Day 5: Whistler BC

We eased into today at a leisurely pace. I was a little sad to leave Janet and Robb but it seemed like good karma to start the Trans Canada Adventure trail from thier doorstep. They are boat people and have sailed and raced across the Atlantic, facing challenges that make our trips seem like child's play. Anyway, it's not a competition and it was just lovely to spend time with them. Janpan, Robb, we wait for you in New Zealand.
We rode up the East coast of Vancouver Island, catching the ferry across from Nanaimo. Some lovely scenes on the crossing and the panorama pic is taken shortly before docking in horseshoe bay, north of Vancouver. We then had a brisk late afternoon ride up the sea to sky highway to Whistler. Being a keen mountain biker it was nice to pass through places like Squamish and of course end up here in Whistler, the Mecca of the mountain bike world. The scenery is stunning and it's easy to see why there are so many images of this part if the world in the magezines. You'll have to take my word for it as the road was not conducive to many photo stops.
Unknown to us Iron Man Canada took place here today and it was bedlam coming into town. Never mind. Tomorrow we head out beyond Pemberton into the wilderness. Both if us are now keen to get into some remote country and replace the sealed roads for some gravel. I hope we get some views as it is forecast to rain for the next few days.
Some of you might be wondering why we appear to be travelling so slowly, my good wife seems to be one! Dave and I had some rather hairy moments in the early part if our last trip and were keen not to make the same mistakes this time around. Jet lag and finding our feet again in a new country can lead to lost concentration and we don't want to cock-up our trip before we have even got going. Plus we were rightly keen to see the lovely people we have already connected with on this trip.
One new thing that we have on this trip is helmet intercoms. These have already proven themselves worth the money many times over (especially as Dave bought them). It certainly has taken a lot of stress out if navigation and shared decision making. Previously Dave would just disappear out of rear view mirrors and I'd be left wondering if I should turn back or not. Now I can just say what the f-k are you up to? Very useful. Plus we can wish each other cheery top of the mornings as we go along. Having said that it didnt stop Dave roaring up the wrong side of the road here in Whistler despite me shouting keep right! His stylish correction through the beautifully manicured centre island gardens was worth a round of applause. Janet's advice worked - if you are looking at the back of the street signs you are on the wrong side of the road!
Saw our first wildlife today. Two little deer just a hundred meters from Janet's house.
Just some pics from the ferry crossing. Me trying to look like a cross between Bono and Kermit. The others from Janet and Robbs forest hideaway.

Day 4: Saanich, Vancouver Island

We started today by quickly solving the worlds problems during breakfast with Joyce and Rick. I ( not Dave) then ended the day indulging in the type of behaviour that causes some of those problems. Having had more than my fair share of beer and wine in a celebratory get together with Jennies cousin, Janet and hubby Robb, I'm now typing with drooping lids and the early start of a headache. An excellent night has been had.
I didn't take many pictures as we rode up in a nagging drizzle not conducive to photography.
The one picture shows the ferry doors being closed with Dave in the distance. How he managed to get his bike on board but still almost be left behind I do not know.
My lovely mom in law told me I have to remove the earlier pic of Dave looking like a drooling Neanderthal. It's done Audre but because I'm mildly drunk I mixed up the order of my blog and so day 3 comes before day 1 and im blaming it on you! I think. Maybe I'm just a little drunk. Oh whatever..

Day 3:Oakville, Washington

Short blog today. It's after my bedtime.
Last year we met Rick at a service station near Yosemite and again a little later at a viewing point. He was riding a KLR and kindly invited us to his home in Washington state. We intended to take him up on his offer as he clearly was a nice fellow and still is, which I'm not just saying because I'm ensconced in a warm bed barely able to peak out above the pillows. And, get this, in a SEPARATE room to Dave. Tonight there will be undisturbed sleep!
Anyway, we never made it here last time but, as you will have gathered, here we are now.
Ricks boys, Tyler and Ben, apparently enjoyed following our trip last year and liked the idea of meeting us. The Silver Fox did not dissapoint and gave Tyler a quick spin around the yard on the KTM. Bless him. 20 yards of wheel spin later and Tyler was hooked. You should have seen the grin on his face. Dave doesn't know it's not normal to do that kind if thing before you've even been introduced to mum. Joyce took it in her stride and proceeded to feed us a magnificent meal. Only at the end of the evening did we realise it was her birthday today.
Happy birthday Joyce. Thank you both for a lovely evening.
Some nice photos. The one with Dave and Tyler on the bike is sweet enough to give the warm fuzzies.
Early start tomorrow.

