Greetings everyone. Well, if we haven't talked to you or seen you. Were home. We started early Friday morning with our usual breakfast. The weather said severe storms were going to be around in the afternoon so we wanted to leave early. We packed up and were on the road by 8:30a.m. We headed down route 70 to the 90 and were well on our way. The traffic was low and the road was smooth for a ride. We stopped in Erie, PA for a quick lunch then headed out again. The feeling of anxiety was building, we knew we were close and it was still early. We continued at a steady 70m.p.h. and found ourselves on 20A by 12:00p.m. We finally arrived at home and were greeted by Pepper and Rebel. They acted like we had never left. I unpacked the bike and Tracy called the doctor. We took Tracy to the doctor and they sent us to the E.R. After several hours in the E.R. and a few X-Rays, the doctor told us he thought there was a fracture in her heal. She needs to go for more tests. The doctor put a splint on her, gave her some medication, and issued her crutches. We had some dinner before returning home to unwind. It was nice to finally get there and sit on our own furniture and sleep in our bed. We stayed awake till 12:00a.m. talking with Mark and reflecting on our journey. It has been a long trip and we thank God for answering all of your prayers. We went through trials and tribulations, good weather and bad, but it was all worth it. I'm posting this Sunday because we wanted to gather our thoughts and summarize our trip for you. Here it goes: Total Mileage - 11,879 miles, Total Day's Gone – 36, Longest Day Ride – 637 miles, Shortest Day Ride – 25 miles, Hottest Temperature – 92 degrees, Coldest Temperature – 28 degrees, Total Cost - $4,800, Most Expensive Fuel - $4.63 a gallon, Cheapest Fuel - $3.61 a gallon, Most Expensive Hotel - $166, Cheapest Motel - $45, Least Favorite State – Washington, Favorite View – Lower British Columbia, Worst Drivers – Michigan, Friendliest People – Rocky Mount House, Alberta, Wild Animals Spotted Roadside – Deer, Black Bears, Wild Horses, Moose, Bison, Mountain Goats, Antelope, Prairie Dogs, Porcupines, Eagles, and Red Tail Hawks. Every where we went we ran into friendly people. People who wanted to talk and ask were we were going. Most were in amazement as to our journey and wished us well. Our country is full of caring and generous people. Canada is just as beautiful and friendly. At no time did we feel threatened or in fear of danger. God has many wonders all over the country side and we would love to see more of His awesome creation. Till we decide to do this again, may we say THANK YOU, for all your support and comments while we were gone. God Bless to all and we love you guys............
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Day 35 Medina, OH
Hello family, friends, and fellow bloggers. We made it to Medina, OH. Yes, it's a short ride, but that dreaded storm caught us. We woke around 9:00a.m. and repeated yesterday's routine. Mandee was watching the kids and Jason was hanging out on the couch. We had some coffee then Jay and I took Desiri to school. When we returned, Mandee made an excellent breakfast of biscuits and gravy and eggs. Once again, we filled up then hung out talking. Around 1:00p.m. we loaded the bike and headed out about 1:20p.m. We wanted to be ahead of the storm. The clouds were very dark behind us. We were heading east and out ran them in no time. We started to head north to get on route 80 and the clouds caught back up to us. The wind started to really gust and push us around. We got on route 80 and started our ride west again. The first 30 miles were really rough because the wind and trucks made for a white knuckle ride. We out ran the storm and the skies ahead were blue. We got to Toledo, OH and took a break at a rest stop. I noticed on the Doppler that the storm was getting larger and heading to where we were going. We decided to take the back roads and get off the highway. We were only 100 miles away and I really didn't want to hold on for dear life anymore. Route 20 was smooth sailing and we were making good time. When we started to head south toward Medina the clouds ahead looked threatening. We pulled over in Fitchville, OH to put our gear on. Thank God we made that decision. One minute after we stopped the rain came down hard and the skies light up with lightning. The rain was so hard cars and trucks started to stop at the station we were at. People coming in said they couldn't see. The roads were flooding and trees were down. We waited at that station for an hour and a half. We were only 42 miles from the hotel. I had made reservations earlier so we really weren't in a hurry. It looked like it was easing up some, so we decided to continue on. It was about 6:00p.m. by now. We could see the occasional lightning strike but they didn't hit the ground they went across the horizon. It was raining lightly, and it was humid, so my glasses kept fogging over. To make matters worse, every so often, the road was flooded all the way across. Speed was reduced to 30m.p.h. and slower. Some of the water flowing across the road was up to a foot deep. We kept praying the Lord would deliver us safely. It took two hours to go 42 miles but we arrived safely. A little wet and semi stressed but no worse for the wear. We ordered a pizza and are drying out. Keep us in your prayers, were almost home. Thank you and God Bless.
Day 34 Rome City, IN
Good evening everyone. Another blessed day. Rest and relaxation for the day. We woke around 10:30a.m. and headed to the kitchen for coffee. It was nice sitting around the kitchen table feeling at home. Jay and Mandee whipped up a blue berry gravy and biscuit breakfast. Mmmmm Mmmmmm good. We sat and had coffee while we talked. Mandee had one of her headaches and was really starting to hurt. Jason took her to the E.R. so Tracy made cookies and prepped the dinner. Dave and I talked for hours. Jay and Mandee got home and Mandee made and outstanding fried chicken. I helped with the potatoes and gravy. We sat down and pigged out. We called it an early night. Stuffed belly's and comfortable surroundings made for total relaxation. Sorry I don't have much to tell you but it was nice just chilling out for a day in comfortable surroundings. We plan on riding to Medina, OH tomorrow, so we don't have to leave till afternoon. Till tomorrow, God Bless and good night.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Day 33 Rome City, IN
Greetings to all. We had a wonderful day today. We slept in till 10.00a.m. then headed down for our breakfast. We were an hour late and the service had already been taken down. We packed up and rode off heading south. It was around 11:00a.m. when we reached Grand Rapids, MI and the race began. One thing I can say about drivers in Michigan, they watch too much NASCAR. The speed limit was suppose to be 55m.p.h. but everyone thought they were on a race track. Speeds exceeding 70m.p.h. and they were dodging in and out of the lanes. No turn signals, just aggressive lane changes. It was a white knuckle ride all the way through the city. They had no respect for other drivers on the road. Around fifteen miles out of Grand Rapids we pulled over for a break and coffee. It's sad when you need a coffee to calm your nerves. I have never been in such a crazy driving situation. We hung around for about twenty minutes getting our nerves back to continue on. We pulled out, and the traffic was better. We were only riding 175 miles to Jason and Mandy's, so we were not in a hurry. The sun was shining and it was warm. The scenery was pretty much the same, hard woods lining the road side, with lake Michigan off to the west. We made our way through the rest of Michigan at a slower pace and were in Indiana by 1:30p.m. We hopped on route 90 and headed east to Lagrange, IN. It was a relief to be in familiar territory knowing we are close to home. Twenty minutes south and we were in Rome City, IN. Indiana is flat, with dairy farms, and corn fields on both sides of the road. We arrived at Jason and Mandy's around 2:15p.m. It's nice to be at a home instead of a hotel. Jason had pulled out some rib eye steaks for dinner and Mandy made macaroni and cheese and snow peas. We ate then talked till 12:30a.m. We had a year worth of conversation to catch up on. We shared our pictures with them and talked about our journey. My computer battery ran low so I decided to update the blog in the morning. Well, it's not morning, it's 1:10p.m. After a long night we had slept in. What a beautiful feeling knowing we didn't have to be anywhere today and we could rest and relax for a few day's. Tracy is watching Kung Fu Panda with the kids and Jason and I are talking. We are still asking everyone to continue praying for us. God has been protecting us our whole trip and we see Him working in our life everyday. God Bless and we are praying for you to.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Day 32 Whitehall, MI
