At the Fairmont Downtown and doing the final pack...feeling gloomy. The last couple of days in the City have been great. The hotel is superb and has been a great spot to finish up. Have walked pretty much all over Downtown and on to Stanley Park. Last night we went to see the BC Lions v Sascatchewan Roughriders...and BC got their first home win of the year!
So Canada, thank you for
Friendly and welcoming Customs and Border staff (USA take note!)
Amazing variety of scenery...and scale that defies belief
Great food along the way...especially lobster and steak !
Good roads (mostly) and considerate drivers who give bikers space (mostly). In fact my only scrape was when Slo reversed into me in week 1 ! Compared to the South Circular it's a pleasure to ride here.
Most of all though the people. Everywhere we've been greeted by warm, friendly interesting folks. People who will just walk over to you, spend time and share stories. People who seem to have a great pride in their Country and are delighted that we spent time visiting. I'd recommend Canada to any traveller...and would come back in a heartbeat.
And finally to my travelling companion SLO. Thanks for comitting to the trip and never faltering; for the great company and for helping me ride safe...I learned a lot from your skill and experience on the bike.
Slainte. JJ
Saturday 8 August 2009
Last day in Canada
Well we finally head homewards this evening. Discussing the trip with JJ over breakfast we talked about the best and worst points of the trip. It's impossible to choose one or two, or even three of the best parts. So, let's do it the other way around. The worst points: Not many. The GPS (Garmin Zumo) without a shadow of a doubt is a piece of crap, unreliable, inconsistant and slow - and tthose are only its good points. The locks on the BMW luggage (they didn't). Port Hawkesbury, NS : we stayed at an expensive hotel in the middle (which is little more than an industrial estate). Penticton: a blackpool on steriods - the bad kind..... And that's about it.
The best. Way too many to mention. The Candians: absolutely wonderful people: kind, interesting, friendly - every other day we met people that you would proudly call friends. The scenery: as well as being vast, Canada is a beautiful country, from the east coast to the west. Every day I was in awe at its sheer spleandor. Photos cannot do it justice. The ride: spending several hours a day on the bike, feeling, smelling, interacting with the countryside. Probably the best way to see the country. The bike. The BMW R1200GSA (paniers aside) never missed a beat. Superb bike. And I suppose I should mention JJ. He's been the perfect travel companion - I don't think that we've argued once (in fact I know that we haven't). We've been friends for about 10 years - and long may it continue.
So what can I say? Come to Canada - you willl not be disappointed. I can't wait to return :)
Slo
The best. Way too many to mention. The Candians: absolutely wonderful people: kind, interesting, friendly - every other day we met people that you would proudly call friends. The scenery: as well as being vast, Canada is a beautiful country, from the east coast to the west. Every day I was in awe at its sheer spleandor. Photos cannot do it justice. The ride: spending several hours a day on the bike, feeling, smelling, interacting with the countryside. Probably the best way to see the country. The bike. The BMW R1200GSA (paniers aside) never missed a beat. Superb bike. And I suppose I should mention JJ. He's been the perfect travel companion - I don't think that we've argued once (in fact I know that we haven't). We've been friends for about 10 years - and long may it continue.
So what can I say? Come to Canada - you willl not be disappointed. I can't wait to return :)
Slo
Wednesday 5 August 2009
Splashdown!! Houston the eagle has landed
That's it then. Got 'r' done. Slo and JJ splashdown in the pacific at 1030 local time. "We don't know why the surfers are in wetsuits. Seems quite warm" JJ commented.
JJ smells his armpits after 6 weeks on the road. "I guess I should have packed the Right Guard"
Slo kills local marine life. Should have showered beforehand.
We're back in Vancouver. Bikes get packed and shipped tomorrow, we get packed and shipped on Saturday. We had a great run over the island mountains, very twisty and very very bumpy. Great fun. But we missed the ferry by about 30 seconds. Two hour wait, but some very nice people to chat to.....
