Southern Alberta(and BC) one Weekend at a time

Sorry to hear this, condolences. I lost my Dad Last November, I know this, so true:

The longest road you will ever travel is the one from the cemetery back home after burying a loved one. Alone with your thoughts and regrets. Time for doing things differently gone. The clock stopped forever on a chance to spend more time with them or talk more with them. All that remains now are regrets for opportunities lost.

That dreaded call comes and is a shock, no matter how you think you are prepared for it. That last goodbye truly was. There is a little less joy in every day, all the colours a little more gray.

Not the Summer that I had hoped for but life has a way of getting in the way of fun and relaxation. Have not racked up miles like most summers of the last decade. I ran across Nate today at Bragg Creek, having coffee with a friend. I was out for a test run after replacing my steering-head bearings and fork-oil on Friday. The old girl handles like a dream again after nearly taking me out earlier this week on a gravel road south of Elkwater.

Time for a bit of photo catch up. Have not been out much so it won't take long.

Waiprous Valley
Margaret Lake

Adanac Mountain

Storm rolls in from the west side of Adanac Mountain.

Camped up on Adanac Mountain with a friend and his XR400

Hill climb in an old coal seam strip-mine.

Watched the little bike from the safety of the bottom.

Storm came and went quickly.


Lots to explore up top.

.

Headed East to Elkwater;

I saw lots of these as I passed through Castle Mountain Provincial Park alng with signs about not using OHV adjacent to the road. Signs, signs everwhere a sign, blocking up the scenery......

Ghost town for sale along Red Coat trail.


Thelma road on the south side of Elkwater Provincial Park. My steering head bearings were so shot that I had 2 close calls on the freshly graded roads southwest of the park. After a night in the Park I headed home for repairs.

A stop for some history on the way home the next morning.

The Brooks Aqueduct;

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

About 2/3 of the way along the road cuts through it by the closed interpretive center.

The inverted syphon to get the water under the CPR main line. Quite a feat in it's day (1912)

3.2 kilometers long in total. Picture taken from its replacement canal access road.

Out testing the new steering head bearings today and ended up on a trail in McLean Creek. I didn't have the GPS with me and don't know the trail system so I just winged it. Eventually after a few hairy moments made it back to the road.



That's been Summer. Ain't over yet so still time for fun.

Signs signs. Yes not much of Castle is open anymore, and less will be open next year. Only riding on the gravel roads will be allowed.


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Lycan, I personally have missed your posts this summer. You always have some great photos that continue to inspire me to get out, ride and see the sights!

Welcome back and may what's left of summer be amazing!

It's nice to see you still posting up. Keep them coming.

I like being reminded of the great riding we have nearby that I keep forgetting about.

You definitely have a fan base here Lycan.

One Night in Livingstone.

A few of us went camping for a night this long weekend to test some equipment and found yet another spectacular ridge-line campsite above the Livingstone River. The rain was off and on when we arrived but by evening had cleared off and cooled off. Morning was chilly but warmed quickly as the sun burnt off the dew. The wet ground from the previous days showers presented a minor challenge getting one of the trucks (rear wheel drive) back out to the road. Dale's idea of airing down the trucks tires was the perfect solution and had us on our way.


Arriving at the site after I scouted off the trunk road. The river to the right and a deep drop to the left where a creek trickled below.


Set up for a rainy afternoon.


The view from the campsite.


Morning sun through the trees burns off the dew and warms the boots.

August Long Weekend Ride home.

A quick stop at the top of 532 on the way home.

Good to see Pictor acting as your Sherpa. Big tent and big shelter!!

That was Floss's tent and shelter. I still packed my own sleeper.


My usual set up on the ridge enhanced by the comforts brought along by friends.


Floss's Red Truck in the background, another explorer having to turn around as it was a dead end

A Little Time out of the saddle.

For over a decade I have had an insulated and drywalled garage. I have easily put off finishing it with the mudding, taping and sanding and painting since it was a job I din't look forward to doing. I would rather go riding that muck about with drywall dust, and for those who have done it you know how nasty it can be, especially ceilings. Drywall darkens over years if not primed and painted and mine certainly had. I had not realised how much darker the garage had become until after I was done the reno.

The before (or just starting the job) pictures;






Yes that is the bike buried under there, Oh the Horror, the shame....

The Job Done, Time to get back to Riding;

The after pictures...








Maybe next year I'll do the floor, but for now it is bright and clean and a much better work enviornment.

That concludes the Shop renovation, so hopefully back to our regular programming soon.

Lee

Looks good Lee! You have inspired me to do the same on the place I am renting down here. A fresh coat of bright white paint can sure help when wrenching.


Cheers

A Week in September

Fall has long been my favorite sesason even if the calender says it starts later than I think. When the leaves start to turn it isn't summer in my books.

A long time friend from Winnipeg that was responsible (in the first place) for my love of motorcycling came out for a visit with the goal of spending most of the time riding. He has not been biten by the dual sport bug yet even though he at one time dirt biked. We stuck to the pavement but still had lots of great roads to ride around Alberta and he marveled at the scenery. We camped a couple of nights just so we could have a few long days in the saddle.


Gravel parking lots don't count. This was in Elkwater above Horseshoe Canyon.


We Trekked through Vulcan...


Ran to the end of 66.


And enjoyed the sweepers on the way out.

More to come...

A Week in September

Banff on the menu, with a side of Parkway.


The big girl carried the load for two people camping. Two tents, two air mattresses, two sleeping bags, well you get the picture. With me on the bike the commercial truck scales weighed my rig in at 390 kg.


Canada's Castle.


Always impressive from any angle.


One of Many stops along the Highway 93 Parkway.

A Week in September


One of Many stops along the Parkway. Very little smoke from BC & Alberta Fires remained in the air.

Fresh pavement on the road to Marmot Basin.

The sun came out to warm the two passing through.

Sitting where once a Glacier did.