Good evening from Whitehall, MI. What an awesome God we serve. Today was another glorious day. We woke early this morning and headed to breakfast. You have to love Super 8's, they always serve a nice continental breakfast. After we ate, we packed up, then headed for Manitowoc. It was 137 miles away and we needed to be at the ship yard by 12:15p.m. I wanted plenty of time to spare for those unexpected delays. We were heading toward Green Bay and we didn't know how bad traffic was going to be. We also needed to find a couple of ratchet straps for the ride. We were on highway immediately and remained on it almost all the way. The sky was cloud covered and the sun was trying to peek through. The news said it would burn off by mid day. It was a comfortable 52 degrees and we left our rain gear in the side bags. We saw more of the farm country Wisconsin is known for. Dairy farms, very large dairy farms. Between the farms were grass for grazing but the cows weren't out. The properties had four to five huge barns and several silo's. We figured each farm held around 1,00 head or more of dairy cows. We were impressed with the size of them. We stopped for coffee and a short break around 75 miles into the ride. We were making excellent time so we could rest for a bit. We stopped at a large truck stop just of the highway. It wasn't just a gas station and store, it was also a casino. The Indians are taking back what we took from them so many years ago only in the form of cash. We couldn't believe that so early in the morning people were gambling. The Indian casinos are certainly a trend in the upper mid west. Every state we have been in since we have returned is loaded with casinos. It's sad to see the poverty in the towns but the willingness to gamble. The store had ratchet straps but they were in four packs and we only needed two. We had a coffee then headed out after twenty minutes. The road to Green Bay was fast and steady so we really had no problem getting through. Before we knew it we were in Manitowoc. It was a pretty town with a population of 34,000. As we neared the ship dock you could tell that the town had sprawled to the outskirts. The village was run down and a lot of properties were vacated. There seemed to be a heavy Hispanic population in the village. It was 11:00a.m. so we had plenty of time to find a hard wear store. We stopped at a Car Quest and found two straps in the sale bin. Thank you Lord, they were only $4 each. We stopped for another coffee then headed for the ferry. I checked in and they had us wait with another couple who were on a bike. The ship was being loaded with coal. The S.S. Badger is the only coal running ferry left in the world. It runs twice a day from Manitowoc, WI to Ludington, MI. I know what you are going to say, “we cheated”. We needed the break and we still wanted to make progress. We rode our bike onto the ferry, strapped it down, and headed to the upper deck. We found a couple chairs on the port side of the boat and waited for the rest to be loaded. At 1:15p.m. they were loaded and we set sail. About fifteen minutes into the ride I decided to take a walk about. Tracy was reading a book so I headed off. I started chatting with the couple that had the other bike and they noticed they were getting black soot in their drinks. The smoke from the stack was billowing to the rear and port sides of the boat. Just as they noticed Tracy rounded the corner commenting she was getting dirty from the smoke. The wind was blowing from the north so the port side was not an option for seating. The boat was large, it is 410 feet long and had two decks. There was sleeping quarters for rent, two eating facilities, a lounge, two T.V. Rooms, a movie theater, gift shop and bathroom facilities. You could sit outside on the upper deck or down below. We had a nice lunch then walked around. We decided to sit on the lounge chairs at the bow so I could take a nap and Tracy could read. The four hour cruise went quickly and soon we were in Ludington. We were off the ship and on the road in twenty minutes. We had gained back another hour so it was 6:30p.m. We rode out of town and headed south. We rode for around an hour and decided to call it a night. The road had patch work on it and trees were on both sides close to the shoulder. We were in deer country, it was dusk, and the speed limit was 70m.p.h. The pain between my shoulder blades was returning so we called it quits. We are only 170 miles from our next destination so it will be a nice ride tomorrow. They are calling for good weather. Thanks for keeping track of us and may God Bless. To God Be The Glory !!!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Day 31 Wausau, WI
Good evening from Wausau, Wisconsin. Another day down and it was a long one. After sitting in a hot tub last night that didn't work, our bodies were a little refreshed. (the pump was not working properly, but it still helped) We woke early and packed up to leave. Before we left we applied capsicum cream to our bodies and headed out. The warmth felt good between my shoulder blades and Tracy said her butt felt fine. We rode through the town and were soon on open road. The sun was shinning and it was around 65 degrees. The road was well paved and the speed limit was 65m.p.h. Cruising down the highway through Minnesota reminded us of being on the N.Y.S. Thruway. There were trees along the road side and then open fields. Occasionally a farm and small houses. The grass was topped out and the highway department was cutting along the road side. We noticed that they were bailing the grass and leaving it in round bails. Farther down the road we saw a state truck picking up the bails. Were not sure what they do with them but we thought it was a novel idea. Making our way through Minnesota was an easy ride. We stopped for fuel in Bemidji, MN and a trucker started a conversation with us. He was returning home after being on the road for a few day's. He suggested that we take a ferry across the Lake Michigan instead of riding all the way to the top of Wisconsin. He told us to stop at the welcome center just over the border and check out the schedules. He also told us that we were in deer ally and to be safe. We thanked him, then started our ride again. We were heading down the highway and that same trucker sped past us. We figured he was in a hurry to get home, but he slowed down to the speed limit. After some time we realized that he was acting as our eyes, looking for deer. Every time we would lag behind he would slow down. We were traveling through a forest with trees on both sides of the road, prime for deer to lunge out of. When the road opened up to a four lane, the trucker took off like a shot, and flashed his brake lights. We waved to him, and he was off. We continued on our way then stopped for a bite to eat and to refuel. It looked like rain ahead and it was getting a little chilly so we put on our gear before leaving. Tracy called that one on the money, about ten miles down the road it started to rain. It wasn't to heavy so it was easy to maintain our speed. As we neared Duluth, MN it started to come down in buckets. It was raining so hard my glasses started to fill with water. We pulled over under cover to dry my glasses, then headed off again. It rained all the way through Duluth, but when we got to Wisconsin, it eased up then stopped. Clear skies were ahead and we dried up quickly. Like the other states, when we crossed the border the landscape changed. The terrain started to become more hilly and the trees were large. There were pines, ash, maple and beautiful lakes all over the place. There were turns but not sharp ones, just long and gradual. We arrived at the welcome center around 4:20p.m. The attendant was very helpful and gave us all the information we needed. After some figuring, we decided to take the ferry. It would save us around 275 miles and money. We changed our direction and started heading south. We rode down route 51 into the state forest. This was a beautiful ride. Our goal was to make it to Wausau before dusk. We didn't want to tangle with any deer. The pine trees were close to the road and very tall. The lakes were blue and full of people enjoying them. We exited the forest and the road opened up to a four lane highway. The speed limit rose to 65m.p.h. and it was clear sailing. We arrived in Wausau at 8:00p.m. and checked into a motel 8. We have reservations for the ferry in Manitowoc. It leaves at 1:15p.m. and we need to be there by 12:15p.m. It's about 150 miles away so we are heading out early with plenty of time to spare. We want to thank Francis and Patty for all they have done for us. God Bless and we Love you guys. Till our next post, be blessed and good night.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Day 30 Crookston, MN
