I rode out west to attend the Dutchman’s Par-Tay on the island. I used the opportunity to visit with a few friends and revisit a few familiar haunts in the Canadian Rockies. Karen flew out for the good parts of the trip and left the boring plains riding to me. As a bonus, I stayed in Canada for most of the trip home and did a ride along the north shore of Lake Superior. These are the photos we took along the way. The few videos we recorded are after the gallery images.
My humble abode in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Packing up for the day’s ride.
An old airmail service route arrow just off I80. This wide view shows the arrow, the beacon tower foundation, and the foundation for the support house that powered the beacon. In the background are placards that describe the site.
An old airmail service route arrow just off I80. This closer view shows the arrow and the beacon tower foundation. In the background are placards that describe the site.
One of the placards that provide background information for an old airmail service route arrow just off I80.
One of the placards that provide background information for an old airmail service route arrow just off I80.
One of the placards that provide background information for an old airmail service route arrow just off I80.
One of the placards that provide background information for an old airmail service route arrow just off I80.
The view east from the airmail arrow just off I80. A fairly bleak landscape to navigate from the air without instuments.
The view west from the airmail arrow just off I80. A fairly bleak landscape to navigate from the air without instuments. While the I80 highway wouldn’t have been here in the until the 1950s, the Union Pacific railroad track was a often-used navigational guide.
A closeup of an Union Pacific train heading east with a long line of covered hoppers, taken from an old airmail arrow just off I80.
The desolate beauty of highway 28 between Salmon, ID and Mud Lake, ID, looking northwest. You wouldn’t think that you’d encounter a vigilant Idaho State Trooper out in this empty environment.
The desolate beauty of highway 28 between Salmon, ID and Mud Lake, ID, looking southeast. You wouldn’t think that you’d encounter a vigilant Idaho State Trooper out in this empty environment.
The Vector waits to continue west down the Clearwater River valley down the mountain from Lolo Pass in Idaho. The setting sun illuminates the trees in the background.
The Clearwater River valley down the mountain from Lolo Pass in Idaho.
The Clearwater River valley down the mountain from Lolo Pass in Idaho. The setting sun illuminates the trees in the background.
A wide shot of the mountain wildfire just west of Kamiah, ID.
A view of a mountain wildfire from downtown Kamiah, ID. A Skycrane Helitanker is heading down the the Clearwater River for more water to drop on the blaze.
A Skycrane Helitanker helps fight the wildfire just west of Kamiah, ID. The pilot would draw water from the Clearwater River and drop it on the fire.
The intersection of US93 and US12 in Lolo, MT. While I successfully stayed in front of the nasty thunderstorm approaching from the south, I now need to turn west on US12 through Lolo Pass. The storm may catch me.
The railroad trestle at the crossing at the confluence of the Palouse River and the Snake River.
The highway bridge at the crossing at the confluence of the Palouse River and the Snake River.
Looking northeast back down the valley I’d just ridden up, just east of Mt. Ranier. Smoke from wildfires is making the view a bit hazy.
A view of a mountain just east of Mt. Ranier. Smoke from wildfires is making the view a bit hazy.
The Vector parked at a scenic overlook, just east of Mt. Ranier. Smoke from wildfires is making the view a bit hazy.
Another view of the mountain just east of Mt. Ranier. Smoke from wildfires is making the view a bit hazy.
A usually spectacular viewpoint for Mt. Ranier. Smoke from wildfires is making the view a bit hazy. You can just make out the outline of the mountain.
Our humble abode at the Par-tay on the island.
Our humble abode at the Par-tay on the island. That’s Phil’s tent further back in the woods.
Our host’s domicile at the Par-tay on the island.
Ghost (with no riding gear!) fires up the Vector after performing an oil change in the Hog Den.
Ghost (with no riding gear!) parks the Vector after performing an oil change in the Hog Den. You can see the the intensity of the new Hyperlites under the saddlebags is inconsistent because the angle of the surface of the underside of the bags is different. I’ll have to fix that someday.
