To Alaska and Back...

[Yazz]

Almost 8,000 miles that's fantastic. I have a funny video of our encounter with bison in Yellowstone but there are a few expletives that I can't delete so I won't share it. We were in bumper to bumper traffic and the bison wanted to get to the other side of the road. They get what they want!

Trip B - 8,216.1

We were trying very hard not to become a bison stastic. On the road we were on, even the semi's give them a wide berth. Hope your vehicle came through o.k.

Something like this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc2qROlSxsc

At least you lived to tell the tale. And he stuck his Tongue out at you too!! Not a good feeling!!!

I got to tell you this is one of my favorite trip documentations ever. You go girl.

Glad you're enjoying the ride. Everyday is a new adventure.

Lamont, it was pretty much just like your video!

Where are you folks headed now that your well back into Canada. Big change on the scenery--isn't it?

Huge change of scenery! Not better than Alaska or worse... just different. Nice in it's own way.

So true. I look forward to your posts and pictures every day. This is what owning a Spyder is all about. Following your dreams for a trip of a lifetime. I, for one, would love to see BRP give recognition to ryders that have accomplished and posted up trips like this and Dudleys. Maybe something for them to do at Maggie Valley........
BRP, ARE YA LISTENING?????????????

Hate to tell you this but the only way to make Maggie Valley (which I Really would like to do...) is to cut this trip short and head east that-a-way. Wouldn't want to leave my riding buddy to go home alone...

Does anyone know what the record is for views to a thread? Are we there yet?

There's been alot of threads on Spyderlovers over the years. Some of them are outstanding! The one about selling the kickstand is one of my favorites!

[Yazz]

Had more sunny times than rain today.

A river outside Dawson Creek.



DocDoru, this ones for you!



Going on down the highway.



Been looking for critters, but haven't seen any yet...

[Yazz]

Drove us nuts not finding any critters.

Found what happens to Bad Bears.



Look what we found up in the hills! (Will try to find their name and edit it in.)



Also found some elk. One got a little too curious about Hubby and the whole group of vehicles departed quickly.



We finally made our way to Japser.



Proud we got our critter pics! Looking for more tomorrow...

[dave01]

As always, awesome pics and story. And I worry about squirrels running out in front of me .

[SpyderWolf]

and on getting the critter pics.

Thanks for indulging those of us who asked for them, and glad to hear it didn't cause you any harm.

[SpyderAnn01]

Beautiful pictures. Was that an 80 mph speed sign?

[ARtraveler]

The speed sign was 100---but that is KPH not MPH--about 62 miles per hour. It's fun to put in the KPH mode and drive over 100 though.

Great pictures and narrative--looking forward to more.

[Yazz]

As always, awesome pics and story. And I worry about squirrels running out in front of me .

Oh geeze! Wait till a moose runs in front of you. Maybe if you duck, you can make it under its belly...

and on getting the critter pics.

Thanks for indulging those of us who asked for them, and glad to hear it didn't cause you any harm.

Thanks for the challenge. Put the snake-eye out for critters! If we saw cars parked along the road, we parked too. It was amazing what we saw!

No vehicles were harmed in the making of these pictures.

Beautiful pictures. Was that an 80 mph speed sign?

Nope, it said "Maximum 100." Not KPH or MPH. Felt totally at ease because innocence is bliss.

The speed sign was 100---but that is KPH not MPH--about 62 miles per hour. It's fun to put in the KPH mode and drive over 100 though.

Great pictures and narrative--looking forward to more.

Was hoping tht 100 kph was a little higher mph. We have been following behind faster cars to try to stay withing the speed limits. Maybe out here, as long as you don't biff it, you're o.k.

[dave01]

Joy, when I met you in Cuba last year, I thought you were nuts ryding from Texas to Missouri by yourself. After following you on these posts, I no longer feel this way. You are fearless. .
I hope one day to do a ryde close to this. The Triangle ryde we have planned will be long, but only in miles. Not even close to what you 2 are doing. Here's to hoping you continue to have fun and many more safe miles.

