mile 11663

We continued our way along the shores of Lake Superior to Sault Ste. Marie with the intend to stay there for some days and explore the surroundings, as we liked very much the country riding towards it. Along the way we visited nice beach places like Pancake Beach or Agawa Rock, and the shoreline and adjacent lakes really called for a longer stay.  So we settled down on a nice camp site in Sault Ste. Marie, went for a swim,  and made it an easy afternoon and leisure evening.  Today we explored the town and after about an hour we were through town and didn't find anything worth to explore in more detail (not to say Sault Ste. Marie has no attractions, but none which attracted us) so we drove a little headless around until we decided to venture on East.  Camp was broken down quickly (also because some dark clouds had moved in and rain was in the forecast) and shortly after lunch the bike was packed and we were rolling again.  A wise decision as it turned out, as we left the rain behind us and drove into sunshine.  We continued Hwy 17 East, then turned South on to Hwy 69 toward Toronto.  Once again this brought us through beautiful countryside with nice forests and idyllic lakes, and we both were happy that we left.  Camp was found in Parry Sound and after all, the day turned out all in all as a good one.

The ultimate bike trailer, Motor Inn parking lot, Wawa, ON

Agawa Rock, rock paintings and formations

Agawa Crafts, the ultimate TT (tourist trap)

Guess who??  After nearly 12,000 miles carrying the hammock, it finally came to use

mile 11168

We continue our way East and have finally left the Canadian Badlands and the Prairie, heading Southeast to the Great Lakes.  And what a change in scenery it was, as we left Manitoba and entered Ontario, turning South and following Hwy 71 and Hwy 11/17 and the hundreds of little lakes to Thunder Bay.  This is paradise for everyone who loves to hunt and fish, but for us it is just plain beautiful nature, reminding us of very much of Arcadia NP in Maine with its forests and lakes.  And even so we didn't see any Moose, we saw plenty of smaller game and many of birds.  We continued to make our way along the shoreline of Lake Superior and through many of First Nation Territory, before we found a nice place to rest in Wawa (ever heard of it?).  The plan is to continue the shorelines of the Great Lakes (weather permitting) as we work our way East.  So far the forecast is for sun or cloudy skies, but riding has been good with nicely undulated roads, and long, smooth curves, and traffic really very moderate.  None of all the bad things all told us about riding the Trans Canada Highway(s).

Murals in Kenora, ON

You know from where the wind is blowing, near Emo, ON

Along Hwy 17 to Marathon, ON

Aguasabon Falls, ON

Near Wawa, ON

“Another glorious day, the air as delicious to the lungs as nectar to the tongue.”  ―  John Muir, My First Summer in the Sierra

mile 10379

What can we report of today?  Now, we got up this morning and continued heading East, and even so the landscape got a bit greener around Winnipeg, MB, the scenery was pretty much the same as yesterday.  Saskatchewan didn't offer any change, and moving into Manitoba the view in every direction didn't offer anything spectacular neither, at least until Winnipeg.  So it was a bit hard to keep the concentration up, specially when the sun is shining down on you all day and cooking you in your leather jacket.  So once again we only made mileage, and hope as we near the Great Lakes that we will encounter more variation in scenery.

As for today we have no pictures to offer, but our fun factor is still high.

mile 9924

Yesterday morning we left Waterton Lakes as the sun was heating up the air, indicating that it would be another hot one.  We had quickly packed our stuff and were on the road relatively early, heading East on Hwy 5 to Lethbridge to catch Hwy 3 for the junction to the Trans Canada Hwy 1 in Medicine Hat.  Here in Medicine Hat we made a stop at the world’s largest Tepee , before continuing further East.  The amazing thing was, that since we left Waterton Lakes and turned the bike East on Hwy 5 the view never changed, as with the mountain range in our back we had open and wide prairie wherever the eye would turn.  There was only open grassland, some potato, some wheat fields, horses, deer, and cattle, and this didn’t change for the next 400 miles or the whole day.  As a guy told us this morning, “take Saskatchewan and fold it over Alberta, and you will not miss a thing”, and that is certainly true for this Southern portion of the provinces.  Anyway, we survived the monotony and reached Moose jaw early evening to call it the day.