Klay’s Burger Shack, a good place to have lunch when hanging out at the Par-tay on the island.
Ghost and Karen wait for lunch to be served at Klay’s Burger Shack, a good place to have lunch when hanging out at the Par-tay on the island.
Ghost and the Vector at Klay’s Burger Shack, a good place to have lunch when hanging out at the Par-tay on the island.
The tent city at the Par-tay on the island.
The tent (and RV) city at the Par-tay on the island.
The tent (and RV) city at the Par-tay on the island.
The tent (and RV) city at the Par-tay on the island.
The car/motorcycle parking lot at the Par-tay on the island.
Motorcycle parking at the Par-tay on the island.
Ghost notices that Karen is taking his picture.
Ferry crossing from Port Townsend, WA to Whidbey Island.
Phil and Karen during the ferry crossing from Port Townsend, WA to Whidbey Island.
Moored sailboats during the ferry crossing from Port Townsend, WA to Whidbey Island.
Other boaters during the ferry crossing from Port Townsend, WA to Whidbey Island.
Port Townsend, WA as seen from the ferry to Whidbey Island.
The Bremen Bridge crosses our path during our ferry crossing from Port Townsend, WA to Whidbey Island. Note the fog bank behind the vessel.
The Bremen Bridge just crossed our path during our ferry crossing from Port Townsend, WA to Whidbey Island. Note the fog bank behind the vessel.
A closer look at the Bremen Bridge after it crossed our path during our ferry crossing from Port Townsend, WA to Whidbey Island. Note the fog bank behind the vessel.
A wider view of the Bremen Bridge after it crossed our path during our ferry crossing from Port Townsend, WA to Whidbey Island. Note the fog bank behind the vessel.
A view southwest during our ferry crossing from Port Townsend, WA to Whidbey Island. The Olympic Mountains are just visible in the distance.
About to sail into a fog bank during our ferry crossing from Port Townsend, WA to Whidbey Island.
The forest on the south shore of Deception Pass on Whidbey Island.
Karen on the bridge over Deception Pass on Whidbey Island.
A view west from the bridge over Deception Pass on Whidbey Island.
A boat leaves the west entrance of Deception Pass on Whidbey Island.
One of the many coves on the north shore of Deception Pass on Whidbey Island.
The bridge over Deception Pass on Whidbey Island.
A view east from the bridge over Deception Pass on Whidbey Island.
A deeper view west from the bridge over Deception Pass on Whidbey Island.
A closeup of homes on the north shore west from the bridge over Deception Pass on Whidbey Island.
Phil guards the bikes in the parking lot at Deception Pass on Whidbey Island.
The McLure Ferry heads across the Thompson River to pick us up.
Ghost and the Vector pose on the McLure ferry over the Thompson River.
A view of the mountains east of Blue River, BC during a gas/snack stop.
Some late summer snow clings to the mountains east of Blue River, BC during a gas/snack stop.
Ghost packs the Vector in front of our lucky find of a cheap rented room in Jasper, AB.
Our lucky find of a cheap rented room in Jasper, AB.
Karen poses next to the Vector in front of our lucky find of a cheap rented room in Jasper, AB.
The parking lot at Mt Edith Cavell in Jasper Park.
The parking lot at Mt Edith Cavell in Jasper Park.
A creek running down the mountain at Mt Edith Cavell in Jasper Park.
Mt Edith Cavell in Jasper Park.
The foot of Angel Glacier at Mt Edith Cavell in Jasper Park.
The melting runoff at the foot of Angel Glacier at Mt Edith Cavell in Jasper Park.
The glacier and lake in the bowl below Mt Edith Cavell in Jasper Park.
Mt Edith Cavell in Jasper Park.
Angel Glacier at Mt Edith Cavell in Jasper Park.
A view down the valley below Mt Edith Cavell in Jasper Park.
The mountain range to the east of Mt Edith Cavell in Jasper Park.
