Panman
Well-known member
Now ya done it Wheaton, we have a long weekend coming ya got me thinking and that's not always a good thing!
Great reading Mark, and I love the positive outlook!
Great reading Mark, and I love the positive outlook!
Wheaton and wifey - North by Northwest
- Thread starter wheatonFJR
- Start date
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Heen
Barefooter
THANKS for taking the time to write this. You have me looking forward to my trip to Nakusp. (I head there tomorrow for 5 days of riding up there.)
BikerGeek99
Yeah, it's a concrete corn cob. So?
Good stuff, Mark!
wheatonFJR
...
Thanks. This thread is having a bit of a break as work exploded this week, and we're going to the ocean this weekend for some warm salt water waves.
wheatonFJR
...
Okay...back to the RR
Sunday, July 17th Golden to Lake Louise and back...
So...we wake up to a bit of scattered weather, not too bad, but hit or miss kind of thing. We check radar and it's just POURING in Banff, so we aren't going there...we will hit Lake Louise which seems to be on the northern edge of the rain. We head over past incredible scenery. If you google maps the area and put it on satellite view, this is what you will see.
On the way over there...
Yep, another passing zone...with light traffic.
A shallow river on the south side of the highway...
We finally get to the visitor center...catching a white-capped peak in the background
Our first view of Lake Louise, from just in front of the mega hotel...
Our photo...I was overdressed with keeping on the rain liner under my mcy pants. Bad choice - got too hot during our hike.
A lot of rental canoes on the lake.
On these shorter days, Louanne did the trip planning since she is all about the hikes and waterfalls and hot springs anyways. So the plan today is to hike up to a a TeaHouse that serves food on the shores of Lake Agnes. The brochure says moderate hike. I believe 'em.
Photo of the mega hotel by the lake...$800/night and it is fully booked.
The Pinewood Inn in Golden did us just fine for those two nights.
We start to ascend above the lake.
I am keeping my pace slower, because I can tell my gear is heating me up rapidly. It is misting slightly as well...then it started doing a little more than misting.
Now we're getting up above the lake a bit.
I'm in full whine mode now..."are we there yet, how come there are no trail maps, why do we have to hike anyways, I'm done..." Actually, I was in full sweat mode from my hiking gear. I was so chilled on the bike, and now I am burning up.
The only thing keeping me from stopping is seeing all the toddlers, young kids, and grandpa with the cane coming down from the Tea House...I mean really...am I really that much of a loser? Evidently yes. But my wife puts up with it anyway...within reason.
Great view from on the trail... the views are starting to get nice
Mountains across the lake...
Full on raining now...
White-capped mountains...
Looking through the trees to the valley below...
The main East-West Canadian Hwy in this area...
Geology on the mountain face across the lake...yep, the views are definitely getting worth the hike.
Great views...
Waterfalls...
...near the top
My long-suffering wife...
Finally at the top...Lake Agnes
The outlet of the Lake, looking over the precipice
The Lake, sans people...
Worked up an appetite, so opened up our packed lunch
Louanne promised me pie at the top...but there wasn't any. Thankfully the Apple bake was delicious along with the poppyseed bread
The TeaHouse at Lake Agnes...notice the sky is clearing up
Yep...we made it!
Amazing views on the way down...
yes, it WAS worth the hike!
Glowing aqua Lake Louise
Near the bottom now, and one of my favorite photos...
...or is it this one
Lake Louise looks different with the sun shining...
On our way to another lake in the Park
The day wasn't a rainout like I thought it might be...we were definitely blessed on this trip with the best part of the weather. We had iffy weather all around on most days, but it would only give us a glancing blow, but no all-day flooding rains on this trip.
Plenty of natural wonder all around...and except for my whining, I bet Louanne had a pretty good time. The road between Golden and Lake Louise was awesome, so Golden is a great place to stay if yer gonna be in the area. Thanks for the tip FastJoyRide!
Tomorrow, Icefields Parkway!
Sunday, July 17th Golden to Lake Louise and back...
So...we wake up to a bit of scattered weather, not too bad, but hit or miss kind of thing. We check radar and it's just POURING in Banff, so we aren't going there...we will hit Lake Louise which seems to be on the northern edge of the rain. We head over past incredible scenery. If you google maps the area and put it on satellite view, this is what you will see.
On the way over there...
Yep, another passing zone...with light traffic.
A shallow river on the south side of the highway...
We finally get to the visitor center...catching a white-capped peak in the background
Our first view of Lake Louise, from just in front of the mega hotel...