Friday, June 20, 2008
Day 29 Williston, ND
Were back !!! Thank you to everyone who showed concern for our silence. We had no Internet service through Canada and our first day back in the states. For all of you who have been following our adventures, I have uploaded pictures and all of our daily posts. Sorry for the silence but we had no choice. What a blessed day. We left around 8:30a.m., our goal was to make it to North Dakota. We made it !!! The Lord blessed us with another fine day for riding. When we left the temperature was already 72 degrees and the skies were clear. How great it was to ride with just a long sleeve shirt and vest on. No helmet law in Montana meant no heavy head gear so I took advantage of it. Tracy chose to wear her helmet but was relieved not to have all her gear on. We were faced with long straight roads again and the speed limit was 70m.p.h. About an hour into our ride three antelope popped out of the ditch and started to run along side us. They remained at a safe distance from us. We stopped to take their picture and they stopped too. I started to call them in like you would a dog and they actually started to come toward us. Tracy took some pictures, thanked them, and we were on our way again. Montana is a beautiful state. Flat lands covered with grass. You can see for miles. The road was smooth and fast so even though the towns were around 30 to 40 miles apart it seemed like it took no time to reach them. We could see a small mountain range off to the south and barren land off to the north. The economy has really taken it's toll on these small towns. Once flourishing with cattle ranches and grain elevators now they are loaded with casinos and liquor stores. Tracy was shocked at how much it has change in 25 years. We stopped in Chinook to have breakfast and chatted with a few locals. They told us about how the oil prices are actually helping their town. Large towns are far away, so small businesses are starting to thrive because people are not traveling to the larger towns to get their essentials. One of the men we were talking to was building a wildlife museum in Chinook and invited us to take a tour. We decided to and we are glad we did. Though not finished, it is going to be a beautiful museum. It made the Smithsonian's exhibits look like armatures built it. I have posted some pictures of the finished exhibits. Tracy took a picture of everything they had in the place. We continued on our way and the scenery started to change. We were seeing rolling mounds on the side of the road that rose to around a hundred feet. They looked like a giant had been playing in a sand box making mounds all over the place. It was hot but a blessing to us. Remember, we had been bundled up for most of our trip. As we got closer to the North Dakota border we could see rain in the distance but only in isolated spots. It is neat seeing a cloud so far in the distance and seeing the rain fall from it. We had a few drops of rain fall on us but it was drying as fast as it it us. It only lasted for around a minute and it felt good. We stopped for gas about 40 miles from N.D. We decided to call ahead for a room. Good thing we did, all the rooms in town are booked again. Yet another day that God has provided us with the last room. We crossed the border around 4:50p.m. but we also crossed another time zone so it was now 5:50p.m. We checked in to the hotel, showered, then ordered a pizza. We have good Internet service and cell service so we are catching up on everything. Once again, we would like to thank everyone for your concern for our safety. We are safe and glad to be back in touch with everyone. We also want to thank you for your prayers and comments, please keep them coming. We are going to stay in the norther part of the states to avoid the floods and bad weather. Good night and God Bless....
Day 28 Chester, MT
Back in the U.S.A....... Greetings everyone. Well, it was a long ride today, but we made it state side. We are in Chester, Montana and because it's in the middle of nowhere we still have no Internet service. What a glorious day we had for riding. This morning was a little chilly but the sun was shining. We rode out of Maeythourpe around 8:20a.m. and headed for the border. It was a change of scenery from the past several weeks. Alberta is flat, the roads are straight and well paved. We rode for an hour before we came to our first curve and it was a small one. The country side is loaded with cattle ranches and horse farms. Acres and acres of pasture, stretched as far as the eye could see. We could see the rockies way off to the west. I have no idea how far they were but after riding through them and remembering their size we figured them to be far away. The snow still covered the tops and it was a beautiful sight. More so because we weren't going to be riding through them. The speed limit was 65m.p.h. so I held the throttle at 70 and kept it there. There was no traffic that was cruising through the country side so maintaining speed was no problem. We took route 22 south to avoid Edmonton and it proved to be a wise choice. We came to a town called Rocky Mountain House and decided to fuel before getting on the expressway. This town gets the “Friendliest People Award”. Everyone who came near us wanted to talk and they were sincere in their cheerfulness. We had a bite to eat then headed out for the next leg. This time we got on to the expressway heading to Calgary. We were told that it wouldn't be tough getting through the city. The highway speed was 75m.p.h. so 80 it was, and we were off. All of what we saw in Alberta was pretty much the same. Cattle, horses and pasture lots of pasture. Everything was green and you could see for miles. The expressway was also one straight line to Calgary. We arrived in Calgary around 1:30p.m. Traffic got heavy but it was still manageable. We did get off for gas and found no stations so we got back on the highway and continued south. Calgary is a very large city and it covered about 20 miles. We found a gas station on our third try at exiting into the city. We knew we would make the U.S. border on schedule but when we left the city I really hammered on the throttle. It was nice cruising 80m.p.h. and not having to worry about being pulled over. As we neared the U.S. Border the landscape started to roll. There were little hills and mounds of rock scattered all over. We could see a mountain off to the east but it was much smaller than the rockies. The towns were industrial towns servicing oil rigs and grain elevators. We arrived at the border around 6:15p.m. and had no problem entering Montana. The guard seemed like he didn't want to be bothered. He asked three questions and sent us on our way. We pulled into Shelby, Montana around 6:45p.m. and we were at our destination, or so we thought. Every motel in town was booked. They are building wind towers here and most of the rooms are taken by the workers. We had no choice but to head to the next town. It was 35 miles east on route 2. We prayed that the Lord would once again bail us out and provide shelter and true as He is He did. We checked into a motel in Chester then headed to the Great Bar and Eatery. The name speaks for itself, we had a wonderful dinner there and nice conversation with everyone. If your ever in Chester be sure to stop there you wont be disappointed. The chicken and shrimp were excellent and the price was a relief from what we have been paying. We left the restaurant and went to Bills Buggy Bath to wash off the Yukon dirt that covered our bike. The sun was setting and on our way back to the motel we saw the most awesome view of the mountains off in the distance. We showered and got the Alberta dirt off ourselves and are now settling in for the night. Todays ride was 572 miles but it didn't seem like we went that far. We both feel pretty good and are ready for what tomorrow brings. Time to make a game plan for the morning, so have a good night and God Bless.