[Yazz]

Joy, when I met you in Cuba last year, I thought you were nuts ryding from Texas to Missouri by yourself. After following you on these posts, I no longer feel this way. You are fearless. .
I hope one day to do a ryde close to this. The Triangle ryde we have planned will be long, but only in miles. Not even close to what you 2 are doing. Here's to hoping you continue to have fun and many more safe miles.

Hubby is my riding buddy and I couldn't have done this trip without him. Wouldn't have gotten lost so many times. He's the navigator, I'm the pilot.

What ever makes you happy is a good ride.

[Yazz]

We had a down day to do laundry, wash the bikes and take a nap.

Downtown Jasper.



The weather doesn't look too promising...



We're heading out of the mountains and east onto the plains. Hope to get a little sunshine.

[ARtraveler]

Intimidating pictures of the weather--but beautiful in their own way. Enjoy your ride on the plains.

[Yazz]

Intimidating pictures of the weather--but beautiful in their own way. Enjoy your ride on the plains.

The clouds were intimidating! The good news is, all they did was hide the mountain tops. Nothing else. Spydee stayed clean all day!

[Yazz]

The day started out good. The clouds minded their manners. To get out of the mountains, we had to go through them. We went from Jasper National Park into Banff National Park.

The scenery was awesome even with the cloud cover!



Athabasca Glacier.



The Weeping Wall. Those are water falls coming down.



Bow Lake.



All good adventures must have an adventure in it. Someone must have thought things were getting a little too easy for us...

[dltang]

All good adventures must have an adventure in it. Someone must have thought things were getting a little too easy for us...

What is this? A cliff hanger Joy? Come on, give us "The rest of the story"

[Yazz]

After Athabasca Glacier, Spydee started sounding a little odd. Thought there was a rock in her front wheel or something. Every time we stopped, the left front tire was inspected. Didn't see anything amiss.

After trying to visit Lake Louise, knew something was definately wrong. We pulled into a gas station to discover in the belt, about twelve teeth were missing!

Good thing I had B.E.S.T. in my phone. They got things figured out and sent a tow truck out and a recommendation where to get Spydee a new belt. Scotty the tow truck driver was a real nice guy.



He towed Spydee and trailer, with Hubby close behind from Lake Louise to Bow Cycle on Bowness Road, in Calgary, about a hundred miles. They are taking a belt off a demo for Spydee. Thank goodness this didn't happen out in the middle of nowhere!

We are hunkered in the outskirts of Calgary. Out my back door is the 1988 Winter Olympic Site. Maybe y'all remember Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards, from England. This is where he made his jump.



Learned alot about the area here. Not all unexpected dramas are bad.

[ARtraveler]

Must be cold at Bow Lake--I wonder when the ice melts--it is all melted off the water in our part of Alaska.

Glad the mechanical issues were solvable without too much pain. Sometimes you get to meet nice people when mechanical issues happen.

Drive safe--your adventure is very inspiring.

[waytootall67]

So your in Calgary where we live. We are still in the Yukon for a few more days. So I guess Banff is out now. Head down the #2 to the US border at Carway and then into Glacier Nat Park at St Mary's and take the Going to the Sun road to Kalispell. This is one of the nicest mountain pass drives in the region. Hope they guys at Bow Cycle get you rolling soon. Helga says to say hi and it was great meeting you two last week. funny how some times the planets line up.

[Yazz]

Must be cold at Bow Lake--I wonder when the ice melts--it is all melted off the water in our part of Alaska.

Glad the mechanical issues were solvable without too much pain. Sometimes you get to meet nice people when mechanical issues happen.

Drive safe--your adventure is very inspiring.

It was about 45 degrees F going through the mountains. Stayed toasty warm with the electric underwear cranked up. On the flat land its around mid 50's. No snow to be seen.

I'm glad too that it's an easy fix sorta. Will take more the time because they have to remove two belts and install one.

Scotty the tow truck driver was full of great information. B.E.S.T. picks up the first $200 on the towing. Thats a drop in the bucket to what the full charge was. Scotty told us if we had the AAA RV Plan, the tow would have been paid in full. No money out of our pocket! We are seriously looking into it.