Our photo...I was overdressed with keeping on the rain liner under my mcy pants. Bad choice - got too hot during our hike.
A lot of rental canoes on the lake.
On these shorter days, Louanne did the trip planning since she is all about the hikes and waterfalls and hot springs anyways. So the plan today is to hike up to a a TeaHouse that serves food on the shores of Lake Agnes. The brochure says moderate hike. I believe 'em.
Photo of the mega hotel by the lake...$800/night and it is fully booked.
The Pinewood Inn in Golden did us just fine for those two nights.
We start to ascend above the lake.
I am keeping my pace slower, because I can tell my gear is heating me up rapidly. It is misting slightly as well...then it started doing a little more than misting.
Now we're getting up above the lake a bit.
I'm in full whine mode now..."are we there yet, how come there are no trail maps, why do we have to hike anyways, I'm done..." Actually, I was in full sweat mode from my hiking gear. I was so chilled on the bike, and now I am burning up.
The only thing keeping me from stopping is seeing all the toddlers, young kids, and grandpa with the cane coming down from the Tea House...I mean really...am I really that much of a loser? Evidently yes. But my wife puts up with it anyway...within reason.
Great view from on the trail... the views are starting to get nice
Mountains across the lake...
Full on raining now...
White-capped mountains...
Looking through the trees to the valley below...
The main East-West Canadian Hwy in this area...
Geology on the mountain face across the lake...yep, the views are definitely getting worth the hike.
Great views...
Waterfalls...
...near the top
My long-suffering wife...
Finally at the top...Lake Agnes
The outlet of the Lake, looking over the precipice
The Lake, sans people...
Worked up an appetite, so opened up our packed lunch
Louanne promised me pie at the top...but there wasn't any. Thankfully the Apple bake was delicious along with the poppyseed bread
The TeaHouse at Lake Agnes...notice the sky is clearing up
Yep...we made it!
Amazing views on the way down...
yes, it WAS worth the hike!
Glowing aqua Lake Louise
Near the bottom now, and one of my favorite photos...
...or is it this one
Lake Louise looks different with the sun shining...
On our way to another lake in the Park
The day wasn't a rainout like I thought it might be...we were definitely blessed on this trip with the best part of the weather. We had iffy weather all around on most days, but it would only give us a glancing blow, but no all-day flooding rains on this trip.
Plenty of natural wonder all around...and except for my whining, I bet Louanne had a pretty good time. The road between Golden and Lake Louise was awesome, so Golden is a great place to stay if yer gonna be in the area. Thanks for the tip FastJoyRide!
Tomorrow, Icefields Parkway!
Last edited by a moderator:
escapefjrtist
Searching for Dry Roads
**LIKE**
--G
--G
Niehart
Pie Smuggler
hppants
Well-known member
Just getting caught up, Wheatie and boy is this good stuff!!!!! The scenery is incredible - the color of that lake water is stunning. Food porn's not to shabby either. I was having a wonderful day dream about walking that hike along the water, thinking about pie and other goodies at the top.
Canada has always been on the bucket list, with BC a priority. Before this morning, it was much further down than it is now.
One question - as you are riding 2-up, how many days of clothes and crap can you fit in the luggage? IOW - how often are you having to wash clothes?
Most assuredly subscribed, my friend.
Canada has always been on the bucket list, with BC a priority. Before this morning, it was much further down than it is now.
One question - as you are riding 2-up, how many days of clothes and crap can you fit in the luggage? IOW - how often are you having to wash clothes?
Most assuredly subscribed, my friend.
Last edited by a moderator:
wheatonFJR
...
I can relate to the whining part. I walked up Chimney Rock a few years back, and figured I'd be ok. At the 3rd platform, between stairs, I was hunched over, breathing heavily, as I watched kids run up and an elderly woman, with a cane, pass me. 499 stair steps to the top damn near killed me...legs were jello! At the top, first thing I see is an elevator! WTF!!!! I took it down. Anyway, I can relate to the whining part. 
I'm enjoying your RR, along with the photos of spectacular scenery, and want to say thanks for sharing it with us.
I'm enjoying your RR, along with the photos of spectacular scenery, and want to say thanks for sharing it with us.
wheatonFJR
...
Monday, July 18th - The Icefields Parkway.
