zippers getting tired and finally being finished.

    Well, after ROK strapping myself up I was finally ready to leave Calgary for the Canadian Rockies…and what a beautiful day it was!

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    The first thing I did was find camp close to Banff Town to set up for a couple of days. Success!! Found an amazing space!!

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    I also found the best stake hammer of the trip so far. The little things like finding this can bring the most satisfaction sometimes.

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    I also had fun educating myself with the help of signage about wildlife. I’ve never seen food lockers before, so I thought that was interesting.

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    The camp was just outside of the crazy tourist town of Banff too. I get a tad bit grumpy when having to deal with tourist traps so I was happy to not be in the middle of it.

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    After I made camp I knew I wouldn’t have time to go look at lakes since I took time in Calgary dealing with my zipper woes. I was also hungry…super hungry since I hadn’t eaten much all day.

    So I begrudgingly made my way into town to eat at one of the higher rated restaurants. I figured if I was going to deal with the crowds, I was going to go somewhere decent.

    But not without enjoying some of the nature first to put me in a serene state of mind before dealing with tourist drama. The evening was so beautiful!!

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    When I made it to town, it seemed like an hour to get through traffic and find a parking space. Finally found one and as I was backing in, another poor soul (with the fire of desperation in his eyes for a parking space) seemed to be dying inside as he watched me back into a spot he’d probably been searching for...since the beginning of time.

    So I waved him over and told him I’d park super close to flower pots, and I’d help guide him in parallel parking his car. He was so grateful I thought he was going to cry when he got out of the car. I felt I did something good that day…and definitely deserved dinner by now.

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    The place had amazing pizzas on the menu, but I could not partake due to my stinkin’ food allergies. So I ordered some black bean hummus with corn chips and treated myself to some soda bottled just up the highway in Canmore.

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    The town of Banff is super cute, it really is, and by time I finished eating the town was starting to die down…mostly because it was starting to sprinkle and people were seemingly running for their lives.

    Seriously…they were running. I wondered if they were all from Kansas and were wicked witches in disguise. Fine for me. I walked around a bit and took some photos before heading back to camp.

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    Made it back to camp before dark…whooohooo!!...and turned in to get plenty of rest. It seems I had a horrible night the way I write about the town of Banff, but it really wasn’t.

    There are just some things I do not look forward to like crowds in tourist areas. I went to sleeps super happy and excited to wake in the morning to a full day of taking in the Canadian Rockies and lakes one more time this year…
     
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  5. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

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    Wednesday, June 21st at Moraine and Peyto Lakes

    The morning air was crisp and cool…perfect start to a morning out! And I was super excited knowing where I was going today!!

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    I made my way up Highway 1 and it was a gorgeous ride. Castle Mountain:

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    My first stop was a Lake Louise. I didn’t come here on my first go around, so I figured I’d make a quick stop.

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    It’s not my favorite lake and in fact I’ve never been too excited to see it. I feel there are other lakes with more secluded areas that are more majestic than Lake Louise...that do not have a huge castle lodge and sidewalk built around the front edge of it.

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    If you ever come up here, I hope you visit Lake Louise as well as Moraine Lake, Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, Emerald Lake, and Maligne Lake and any others you come across. Make your own decision, because this is my opinion. It's very blunt, but I don't know how else to say that I feel Lake Louise is overrated compared to what the Canadian Rockies has to offer.

    BUT…PLEASE do not just go to Lake Louise because it’s the one people always talk about. I’ve ran into so many people who shared about their time at Lake Louise or that were headed there, but had no idea Moraine Lake was right next door…the most photographed place in Canada! I’ve spoken with people on the sidewalk of Lake Louise who didn’t even know about Moraine Lake… :(

    I’m just putting it out there… and you can kinda judge from the photos I share.

    Anyhoo…after Lake Louise I did make my way up to my favorite place: Moraine Lake

    Last year when I was here the lake was blue…like you see in sample photos at pharmacy photo counters like Walgreens or CVS.

