Trip to Palm Springs

I left Calgary Friday morning and headed south to my friends Kevin and Annie Huddy's place. I had directions and it was a beautiful day. I  stopped at Cardston and visited with friends Hazel and Ed Murphy whom I had not seen for several years. Then across the border and through St. Mary's and down the beautiful road into Montana.

After stopping and taking these pictures I stopped at a little rest area and this tree was a reminder that fall is here and winter is on its way.

 

 

This rest area is just north of Choteau and just north of several miles of bad construction but I made it through. I stopped in Choteau for fuel and grabbed a bite at the service station and continued on arriving at my friends house  around 7 and enjoyed dinner with them. Kevin was leaving early on a trip to Idaho on his new FJR the next day and Annie had to go to a baby shower so stayed home and prepared the food. They have a beautiful home and we had a wonderful visit.

 

 

This was the lovely sunset from their property that evening.

What a gorgeous place and the view from their deck was gorgeous with sandhill cranes and hawks and deer,

It was their next door neighbors 70 birthday and he has a collection of steam tractors and had them out in full display so I went over and took a few pictures.

 

Saturday I helped Annie prepare some of the things for the baby shower she had to go to. The theme was Dr Seuss . So anyway she made green eggs and ham. Aren't these cute?

 

This morning I left around ten and headed north for the Western Montana BMW meeting at The Missouri River Inn in Hardy Montana. I visited with many BMW friends I have met over the years and what a beautiful area. I love this canyon.

 

 

 

This bird was in the restaurant as was very similar to the one in Ignace, Ont.

Now I am at the Sundowner Inn in Dillon Montana and will head further south tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home for the moment

There's beauty in the evening sky
A wash of blazing light
The colours intermingling
Before dissolving into night.
Lovely shades of tangerine
And cranberry and lemon
Apricot and cherry red
All the fruits of heaven.
A beacon at the end of day
For all the world to see
A winding down, a special time
Bringing peace and tranquility.
by Dorothy Mcgregor

Leaving for Palm Springs Friday morning. Hopefully I'll see some beautiful Utah sunsets and this way I will have time to enjoy them.

Ignace,Ont to Moose Jaw, Sask

I forgot to mention that when I was in Marathon I called someone out of the MOA book. Pretty much just to say hello. Unfortunately they were heading out to their cottage as soon as Marge got off work and then going on a 6 day trip through the States and southern Ontario. But shortly after I got a room at the Marathon Rick came over and offered to take me with them to the cottage. I went and visited for a bit and met this lovely couple but declined the trip as I felt I should head back to Alberta. Also when I left the lovely place at Ignace this is the sunrise over the lake.

I would loved to have tarried an extra day but as the saying goes. Make hay while the sun shines and I saw many farmers working hard to do just that as I headed back to Calgary.  I also noticed some of the fields were black with geese around Winnipeg. Some of the smart ones feeding in fields that had already been harvested before heading south. I called my friend Margie from the outskirts of Winnipeg and decided to push on. I got to Portage La Prairie and could not find any of the advertised motels and found I had to continue west through town, I had initially planned on staying at the Motel 6 in Headingley but they wanted 92.99. Way to much. The Super 8 in Portage La Prairie was 110.00. But I backtracked a bit to a small hotel across from Boston Pizza and it was 69.00. Small but clean and comfortable and certainly all I needed. The next morning a PT Cruiser drove in to talk to the owner and asked me if that was my bike. Turned out to be a member of the Retreads from Calgary. Dennis Allen. He knows Dick Summers very well. Anyway left there this AM Bike definitely not running as well as it was but attempting to keep it at a nice steady speed and it seems to be Okay. So I made it to Moose Jaw again and am at the Prairie Oasis motel right now. Just had a refreshing swim in their pool after going to dinner with a nice gentleman on a Gold Wing from Virden Manitoba. Soon I will turn in and see what tomorrow brings.

 

 

Heading home

So the next morning I left the Marathon Harbour Inn and headed west. I first checked out renting a U Haul cube van $1850.00 from Marathon to Calgary. So stay with the plan get closer. Rode back through beautiful northern Ontario. This time however on the way through Thunder Bay I stopped at the Terry Fox memorial.

What an inspiring young man. His inspiration is carrying on to this day.

 

This is the view from the memorial overlooking The Sleeping Giant at Thunder Bay.

I then stopped at Kakabeka Falls again for lunch. Of course I found one just for me. The Metropolitan moose.

 

These cute little winsome critters were inside.

 

And outside these critters were parked.

 

They were also growing these wonderful chili's out front. After a great chicken and cheddar enchilada I carried on.

As evening approached I stopped for fuel in Ignace, Ontario and asked if there was a good motel nearby and the young lad directed me to the Lone Pine motel 2 km off the highway. Oh my God what a gem this place was. It is right on Agimac Lake and has it's own beach. It's owners are so friendly and welcoming Bert and Geri. They even gave me chili and toast for dinner. I wanted to stay but this morning the weather was good so I rode off and am now in Portage La Prairie. Following are pictures of the motel and the lovely sunset.

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful, beautiful place. I definitely want to go back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ontario

Well I am still in Ontario despite the fact I am heading home. Since my last blog a few days have passed. I was still heading east from Vermilion Bay passing small lake after small lake. All with their own unique beauty. Then there it was Lake Superior like the ocean vast and huge.

 I stopped at Kakabeka Falls and took these great pictures and reminisced about being there many years ago on the Greyhound bus with the Boy Scouts heading for a jamboree in Thunder Bay.