The Icefields Parkway. I have wanted to ride on this since I heard someone take this road after CFR2009...I want to say it was rogdeb, but I may be remembering that wrong. But I have been yearning to see this since then...this road that is also a destination. I am not sure what I expected, but I expected it to be grand. Here we are, more than halfway through this trip and I will have visited Mt. St Helens, Mt. Rainier, ridden through the Cascades, explored the Okanagan Valley, reacquainted myself with Nakusp and Nelson, soaked in Ainsworth Hot Springs,gone over to the next range and stayed in Golden, visited Lake Louise...and NOW, we are going to ride the Icefields Parkway! What a trip this has been! Just listing all those places now gives me the chills that I was able to visit all those special places...and that doesn't even take into account the awesome people that we shared those times with.
So...will the weather, which has been so variable and unpredictable on this trip, will it cooperate on this day?
uh...yeah!
Stopped at an overlook...but looking back south on the Parkway
Gorgeous
As you head north from Lake Louise, you realize that the waters you are looking at are draining into the Arctic Ocean...blows my mind just thinking about that.
Looking north and east...
Looking ahead to the north...
Beautiful scenery, but you might notice what looks like a a traffic backup ahead (construction)
We took care of that...I just listened to the little devil speaking into my SENA, saying, go ahead past this 1/2 mile of stopped traffic...go ahead, just do it.
Glacier sighting...
Beautiful lake in the north country!..and draining into the Arctic Ocean!
Lake with Glacier
The great monoliths to the east
The Icefields Parkway is a ride in a valley between imposing mountains on both sides as you head north to Jasper, or south to Lake Louise. Very dramatic.
spectacular...
Then, all of a sudden you come to the Icefields Centre which is a visitor center with many glaciers in view...
They have lots of stuff there, restaurants, bathrooms, movies, rides on the glacier for sale...
...and many glaciers
Oh...and more glacier photos
Just a magical place...
So, we took our lunch break there, eating inside for awhile, as it was a bit blustery and plenty of chill..even under the hot July sun. Rested, recharged and amazed...we geared up and headed north...not knowing what to expect. Always expect the unexpected...
Mtn Peaks aplenty
and even more mountains...
I can't imagine what the first British explorer must have felt when they saw the Canadian Rockies for the first time. To be alone or with a small troop and seeing this would be just incredible. It's incredible to this very day.
So yer heading north, seeing a sign for some Falls and you surprise your wife and take the exit. Falls, I tell her. I have no idea.
Athabasca Falls...you have to stop, if you go on the Parkway. You. Have. To. It's on the north end, towards Jasper.
I just had no idea how beautiful it was going to be.
...and the surrounding terrain.
That daggone tree is just not gonna let go!
sneaking a picture of Louanne
So, we're getting close to Jasper...
...almost got nabbed a few kms south of Jasper passing a long train of cars...would NOT have been good. Just passed them and then after the next curve, two RCMPs had two vehicles pulled over.
Beauty, eh?
Train Station in Jasper with the Canadian Pacific Line...
Massive steam engine sitting on display
So...it's time to eat at a cafe's outdoor seating. Yep, that's me creeping around...
Some fine beverages there
...and we had nachos for supper, pretty decent
...So, it was finally time to call it a day...a day that will not be forgotten!
The Icefields Parkway. I have wanted to ride on this since I heard someone take this road after CFR2009...I want to say it was rogdeb, but I may be remembering that wrong. But I have been yearning to see this since then...this road that is also a destination. I am not sure what I expected, but I expected it to be grand. Here we are, more than halfway through this trip and I will have visited Mt. St Helens, Mt. Rainier, ridden through the Cascades, explored the Okanagan Valley, reacquainted myself with Nakusp and Nelson, soaked in Ainsworth Hot Springs,gone over to the next range and stayed in Golden, visited Lake Louise...and NOW, we are going to ride the Icefields Parkway! What a trip this has been! Just listing all those places now gives me the chills that I was able to visit all those special places...and that doesn't even take into account the awesome people that we shared those times with.
So...will the weather, which has been so variable and unpredictable on this trip, will it cooperate on this day?
uh...yeah!
Stopped at an overlook...but looking back south on the Parkway
Gorgeous
As you head north from Lake Louise, you realize that the waters you are looking at are draining into the Arctic Ocean...blows my mind just thinking about that.
Looking north and east...
Looking ahead to the north...
Beautiful scenery, but you might notice what looks like a a traffic backup ahead (construction)
We took care of that...I just listened to the little devil speaking into my SENA, saying, go ahead past this 1/2 mile of stopped traffic...go ahead, just do it.
Glacier sighting...
Beautiful lake in the north country!..and draining into the Arctic Ocean!