    This was the photo I took last year:

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    Last time I was here (couple weeks ago) it was still iced over a bit with green hues:

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    This time there was no ice but it was super greenish blue and it was snowing!!

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    The experience was so surreal. I’ve seen this lake in sun, clouds, warmth, cold, and now: with snow falling in the sun! Each scene beautiful each time! I felt very lucky to be there in the snowy and sunny weather. I couldn’t have been happier.

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    I spent the majority of the morning just soaking in all I could of Moraine Lake for probably the last time this year.

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    I knew I had to move on or I wouldn’t have time to see the rest of the stuff I wanted. I said my goodbyes to the lake, purchased a few mementos, and left for Natural Bridge and Emerald Lake.

    On the way down from Moraine Lake, I stopped to photograph the stream. Streams and waterfalls like this seem to be everywhere here.

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    And so…this quickly turned into the most incredible day I’ve ever had in the Canadian Rockies! Temps ranged from 32 to 64. There was sun, rain, wind, clouds, blue sky, sleet, and snow!! Everywhere I turned the weather was changing and the scenery look differently wondrous!

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    Magical Moraine Lake was just the beginning...
     
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  6. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

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    Continued, Part 2 of:

    Wednesday, June 21st at Moraine and Peyto Lakes

    I made it into Yoho and back into British Columbia on the way to Natural Bridge and Emerald Lake.

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    I’m not sure if you can tell in these photos, but I pulled over to take a picture of this waterfall and stream and sleet was falling. It was soooo awesome!!

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    Natural Bridge was an amazing sight to see! I cannot begin to describe the amount of power that water must have. The river was FULL. There were brave (or maybe foolish) ones getting extremely close to the water. Definitely was a beautiful sight to see.

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    Emerald Lake was just gorgeous and it was not as busy as Lake Louise.

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    There were also some secluded walking trails around the lake.

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    Though I did not spend a lot of time on trails of these lakes, I know in the future which lakes will now get my time and which ones won’t (based upon factors such as amount of tourists and if there are ample places to get away from them).

    After seeing Emerald Lake, I headed Back into Banff and Alberta to make my way up Icefields Parkway for a bit. On the way I came across this awesome bridge!!

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    I also used my huge cold weather glove to try and demonstrate how monstrous the dandies are here. They are just mutants! I have no idea how they get this big, but they make Kansas Dandies look sad!

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    Finally I was on to the most anticipated spot of the day:

    Peyto Lake...
     
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  7. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

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    Continued, Part 3 of:

    Wednesday, June 21st at Moraine and Peyto Lakes

    I made it back into Banff and Alberta with the sun peaking out for a while...a super short treat!

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    Mutant Dandies!!

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    The treat quickly changed to more precipitation...but I was in Heaven!

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    I'll never forget this day I got to play in snow in the summer and visit this new lake a friend told me I had to see! He knew my love for Moraine and that I would have just as much love for Peyto. He was right!!

    I have two places that are my favorites now…and Peyto kissed me with snow just as Moraine did earlier in the morning.

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    Walking up to the lookout was like walking through a winter wonderland!

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    There are usually a few times on a long ride that I wished I had someone to share the moment with.

    I had two on this day: seeing Moraine Lake with snow falling down and now this. <3 <3 Times like these make my heart ache for company!

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    When I reached the lookout, my breath was taken away… I just couldn’t believe it. Even in the most overcast of snowy skies the lake was magnificent…

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    Valley as far as I could see…

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    I was speechless and freaking out at the same time!

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    I took many photos and walked some trails and played in the snow and there was hardly anyone there!

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    In the forest it just seemed to be me. The air was quiet and still with snow falling.

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    Now this place…THIS is at the top of my list to come back to…as much as Moraine Lake. My heart would be empty if I was up here again and could not make a stop at both Moraine and Peyto. I can’t fully describe why or the intensity of the feeling. It just is what it is with me.