 

 

 

They have lovely walking trails throughout the park but I am a little pressed for time so I headed on. This is one of the beautiful picnic shelters hikers can enjoy.

There are oh so many warnings of moose. However I have not seen any but have also promised to not drive after dark through Ontario. So I carried on around Thunder Bay and headed for Sault Ste Marie. I stopped for fuel and spoke to a Harley rider from London Ontario and he said there were 2 small towns up ahead with motels. I was going through Terrace Bay and spied a BMW bike parked in front of  one of the units so decided to stop there. It was a nice couple from Pennsylvania who live for the most part in Thailand.

We all went to have dinner together at a restaurant called Drifter's and the food was excellent.

The Harley rider showed up and joined us also. Bob and North and Ted. I was concerned about how my bike was sounding and there fore looked in the Yellow Pages to determine if there was a motorcycle mechanic in Marathon and saw an add for all makes, ATV's and boat engines and chain saws. So with that in the back of my mind I headed out the next day. I stopped at Marathon on the highway for fuel and pulled up to the pump Diesel only so instead of turning and going to another pump I turned and headed into Marathon and drove right by Marathon Motorsports and met Rick and Cathy. Rick is a mechanic in the true sense of the word and narrowed it down to the u joint. Okay let's get it fixed. BUT it is a BMW right and there is a dealer in London. The ujoint is part of the driveshaft and the part has to come from Germany. 10 days. So I stayed at the Marathon Lodge right next door and contemplated what I should do. Rick figured it would make it to London or it would make it back to Calgary but not to London and back to Calgary. So now I am heading home. Alittle disappointed I won't see my friends  in Sudbury and my family in St Thomas but now I will have more time for my Palm Springs trip.

Light house and shopping centre in Terrace Bay. Right behind my hotel.

Next adventure Calgary to Ontario

Well not to let any grass grow under my feet. On Wednesday Aug 28, I again packed up and this time headed east. I had volunteered to help with the final checkpoint for the 3 Flags Classic. Going to Winnipeg. I have a good friend there who has been wanting to see me for a long time but somehow Winnipeg has not always been a viable destination so this time I went.

First comes Saskatchewan. Hard to spell but easy to draw. I was delighted to touch base with my trucker friend Taz along the route for a quick Hi, Bye. Then I stayed with Dale and Marlene McBain in Moose Jaw. They had fellow UMCI members and some friends come over for dinner that evening.
What great hospitality. Of course I thought of taking pictures after I left. So on to Winnipeg the next day. I stopped for fuel in Indian Head Saskatchewan and was quite taken with this Indian Head and the adjacent Buffalo Rubbing Stone.

 

Manitoba

Couple of things I noticed so far. But the trees seem rather indecisive wether it is winter or not. Some trees have a couple of completely yellow limbs or just a few leaves that have turned yellow but not the whole tree. Rather early don't you think.

Also I saw this rather large flock of geese. Flying high and heading south.

Manitoba's highways and the streets in Winnipeg are horrible for holes, bumps and cracks and one particularly feels them all on the bike and sidecar. Anyway I got to Winnipeg just at dusk and had to try to find Margie"s place. After many wrong turns I finally arrived. Friday I wanted to go to Fleet Brake to say hello which I did and as I pulled up A fuse blew and I had no end of trouble finding the short. Finally narrowed it down to brake light and a couple of marker lights that the sockets were so far gone and with all that bumping and jarring they were just shorting out. So I finally at 5 o'clock got back to my friends. The next morning I had to go to the Canad Inn on the south side and had breakfast with the group managing the finish and we got quite a few things done and my trucker friend Taz called. He was heading to Volvo to pick up another driver to head back to Regina. So another quick Hi, Bye and I was off to my friends again. Sunday was a complete restful day and that is what we did. Rested and visited. Monday was my working day. I was at the Canad Inn at 8:00 and ready and waiting to open the final checkpoint with our group of gold Wing Riders, Lynn and Gary,

Bruce, Kevin, and Ivan. We had our usual early arrivals but there were a lot who did not start or who dropped out along the way for various reasons. 223 started and approx. 190 were at the finish. Our last riders got in at 7:16 so we got to go home a little early. I took no pictures that day but Tuesday when I went for the banquet I took a few photos of the bikes and the RCMP officers that everyone on the ride had their picture taken with. Nice touch.

 

 

My friend Margie has 1 dog and 5 cats. They are kind of like her children so  Weds Sept 4 I reluctantly took my leave. Her back yard had the most wonderful tomato plants which produced the awesome tomato's which we had each day.

This is my friend and some of her menagerie

This is Buddy, Star and Sandy

Here is Buddy and Mom ready to join me on my trip. And next of course is Ontario with it's myriad of lake after lake after lake.

 I was supposed to join my friends at the Ingolf Inn for the evening but it was such a beautiful day that after a visit I headed out again. It is hard not to take advantage of such a beautiful day. I did however screw up in that I almost cut Russ's head of in the picture . Sorry but it still does show my friend Russ and Sherry Haight formerly of Airdrie Alberta.

 

I am presently in Vermilion Bay Ontario in the Northside Motel.

Following are some of the many lake pictures I took along the way.

 

This is the lake Ingolf is on and I cannot remember the name of it.

There were picnic tables at this lake and I stopped to use the facilities.

This Innukshuk is at Bobby's garage in Vermilion Bay

Eagle Lake, Vermilion Bay

Tomorrow continuing on through Ontario.