Day 27 Mayerthroupe, AB
Greetings everyone. God is good. Today was a wonderful day for a ride. After yesterday's chaos, today was a better day all the way around. We woke this morning to sun and clear skies. It was a real shock considering the past several weeks. We watched the weather channel and saw we had clear sailing to our next destination. They were calling for rain in the evening in Red Deer, AB but we figured we would beat it. We had our coffee, then rode through Dawson Creek to route 43, and headed out of town. It was nice riding with just one pair of socks and our leathers. No face masks and no rain gear. Just out of Dawson Creek we were waved to the side of the road by the Mounties. They were spot checking motorcyclists for a valid license. The Mountie was very nice and we chatted for a minute then headed out. The road to Edmonton was well paved and wide. The scenery was wide open farm land, full of horses, beef cattle and occasionally an elk farm. The road was straight with very few turns. This was a big change of pace considering what we had been through the past week. The speed limit was 65 and it was easy to maintain it. We got caught in a small rain shower but we rode right through it and were dry in minutes. We really didn't want to put our gear on today. We crossed the border into Alberta and stopped for fuel shortly afterward. We met a biker from Detroit who was heading to Alaska for the second time. He was alone and excited about the trip. We shared with him for fifteen minutes, gave him our blog, then headed out. We were making good time and really enjoying the ride. We could see the clouds forming in the west and it was pouring. Once again, when it looked like we were going to ride onto the rain the road would turn us toward the clear skies. This continued for most of the day. The threat of rain, then we would skirt around it or through it. God was answering our prayers for a good day. The country side of Alberta is like most rural communities. Occasionally we would see oil rigs in the fields. Tracy explained that the flaming towers were to prevent the rigs from building up pressure and exploding underground. The towns are set off the highway and are not to large. Everything seemed to be packed into a small area but they had everything you needed, gas, food, lodging and mechanics. We continued along without many delays. We arrived in Whitecourt, AB and decided to get something to eat and fuel up. The rain was on the horizon like they predicted so we decided to call it the night at the next town up the road. Lightning was in the clouds and Tracy is not fond of it. We put on our rain gear after dinner and rode into the possible storm. Once again, God is good, we missed the rain with the exception of a few drops here and there. We arrived in Mayerthorpe around 7:00p.m. We had lost an hour of ride time due to the time change. We are only at a two hour difference now. We checked into the only hotel in town and settled in before the rain hit. It's suppose to clear out tonight and tomorrow they are calling for clear skies all day. We asked the clerk the best way to get to the border and he was very helpful. The route we had planned was the same route he gave us. We know we are on the right track and plan on making the border tomorrow. We need to call it an early night and make it an early morning. We figure it will take about twelve hours to reach the border. That's taking into consideration our fueling time, lunch and pit stops. Our trip today was a short 296 miles bringing our total to 9,156 miles. Thanks for the prayers, God is working in our lives everyday and it has been an exciting journey so far. God Bless everyone and good night.
Day 26 Dawson Creek, B.C.
What a day... That pretty much sums up our adventure for this leg of the trip. I really don't know where to begin. I guess from this morning like usual. We woke early and had a coffee, fueled up, then chatted with a gentleman who was heading to Alaska. We shared our experiences with him and warned him of the upcoming road conditions. He looked a little nervous but we reassured him he would be fine. We rode off heading toward the Northern Rockies and Stone Mountain. The weather was cool and of course, rain was ahead. Once again the scenery looked different but just a magnificent as before. Riding through the mountains you feel the majesty of our Lord. The tops reach through the heavens and you feel so tiny in comparison. Stone mountain was where we saw the sheep that wanted to take us on the last time we passed through, and they didn't disappoint us this time either. There were plenty of sheep on the mountain edges and in the road. We did get an opportunity to get a good picture of another ram. This time he remained on the cliff side and posed for us. We wound through the mountain pass and took in the beauty of the rolling streams, rock formations, small marshes and lakes. All a splendor to see. The rain came and went but it was cold and that didn't change all day. We arrived in Fort Nelson to fuel up, get some cash, and eat. That's when the problems began. After fueling I went to the A.T.M. and tried to get cash. The machine refused the transaction. I headed across the street to the bank and tried. I got the same results. We are using a debit card and we have the cash so I went to the teller and she contacted Visa. I got on the phone and reviewed our purchases. When she told me I had two gas purchases for $150 each I was shocked. I explained to her that the gas only amounted to $36 and I had enough money to cover it. The lady told me that when you use your card in the U.S. the gas company requests $50 for a transaction and when they get paid from the bank they give back the balance. Well, apparently on the Alaska Highway they request $150. That is why the transactions were denied. She told me that it could take 5 to 7 days for it to process. A big lump formed in my stomach. We had no cash and funds wouldn't be available for day's. We still had our credit card and decided to use that instead. I couldn't get cash from it because I never requested a PIN for that purpose. We stopped at a Subway that took credit cards and ate lunch. We headed out and the weather got worse. The rain came more frequently and it got colder. The stress of the money, weather, and cold started to build. The ride was really turning out to be miserable. Once again, it seemed like we would never make Fort St. John. Along the way we saw a black bear and her two cubs, and half a dozen wild horses. It's amazing seeing the animals so close to the road. It just wouldn't be a ride without being hailed on, and true to form, it did. This time we both had our masks on but my glasses fogged so bad I needed to pull over to wipe them clean. We arrived in Fort St. John and I had enough stress for one day. We pulled in to a Motel 8 and the clerk informed me that every room in the town was booked. I really didn't want to hear that but what were we to do? The clerk was good enough to find us a room in Dawson Creek. It was going to be another hour ride, but we had no choice. Cold, wet, and covered in mud we arrived at the hotel. We checked in and “vented “ on each other for awhile. We realized we were being foolish and calmed down. I went to the 7-11 to get something quick to eat for us. This time around our credit card wouldn't work. Now I had two very large lumps in my stomach. No cash, no debit card available, and now, no credit card. You want to talk about a sick feeling try being stranded in a foreign country with no money. I returned to the room and called Visa. The company had placed a block because of suspicious activity. I had told them a week ago where we were and where we would be. They apologized and reactivated the card. I returned to the 7-11 and picked up dinner. We ate Hungry Man Turkey Dinners and had a nice quiet time together. It was eleven before this took place but were fed, clean, warm, and we have a nice bed to sleep in. We don't know what tomorrow will bring, we are heading south to Red Deer, Alberta. Please, please keep us in your prayers. Thanks for all of them so far but we still have a long way to go. God Bless and good night.
Day 25 Toad River, B.C.