Hope you enjoyed the blog. We certainly enjoyed the trip. It was absolutely fantastic :) No. That doesn't even start to describe this trip.......
Slainte
Slo
JJ smells his armpits after 6 weeks on the road. "I guess I should have packed the Right Guard"
Slo kills local marine life. Should have showered beforehand.
We're back in Vancouver. Bikes get packed and shipped tomorrow, we get packed and shipped on Saturday. We had a great run over the island mountains, very twisty and very very bumpy. Great fun. But we missed the ferry by about 30 seconds. Two hour wait, but some very nice people to chat to.....
Hope you enjoyed the blog. We certainly enjoyed the trip. It was absolutely fantastic :) No. That doesn't even start to describe this trip.......
Slainte
Slo
Tuesday 4 August 2009
Ucluelet II - Now it's natural
We actually took in some nature, on foot at 3mph rather than at 70..
Dali had already been to Ucluelet....
We tried chatting to the locals, but the were offended by my accent, or chat up lines.....
There are a lot of sunken ships out there...
JJ heard that there are beers in the wood ....
Having a relaxed afternoon with a bear......
Slo
Dali had already been to Ucluelet....
We tried chatting to the locals, but the were offended by my accent, or chat up lines.....
There are a lot of sunken ships out there...
JJ heard that there are beers in the wood ....
Having a relaxed afternoon with a bear......
Slo
Monday 3 August 2009
Ucluelet (you-clue-let) Vancouver Island
That's it then. All over bar the shouting - and celebratory drink ;) We're as far west as we plan to be - for a while anyway. Originally we were heading to Tofino, but ended up 30 miles south at Ucluelet. For once it wasn't the fault of the GPS. Although, JJ is getting a contant white screen on his.....
After a relaxing day spent in the city of Vancouver (so relaxing that I forgot to take any pictures) and then an evening spent tango-ing, we hopped on the ferry from Horseshoe Bay (West Vancouver) to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.
JJ corners a fellow passenger to show off his accountancy skills
Leaving Horseshoe Bay aboard the ferry to Vancouver Island
Vancouver city from the west
Vancouver Island. Slo manages to ruin a perfectly good view. Again.
The road through the middle of Vancouver Island to Ucluelet. JJ thinks that he's spotted a discarded beer at the other side of the lake...
We're planning to spend a couple of nights here appreciating the views over the Pacific :)
Slo
After a relaxing day spent in the city of Vancouver (so relaxing that I forgot to take any pictures) and then an evening spent tango-ing, we hopped on the ferry from Horseshoe Bay (West Vancouver) to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.
JJ corners a fellow passenger to show off his accountancy skills
Leaving Horseshoe Bay aboard the ferry to Vancouver Island
Vancouver city from the west
Vancouver Island. Slo manages to ruin a perfectly good view. Again.
The road through the middle of Vancouver Island to Ucluelet. JJ thinks that he's spotted a discarded beer at the other side of the lake...
We're planning to spend a couple of nights here appreciating the views over the Pacific :)
Slo
Sunday 2 August 2009
Wild wild west
We've done it. And we're a bit disappointed. Not with the trip, but that it wont take us longer. We still plan to go further west to Vancouver Island, but basically we've ridden the width of the second largest country in the world. And we want more........ Over the last couple of days I feel that we've both become a bit contemplative. Five and a half thousand miles inside a helmet with only yourself as company. You get a lot of time to think...
JJ asked me a strange question last night over dinner (and a couple of beers) "What would you change about the trip?". "Nothing". I have truly enjoyed every mile. Even the not being able to see the road for monsoon rain in Vermont.
Anyway, that's maybe a little premature, we haven't paddled in the Pacific yet. That's planned for Tuesday. Just now we are luxuriating in the Fairmont, downtown Vancouver. Which was a strange introduction to the city in itself. Once we hit the city limits, we rode through a really deprived area full of junkies queuing for their fix from a drug store. 1.5km later we're sitting having a beer in the Fairmont in an area resembling 5th Avenue. Go figure.
