August 5th 2010

Both is us got a decent sleep last night for the first time in awhile. I woke up early as usual and while hanging out around the cabin I watch rabbits running around and heard a juvenile Bald Eagle calling out. Along this trip I have also be able to see many of my favourite raptors. Ospreys, Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, Hawks and a bunch of other birds. Raptors are my passion not Cheryl's but she does at times point them out if I haven't seen them first.

Started out around 0900 for a long straight ride on Highway 2. Nothing too exciting to report other than we had a lot of time to just ride and think. Saw some really beautiful sunflower fields but as Cheryl would say, "you could watch your dog run for days" in this part of the country. Had lunch in Devil's Lake, known to be the geographical center of North America. Who knew...but now we do. Weather was very comfortable throughout the entire day. Low to mid 70's and no humidity. What a difference when you are riding in nothing but sun. All I kept thinking about was how fast this trip has gone by and how I wish we had another month to head down to Colorado. I am feeling fortunate to have had this opportunity and the more people we talk to the more we are told how far we have gone in such a short period of time. At times it has felt like a marathon, but this trip was about reaching goals each day and being able to make it to Long Island and back.

Forgot to mention we had to buy Cheryl a new low beam bulb, H – 7 55 watt bulb that we bought at Napa. We first stopped off at a Harley dealer in Marquette, Wisconsin and they pointed us to Napa. Nice guys at that Harley dealership. We bought an extra bulb as a backup. Now Cheryl is back up and running brightly.

Our Heidenau K60 tires still have plenty of tread on them to take us all the way. We have put about 12000 km on them. Our bikes other than being dirty from bug kill are doing great. Speaking of kill, I am so tired and saddened by all the raccoons, skunks and birds we see dead. The raccoons are almost always in pairs, like a male and female or a baby. Breaks my heart.

So, we are now hoping to start heading a bit northwest and would like to get to Banff by Saturday. It is about 13 hours from Minot. Coming into our final stretch and we will try to make the best of it. We are both not even close to being sick of riding or our bikes. J

PICS

View from our campsite on August 3 2010 in Michigamme, Michigan

Oh the BUGS!

Happy camper

Lake Superior behind us

Roast Beef and Cheese on onion rolls heated by the fire~

Cheryl still n good spirits after hours of the pouring rain

Our bikes after hours of pouring rain

Cog railway up Mt. Washington

Mt. Washington Summit

In our hotel tonight in Minot, ND

This was me when we entered NY to head to my parents!  HOT!

More pics

On the way to bar Harbor

Food Network Diner A1

Another pic of our Maine Lobster meal

Beer :-)

August 3rd & 4th 2010

After being rained out on the 2^nd, shortened our ride by 150 KM we called it quits and stayed in a motel outside Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, in Blind River. Woke up to pouring rain but the radar showed it was a passing storm. So, we had a late start but at least it was in a drizzle not buckets and rode to Michigamme, Michigan. Not too eventful of a day other then we decided to take the bikes off the pavement and do many kilometres off road on farm/country roads. That was fun in the drizzle and a great change of scenery. No traffic, no tar, no people just us. The ride was not technically challenging but nonetheless, good enough for us. However, when we do deviate like this it takes more time but well worth it. It also is physically challenging because of all the standing we have to do to keep the bikes balanced. Again, well worth the different way of getting to another destination.

We crossed over to the States at the Bridge to the USA around Sault Ste. Marie. The line up was crazy long and it was hot. We took pics along the way as we slowly got to customs. Took about 1 ½ hours to get there. While waiting all the cars were obviously running their a/c and there was a ton of coolant on the bridge. Cheryl slipped on some and unfortunately laid her bike down on its side. No harm done to Cheryl or her bike. Just goes to show you how careful we must be at all times and even the slightest bit of grease, oil or coolant on the road could be such a hazard to a biker. We picked the bike up and off we went slowly to the border. With nothing to declare we were through in two seconds after waiting all that time. The ride to Michigamme was simple and long but we got there in one piece. Had a few beers, cooked roast beef and cheese sandwiches on the fire, met a guy named Tom who was heading to Sturgis. Tom told us he was anti-technology and did not like all the gadgets we brought along. Cheryl and I politely listened but were like "whatever dude". Off to bed we went.