World's Largest Tepee, Medicine Hat, AB

mile 9481

Waterton Lakes, AB - Glacier National Park, MT
Getting up Monday morning to a cloudy sky which suggested anything and everything but a gorgeous and sunny day, we left Waterton Lakes late morning to cross into the US via the Chief Mountain Pass, heading South to St. Mary, MT.  Here we entered the Glacier NP and drove the road we couldn't do in June because of snow and land slides i.e. the "Going to the Sun Road" up to Logan Pass.  Even so there was a stretch of 9 miles of road construction (a piece of cake for us now), the road is worth every mile to drive, providing stunning views of Mt. Logan and distant Mt. Simson. We then followed the road down to Aggar and West Glacier for a short stop for a late lunch and exited the park.  We drove the less traveled southern loop of Hwy 2 to East Glacier, Hwy 49 to Kiowa (can recommend this one) and Hwy 89 to St. Mary and the Hyw. 17 north back to the border.  We returned back to Waterton Lakes and settled down at the Prince of Wales Hotel for a couple of drinks, overlooking the lake and watching the sun go down.  What better way to end a perfect day of great vistas and beautiful country

 Going to the Sun Road, Glacier NP, MT

Logan Pass, Glacier NP, MT

Descending to West Glacier, Glacier NP, MT

Classic Glacier NP transportation

 Prince of Wales Hotel, Waterton Lakes, AB

Sunset over Waterton Lake, AB

"We must protect the forests for our children, grandchildren and children yet to be born. We must protect the forests for those who can't speak for themselves such as the birds, animals, fish and trees."  - Chief Edward Moody

mile 9242

Hinton - Jasper - Columbia Parkway - Banff - Waterton National Parks

What can we say?  First it was worth while to sit out the rain in Hinton and do some necessary things such as laundry, some education like visiting a museum, writing postcards to those at home, and for the body taking a bath in the Miette Hot Springs.  So when finally the rain cleared and the blue sky opened up we continued our way South into Jasper and were surprised by the mountain range around us, hidden from us the past days by the low hanging rain clouds.  The deep turquoise coloured lakes, the wildlife around it in the meadows full of flowers against the strong contrast of the mountains is simply a picture one can't get enough of it.  But Jasper National Park served only as an appetizer as the way into the Columbia Icefield provided even more spectacular vistas and uncountable views to glaciers.  There are so many mountain peaks and glaciers, we need a map to locate them all by name, but why bother, the view is what counts, and that is definitely breathtaking.  We stopped at the Columbia Glacier and walked up to it, a little walk today, as the glacier is retreating very fast, and the forecast is that with the current rate the glacier will have vanished in about 100 years, and the place we stood will be perhaps a lake of the last run off water of the glacier.  Pretty sad to be so near it and knowing that we are loosing a vital source of our drinking water supply.  We follow the Continental Divide South, impressive to see how the two continental plates pushed each other up and down, a surreal picture thinking of the forces behind it.  Anyways, this divide guides us into Banff National Park, and the town of Banff.  It is like Petty's Market, or St, Moritz in Switzerland just on a smaller scale, but equally expansive and busy.  Of course being weekend doesn't make it any better, so we just stayed for the night and left the next morning back to the mountains and quieter surrounding.  A perfect day with crystal blue sky and crisp air created us, and we went South the Cowboy Trail, passed historic landmark "U-Ranch" and followed the Divide to Waterton Lakes National Park.  What a relief being back in the mountains and the tranquility they provide.

Jasper NP, Pyramid Mtn

Patricia and Pyramid Lake, Jasper NP

The Great Divide

Sunwapta Falls

Countless Glaciers, all have a name, don't ask me

Columbia Glacier

Banff, AB