Day 10:  Rest Day in Vancouver

The rain came at no better time, on a rest day.  Mal and Annie took the seaplane to Victoria Island to see the gardens.  The majority of the group went with Michael on the Hop On, Hop Off bus tour of Vancouver.  Dirk and Ingo decided to take a walking tour of the city.  I think everyone will enjoy the day despite the rain.

Day 9:  Kamloops to Vancouver

This is one of my favorite rides of all.  The local bike guys love it and so do I.  Now I know that Edelweiss members from 6 countries love it too.  The temperatures were perfect today and even a little bit of rain was not a problem.  We took the scenic route 99 from Cache Creek to Vancouver where it turns into the Sea to Sky Highway.  The twisty road between Lillooet and Pemberton are amazing.  Not only is the road fantastic but the view are not bad either.  We arranged a special picnic at the Big Sky Country Club which I believe was a hit with our guests.  Then we spent an hour in Whistler watching a mountain bike competition on the sky slope.  Those guys are good!  Then from Squamish to Vancouver we rode along the Coastal Waters of Southeast Alaska and British Columbia into Vancouver.  Today was very good.

The canyon before arriving in Lilloet.

Bill, ready to go.

Don admiring Lake Duffey in his Edelweiss sweeper vest.

Don and Marsha.

Believe it or not, Dirk is really smiling.

Dick venturing out on the log jam to take a picture.

Mal experimenting with different photo angles.

The Guzzi and BMW made it out of the avalanche zone unscathed.

Lake Duffey.

VIP parking at the Big Sky Country Club for lunch.

Bill admiring our picnic spread.

Don with some of the staff from the CC.

I think everyone enjoyed the picnic.

The group ready to go after lunch.

Some photos of the mountain bike competition at Whistler.

Day 7:  Rest Day in Jasper

Most of the group decided to go on the rest day ride up to Lake Maligne.  We left later in the day, 10 am, to let the fog lift for a better view.  On the way up we encountered a road block, mountain goats.  We continued our ride up the valley and made it to the lake.  A beautiful view of the valley and the lake while sat and soaked it all in.  We left the lake and made a stop at the hotel to change into hiking gear.  From there we took the van and went to the sky lift cable car to the top of the mountain.  Some made the hike to the top, others just enjoyed the view.  We saw a black bear grazing up the mountain and some elk on the drive back to the hotel.  Another great day in Canada.

Mountain goat family on our way to Maligne Lake.

The last original cabin of Maligne Lake.

Maligne Canyon.

A view of Jasper National Park from the top of the mountain.

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Part of the crew after the cable car ride, Michael, Lutz, Lanis, Ingo, Annie, Mal and Bill.

On the way back to the hotel we were greeted by a family of elk.

Day 5: Golden to Lake Louise

Well, the morning did not start out well.  I heard thunder while we were packing up our things in the room.  It rained through breakfast and the briefing, but of course, when I put my rain gear on it stopped.  That was the theme for today, every time I took off my rain pants it started to rain.  The temperatures were much cooler today.  At one point it was 51 degrees, a big difference from the 108 degrees we experienced in Washington State.  So we went south out of Golden to Radium Hot Springs and stopped there for coffee.  Then we headed northeast on 93 through the Koonetay National Forest.  After a few stops to put on rain gear we finally made it to Banff for lunch.  After lunch we headed north towards Lake Louise stopping for coffee shortly before.  John pointed out the Internment Camp that we passed on the way and found out it was for WWI prisoners and non naturalized Europeans living in Canada.  So, now for pictures.  Oh, and Lutz went for a walk tonight and had an encounter with a bear.  Maybe he will share his picture.

There's a story behind this one.

Bear photos at the coffee stop.

The girls in Banff.

The group after lunch in Banff.

Don and Lanny in deep conversation.

Lanny and Bill at our first lunch stop.  Lanny has restored some older cars in his time so this was appropriate.  He said it was a '39 Ford that was parked behind them.