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    After walking around and playing in the snow, I made myself leave so I’d have time to make it to my next stop:

    Saskatchewan River Crossing and The Crossing Lodge and Restaurant
     
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  8. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

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    Continued, Part 4 of:

    Wednesday, June 21st at Moraine and Peyto Lakes


    The ride up brought more changing weather...

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    ...and stopping at the river crossing was just beautiful!

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    You can tell you are approaching the river by the way the mountains seem to part for it as you come up to it.

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    So neat to think how rivers and glaciers have carved these places over millions of years…and what used to be there in my place. Much thinks to be thought…

    Right after the river, Highway 11 connects to 93. This is where I came in to Jasper last year!! <3 <3

    After I left Glenn’s place last year, and storms he escorted me through, I made it to The Crossing late that night. I didn’t eat in the restaurant, but I did get a room at the lodge and had some eats in the bar that night. What memories coming here for the first time in my life just a year ago… <3 <3

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    I took time to have dinner at The Crossing and thought many thinks about my experiences and reminisced.

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    I also met another rider who was making his way from East Canada to West Canada. He had not brought rain gear with him on his day excursion so he was soaked to the bone from the rain, sleet, and snow that had been falling throughout the day. He was hanging out letting some of his gear dry out while he warmed up. We shared stories about our rides and he seemed shocked I rode to Alaska and was riding all the way back. I seemed shocked he would ride across Canada just to sell his moto at his end point...after all that motobonding time...and fly back home. It felt amazing to share some riding stories at a special place, even if with a stranger I’ll never talk with again.

    After dinner and saying silly goodbyes to such a special place, I started the ride back to the camp in Banff.

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    Stopped for more beautiful photos…

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    Temps kept dropping…

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    But skies were clearing on and off…

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    And I HAD to see Peyto Lake again!!...
     
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  9. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

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    Continued, Part 5 of:

    Wednesday, June 21st at Moraine and Peyto Lakes



    I’m just as in love with Peyto as Moraine. Did I mention that yet?

    I LOVE PEYTO AS MUCH AS MORAINE!

    I could not pass Peyto on the way back without laying my eyes on its splendor one last time...

    The sight was even more amazing with some clearing...I couldn’t believe my eyes!!

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    I had been in sensory overload all day and I was just over the top with emotions. Yes, I cried.

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    AND hardly anyone was there since it was well into the evening now…and 32 degrees F.

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    After spending a bit more time there, I knew I had to leave so I could make it back to camp before dark.

    Leaving was extremely hard, but I was okay knowing I’ve finally seen this place and that I will be back again one day.

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    Those of you who live near the area, I hope you really appreciate what you have. I know it’s easy to take for granted what’s always been around you. But really, I cannot even begin to put into words how I feel every time I see places like this. I try. But I really can’t describe the impact it has on me.

    People who have the privilege to grow up and/or live up here all the time are so lucky and I envy envy envy you. Just know your places are loved and desired by Kansas yokels like me and I hope you love your places just as much.

    Anywhoo…more snow, more 32 degrees, more rain, more partly cloudy, more sun with snow falling at the same time, and more beautiful photos along the way nack to camp.

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    I did make it back to camp before dark.

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    Tired. Cold. Stunned at the fact I had just experienced the most amazing day of never-ending awe.

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    But mostly taken aback with a feeling of surrealism and disbelief that the things I experienced were really real and not just a dream.

    Now, being back at home, the experiences really do feel like the most splendid dream; like I wasn’t even there, but I know I was.

    And therein lies what has etched the day as so magical in my soul...

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    I’ve had a really difficult week being back home, but these memories, going through photos, reliving days like this…brings a light in the times I need it. And they will whenever I need smiles for the rest of my life.

    I hope that every single person who comes across this thread, even after I am long gone from this life, is inspired to chase something that just rattles their core and takes their breath away.

