Emily and I continued to remove bugs through Montana after clearing most of Alberta on our way to Waterton. Smile but keep your teeth closed!
Waterton was beautiful but full of boaters, water skiers and their hangers on. I was glad that I wasn't able to find water side accommodation. Always a bit nervous crossing the border. My record is clean but I always feel guilty when I am questioned. Glacier National Park and the "Ride Going to the Sun" was SPECTACULAR. A must see for any mortal. Riding in western Montana has been great with swoopy roads and high speed limits.
We are now settled in the cheapest motel with wireless we could find. Emily was cringing a bit but I thought the place was "charming". It's even on the internet. Check out the Evergreen Motel in Libby, MT. I can see the eagle from my window. "Parking Right Outside Your Door" is always irresistible to me!
Off to get food and possibly a shoe...
Bug Removal Specialists
Moderator: Moderators
I love it that you can give us updates as you venture forth...
Someday when I grow up and get a highway suitable ride, you will have to show me the way and I will follow!
Will you tie a string from the bikes to your toe before you go to sleep tonight? I know that I would!
safe travels dude!
Someday when I grow up and get a highway suitable ride, you will have to show me the way and I will follow!
Will you tie a string from the bikes to your toe before you go to sleep tonight? I know that I would!
safe travels dude!
�Long live vintage motorcycles that are too tough to die...�
- Dustin Kott-
- Dustin Kott-
We and our bikes survived the night unscathed. After all, who would want to steal a couple of old, bug smeared motorcycles? We did lock them up but only with disc locks.
The only major excitement so far is the discovery that the Suzuki takes a lot more fuel when it's on the center stand as opposed to the side stand: quite a bit more. Fortunately I had two metres of syphon hose with me and I was glad of the break on such a hot day.
Now we are off to the world famous Libby Cafe! Really! Very famous for its pies. Then on to Nelson and some of the best riding in North America.
Sigh!
I wish I had the Ducati!!!
The only major excitement so far is the discovery that the Suzuki takes a lot more fuel when it's on the center stand as opposed to the side stand: quite a bit more. Fortunately I had two metres of syphon hose with me and I was glad of the break on such a hot day.
Now we are off to the world famous Libby Cafe! Really! Very famous for its pies. Then on to Nelson and some of the best riding in North America.
Sigh!
I wish I had the Ducati!!!
Woo Hoo!
I discovered how to easily remove all the accumulated bugs from our bikes. Ride fast in the rain. Only about half an hour or so while in Idaho so no complaints -- it really does remove the bugs BTW. We both had full length BMW rainsuits and they worked like a charm.
Libby Cafe is another to add to your must-eat-at list: a wonderful, tasty breakfast. They close at three so get there early.
The Daughter is getting a little too enthusiastic. The words, "Let's waste this guy!" kept coming over the intercom everytime we were behind another vehicle. That, and waxing eloquent over high speed, is not what a father wants to hear from their 22 year old, newly riding daughter.
Arrived in Nelson safe and sound with an hour or two in hand before a major storm hit. The only problem on the road was a blown headlight bulb on the Suzuki. We changed it on the side of the road while we put on our rainsuits.
So far, so wonderful...
I discovered how to easily remove all the accumulated bugs from our bikes. Ride fast in the rain. Only about half an hour or so while in Idaho so no complaints -- it really does remove the bugs BTW. We both had full length BMW rainsuits and they worked like a charm.
Libby Cafe is another to add to your must-eat-at list: a wonderful, tasty breakfast. They close at three so get there early.
The Daughter is getting a little too enthusiastic. The words, "Let's waste this guy!" kept coming over the intercom everytime we were behind another vehicle. That, and waxing eloquent over high speed, is not what a father wants to hear from their 22 year old, newly riding daughter.
Arrived in Nelson safe and sound with an hour or two in hand before a major storm hit. The only problem on the road was a blown headlight bulb on the Suzuki. We changed it on the side of the road while we put on our rainsuits.
So far, so wonderful...
This is what you need John, remember Jim Goose's ride from "mad max", I'm sure he would lend it to you!
Last edited by Angelo on Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
�Long live vintage motorcycles that are too tough to die...�
- Dustin Kott-
- Dustin Kott-
Two days visiting home was interesting. My sisters are in the middle of getting their motorcycle licenses in BC. They were very excited to try out Emily's Suzuki. They did well and are now looking for their own first bikes.
