Riding up to Edmonton for Monday, help me pack

[BCFZRider]

Hey sorry for the slow update, I'll do a brief ride report now...

Here's a link to some video from the trip...

http://www.600riders.com/forum/fz6-...oadtrip-glacier-national-park.html#post235736


A map of our route..


from:chilliwack to:edmonton ab to:Waterton Lakes National Park to:missoula montana to:lewiston idaho to:walla walla washington toasco wa to:mattawa wa to:quincy wa to:leavenworth wa to:everett wa to:sumas wa to:chilliwack bc - Google Maps


Here's a trip breakdown...

Saturday Day 1 Chwk -> Kamloops ~3hrs (Hot, dry roads, good pavement, usual cars failing to make it up the snowshed)
Sunday Day 2 Kamloops -> Edmonton ~12hrs - Got chased by a couple of storms, but managed to never really get wet, forgot to oil my chain and paid for it in Hinton, was getting really stiff and noisy, and forgot about the timezone change. Rode through a spectacular dry lighting storm just past Edson.

Stopping to wait for a storm to go by at Lake Colin.

At the border to AB.

Air museum in Witchia, AB. I'm a huge fan of the history of the Arrow, and the controversy surrounding it.

 

[BCFZRider]

Thursday Edmonton -> Waterton Lakes (via #22)

Alberta is so flat I had a hard time with the huge amounts of open sky and horizons. It was rather disorienting actually for me. Roads were clear and dry, little traffic. Multiple stops were necessitated as we were cruising at about 65mph to prevent my Dad's B-rated Conti TKC's from ripping apart..
The long straight roads of Alberta caused me to think nothing else but about how cramped I was on the bike. I realized about here that I need a taller saddle...

Somewhere along highway #22, in Alberta..

My Dad on his mechanical camel, cruising on B-Rated Conti TKC's at 65mph...

Big open skies...

More sky...

Buffalo paddock in Waterton Lakes park. Apparently they are closing this paddock due to operating costs.

Waterton lakes Park, view from the Prince Edward lodge.. (we camped...)

The lodge

 

[BCFZRider]

Thursday is missing... whoops.

 

[BCFZRider]

Friday Waterton Lakes -> Lolo Hot Springs, MT. (Via Going-to-the-sun road)

Wow. Crossing the continental divide, at ~4700m, couldn't beat that. And some nice twisties as well. It was a little cold at high elevation, but the view was spectacular.

Somewhere in Glacier National Park

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs153.snc1/5694_217124055037_802210037_7893036_2305897_n.jpg[/img
Climbing up into the Rockies

[img]http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs133.snc1/5694_217124105037_802210037_7893038_4266296_n.jpg
Riding down just past the summit / divide on the Going-to-the-sun road.

 

[BCFZRider]

Saturday Lolo Hot Springs, MT -> Leavenworth, WA. (Via Route 12, Lewis and Clarke Trail) ~16 or 17 hrs

Route 12 is an amazing riding road, I happened upon it by chance when I was planning our route, and after a bit of searching quickly ensured we rode across it. Over an hour of full bank twisties, and smooth sweepers certainly helped to undo the giant flat strip that was quickly wearing into my rear tire. The majority of the route between kooskia and Missoula was in great condition, save for some construction. I discovered my iPod will shuffle songs when shaken, and would do so over each bump... it got annoying fast..

Route 12

Riding up from Richland to Leavenworth I saw 41c on the temp gauge going through SE Washington's Desert Aire. Brutal, we were bingo fuel as well and getting a little nervous about not seeing a gas station for another 60 miles...

Idaho or WA Can't Remember...

Near the dam the crosswinds were incredible, I was having to ride in full push to keep going straight. My dad was worse off on his big dualsport, I was able to hunker down on the tank and keep a relatively low profile.

Hot.

Hotter.

Is this the Highway to Hell?

It must be....

Windy in the WA vineyards...

At least the roads are well maintained.

Offroad campsite. I didn't feel like getting bit by 1000 bugs so I took the time to set up my tent, even though I was exhausted, and my foamie blew a hole so I didn't sleep after all.

 

[BCFZRider]

Sunday - Leavenworth, WA to Chilliwack, BC (Home via Route 2 -> I5 -> Sumas)

Steven's pass can be quite cold when you were just used to riding in a 41c desert... Roads were pretty good, should have taken Chuckanut home but I was so tired / anxious to get home I just stuck to the I5.

Up at 6AM ready for the final run home.. I missed my bed dearly.

The goat trail we came up, was pretty steep and washed in one section...

Steven's pass. I was freezing, even with my jacket and pants on.

Back home, I quickly realized a few things. 700+km days are ridiculous, especially when I was finding the wonderful hardspots on the saddle. I'm about 6'2, 280-290lbs so I definitely want a firmer seat...

Home, sorting through all my gear.

I was able to carry a fair amount in my soft panniers, but I found them annoying to keep straight and deal with packing things in. Hard pans next year plz.

This is what happens when a newb tries to oil a chain... don't worry, all clean now.

The final trip meter.. I think I may have reset it in Hope accidentally.

My favorite shot from the trip, somehow I lucked out as I snapped this quickly while mid-turn.