The Haugrud kitchen was ready for the salsa-making party slated for later in the day. By noon, Arletta and the “kids” — and their partners — would be up to their elbows in peppers and tomatoes.
Shortly before 10, Jon rumbled up on a souped up Harley Davidson Street Glide that he’d borrowed from a buddy for the week. Since the last time we rode together two years ago, he’d sold his Aprilia Tuono (which had apparently turned into a money pit) and the Ducati Monster (which at 30,000 kms ish, had become long in the tooth, by touring bike standards). We chatted for a bit, to catch up, then headed off.
We probably should have started out in rain gear.
The sky was grey. And the first few drops started splashing off my windscreen before we were even out the city.
On the outskirts, we hopped off the bumper to bumper weekend train heading for the mountains, pulled to a stop on the shoulder, and scrambled to suit up quickly.
The morning’s ride was mostly a blur: two and three lanes of traffic flying along at 120, coolish temperatures, rain on and off.
After Banff, we got off the #1 at Castle Junction and took the 93 to Radium Hot Springs. We stopped for a late lunch at Eagle Ranch Golf Course. Despite the gloomy skies, the view from the dining room was still amazing: that’s Lake Windermere to the left (which is really part of the Columbia River.
This afternoon’s ride made up for the morning grind. The road started twisting. Traffic thinned out. Temperatures rose. And the sun peeked out on and off.
We rolled into Creston shortly before 5 and checked in to the bike-friendly Creston Valley Motel. I stayed here with Guy Bujold last summer; we travelled together from Moose Jaw SK and parted company at Rock Creek. After unloading the bikes and getting cleaned up, we wandered down the street for supper at Jimmy’s Pub and Grill in the Creston HOtel.
And here’s the link to the Relive video of today’s ride
The last thing we did before switching off the light in our “Ernie and Bert” motel room (3 double beds all in the same room) was to decide on a new route. With rain forecast all week in Vancouver, and snow expected in Lake Louise and Jasper by midweek, we are going to try and chase sun and warmth south of the border. Our destination for tomorrow is Missoula Montana.
Keeping the Shiny Side Up 