Lake with Glacier
The great monoliths to the east
The Icefields Parkway is a ride in a valley between imposing mountains on both sides as you head north to Jasper, or south to Lake Louise. Very dramatic.
spectacular...
Then, all of a sudden you come to the Icefields Centre which is a visitor center with many glaciers in view...
They have lots of stuff there, restaurants, bathrooms, movies, rides on the glacier for sale...
...and many glaciers
Oh...and more glacier photos
Just a magical place...
So, we took our lunch break there, eating inside for awhile, as it was a bit blustery and plenty of chill..even under the hot July sun. Rested, recharged and amazed...we geared up and headed north...not knowing what to expect. Always expect the unexpected...
Mtn Peaks aplenty
and even more mountains...
I can't imagine what the first British explorer must have felt when they saw the Canadian Rockies for the first time. To be alone or with a small troop and seeing this would be just incredible. It's incredible to this very day.
So yer heading north, seeing a sign for some Falls and you surprise your wife and take the exit. Falls, I tell her. I have no idea.
Athabasca Falls...you have to stop, if you go on the Parkway. You. Have. To. It's on the north end, towards Jasper.
I just had no idea how beautiful it was going to be.
...and the surrounding terrain.
That daggone tree is just not gonna let go!
sneaking a picture of Louanne
So, we're getting close to Jasper...
...almost got nabbed a few kms south of Jasper passing a long train of cars...would NOT have been good. Just passed them and then after the next curve, two RCMPs had two vehicles pulled over.
Beauty, eh?
Train Station in Jasper with the Canadian Pacific Line...
Massive steam engine sitting on display
So...it's time to eat at a cafe's outdoor seating. Yep, that's me creeping around...
Some fine beverages there
...and we had nachos for supper, pretty decent
...So, it was finally time to call it a day...a day that will not be forgotten!
Last edited by a moderator:
El Toro Joe
FYYFF
Great stuff, Mark
NTXFJR
Well-known member
Awesome. Well done sir!
wheatonFJR
...
Tuesday, July 19th - Jasper, AB area: Lake Maligne and Miette Hot Springs
So...after the high points of Lake Louise and Icefields Parkway, we decided to stay local and see the sights...
We heard Maligne Lake was pretty so we headed over there, east and south of Jasper, Alberta.
Very pretty
It certainly was...
Now, we're on the way back north towards the main highway
Passing Medicine Lake on our left...
Now we're heading north and east on the main highway with Athabasca River on our right...
The main highway, Rt 16 -Yellowhead Hwy, has beautiful scenery where we were on it east of Jasper. The landscape opens up a little bit and the mountains are pushed away a little bit...but still very beautiful.
We saw more animals around Jasper than we saw all trip. Bears, Bighorn Sheep, goats, Caribou...
The road to Miette Hot Springs was a nice twisty road and some good solid chipseal. And though the weather was iffy at times it definitely cooperated for us.
There were animals near the cottages...
Saw a bear and her cub 30 yards from the fence surrounding the hotsprings
Bust even made an appearance
So after another good soak in the hot springs we headed back to Jasper, surrounded by beauty every kilometer we rode
For supper, after a good walk around the many restaurants in Jasper, we ended up at Earl's Kitchen and Bar. They have a nice rooftop cafe, although we stayed inside due to it being a bit brisk out.
Great views and great food
Thus ended another day in paradise/ I mean Jasper
So...after the high points of Lake Louise and Icefields Parkway, we decided to stay local and see the sights...
We heard Maligne Lake was pretty so we headed over there, east and south of Jasper, Alberta.
Very pretty
It certainly was...
Now, we're on the way back north towards the main highway
Passing Medicine Lake on our left...
Now we're heading north and east on the main highway with Athabasca River on our right...
The main highway, Rt 16 -Yellowhead Hwy, has beautiful scenery where we were on it east of Jasper. The landscape opens up a little bit and the mountains are pushed away a little bit...but still very beautiful.
We saw more animals around Jasper than we saw all trip. Bears, Bighorn Sheep, goats, Caribou...
The road to Miette Hot Springs was a nice twisty road and some good solid chipseal. And though the weather was iffy at times it definitely cooperated for us.
There were animals near the cottages...
Saw a bear and her cub 30 yards from the fence surrounding the hotsprings
Bust even made an appearance
So after another good soak in the hot springs we headed back to Jasper, surrounded by beauty every kilometer we rode
For supper, after a good walk around the many restaurants in Jasper, we ended up at Earl's Kitchen and Bar. They have a nice rooftop cafe, although we stayed inside due to it being a bit brisk out.