Damage from a recent rockslide on the face of Mt Edith Cavell in Jasper Park.
You can trace the path of a recent rockslide on the face of Mt Edith Cavell in Jasper Park.
The mountain just to the north of Mt Edith Cavell in Jasper Park.
A creek running down the mountain at Mt Edith Cavell in Jasper Park.
The photographers shadow falls on a creek running down the mountain at Mt Edith Cavell in Jasper Park.
The Athabasca River just above the Athabasca Falls in Jasper Park.
To top of the Athabasca Falls in Jasper Park.
The Athabasca River just above the Athabasca Falls in Jasper Park.
The mountain range east of the Athabasca Falls in Jasper Park.
The Athabasca Falls in Jasper Park.
The Athabasca Falls in Jasper Park.
The Athabasca Falls in Jasper Park.
The Athabasca Falls in Jasper Park.
The Athabasca Falls in Jasper Park.
The Athabasca Falls in Jasper Park.
The Athabasca Falls in Jasper Park.
The Athabasca Falls in Jasper Park.
The Athabasca Falls in Jasper Park.
A small evergreen grows from a rock outcropping at the Athabasca Falls in Jasper Park.
The Athabasca Falls in Jasper Park.
The Athabasca Falls in Jasper Park.
The Athabasca Falls in Jasper Park.
Karen instinctively finds the most height-improving vantage point at the Athabasca Falls in Jasper Park.
The Athabasca Falls in Jasper Park.
The Athabasca Falls in Jasper Park.
Karen reads about not climing the fence at the Athabasca Falls in Jasper Park.
The Athabasca Falls in Jasper Park.
Ghost and Karen at the Athabasca Falls in Jasper Park.
Karen and the Vector in front of the Stuttfield Glacier in Jasper Park.
The Stuttfield Glacier in Jasper Park.
The snow cap over the sourth extent of the Stuttfield Glacier in Jasper Park.
The range east across the valley from the Stuttfield Glacier in Jasper Park.
The range east across the valley from the Stuttfield Glacier in Jasper Park.
The range north of the Stuttfield Glacier in Jasper Park.
The snowfield south of the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper Park.
The Athabasca Glacier in Jasper Park.
The snowfield north of the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper Park.
The snowfields south of the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper Park.
A snow bus crosses the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper Park.
The snowfield south of the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper Park.
The lodge at the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper Park.
A panorama snowfields and ranges surrounding the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper Park.
A view south from a overlook in Banff National Park.
A view south from a overlook in Banff National Park.
A view south from a overlook in Banff National Park.
A waterfall east of a overlook in Banff National Park.
A waterfall east of a overlook in Banff National Park.
A waterfall east of a overlook in Banff National Park.
Visitors paddle their canoes on Lake Louise in Alberta.
A view of visitors paddling their canoes from the creek leaving Lake Louise in Alberta.
A panorama of Lake Louise in Alberta.
Ghost and Karen at Lake Louise in Alberta.
Lake Louise in Alberta.
Karen in front of the Parks monument at Lake Louise in Alberta.
Ghost at dinner at Tavern 1883 in Canmore, Alberta.
Tavern 1883 in Canmore, Alberta.
Tavern 1883 in Canmore, Alberta.
Ghost gears up after dinner in Canmore, AB.
Having an early dinner at a outdoor bistro at Chateau Lake Louise at Lake Louise in Alberta.
The mountains west of our hotel in Canmore, AB.
The Three Sisters peaks lie west of our hotel in Canmore, AB.
The mountains west of our hotel in Canmore, AB.
Karen poses with the Vector before I drive her to the airport in Calgary, AB.
A look at my route options during breakfast in Regina, SK. I chose the highlighted route.
A view from my hotel in Kenora, ON. I had arrived just before sunset.
A view from a bluff overlooking Thunder Bay, ON.
One of the ships anchored off Thunder Bay, ON.
A view from a bluff overlooking Thunder Bay, ON.