    I feel everyone needs something shiny in their heart that no one can take from them, something that will twinkle at them when times are tough…like a mirror moving in the sun, flashing a sparkle at you while it seems to bekon, “Look! I’m over here, remember when…”

    Whether it is experiencing natural things (like what moves me so) or seeking a thrill like the base jumpers do, get out and experience.

    Get your shiny.

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  10. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

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    A few more posts above including 5 posts/parts to the Wednesday write up.

    Hope this brings something positive to your day.

    Happy Friday!

    A few more days and miscellaneous posts to come...

    Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
     
  11. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

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    Absolutely spectacular photos of spectacular locations, those images and memories will stay with you forever.

    I have one question, all the photos you take of your self are mirror images, including the last one. What type of smartphone do you have? Does it have a rear facing camera for selfies?
     
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  12. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

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  13. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

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    Teeheehee, yeah, sometimes I good about flipping photos. Most of the time, not so much...

    Super observations! And detective works!

    Hope you enjoyed the photos, even the backwards ones!! :)

    Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
     
  14. Joey_Dude

    Joey_Dude Member

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    Wow gorgeous pictures of the mountains! Thanks for sharing!
     
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  15. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

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    Any which way, your smile is welcome anytime.
     
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  16. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

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    Thursday, June 22nd, Dragging the rubber to the U.S. border and on to Whitefish, Montana


    So enough of the lovey dovey livin’ life mush…

    Time to wrap this trip reporting up with some facts of the matter:

    1. SUX riding to U.S. border.

    2. SUX leaving Canada.

    3. SUX not that excited to go back home.

    4. HAPPY for some things in the states that I will be able to see.

    5. IRRITATED that Going to the Sun Road was still closed.

    6. FREAKING out Beartooth Pass was open…an All-American Road that GTTSR is not.

    I crossed back into the states…but not until 10:30 at night.

    I did much piddling along the way, seeing awesome things, but I have to admit tons of the piddling was silly like feeling plants and just sitting in grass. I'm sure subconsciously procrastinating because I didn’t want to go back in the states.

    Here are some highlights:

    Leaving the Canadian Rockies through Kananaskis Country

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    Making my way along Crowsnest Pass

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    Learning history of Crowsnest area and seeing abandoned colliery

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    Finding a new place to teach at with awesome tree

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    Getting hitched at the cutest place

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    Feeling so hauntingly strange standing in Frank after learning about the slide history

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    Finding new muddin’ truck in Sparwood...that's me by the tire of the biggest truck in the world

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    Sunset on the Crowsnest and 93

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    Decent into dark of the night depression nicknamed: U.S. Border

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    So I tried to soak in all I could on my last day in Canada, probably my last day of the year there.

    It’s always a tricky tricky day when I have to come back into the states.

    I am extremely thankful for all I experienced and realize it had to come to an end. Doesn’t mean that it wasn’t extremely hard.

    After crossing the border, I then rode on to Whitefish, MT and set up camp sometime after midnight with some hopes…

    I fell asleep crossing my fingers that GTTSR would be open in the morning.

    After all, the plows were in one spot for the past couple of days…
     
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  17. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

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    Friday, June 23rd from Montana to Twin Falls, Idaho



    Friday morning I woke up and what was the first thing I did?


    Check to see if GTTSR was open. Was it? NOPE NOPE NOPE


    Well, I wasn’t going to sit around waiting for it and really had no motivation to even go near Glacier National Park.

    So I packed up camp on a beautiful morning with plans to blast through Montana to Idaho.

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    Riding through Montana was not very exciting, but getting into Idaho was! Closer to the Idaho border was a very twisty pass that was super fun (but had to be very cautious because the condition of the pavement was pretty terrible). I had never ridden in Idaho so I was very excited to be in a new state!

    However, I did not get a photo of the Idaho state sign at this crossing. The sign was in a spot too dangerous to pull over (curvy, muddy, mountain pass shoulder complete with two extremely sketchy male vagabonds giving me the stink eye as I passed slowly pondering where I could park for photo).