Good evening from Toad River, B.C. We should know by now that planning a destination just isn't going to work. Yes, we wanted to be in Fort Nelson today, but we are about 170 miles short. It's 9:30p.m. and we rode 389 hard miles. We started out this morning with nice weather. If you have been following the blog you know that's how a lot of our day's started. You also know what I'm going to tell you next. Yes, 150 miles into our ride, the rain started. We had already started the day with our rain gear on so there was no need to stop. As we rose in elevation in the Northern Rockies we would get wet. The scenery was still a beautiful sight. Mountains surrounded by clouds and covered with snow. Even though we had passed through them several days ago, they looked different. Approaching the range from the west gave us a different perspective and we felt like we had never been there before. We could see the next mountain ahead and the rain falling from the clouds. We were praying to God that the clouds would empty before we got to them. Sometimes that happened and sometimes it didn't. We did however discover that really black clouds are not good, they contain hail. Once again my face is lumped up from hail and I'm sorry to say Tracy didn't escape this storm. Neither of us were wearing our face masks so we pulled over and took shelter under an outhouse roof. There was a bicyclist standing under the roof of the other outhouse. We chatted with the young man and found out he was bicycling to Edmonton from Whitehorse. I couldn't imagine the shape this man was in. It is a tough motorcycle ride let alone peddling all the way. We geared up and headed out. We decided to have lunch in Nugget City at the Wolf It Down restaurant. Dave, our host, had lived in Niagara Falls, Ontario in the seventies and was a renowned chef. We had a good conversation with him as we ate our Buffalo Burgers. We met the owners Scott and Linda and expressed to them that we would be interested in taking up seasonal work with them. One thing we have discovered is that help is hard to find along the highway. Most places are seasonal and most are run by the owners or their families. Scott seemed very interested and showed us around. We talked for some time then exchanged e-mail addresses. The tourism season runs from June through September. Four months in the Yukon sounds like a nice change of pace and we are giving it serious consideration. Check out their web site at www.nuggetcity.com. We said our farewells and rode into the mountains again. The ride slowed down because of the sharp turns and rolling roads. The rain was still with us as we continued on our way. It seemed like we would never get to Fort Nelson. We saw several Bison grazing alongside the road. We stopped to photograph one and he started to rear his head and basically told us to move along. We did, but not before we got his picture. We stopped in Hot Springs, B.C. to inquire about a room, but had no luck, so we pushed on. We then stopped at the Northern Rockies Lodge and had the same results. By now we were really tired and remembered that Toad River Lodge was the next town up. We prayed that a room would be available and as always, God pulled through. We grabbed some munchies to hold us over till morning and headed to our room. Tracy wondered out back while I settled in. I joined her out back and she was excited, she was watching two moose hanging out in the bog. The male grunting is what caught Tracy's attention. To date we have seen bear, mountain sheep, bison, caribou, moose, deer, fox, and rabbit all within a couple hundred yards some as close as 15 feet. Well, it's getting late and we have some ground to make up, so I'm going to call it a night. We cant wait to get to the lower 48 so we can share the pictures with you. God Bless and keep returning, the adventure continues.
Day 24 Teslin, YT
Good evening family, friends and fellow blogers. What a glorious day for a ride. The sun is shinning and it's warm. I don't know what the temperature is but it looks like it's going to be a good day. We had a nice breakfast at the Golden Bear Lodge in Tok. After we ate, we took some pictures of the mounts in the dinning area, then headed out. It was nice riding without our drypers (Tracy's lingo for rain gear). We knew this was going to be the roughest leg of the trip as far as road conditions. It was wonderful to have a nice day so I could concentrate on the road. We rode slowly through dirt, gravel, broken pavement and everything between. The journey was slow going but nice. 150 miles into the ride, that all changed. Clouds loomed ahead and they didn't look friendly. We held out as long as possible to don our rain gear. It was getting darker and colder so we stopped to put on our gear. Once again we were dressed like Eskimos. Soon after we dressed, we discovered Hell. It's a part of the Yukon called Destruction Bay. The roads are all torn up, dusty, and the weather was horrendous. We got caught in a severe hail storm and it made riding almost unbearable. It hailed so hard I have a welt and black and blue under my eye. The pain of the strikes was indescribable. It only lasted for two minutes but it seemed an eternity. We pulled over to fuel up and to check my wounds. My face was welted and burning. We continued along, because we just wanted out of Destruction Bay. The area is beautiful but both times through there we encountered bad weather. A few miles from the town limit the roads started to improve. The clouds were lifting and we started to make good time. We rode through the occasional rain shower but it was tolerable after the hail. We arrived in Haines, YT and decided to have dinner. We met Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer Bill Walden. We chatted with him for a while then headed out. It was around 5:30p.m. and we wanted to make it to Whitehorse. The waitress told us it was only 90 miles down the road. The sun was peaking through the clouds but what lay ahead didn't look good. You couldn't see any of the mountains because the fog and clouds were so thick they hid the scenery. We pulled over to put our face masks on. After the last hail storm we weren't taking any more chances on bruised faces. Bill noticed we were pulled off the side of the road so he stopped to see if everything was ok. This is yet another way God is looking out for us. We thanked Bill and headed down the road. We were heading right for the center of the storm then the road changed direction and guided us around the bad weather. We did get the occasional rain shower but not severe. We arrived in Whitehorse around 7:00p.m. and Tracy wanted to continue to the outskirts to gain a little more ground. Well, we gained a lot more ground. The we rode till 10:55p.m. There was no hotels or many towns after Whitehorse. We wound up in Teslin, YT and just in time. The hotel and store close at 11:00p.m. God answered our prayers, there was one room left. We staggered to the room and took a hot shower then had some tea. Our ride today was 522 miles. Were praying for a little relief in he weather because we would like to make it to Fort Nelson, B.C. tomorrow. Time to call it a night we are both burned out and need to sleep. Please keep us in your prayers, they have been working, we see it everyday. God Bless and good night.