A view from a bluff overlooking Thunder Bay, ON.
A ship anchored off Thunder Bay, ON.
Another ship anchored off Thunder Bay, ON.
The bluffs catching some sun on the sleeping giant peninsula off Thunder Bay, ON.
Walking back to the Vector from the overlook at Thunder Bay, ON.
The photographers shadow stretches across the campsite for the evening at Nipigon, ON.
The north shore of Lake Superior, east of Nipigon, ON.
The north shore of Lake Superior, east of Nipigon, ON.
Islands off the north shore of Lake Superior, east of Nipigon, ON.
The north shore of Lake Superior, east of Nipigon, ON.
The north shore of Lake Superior, east of Nipigon, ON.
The north shore of Lake Superior, near Rossport, ON.
A Canadian Pacific train treslte crosses a river at the west boundary to Nays Provincial Park in Ontario.
A Canadian Pacific train treslte crosses a river at the west boundary to Nays Provincial Park in Ontario.
A Canadian Pacific intermodal train crosses a river at the west boundary to Nays Provincial Park in Ontario.
A Canadian Pacific intermodal train crosses a river at the west boundary to Nays Provincial Park in Ontario.
A Canadian Pacific intermodal train crosses a river at the west boundary to Nays Provincial Park in Ontario.
A Canadian Pacific intermodal train crosses a river at the west boundary to Nays Provincial Park in Ontario.
The coast off Lake Superior Provincial Park in Ontario.
The coast off Lake Superior Provincial Park in Ontario.
The Vector at an overlook over the coast off Lake Superior Provincial Park in Ontario.
The view from an overlook over the coast off Lake Superior Provincial Park in Ontario.
The view from an overlook over the coast off Lake Superior Provincial Park in Ontario.
The view from an overlook over the coast off Lake Superior Provincial Park in Ontario.
The Vector at an overlook over the coast off Lake Superior Provincial Park in Ontario.
A rocky cove along the east short of Lake Superior just north of Sault Ste Marie, ON.
The Cason J Callaway upbound through the Soo Locks. The lock gates have just been closed and the lock is beginning to fill.
The Cason J Callaway upbound through the Soo Locks. The lock gates have just been closed and the lock is beginning to fill.
The Soo Locks tour boat passes upbound through the Soo Locks. The lock gates have just been closed and the lock is beginning to fill.
The south side of the US Soo Locks.
A crew member waits for the lock to fill on the Cason J Callaway.
The Cason J Callaway upbound through the Soo Locks. The ship rises as the lock fills.
The Cason J Callaway upbound through the Soo Locks. The ship rises as the lock fills.
The Cason J Callaway upbound through the Soo Locks. The ship rises as the lock fills.
The lock is filled and the gate opens for the Soo Locks tour boat.
The lock is nearly filled for the Cason J Callaway.
With the lock gate open, the Soo Locks tour boat pulls in its lines and prepares to depart.
The Soo Locks tour boat exits the Soo Locks. The Cason J Callaway’s lock is filled and the gates are about to open.
The Cason J Callaway slowly exits the Soo Locks.
Safely clear of the Soo Locks, the Cason J Callaway increases turns to continue up the Saint Mary’s River.
A well-armed member of Homeland Security heads for the guard house at the end of her shift at the Soo Locks. She smiIed at me when we passed each other, but I wouldn’t mess with her.
The Arthur M Anderson downbound just east of the Mackinac Bridge.
The Arthur M Anderson steams toward the sunset east of the Mackinac Bridge. This photo was foolishly snapped from a moving motorcycle, in traffic, holding the camera in my throttle hand, on the Mackinaw Bridge, with just a railing separating me from a several hundred feet drop into the water. I do not condone this activity! I could have easily ended up a nominee for this year’s Darwin Award.
Videos
Mt Edith Cavell and Angel Glacier
More of Mt Edith Cavell and Angel Glacier
Athabasca Falls
Cason J Callaway Departs the Soo Locks