Trevor will be interested to know that my oldest sister is looking at a Bergman 400. She tried a 650 but found it too big for her tastes. She next tried a used 400 and loved it. The smaller size suited her fine. Does just under 6 sound OK for a 2006 with 1600 kms?
Unfortunately with all the euphoria my daughter decided to try my BMW. Everything went fine until she went for a ride in the neighbourhood. She got into a situation where she had to back up to turn around...
Yes, she dropped it! Big tank, top heavy and all. I think she spilt five gallons of fuel, too. She phoned me and I dashed off to help her but I got the address wrong. So neighbours helped her get it up and the road again. By the time I got back, she and my sisters dropped it again!! This time the side stand was bent. Oi. Otherwise the damage was just a scratch to the fairing.
Tough on her self confidence but I did the best I could to bolster her up. The next day was spent straightening and crudely bracing the side stand. Functions great now but I am going to fabricate my own stand when I get back. The factory design is just plain silly.
Today was a brilliant ride from Nelson to Fairmont Hot Springs -- don't I know how to suffer! First time ride on the new Kootenay Bay ferry the Osprey. Apparently the the old Anscome (SP?) is lying in two hundred feet of water after "accidently" sinking.
Kootenay Bay to Creston is one of "the" motorcycling roads. After you get off the ferry, you just fart around for twenty minutes or so and, bingo, 70 klicks with virtually no traffic and corners by the bucket full. I did notice that my cornering speed fell off when the road was wet! Getting old I guess.
Rest of journey went well with a bit of rain but we were just fine in our rainsuits. We haven't broken out the heated vests yet but maybe tomorrow.
Last thirty klicks were behind a police car that thankfully wasn't dawdling
Wow. Way too many words!
Cheers
Trevor will be interested to know that my oldest sister is looking at a Bergman 400. She tried a 650 but found it too big for her tastes. She next tried a used 400 and loved it. The smaller size suited her fine. Does just under 6 sound OK for a 2006 with 1600 kms?
Unfortunately with all the euphoria my daughter decided to try my BMW. Everything went fine until she went for a ride in the neighbourhood. She got into a situation where she had to back up to turn around...
Yes, she dropped it! Big tank, top heavy and all. I think she spilt five gallons of fuel, too. She phoned me and I dashed off to help her but I got the address wrong. So neighbours helped her get it up and the road again. By the time I got back, she and my sisters dropped it again!! This time the side stand was bent. Oi. Otherwise the damage was just a scratch to the fairing.
Tough on her self confidence but I did the best I could to bolster her up. The next day was spent straightening and crudely bracing the side stand. Functions great now but I am going to fabricate my own stand when I get back. The factory design is just plain silly.
Today was a brilliant ride from Nelson to Fairmont Hot Springs -- don't I know how to suffer! First time ride on the new Kootenay Bay ferry the Osprey. Apparently the the old Anscome (SP?) is lying in two hundred feet of water after "accidently" sinking.
Kootenay Bay to Creston is one of "the" motorcycling roads. After you get off the ferry, you just fart around for twenty minutes or so and, bingo, 70 klicks with virtually no traffic and corners by the bucket full. I did notice that my cornering speed fell off when the road was wet! Getting old I guess.
Rest of journey went well with a bit of rain but we were just fine in our rainsuits. We haven't broken out the heated vests yet but maybe tomorrow.
Last thirty klicks were behind a police car that thankfully wasn't dawdling
Wow. Way too many words!
Cheers
I once got a letter from another lawyer who closed his somewhat lengthy missive by apologizing for the length, but he lacked the time to make it shorter!jbcollier wrote: Wow. Way too many words!
Cheers
For those who are familiar with the roads you describe, its like living one's own trip all over again. Safe return, both of you.
Johnny Redbike.
We, the unfortunate, led by the unqualified, to do the unnecessary for the ungrateful.
We, the unfortunate, led by the unqualified, to do the unnecessary for the ungrateful.
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coyoteran
- Posts: 824
- Joined: Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:39 pm
- Location: X Marks the spot...X stands for danger...two lines crossing over one another means to me...stay away
That price sounds about right. Maybe a little high but not bad. 1600k is basically brand new.