We were glad to leave Penticton and head west, up and over the mountains and through a canyon road. At last we found some truly twisty roads :)
We received a comment from Michael suggesting that we could save time by just photgraphing our drinks - as the scenery would last longer than what we were consuming. So, Michael, especially for you...
I've decided not to tango this evening. It turned out to be quite a ride. So just a couple of beers....
Slo
JJ asked me a strange question last night over dinner (and a couple of beers) "What would you change about the trip?". "Nothing". I have truly enjoyed every mile. Even the not being able to see the road for monsoon rain in Vermont.
Anyway, that's maybe a little premature, we haven't paddled in the Pacific yet. That's planned for Tuesday. Just now we are luxuriating in the Fairmont, downtown Vancouver. Which was a strange introduction to the city in itself. Once we hit the city limits, we rode through a really deprived area full of junkies queuing for their fix from a drug store. 1.5km later we're sitting having a beer in the Fairmont in an area resembling 5th Avenue. Go figure.
We were glad to leave Penticton and head west, up and over the mountains and through a canyon road. At last we found some truly twisty roads :)
We received a comment from Michael suggesting that we could save time by just photgraphing our drinks - as the scenery would last longer than what we were consuming. So, Michael, especially for you...
I've decided not to tango this evening. It turned out to be quite a ride. So just a couple of beers....
Slo
Saturday 1 August 2009
Paradise Ruined
And not by the beer. Well, maybe it is.....
Going back a couple of days, we left Jasper and headed to Clearwater. It was a slow start, having visited a rather good micro-brewery. As an aside. What should beer taste like? I've always thought beer. But this is now the second time it's happened. The first was in New Orleans, several years ago. They had banana beer, which, for some reason, they were proud of. In Jasper, they had blueberry-vanilla beer. Tasted like blueberry ice-cream. WHY?! Okay, hands up. Who wants blueberry-vanilla beer? You, at the back, please leave the room..... Barring this, and their attempt at stout, the other beers were great.....
Mount Robson, the Rockies highest peak
Heading south from Clearwater, we started to see, some thinning of the tree line cause by fires.
Heading down Lake Okanagan, the scenes were breathtaking. The road rose and fell along the shoreline offering spectacular views. We finally reached Penticton. Which is situated at the south of the lake. Stunning.
Picturesque
Ruined. Like a Blackpool on steriods. A Daytona Beach easter weekend.
We check into our accommodation at Penticton....
Today is a beautiful day, we were told of a great biking road over to Vancouver, and I'm going to a milonga this evening. It doesn't get any better :) I think JJ is donning his chaps and heading to a western bar ;)
Slo
Going back a couple of days, we left Jasper and headed to Clearwater. It was a slow start, having visited a rather good micro-brewery. As an aside. What should beer taste like? I've always thought beer. But this is now the second time it's happened. The first was in New Orleans, several years ago. They had banana beer, which, for some reason, they were proud of. In Jasper, they had blueberry-vanilla beer. Tasted like blueberry ice-cream. WHY?! Okay, hands up. Who wants blueberry-vanilla beer? You, at the back, please leave the room..... Barring this, and their attempt at stout, the other beers were great.....
Mount Robson, the Rockies highest peak
Heading south from Clearwater, we started to see, some thinning of the tree line cause by fires.
Heading down Lake Okanagan, the scenes were breathtaking. The road rose and fell along the shoreline offering spectacular views. We finally reached Penticton. Which is situated at the south of the lake. Stunning.
Picturesque
Ruined. Like a Blackpool on steriods. A Daytona Beach easter weekend.
We check into our accommodation at Penticton....
Today is a beautiful day, we were told of a great biking road over to Vancouver, and I'm going to a milonga this evening. It doesn't get any better :) I think JJ is donning his chaps and heading to a western bar ;)
Slo
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