Day 19 of this cross country tour and I cannot believe it is almost over. What I am realizing is that going to Long Island and back to Maple Ridge, BC was quite grandiose. We have done well over 8000 km and still have about 3000 more to do. Knock on wood but our bodies are holding up, the bikes are doing well for us and we are actually going to complete this "working" holiday. For those who do not ride, it is more than one can imagine. We are suckers when it comes to Mother Nature, no a/c, no heat and protection other than our gear. We found out yesterday that within a moment "Mother" can change her mind about the weather. We got hit in a hail storm. Choices were go back east seek shelter or head west as planned. We choose west and that turned out to be the right direction. Skies cleared up just as fast as they darkened. There is a lot of planning in some regards when it comes to a trip like this and we both have to be prepared for anything. Our riding skills have improved so much over the weeks and as they say there is always something else to be learned.

The ride today was 603 km long and we stayed on the pathway to make up some lost time. No deviations although our GPS wanted us too. Headed right for Bemidji, Minnesota. We cruised through Wisconsin and will be heading towards North Dakota tomorrow. Let's see that makes 16 states so far and including BC, 3 Provinces. Not too shabby. Weather was very warm all day but not the HOT and humid we have had. Now, in for the night after a hard days ride. To be continued.

 

More pics

Cheryl climbing a tree with her head ight on by camp

July 29 10 where we had Maine lobster!

Lobster

of course the bikes at camp In Bar Harbor

setting up camp in Bar Harbor

View from camp at sunset

View from camp during the day July 29 10

Pics a little out of order - having issues with posting pics on the BLOG

Nice dirt road we rode

The 3 juvie Peregrine Falcons

 

 

 

 

Ottawa look at the RCMP cruiser as we take pics illegally

Parliament Hill

Cog railway that goes up Mt. Washington

Summit of Mt. Washington

August 1st & 2nd 2010

Left Morrisville, VT early to head to Ottawa, Ontario to see Parliament Hill. Basically that is all we did all day was ride however, Cheryl made the GPS take us to some really cool "short cuts" via dirt country roads. Nothing too technical but fun nonetheless. The dirt roads would just pop up randomly and we took them...no issues with the quality of the roads like when the GPS took us to a dead end and a road we could not ride....see previous post.



We stopped somewhere in New York. We crossed over NY from VT before we re-entered Canada. Yes, we are going up and down. In any case we stopped at a gas station and across the street was this church. Next to the church was a tree with 3 Peregrine Falcon fledglings. Because I am a raptor lover, this was wayyyyyyyyyyyyy cool to see. They were playing, preening and flying around. Just love their calls! Did not see the adults but the kids were good enough for me.





After the church pit stop we headed to Ottawa. Ottawa is a beautiful city except around the Parliament Sussex Drive was not a paved road. All rock and dirt and dust. Seems weird they would tear up the road during the height of the tourist season. We did not see Stephen Harper but we did see where he hangs out and it was gorgeous. I pulled up right in front of the building in the sidewalk. Cheryl was like "NOOOOOO" there are RCMP all over. I said "YESSSSSS" I am getting a picture. There is no stopping in front and we did not want to park. Here are two of my pics!


 

After this photo op we took off for Renfrew, Ontario. We had to go through Quebec and that was interesting as we both have never been there. We did not see anything really but was there long enough to know and see that English is nowhere. No English signs all French. People did speak English to us though. Short ride through this Province and we ended up in Renfrew at another KOA cabin. BBQ beans and chilli in their cans and had dinner. Hung out for awhile and then off to sleep. Cheryl passed out and was snoring in a matter if minutes.

August 2^nd, 2010

This was a day to make up time and ride 647 km to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The day started out really well for about 4 hours. The last 4 were miserable as it poured on us for hours. We were shy of our destination by 150 km and decided it was getting dangerous. We could not see because our shields were wet on the inside and we were getting wet. Cheryl's low beam light bulb blew out the other day and riding in this heavy rain with just a high beam is not safe. Stopped at a motel and there is where our day ended. Better weather predicted tomorrow and it too will be a long riding day and back to the States!