Dick and Lutz waiting for John to get his tattoo.  (just kidding)

Lanny's helmet is always watching out.

Troy and Marsha getting ready for coffee.

Day 3:  Nelson to Vernon

Another spectacular day as we started our ride from the Kootenay River out of Nelson.  Following the river north we stopped in Kaslo for coffee and some sight seeing.  Before the roads were improved most of the products brought up to here were by steamboat.  One is still in Kaslo.  That's were Mel bought his bear bell, it must work since we haven't seen one yet.  We then took the New Denver road and had fun on the winding road with hardly any traffic.  Stopping in Naskup for lunch we relaxed at the Three Lions Den, which had a England theme and was appreciated by our riders.  After lunch we headed south again along the Lower Arrow Lake to the Needles Ferry, one of many cable ferries free to use.  After the ferry several of the group took advantage of the fantastic road going to Vernon.  Mel said it was the best road he has been on.

Marsha posing at an overlook.

Steamboat on the Kootenay River.

Coffee brake time on the way to Vernon.

Day 2:  Chelan Lake to Nelson, British Columbia

We woke to clear blue skies and warm temperatures.  After a short ride we had a fantastic breakfast at the Apple Cup Cafe.  Heading north you could still see the smoke from the ongoing wild fires.  The majestic views while riding along the Columbia River were marvelous.  We stopped in the Indian Reservation for a coffee brake before heading east and into the mountains crossing over Sherman Pass.  The group then stopped in Kettle Falls for lunch and then headed north again and finally crossed into Canada.  Another 50km and we arrived at out hotel on the Kootenay River.  Nelson is an eclectic town were some Americans fled to in the 1960's to escape the draft and having to go to Vietnam.

Ingo from Germany trying out the a horse with the Indian Tribe.

On the Colville Tribe reservation we just missed their annual rodeo but still saw the field with their TP's.

Michael, our tour guide from Germany, Bill from California, and Lutz from Germany.  I think Bill is explaining the finer art of riding with his t-shirt drying method.

Don from New Zealand, Dick and John from England, and Lanis from Pittsburgh enjoying the shade and cold drinks.

Some of our group starting up the mountain to Sherman Pass.

Dick and John enjoying their brothers vacation.

Don checking out the nature at an overlook on Sherman Pass.

Michael giving Ingo and Dirk directions to the lunch stop so they can ride on their own.

Lanis capturing some memories.

Our group entering British Columbia.

Day 1:  Seattle to Chelan Lake

After getting through the rush hour traffic on I-5 and I-405 we made to country roads and beautiful scenery.  Some of the group rode ahead to "up the tempo" but eventually we all gathered back together before Monroe.  We were lucky on US 2  going east since two days before the road was closed due to wild fires.  But I think the 108 degree temperature made up for it.  But, its a dry heat : ).  After a great lunch we made it over Stephan's Pass and down to the Columbia River valley.  A stop at the Rocky Ridge Dam "in the shade" we were disappointed that the salmon were not traveling up the man made steps, but we did see a marmot.  After a short 30 mile ride we all arrived safely at the hotel where Michael was waiting for us.

The group gathering back together at Monroe.

Our bikes in the shade at Rocky Ridge Dam under the US flag.

A marmot (I think) after catching a mouse at Rocky Ridge.

Some of our group awaiting the Salmon to jump up the steps.

Malcom and Annie from Australia at Rocky Ridge.

Troy from the US and Marsha from China looking happy.

Somebody is watching me.

The group at Monroe, from left to right, Marsha, Troy, Ingo, Dick, Dirk, Malcom, Annie, Don, Lanis, Bill, John and Lutz.

With beautiful weather and a perfect location riders from around the globe descend on the DoubleTree hotel to start their adventure into western Canada.  Members from Germany,the UK, Australia, New Zealand, China and the US become a team and look forward to what awaits them.  Motorcycles have been inspected and prepared.  Dinner has been served, now it only hours until the ride begins.  Chelan, Banff, Jasper, Whistler and Vancouver await us.