Great views and great food
Thus ended another day in paradise/ I mean Jasper
wheatonFJR
...
Wednesday, July 20th - From Jasper, AB to Oyama, BC
So, now we are about 3/4 of the way through the trip...but trying not to keep track, but to enjoy each day of the trip just as much as the first. Today was a travel day back west to Oyama and FastJoyRides's place before embarking westward to Pemberton, which is north and east of Vancouver. We get to see Dave and Sylvia again, but not before riding roads we've never been on, and seeing sights we've never seen.
We head north and west of Jasper, before heading back down south and west towards Valemount and Kamloops. According to the radar, there is rain lurking for us on the west side of the moutains.
Well, first things first, we come to a guy with a stop paddle and tuck in behind a guy with a pickup. Not ten minutes out of Jasper we see his brake lights on and in front of him I see a huge graceful animal crossing the highway at a walk, not hurried in the slightest that a truck is barreling towards him. It was one of the most majestic things I've seen with my own eyes. The pictures don't capture the moment, but just document that an animal was there.
It was a sight I will always remember, just this large animal with huge shoulders gracefully stepping across the road. Trip magic.
Well, the clouds were down low, so we didn't see Mt. Robson in our rear view mirrors...so I will just have to look at Panman's photo again in the other thread. We stayed in the Mt. Robson Inn in Jasper, so there is that. (plenty expensive too)...but it was worth it to stay in Jasper those two nights.
We did see some more nice scenery before the rains came...
So..we got down to Oyama in the late afternoon, and passed Dave as he was out for a walk. We troubled Sylvia to let us in...and surprisingly enoguh...she did!
Louanne went with Sylvia to a Australian animal petting zoo they have nearby...Louanne couldn't resist.
Here's Louanne holding a baby joey...
momma kangaroo
Capybara - large rodent
White Roo
Parrot? Cockatoo?
A Turkey...and the Oregon Football team was in town
We sure appreciated the FastJoyRide's kindness in letting us use their house for a way station on the way out west! Thanks Dave and Sylvia!
So, now we are about 3/4 of the way through the trip...but trying not to keep track, but to enjoy each day of the trip just as much as the first. Today was a travel day back west to Oyama and FastJoyRides's place before embarking westward to Pemberton, which is north and east of Vancouver. We get to see Dave and Sylvia again, but not before riding roads we've never been on, and seeing sights we've never seen.
We head north and west of Jasper, before heading back down south and west towards Valemount and Kamloops. According to the radar, there is rain lurking for us on the west side of the moutains.
Well, first things first, we come to a guy with a stop paddle and tuck in behind a guy with a pickup. Not ten minutes out of Jasper we see his brake lights on and in front of him I see a huge graceful animal crossing the highway at a walk, not hurried in the slightest that a truck is barreling towards him. It was one of the most majestic things I've seen with my own eyes. The pictures don't capture the moment, but just document that an animal was there.
It was a sight I will always remember, just this large animal with huge shoulders gracefully stepping across the road. Trip magic.
Well, the clouds were down low, so we didn't see Mt. Robson in our rear view mirrors...so I will just have to look at Panman's photo again in the other thread. We stayed in the Mt. Robson Inn in Jasper, so there is that. (plenty expensive too)...but it was worth it to stay in Jasper those two nights.
We did see some more nice scenery before the rains came...
So..we got down to Oyama in the late afternoon, and passed Dave as he was out for a walk. We troubled Sylvia to let us in...and surprisingly enoguh...she did!
Louanne went with Sylvia to a Australian animal petting zoo they have nearby...Louanne couldn't resist.
Here's Louanne holding a baby joey...
momma kangaroo
Capybara - large rodent
White Roo
Parrot? Cockatoo?
A Turkey...and the Oregon Football team was in town
We sure appreciated the FastJoyRide's kindness in letting us use their house for a way station on the way out west! Thanks Dave and Sylvia!
escapefjrtist
Searching for Dry Roads
Keep the great pics coming Mark, thanks for taking the time to put this RR together. I can see right now, it's time to head north again
...and soon!
Looking forward to the last few days!
--G
...and soon!
Looking forward to the last few days!
--G
Last edited by a moderator:
Heen
Barefooter
Wheatie, What a great riding area. After reading your trip, we did Nelson to Kaslo, New Denver, Nakusp, Revelstoke (up to the top of Mt Revelstoke) and Rogers Pass. What a fantastic ride. Next day went from Nakusp to Vernon and back. I loved the roads and the scenery. THANKS for planting the idea to ride up that way.
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