Too bad about the drop. Teach her to swallow her pride and get off to back up if need be. You know, lean the bike into you. You move and it follows. You feel a bit like a dork but way less of a dork than if you drop the bike.
Trevor
Too bad about the drop. Teach her to swallow her pride and get off to back up if need be. You know, lean the bike into you. You move and it follows. You feel a bit like a dork but way less of a dork than if you drop the bike.
Trevor
Vy is it vee get too soon olt and too late schmart?
It looks like my sister will get the Burgman 400. The initial price was $6000 and my sister countered with 56 and he offered to split the diufference at 58. I half jokingly offered to kick in the missing 200 as otherwise I'll have to find one up here and get it down to her. That will cost me more than two c-notes in time and fuel.
I haven't heard for sure if the deal has been finalized but I expect it has. I welcome another pregnant roller skate in the family.
The ride to Jasper (Friday) started out well and warm and I couldn't convince my daughter that it would be wise to slip into our rain gear at Radium. Naturally it started raining soon after and the temperature dropped 10°C. It wasn't raining enough to get us to stop right away. A wee bit of sun off in the distance kept our hopes up while our core temperatures dropped. Finally at the top of Storm Mountain pass -- right on the BC/AB border -- we cried, "Uncle!"
Damn good thing we did too as it stayed wet/damp and cool until we were 50 klicks out of Jasper. One bad thing was that one leg of Emily's rain suit hung up on her boot and that boot slowly filled with water. Chilly and slushy (yuck) but thankfully a long way from becoming an amputee.
The only other excitement was when passing a bit of slow traffic on a double solid. I blipped past two vehicles and when Emily followed a bus came around the corner. No big deal but, as she slowed to pull in, the helpful dim bulb beside her also slowed to "help" her. A "tense" moment ensued but no lasting grief for anyone though she did swear a blue streak in my ear which, thankfully, the "helpful" driver couldn't hear.
The Suzuki has been a real trooper. No trouble pulling 140 though high altitudes and steep hills (top of the Salmo-Creston for example) will bring that down to 100. Lots of, "That must be tough on such a small bike." even though we passed them no problem. Can't see us going much faster --we're keeping it about 115ish -- without spending an interlude in Sing Sing.
We'll be headed home Monday and I think we will finally have to break out the heated vests. I have been reluctant to as I think they are addictive to a newbie biker. At least it took years of therapy before I could use mine with restraint.
Cheers Everyone!
Maybe Bike Night Wednesday?
I haven't heard for sure if the deal has been finalized but I expect it has. I welcome another pregnant roller skate in the family.
The ride to Jasper (Friday) started out well and warm and I couldn't convince my daughter that it would be wise to slip into our rain gear at Radium. Naturally it started raining soon after and the temperature dropped 10°C. It wasn't raining enough to get us to stop right away. A wee bit of sun off in the distance kept our hopes up while our core temperatures dropped. Finally at the top of Storm Mountain pass -- right on the BC/AB border -- we cried, "Uncle!"
Damn good thing we did too as it stayed wet/damp and cool until we were 50 klicks out of Jasper. One bad thing was that one leg of Emily's rain suit hung up on her boot and that boot slowly filled with water. Chilly and slushy (yuck) but thankfully a long way from becoming an amputee.
The only other excitement was when passing a bit of slow traffic on a double solid. I blipped past two vehicles and when Emily followed a bus came around the corner. No big deal but, as she slowed to pull in, the helpful dim bulb beside her also slowed to "help" her. A "tense" moment ensued but no lasting grief for anyone though she did swear a blue streak in my ear which, thankfully, the "helpful" driver couldn't hear.
The Suzuki has been a real trooper. No trouble pulling 140 though high altitudes and steep hills (top of the Salmo-Creston for example) will bring that down to 100. Lots of, "That must be tough on such a small bike." even though we passed them no problem. Can't see us going much faster --we're keeping it about 115ish -- without spending an interlude in Sing Sing.
We'll be headed home Monday and I think we will finally have to break out the heated vests. I have been reluctant to as I think they are addictive to a newbie biker. At least it took years of therapy before I could use mine with restraint.
Cheers Everyone!
Maybe Bike Night Wednesday?
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LibertineAudrey
- Posts: 840
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