WESTOC VI - Kimberly, B.C.
2001
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July 30, 2001 - Day 1- map
Billings to Helena, MT- 238 milesGene arrived yesterday and I am not ready...it seems my Motorcycle license has expired! I was stopped and the officer pointed this fact out to me. Gene comes with me and I take the tests. Both written and riding test. It rained last night and they won't let me test at one location where there are a few puddles, so we have to go over to the other testing grounds. Get that out of the way, pack up and head out. We run I-90 until the Three Forks exit then over to Hwy 2 over Pipestone Pass into the south side of Butte. We run into another ST1100 rider, he stops and we find out he isn't headed for Kimberly as expected. Back on the interstate we get to Helena just after dark.
July 31, 2001 - Day 2 - US-map CAN-map -
Helena-Kimberly, B.C. 373.6 = 611.6 total
Headed for Canada in earnest now. It can get isolated in this part of Montana. We stop at a general store for gas, ice cream and a chance to pet the dog laying in the big middle of the floor of the store. It has been spitting rain so we stop at a place I spied that has a carport and eat supper. The sky opens up pretty good and we miss most of it and the bikes stay dry. At the border the guard has seen plenty of ST1100's and we don't have to show any paperwork this time. Roll into the Hotel parking lot about dusk. Sign in, clean up a bit and head for the bar. Bet they have beer in Canada. We hook up with a firefighter from Portland and make plans to head for Lake Louise tomorrow.
Aug 1, 2001 - Day 3 - Lake Louise
The ride to Lake Louise is unbelievable. Really wide nice highway..not a lot of curves...the valley is wide and most of the time we run along the middle of the valley. Riding with two couples that are riding 2 up, we cruise along without stopping very often. Gene does a nice job setting the pace right at the speed limit. A bit slow by U.S. standards, it really take discipline. We eat lunch in front of a store and encounter a kid and her Dad on an old 2-stroke Yamaha?. We spend a couple of hours at the Lake (most of it getting in and out of the parking lot) I didn't expect so many people. I bet there were 15,000 people in the area and they come from all over the world just to be in this spot.Terry asked a Scotsman to take her picture and asked him if he had a camera with film. She was joking with him about giving her address to him so that he could mail them to her! He caught on to the joke and we all had a good laugh. When I looked at the scenery it doesn't seem real. It is what an artist would paint if he could paint the most beautiful scene imagined. On the way back Gene's speedometer cable broke and I took over the lead. Just as I took over my bike spewed water all over the rear tire. We stopped and I pulled some plastic looking for the source. Never found the problem and it didn't do it again. I think the coolant recovery tank was too full and it must have just burped some out.
Aug 2, 2001 - Day 4 - Fort Steele
As an American I hadn't occurred to me that Canadian History might parallel U.S. history. During the pioneer days they dealt with the Indians in much of the same way as we did in the US A short ride over to Ft. Steele was as nice break from the bigger mileage days we have been putting in. Wish I had more time...I would love to ride around here for weeks! I can't compare the mountains to Colorado or Montana, they must just be seen to be believed up here. Fort Steele is a restored Army camp complete with an operating steam engine and train, Barracks, Livery, General Stores, Blacksmith shop, Hotel and there are characters that roam the town in period dress and ride in horse and buggies etc.
Aug 3, 2001 - Day 5 - map
Kimberly, BC. to North Fork, ID 379.3 =990.9We leave Kimberly headed for Cranbrook in hopes that the Motorcycle shop there has a speedometer cable for Gene's bike. They don't. We continue on down into Idaho. Lots of traffic this way. We have a heck of a time getting out of an information center were I stopped to get a map. Riding south until we hit I-90 then east towards Missoula, stopping in Wallace for lunch at the grocery store. There is Depot here with unique architecture. I got a postcard of it. It is a railroad museum and is in perfect shape. Nice to see, so many are being torn down.
Stay in a motel in North Fork. I am a bit somber after nearly witnessing a fatal motorcycle crash. We were getting gas when the ambulance and State Patrol went by going the same direction as us. Later we caught up with them and the rider was covered up. This is the week before Sturgis and some Harley riders missed the curve. The road had just been chip sealed and I didn't see any warning signs about gravel on the road.
Day 6 - map
Northfork, ID to Denver, CO 779 = 1769.9I decide to go to Colorado with Gene. His Speedometer isn't working and it doesn't take much of an excuse for me to ride in Colorado. Gene and I go in the back side of Jackson on Hwy. 22....eat at McDonalds in Jackson, WY. ...leave on 89 south and go through Steamboat Springs and Winter Park. A little bit of rain on the pass but we have been lucky so far. It's good to be back in Colorado
Day 7 - Visit my daughter in Denver
Day 8 - map
Denver to Buffalo, WY = 391.1 = 2161.0Hot today, left about noon and spent the night in Buffalo, WY. Saw another STrider that wasn't at Kimberly. The guy didn't know there was a club.
Day 9- map
Buffalo Billings via US alt14 = 257.8 = 2418.8Home by way of Ranchester Dayton and Shell Canyon via US14 the road here is red and matches the Morrison formation that is exposed to make the road. It's the long but scenic way home and I just hadn't had enough!
"Genius" at the hotel in Helena
Border
Lake Louise...Is this for real??
Fort Steele horse and buggy
Fort Steele
Lots of ST's
West of the Tetons
The STroll on US14 above Dayton, WY