Day 23 Tok, AK
Good evening from Tok, Alaska. Our day started like most, rain. We figured it to be so because we were leaving today. Well, we headed out of Anchorage toward the Alaskan Highway. It took us a while to get around the detour but when we did, it was smooth sailing. It rained lightly as we headed north. I had contacted the prison in Palmer and the supervisor offered me a tour. Palmer is a small town north of Anchorage and is surrounded by the mountains. We arrived a the prison around 11:45a.m. and the officer at the front gate was expecting us. Officer Jansson was a pleasure to talk to as she processed me in. After she logged me in she contacted the shift commander, Sgt. Weatherup. I rode the bike past the gate and toward the main compound. Sgt. Weatherup met me at the gate and buzzed me in. It was a real pleasure meeting Marty, a fellow Christian. He escorted me through the tiny facility and introduced me to many of his officers. I was shocked at the size of the facility. It only houses a couple of hundred inmates. It resembled a college campus instead of a correctional facility. Several small units made of wood an old facility but well maintained. The walkways had roof's over them. It was a real blessing to find out that the state allows a special dorm that is faith based. The inmates keep each other in check and the dormitory revolves around a strong scriptural guideline. We continued our tour for around an hour and there was no “tension” like at Attica. I thanked Marty for the tour and before I left he prayed for Tracy and I. Tracy had been waiting at the front gate chatting with officer Jansson. When I returned to the front gate they were eating Caribou. They had saved me a piece and I'm glad they did. It was outstanding. We continued on our way through the rain. It was difficult to see the mountains because the clouds surrounded them. It would rain for a while then stop. We traveled through the winding road praying for a little relief from the rain. God is good, he answered our prayers. It seemed like when it was about to rain on us the road would wind away from it. The view was the same as when we past it several days ago. Mountains covered with snow surrounded by clouds. It is still a magnificent view even when you are went and cold. We made good time all things considered. We stopped for gas in Chickaloon again and chatted with Jean again. I gave her a Salvation card and we are praying for her. She is Jewish and is seeking. Please keep her in prayer. We continued on our way and the clouds started to break. We arrived in Tok around 7:00p.m. and stopped at Bear Lodge to get a souvenir. We were going to go to the hotel at mile 1225 but we didn't have a reservation and the roads were loaded with traffic. We decided to stay at the Bear Lodge and call it a night. Tracy and I are watching The God Father 3 and are about ready to sleep. The weather looks promising for tomorrow so we plan on a long ride. Once again we are entering the No Communication Zone so our posts will be delayed. God Bless and good night for now.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Day 22 Anchourage, AK
Greetings, today was a good day. We had an outstanding time last night at the Congdon's. Jennifer cooked a spectacular meal for us. She prepared chicken, roasted tomatoes, and a Thia salad over rice. We sat in the back yard and enjoyed the sun. Their home is beautiful and is located right near the water, overlooking the Sleeping Lady mountain range. What a glorious view they have. Tracy played with the girls while Jeff and I chatted. Before we knew it, it was 10:30p.m. It's hard to tell the time by the sun because it doesn't set, it just circles around the mountains. Jeff drove us back to the hotel and we called it the night. This morning we ate at the hotel and then waited for the bike to be finished. Tracy did laundry and I looked up alternate routes for the ride home. We cant take the ferry because the schedule conflicts with our schedule, so we are riding back the way we came. Our bike was ready around 2:00p.m. so we walked over to pick it up. We returned to the hotel then went for a little ride. We had dinner at a 50's diner. The food was outstanding. We are just sitting around relaxing and preparing for the ride home. We leave in the morning. The weather is suppose to be nice and we pray it will stay that way. Not much to tell you about today so I will keep this one short. The adventure starts all over again tomorrow. Stay tuned and keep praying for us. God Bless and good night.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Day 21 Anchourage, AK
Hello from Anchorage. What a beautiful day. The clouds are in the sky but it's not suppose to rain today. We checked out of the motel around 11:00a.m. and headed to the diner across the road. After a bite to eat we searched for Dr. Congdon (a friend from Warsaw hospital). We had an address and office phone so we headed out for the office. It was only a few miles from where we were. We had a hard time finding it because it was nestled in a complex of offices and a hospital. The first place we went they didn't even know him. One lady suggested the V.A., it was only a building down. The address was correct. When I talked to the receptionist she didn't know him. I was beginning to think he was in the Federal Witness Protection Program. No returned calls, no listing with the A.M.A., and we couldn't find him in the phone book. The receptionist finally located his nurse at Elmsdorf A.F.B. She was looking for Jeff because he had a surgery scheduled for 2:00p.m. We were getting closer. Jeff's nurse took our information and said she would pass him a message. We left the V.A. and headed for a motel closer to the Yamaha shop. God is so good. The shop was only a couple of blocks from the hotel. We stopped at the hotel and they weren't ready for us yet so we rode to the shop. We didn't want to leave the bike for them to work on as dirty as it was and we still needed time to check in to the hotel. I spoke with the owner and he had been in Warsaw long ago. He graduated from Houghton College in 1969. What a small world. Tracy gave him a t-shirt from Houghton that she just happened to bring with her. Originally he told us he was backed up a week. When he found out we were Christian riders he found time in the schedule. God is so awesome. We found a self wash and cleaned 7,100 miles of dirt and grime off the bike. It cost $10, it was really dirty. I called Jeff's nurse and asked if she had spoke to him yet and she told me he was in surgery. WE FINALLY GOT HIM!!! Bobbie assured me she would pass the message. We saw many homeless people on the streets. The city is spread out and has really populated in the last 24 years (last time I was here). We checked into our hotel around 3:00p.m. and I took the bike to the shop. Were having a new rear tire put on, oil changed, and a general look over so we can return safely. As I was walking back to hotel, a guy pulled over and asked me about the C.M.A. He saw my vest and wanted to know if there was a chapter in Anchorage. He was from Colorado and relocated here. He turned in his back patch from the Sober Souls M.C. because there are no chapters here. I told him I would find out for him. While I was talking to him, Jeff called. We said our farewells and I assured him I would call with the information. Jeff was just leaving the base and said he would be at our hotel in about 30 minutes. He arrived and asked if we would like to join them for dinner. It's been seven years since we have seen him so we have some catching up to do. We accepted his invitation and are looking forward to chatting. Jeff stayed for around an hour then headed out to pick up their new baby. He will be picking us up in around an hour. We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends in our lives. Tracy and I are discussing taking the ferry down to Washington to see the whales. We know it's cheating but we did ride all but 34 miles of the Alaskan Highway. We proudly purchased our vest pins and declared victory. WE ARE IN ALASKA!!! Well, time to freshen up and enjoy an evening with the Congdon's. Good night for now and God Bless.
Day 20 Anchorage, AK
Hello everyone. Well, we have arrived in Anchorage, AK. It's been a long trip and we now know why people who make the journey stay. Between the weather, treacherous roads, vast wilderness, and sheer beauty who would want to leave. Your so exhausted when you get here and you don't want to think about the return trip. Our journey so far has been 7,151 miles. We feel good and are going to spend a couple of day's here. I have posted the missing day's post's for those of you that are daily followers. Once again, we would like to thank everyone who has commented on our blog, please keep them coming. We left mile 1225 around 8:30a.m. and headed for Tok, AK. The Lord finally blessed us with what appeared to be a nice day. The roads were not as good as we had been told. It felt like we were on a kiddie roller coaster. Our speed was reduced to 45 to 50m.p.h. and we kept coming upon road construction. The scenery consisted of Pine trees and bogs. The mountains had a rolling effect and were green. Pretty boring after riding through similar scenery for miles. We stopped in Tok and had lunch with a couple who were riding to Fairbanks from Colorado. We headed out from Tok and rode south west to Anchorage. The roads showed some improvement but the sky looked like it was going to rain, again. The majestic mountains lay ahead and we could see them off in the distance. Covered in snow and reaching into the clouds you couldn't see the summits. The landscape was improving in it's beauty as we rose in elevation. We were traveling through the range and the river was amazing. Just when you think you saw the most spectacular view, another one would be just around the next curve. The towns were spread around 80 to 90 miles apart and pretty much looked like the rest that were on the Alaskan Highway. Small, R.V. Parks, gas stations, and a motel. It rained very little along the journey today and it wasn't a nuisance. Just when it looked like we were going to get drenched, the road would wind away from where the rain was. This was an answer to prayer. Tracy and I have had enough of the rain for a while and needed the break. We pulled over in Eureka, AK and looked a Mt. McKinley and it's amazing glacier. What a sight, and to be so close was a dream come true. I cant say enough that you need to see it for yourself to bask in it's glory. What an awesome God we have to give us such wonderful sights. We stopped at a small filling station and I had a nice conversation with the owner about Jesus. She too is a Christian. She gave me a lithograph of the Northern Lights because she figures we would not see them while we are here. I had told her that is one of the reasons I was here. We headed out and continued along the highway. About 75 miles from Anchorage were stopped for fuel at another small station in Chickaloon, AK. This time we chatted with the woman who worked there. She lived in Amherst for a year in 1971. We fellowshipped and found out she was Jewish. I told her about Jesus and what He has done in my life. She said that we made her day and felt blessed. When we arrived Palmer civilization appeared out of no where. The town was about the size of Batavia and the highway expanded to four lanes. Anchorage was only thirty five miles away. The speed limit picked up to 65 and we were on our way. We arrived in Anchorage at 8:40p.m. and checked in to a Red Roof Inn near the airport. This city has grown in the past twenty five years (last time I was here). Were going to search out Dr. Congdon in the morning. I have his office address and phone number. I got his answering machine and we hope he's not in the lower 48 this week. Sorry the pictures are not up to date but Internet service is not the greatest here. Time for bed, its been another long day. Thanks for your prayers and please keep them coming. God Bless....