    I appreciated the beautiful artistic scenic signs that Idaho provides visitors. Riding along 93 and the Salmon River was just amazing!! A beautiful ride!!

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    I sped it up and made it to camp in Idaho Falls before the camp office closed! Woohoo! I set myself up for two nights at camp.

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    Tomorrow I would explore more of Twin Falls and Idaho’s scenic roads…
     
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  18. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

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    Saturday, June 24th, Exploring Idaho



    What a beautiful morning to explore Idaho! I was so excited to leave camp set up like I did in Banff so moto could be without a load.

    First stop was the Perrine Bridge: an amazing bridge over the Snake River in Twin Falls.

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    Here is real truth info from a trusted source about the bridge. Pretty awesome!

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perrine_Bridge

    I did not see any base jumpers actually jump, but I caught one almost landing when I went to the other side of the bridge.

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    He wasn’t going to jump again that morning and no one else was out and about, so I stopped for soda break and to deal...

    Gear woes.

    The temps in the states were so hot that liners my riding gear were not needed now. I buy a size up when I buy riding gear so I have room to add more layers on cold temp days (like my 8 layers of clothes on the ridiculous negative-degree night riding back from New Mexico over New Year’s).

    Well, now my pants weren’t latching properly.

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    I really hadn’t worn these pants with no layers at all. Underneath I have on just boxers, so no extra bulk to give pants what they need to latch.

    Yes, I could just wear them loser and I have been doing that. BUT I see that as a protection issue. If I go down, I don’t want my pants loose and potentially sliding off. So I cinched them up tight as I could, but super annoying doing just to have them unattach constantly.

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    And I lost my liners somewhere so my hands were giving me fits in all the expected places: where plastics and leather have contact with my skin.

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    There were some casualties too:

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    But even though there have been some zipper/gear/allergy/nail issues, I’d rather have those woes than moto woes. Moto has been perfect so far thanks to the friends who have helped along the way! <3 <3

    After soda, fiddling with my pants, and putting baby powder on my hands to soothe my skin, I needed to get going to finish sightseeing at a decent time (which ended up to be well after dark).

    So I made my way to Shosone Falls.

    When I arrived, parked, and made my way to the viewing area, I was FREAKING out!

    The falls were huge and full, sounded beautiful, and creating spectacular double rainbows!!

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    I was definitely being treated to something special and I felt like such a kid seeing it.

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    I spent quite a bit of time there just sitting and looking and daydreaming…

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    and getting two, TWO, slushies because that’s what kids do!!

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    After some time at the falls, I left to begin the loop on Idaho scenic byways through Sawtooth and Boise National Forests.

    In Sawtooth after ascending an amazing pass, I came to the valley where I could see the road go on forever. It was awesome to know that is be down there riding through it!

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    Those roads and forests and mountains kept on amazing me! I even loved them so much I was able to donate to the County of Challis!

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    One complaint though...thats really my problem. EVERY SINGLE recreational road in Sawtooth were amazing dirt trails and roads. No wonder I saw so many ADV motos coming and going. If you really wanna have fun in Sawtooth, come on one of those or a tiny dirt bike you can flick around!

    Fencing like this went forever here. The Salmon River is so gorgeous!

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    The 21 was insanely twisty!! Reminded me of Goat Trail in CA!

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    The sun was setting fast so I picked up the pace to get out of the Boise National Forest mountains.

    I made it to the city of Boise (in the dark) before getting back to camp.

    It was a long and full day, but I was very satisfied being able to see Idaho after having to skip in on last year’s ride. This time I went to sleeps super excited knowing that Beartooth Pass was getting closer!!
     
  19. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

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    Updated this thread a few days worth.

    Enjoy and Happy Monday!!

    Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
     
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  20. Gator

    Gator Insider

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    Thanks for the great photos! Moraine Lake is still one of my all time favorites.
     
    A.M likes this.
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