So your in Calgary where we live. We are still in the Yukon for a few more days. So I guess Banff is out now. Head down the #2 to the US border at Carway and then into Glacier Nat Park at St Mary's and take the Going to the Sun road to Kalispell. This is one of the nicest mountain pass drives in the region. Hope they guys at Bow Cycle get you rolling soon. Helga says to say hi and it was great meeting you two last week. funny how some times the planets line up.

Calgary is beautiful! We're staying out by the Olympic Village not far from Bow Cycle.

Thanks for the info on getting to the boarder. We're a day behind schedule and will try to make up lost time. Don't know whether we're going through Glacier National Park or not. Have family in Utah to get to.

Hope the weather in the Yukon is nice. If you get to Beaver Creek, Buckshot Betty has great food.

The planets are lining up in a very interesting way. We met you up north, but you live here. My mom was also born and raised in Calgary. We had no plans on riding here, but here we are.

Say Hi to Helga from us!

[Raptor]

BUMP!

[ARtraveler]

Some suggestions for Utah--but I bet you already have it covered.

Cedar Breaks National Monument

Bryce Canyon National Park--about a 50 mile round trip through the beautiful Hoodoos.

Zion National Park--as spectacular as AK but done in red.

All east of I-15 just over the mountains.

Monument Valley--where a lot of cowboy movies were filmed--Utah/Arizona border area

I have not been to Arches--but that is supposed to be pretty spectacular also.

Ride safe folks--I really envy all the beautiful stuff you have encountered.

[Yazz]

BUMP!

Thanks!

Some suggestions for Utah--but I bet you already have it covered.

Cedar Breaks National Monument

Bryce Canyon National Park--about a 50 mile round trip through the beautiful Hoodoos.

Zion National Park--as spectacular as AK but done in red.

All east of I-15 just over the mountains.

Monument Valley--where a lot of cowboy movies were filmed--Utah/Arizona border area

I have not been to Arches--but that is supposed to be pretty spectacular also.

Ride safe folks--I really envy all the beautiful stuff you have encountered.

Have ridden through Moab and Zion's National Park before. There are some places that can only be enjoy in it's fullness by having your knees in the breeze. You can see ALL around you. Not stuck behind a plate of glass.

We will be going on I 15 through Salt Lake City and then head south-east to Durango. Have to get a picture of Spydee by a hitching post.

[Yazz]

The mystery of the belt...

In Cuba, before Spyderfest, Spydee went in for a once over and an oil change. The mechanic at Cowtown had a hard time getting the belt to line up right. He did a good job lining it up in my eyes.

In Wasilla AK, they said that there was a bad bit on the belt and get it changed when we get back to the states. Didn't tell them we were going to Deadhorse because we were tired of nay-sayers. Think they told the truth about the belt in hind-sight.

Went down a gravel road to get to the Athabasca Glacier. Something sounded funny after that and it got worse. Later, it started Feeling And Sounding funny. At Lake Louise, (we never got to see the lake because we couldn't find a parking place) I pulled over and knew something was wrong. That is when we took a good look at the belt and discovered how many teeth were missing.



Just want to get your input on why the teeth on the belt failed? There was no damage to the wheel sprockets so don't think it was rocks.

We got the tow and Spydee went to Bow Cycles in Calgary. They were friendly people who cannibalized a demo bike to get the belt needed for Spydee. Have heard praises from other people at the hotel about how Bow Cycles helps those on the road. We have to add our praises too! Thank You Bow Cycles!

Thats not all Bow Cycles did. They contacted BRP and got the new belt and the time to replace it under warranty. BRP shouldered a hunk of the bill! Thank You BRP!

This is the go-to place in Alberta.



Feeling very happy and confident riding back to Houston.
All's well that ends well...

[docdoru]

They’re 21 teeth missing in your belt picture.
I would look into back wheel bearings...

[SpyderAnn01]

Joy, I'm glad they took care of you at Bow Cycles, the starter on my Spyder came off a demo spyder last year when we were on our way to SITS. Things happen for a reason and timing is everything and you had good timing breaking down where you did.

We have AAA RV/Motorcycle which we haven't had to use (knock on wood) but I have heard that it doesn't always work or isn't necessarily available nationwide. It may not be available at all in Canada.