Day 19 Mile 1225 Alaskan Highway
WE MADE IT !!! Greetings from Alaska. Yes, we are back on U.S. soil and we are just settling in for the night, at mile1225 of the Alaskan Highway. Were at the Border City Lodge. We decided to change the game plan and take advantage of a late check out at the hotel. We woke around 9:00a.m. and had some coffee. The clouds were in the sky and the temperature was 43 degrees. We decided to leave around noon and ride in the extended daylight. It was a good idea, the temperature had raised and the clouds didn't look as threatening. As we were loading the bike an attractive blond approached us and introduced herself. She was from Biker T.V. Canada. She had a camera man with her and they asked if we would interview. They are having a bike rally in Whitehorse this weekend and thats why they were there. We answered her questions and chatted with them for around twenty minutes. We said our good byes and headed out. It was cold but not as cold as yesterday. There was snow on the ground and clouds lingered in the air. It rained every now and then but not enough to make things miserable. We raised in elevation again and it got colder. Tracy and I stopped to take a picture with a snowman. We thought it was appropriate. We were riding through the mountains and not over them. The view was overwhelming. Each mountain was larger than the next. Covered with snow and steep. We were happy that we were not riding over the tops. We rode along side several lakes, and as with the others, they were as blue as a clear sky. The towns were still far apart and when you arrived at some of them there was nothing there. Closed, for sale, or just abandoned. We fueled up at Destruction Bay, YT and headed for the border. We were about to head over and through the last mountain pass before Alaska. True to form, it turned out to be a long ride due to the road conditions. For around 100 miles we rode over dirt, gravel, heaved pavement and wavy blacktop. Our speed averaged 45m.p.h. and then came the rain. We would ride in the rain for two or three minutes then it would stop. I would pull over, dry my glasses, ride a little while, and it would start all over again. Just a few miles before the last town before the border it started to hail. It was like being hit with shards of glass at high speed. Even though we came to a crawl it was coming down with force. Talk about a facial. I thought I was going to bleed. It eased up and our speed increased. We stopped in Beaver Creek, YT (last town in YT) and headed for the border. The border guard was polite and suggested The Border City Lodge for the night. It's raining pretty good now and we pray it will stop by morning. Thanks for the prayers and keep them coming. Were going to try to make it to Anchorage tomorrow.
Day 18 Whitehorse, YT
Good afternoon from Whitehorse, Yukon. It's been a long week. We woke around 7:00a.m., had some coffee, then dressed for the cold weather. While we were having our coffee we saw a fox roaming the parking lot. The woman at the store said several roam the town every morning. The air was crisp and clouds were high in the sky, again. It misted more than rained. It was that bone chilling mist that makes riding unpleasant. Our goal was to have something to eat in Whitehorse, then move on. The land scape was the same as it has been for the last 200 miles. We rose in elevation and it got colder. The mist turned to snow and we were freezing. Now, Whitehorse was only 118 miles away, but we thought we would never get there. The road was still in good condition but all the other factors added to the miserable ride. Tracy was wearing most of the cloths she brought. The temperature was 42 degrees, the snow fogged our goggles making sight limited, and there were watch for moose signs posted all over the mountain. Thankfully, the Lord is still with us. Today, we didn't see any wild life along the way. I think they were smarter than us and decided to stay out of the weather. There was snow left on the ground from the winter and the road was wet but not icy. We pushed on, and what would normally be an easy ride, turned out to be the never ending trip. We finally arrived in Whitehorse around 1:30p.m. We were shot, frozen to the bone, and mentally drained. Riding in these conditions for long periods of time makes your mind play tricks on you. I didn't want to jeopardize anyones life so we decided to call it a day. We are in the Capitol of The Yukon Territory and this town looks interesting. We checked into a motel and warmed up. We decided to take a walk and check out the sights. I got a hair cut and Tracy found some supplies to make some more necklaces. I am updating you on our travels and Tracy is making a necklace. We are going to take a walk later and check out the rest of the town. Sun sets (if it were out) at 11:49p.m. The Internet in our room doesn't work, so I have to post yesterdays and todays posts in the lobby. Sorry, the hotel is having problems with their Internet service. I will tell you about the rest of our day. We left the hotel and walked around the town. It reminded us of the show Northern Exposure. The streets were close together and the blocks were small. We strolled through shop after shop doing the tourist thing. We ate at the Klondike Rib and Salmon. The restaurant was a tiny building that was established in 1908 as a mail and package service center. It was converted over to a restaurant and it still maintains it's charm from long ago. Tracy ate Caribou Stew and I had Bison Tenderloin. The food was fit for a prospector and the portions were filling. I also had a few Yukon Golds, a beer made just for the town of Whitehorse. Time for a warm bed and a good night's sleep. I'm not saying where we will be next because only God knows. My plans have been falling short due to the weather. Please remember us in your prayers and please, please, pray for good weather. Thank you and God Bless.