Day 2: Seattle

We have our bikes! Rather pleasingly both started first time once we put new batteries in. They seem none the worse for wear having spent a year in storage, and my, did that year go quickly. The day was spent doing trip preparation such as getting US sim cards, shopping, remembering how to pack the bikes etc. Its interesting how a mundane mission to the shops can turn into quite an intense experience. Everybody here drives on the wrong side of the road. Traffic lights hang in the air where you don't see them. What does an orange flashing arrow mean? Can you do a U turn or not? What does the reverse V for victory sign mean?
City riding sucks but despite that it was awesome to be back on the KTM.
Tomorrows departure will be delayed meaning we won't have the time to catch the ferry from Port Angeles to Vancouver Island. We still have to arrange to send my favourite box in the world down to LA to meet us at the end of the trip and sorting that will delay us too much.
Instead we are going to visit Rick, who we met at a layby in the Sierra Nevadas a year ago. He lives just South of here and has recently ridden his KLR to Alaska so it will be nice to catch up and hear his stories.
I'd like to be able to report on what it's like sharing a bed with Dave but words create pictures and you just can't unsee some things so I'll spare you.
Just a few pics of getting the bikes going. Check out the oil smoke from having sprayed the internals with oil last year.
Had a lovely Thai dinner with Brian who looked after our bikes for the last year and is now, once again, looking after us. Much, much appreciated.

Day 1. Seattle

International air travel is rarely that exciting that you can raise the hairs on a persons neck writing about it so don't hold your breath. We did discover that finding a place, our lodgings in this case, is a lot easier if you know an address, name or at least suburb. It was therefore telling that a none of the taxi drivers at Seattle were prepared to take us anywhere due to a lack of being able to provide any of the above details. Eventually we did get a taxi who advised us that in 10 years of driving taxis in Seattle he had never been on any of the roads we took him on. Jennie would have loved it, thats how she operates We eventually got to where we needed via a fairly roundabout route and a robust fare more than double what it cost going the other way a year ago.
This preceded earlier by a cavity search at Vancouver airport from the charming customs officials and then a 3 km run to our flight which we caught with seconds to spare having been through I don't know how many security and passport controls. Wankers.
Anyway, here we are. Dave and I get to share a bed tonight. I thought we might end up spooning before the trips over but on the first night?
I'm sleeping in my Kevlar riding gear tonight.

The day before

The continental divide, in meaningful form, spans North America from Alaska to New Mexico. For the better part of the next month Dave and I will ride its length from Banff in British Columbia, south until we run out of time or mountains, whichever comes first.
The route we will follow was originally mapped out for touring mountain bikes. From what I understand it's not technical in mountain bike terms. I hope I'm correct on that one as it could be awkward carrying A 220kg bike down a cliff. For the most part we will be following gravel roads, jeep tracks and about 300km of single track. I'm sure the latter will prove hilarious in the days to come. We expect to cover everything from high desert to rocky mountain passes. All of this will be observed through a faintly hallucinogenic aura brought on as a result of the chronic sleep deprivation associated with sharing Dave's room. Speaking of Dave, he has no idea what we're getting into. We are operating strictly on a need to know basis.

Dave is one of those people who is fantastic to know. He is not at all intimidated by big ideas and so things happen around him. It is thanks to Dave that I have had the most fantastic experiences over the last few years, of which last years interpretation of the Trans America Trail was a highlight. He suggested we buy some bikes and ride them in the States for a couple of years. Jennie, bless her, didn't hesitate to support the idea. And so the 2 trips criss crossing the states were conceived.
We have no intention of doing anything other than indulging ourselves in the pleasure if exploring on motorbikes. Seattle, Vancouver Island, zigzagging over 4000km of BC backcountry along the Trans Canada Adventure Trail and then the Great Divide. There will be a few diversions to the great national parks and no shortage of unexpected events.
This is a motorbike adventure and so the bike deserves a mention. The KTM 990 combines the elements of a fantastic engine with great suspension and handling to provide a simply enthralling ride. I kid you not. No seriously. I am looking forward to getting reacquainted.

So thank you Jennie, Lucien, Julius for letting me go again. As always I will miss you terribly when I am away but all the sweeter for when I get back.
Thanks also to Dave. He was good enough company last time for me to spend another month with him.
With last minute nerves stifling my thought processes I shall sign off.
Tomorrow Seattle. Let the adventure begin..