July 2005

USA Montana
CANADA
Alberta,
British Columbia
USA Washington

Coma, Trophy, salty air & Mr. Frodo.

Even with the cold temperatures I keep on riding north.
First it should go thru the state Montana and then to Canada.
In south Montana I have to realize that right now I am the only one which 'thinks' like that about the further travels.
After a little break, Fusae (my motorcycle) sounds like a sawing machine and Moses gives me from a save distance (the front fender) a stupid smile.
Baaah!
Fusae doesn’t want to move - not an inch. - waaaah what a awful sound!
I hitch to the next town. Town is more or less already a too big description for this few houses, 3 little shops, gas station with attached workshop, one tavern, one bar and a church - that’s more or less everything what makes Clyde Park. There is no campground and no hotel, but a lot of super nice people.

Dale (pic. center) the gas station and garage owner gives me some space in the back of his workshop to work on Fusae - how nice, real cool garage space!!
Scott (pic. left) the excellent mechanic gives me a hand where ever it is needed and let me know that he is impressed about my technical understanding.
Randy (pic. right) the neighbour offers me accommodation.
So I start to take Fusae apart in to 100 pieces, and see what's wrong.
Oh oh oh - no good!
After a talk with Scott we order parts from Royal Enfield USA and really it is support. A new cylinder head, piston and little parts. With the enormous help of Scott I can take off at the 5th day.

Yippiyeah - back on the road. It is incredible how quick I felt at 'home' with all this nice people!
At the weekend befor July 4th I visit the Glacier National Park and enjoy the beautiful scenery and windy roads. The traffic is crazy and I am happy when I finaly make it over the boarder.


Hello Canada!

In the southern part of the state Alberta I learn about the flatland Indians and dinosaurs.

Great museums explain a lot of history.
To camp - that’s tough - millions of little mosquitoes.
They are terrible and annoying, but with tons of repellent and nice sights finally I learn to ignore them.

The Hoodoos I see, are just cool - I love them!
This are sandstone pinnacles with a stone 'hat' on top.
Super cool , same as once more my timing.

This weekend there is one of the biggest west Canadian motorcycle meetings.
Of course - I stay!
Good live music, super sweet people and awesome atmosphere.
The whole scene is surrounded by nice scenery - the Canadian badlands.

For fun I sign Fusae (my motorcycle) at the show & shine competition show in.
7 categories.
But which one is for us?
I think we fit in the category metric tourer.
Some screws are metric and we are touring!!
Some hours later I cant believe it - we make the 1st price in our category!

The crowd is fascinated - they love my story of traveling & my bike.

I don’t get it - I’m right in the scene.

Local newspaper interview and a motorcycle newspaper report... All the time there are people talking to me and shake my hand, I don’t know how many???

I love it and I am very happy for my Fusae - there is no more reason to be jealous.
All the time when I talked about Shanti (my 1967 Royal Enfield in Austria) she got jalous.
Fusae has a trophy!

I check out Calgary quiet quickly and visit the Stampede.

That’s a festival under the 'howdy' motto.

All about horses & cowboys. Rodeos, chuck wagon races, several show, parades, expeditions, cowboys & show starlets.

Time to move on to the National Parks Banff, Yoho & Jasper.

With a nice Israeli and Bob from Las Vegas I share a campground spot.

We find eazy a better way to spend the savings for :o))

A view days later I reach the state British Columbia where I get a 'never-ending' rain shower as welcome.
6 hours riding in poring rain - that’s enough - and a good accommodation is needed afterwards.

Within the next days I visit whistler and Vancouver.
I can smell the salt in the air and love the city straight away.
Clean, green, easy, interesting and much more that’s Vancouver to me.

Before I like it too much I take the ferry to Vancouver island.

Unbelievable what happened on this ride - an other Royal Enfield.
Paroma & Raj are traveling for 2 weeks to see some friends.

At the pacific rim at Vancouver island I set a personal milestone - 10.000 KM!

A view days later and with a lot of nice experiences I visit the capitol Victoria.

I find some little speakers for the DC player which revolution the camping style - real music!

It's not much more luggage - I can fold them together to a little package.

I do in the area some great forest hikes, climb a summit where I have a great view to the city and the US.
Some days later I take a ferry over there. When I do the immigration paperwork, I am super lucky and it makes me happy - an other 90 days visa to visit the states.
With that stamp in my passport I can travel without rushing.
At the Olympia national park it is easy to spend some days.

Do you know the move 'the lord of rings'? some parts should be filmed here.

I have the feeling that some of this beautiful mossy trees want to talk to me and move if you don’t pay attention.

I feel like Mr. Frodo who made a deal with the trees....

(this part of a tree got shiny only from touching)

In the city of Olympia, Fusae gets an other prof. check that I can keep going south save.
At the weekend of the 31st of July 2005 I celebrate at the Mt. St. Helens National Park - what I have to celebrate.......?
The expiring of my return flight ticket - now it is really an open end trip.... I take a deep breath and tjuhui !!!

FREE & INDEPENDENT !!!!!