Day 17 Teslin, YT
Outstanding, Glorious, Spectacular, Wilderness, and much more. Good evening from Teslin, Yukon. It's 9:35p.m. and we are settling in for the night. We woke at 5:00a.m. And yes, it was raining. Our bags were already packed so we had some coffee then went to breakfast. The rain was really coming down so we decided to wait a little while. We finally left at 7:00a.m. in a light drizzle and cold. We rode for around an hour when the road started to twist and turn. All of the sudden, as we rounded a turn, we saw a glorious mountain range ahead. The peaks were covered in snow and the clouds surround them. They looked miles away but before we knew it we were in them. The temperature really dropped as we reached the summit, but we knew relief was at the bottom. After we rode over the first mountain we were in the middle of the Northern Canadian Rockies. What a magnificent view as we rode along side a river. The water was a brilliant shade of blue green and it was alive as it tumbled over the rocks. When we reached the summit of Rock Mountain we came across a herd of sheep strolling in the middle of the road. They could care less we were there until I came to a crawl and got the attention of a Ram. Tracy took a nice picture of him as he started to challenge us. I got on the throttle and got out of there. Several miles down the mountain we noticed signs that read “Watch for Bison's on Road”. Well, they weren't kidding. We came across two Bison grazing along side the road. We passed by them at first because Tracy thought they were statues. We turned around and I got a good picture of them. Oh yea, they were real, and very intimidating. You think our bike is big? It's nothing next to a Bison. As we traveled through the range we came across many more sheep and Bison. The mountains were rich with Pine trees, ash, and bogs filled with dead trees. Service stations, hotels and diners were what the towns consisted of and they were around 90 to 100 miles apart. We stopped to eat lunch in Toad Creek, Yukon. After seeing all of those Bison I decided to have a Bison burger. Excellent choice. We continued on our way and the scenery changed yet again. The roads became longer without many turns. The trees were cut back like they were at the beginning of the Alaskan Highway. Everything was green for miles and miles. No more snow covered mountains, just green. We came across an occasional lake and there were many bogs and swamps. The whole day we were very cold. We stopped several times to warm up or put more cloths on. Then all at once, we rounded a corner to more snow covered mountains. Here we go again. We really didn't want to get much colder but we had no choice, the next town was 50 miles away. Let me tell you, 50 miles seems like a thousand when your cold and tired. We had already traveled 475 miles and it had been a long day. We had been on the road 11 hours by now. We made it to the summit and descended into one beautiful town called Teslin. That's where we decide to hang our rain gear for the night. Time for bed my eyes are crossing. God Bless and good night.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Day 16 Fort Nelson, B.C.
Day 15 Fort Nelson, B.C.
Day 14 Bear Lake, B.C.
Greetings family and Friends. Once again, no Internet to make my daily post, so I am creating this off line. We have arrived to the wilderness. We left the hotel at 8:00a.m. and jumped on the Gold Rush Trail to headed north. The temperature was 45 degrees and clouds were in the sky. The news said a storm was coming but we figured we would out run the worst of it. We saw farms, R.V. Parks, and restaurants lining the roadside. The roads were winding through the mountain and the vegetation was green. Evergreens, Ash, and Poplar trees were all over the country side. We rode for an hour then pulled over to eat at a nice country mom and pop restaurant. We had a good breakfast then decided to put on our rain gear before we left. It seemed to be getting colder and rain loomed ahead. It started to rain lightly but it dropped the temperature. We stopped in the town of Williams Lake to put or face masks on and grab a coffee and Red Bull. We met three riders from Houston, B.C. and we fellowshipped for a while, as we waited for the rain to ease up. We pulled out and continued on our way. It was still raining lightly but would come and go. The towns were getting more scarce and so was fuel. I turned on my reserve and hoped gas was around the next curve or over the next hill. It began to rain really hard and it was getting difficult to see. We finally came to a town that had a good amount of amenities. We stopped at a Seven Eleven and fueled up. I told Tracy I was praying that we would make it and I wouldn't let it get that close again. Tracy told me she had doubts we would have enough fuel when I told her we would. Just when she had that thought she saw a sign on a tree that read Trust Jesus. This affirmed to her we would have enough. How cool is that knowing He is always with us if we Trust Him? I got a coffee for Tracy and the lady at the counter asked if that was all. When I told her yes, she said “it's on us honey, you've been riding in the rain for a while.”. I thanked her, gave her Gods Blessing, and headed to the bike. The three bikers we saw back at the other station were there also. We chatted some more then one of them gave us a map of B.C. This is coming in handy being that our G.P.S. only shows one road in Canada and we have no Internet. Back to the old fashioned way for now. We headed out again and rode to Prince George. Not very impressive for the Capitol of B.C. We stopped for diner at a Denny's. When I gave the girl two U.S. Twenties she asked if I needed change. The bill was only $28 she then looked very confused. I told her U.S. Currency was at 2% and everyone has been calling it even. Well, I guess she didn't believe me, she went and asked the manger. The manager was no better he told her that the $40 was only worth $36. I wasn't about to argue with these people who were clueless. I smiled, gave her a Blessing and left. As we left Prince George the real wilderness began. I can describe the ride as similar to riding through Letchworth State Park, miles and miles of it. The weather had taken its toll on us, so we called it an early day again. Cold and wet makes for a rough day's ride. We would like to take advantage of the long days but the weather keeps beating us down. We are totally wiped out but we are really enjoying our adventure. Keep posted were almost there. We have around 800 miles to Tok, Alaska.
Day 13 Cache Creek, B.C.
Hello from Cache Creek, B.C. Wow, what a view. After spending the night at the Bates Motel in Washington, we gathered our belongings and headed for the border. We spent a good portion of the night in a hot room hoping to dry our things. Success, everything was dry. The weather was still gloomy but the forecast for where we were heading looked good. Once again we put on our rain gear and headed out. While traveling north to the border through Washington, it rained lightly. We arrived in Sumas, Washington around 11:00a.m. We stopped for a quick coffee and to make our final phone calls. We made it through the border crossing with ease and rode to Canada Rt. 1. The clouds were breaking and the road ahead looked clear. Welcome to British Columbia. We thought the mountains in Washington were beautiful but in B.C., they were spectacular. As we headed east, we started to climb the beautiful landscape. Words cannot describe the glorious scenery ahead. We have never seen such a combination of colors across the country side. Red, blue, white, green and all painted with such perfection by the hand of God. The skies were clearing as we headed up the Gold Rush Trail toward Prince George, B.C. Winding roads led the way to small town after small town. Once again it is hard to fathom the pioneers traveling the rugged terrain for gold. There was so much to take in you couldn't see it all. The traffic was light but steady. We stopped for gas at Hells Canyon and continued on. Because of the twisting roads the speed limits fluctuated from 65mph. to 45mph. The longest straight line we rode was 2 miles. We realized around 4:00p.m. we were not going to make it to Prince George. We crossed over a river we had been following and were heading north on Rt. 1. The roads became a little more straight. We noticed that the pine trees appeared to be dead. There is a disease that is killing them. We also noticed charred trees and telephone poles. We stopped at the Red Dog Diner for dinner. There was a fire in this area a year ago and we were seeing the results of it's devastation. We decided to call it the night and make it an early morning. We asked the owner of the diner where good lodging was and she directed us to Robbies Motel in Cache Creek. It was only a five minute ride to Cache Creek. We rented a room then went for a walk. It is simply one of the most beautiful towns we have been in. People are very nice here and everyone is willing to talk to us. Early to bed and early to rise, we want to make some time tomorrow. Sorry this post is late but the charges on my broadband would break us. God Bless and good night.
