the beauty of western Canada CCW2501
As we drive from the airport to the hotel, we quickly realize that Vancouver is anything but just another big city. Vancouver is a cosmopolitan city with a very special flair. Everywhere you look, you can see, feel, and taste the influences of all the cultures that have left their mark here. It's a great place to start our tour. And while some of us use the time to relax, others have been eagerly exploring the city for days. That's how it should be. In the afternoon, we all meet high above the city for a welcome briefing, where we not only receive important tips for the next few days, but also get really excited about finally getting started. In the evening, we plunge back into the hustle and bustle of the metropolis for our first dinner together. And that's a good benchmark for the days ahead. As beautiful and fascinating as Vancouver is, we can hardly wait to finally set off tomorrow. Good night.
Finally! The tour is starting! After months of waiting we're taking off. After collecting our bikes we leave Vancouver behind us. Because it's labour day the roads are relatively empty and after our first coffee stop, at Timmy Hortons(!), the scenery start to look very beautiful. Rivers, mountains and wild nature.
Our second day of driving begins as the last one ended, with bright sunshine and blue skies. We seize the opportunity and have our morning briefing on the beach in front of the hotel. The theme of the day is lakes, mountains, and western towns, and that's exactly what we get. We ride eastward along the border with the USA. The landscape gradually becomes greener, and soon we are driving through seemingly endless coniferous forests again. The roads wind gently along the rivers and mountain slopes of British Columbia. Again and again, we drive through small towns where, apart from the pickup trucks, time seems to have stood still. Early in the evening, we finally reach Nelson, a charming little town with an eventful history and a very special flair. This is Canada
Leaving the Art Deco town of Nelson behind us we're heading into the mountains again. With a cool temperature, beautiful lakes and nice roads it's a perfect day for riding! The SS Moyie, a paddle boot from 1898, is like stepping back in time. The sweeping roads that follow are a true pleasure! The ferry at Fauquir is a welcoming brake and after that it's the Monashee pass! This day is one highlight after the other, especially because Thomas is waiting for us with ice cold beers!
The sun is struggling to shine its rays down on the earth this morning. There is smoke in the air, with forest fires spreading once again just a little further south. Unfortunately, this is not unusual for the region. The haze will accompany us throughout the day and slightly obscure our view. We leave Vernon and drive onto Highway Number One, better known as the Trans-Canadian Highway. The route is not spectacularly winding, but it takes us past countless lakes and into the Rocky Mountains. Soon we see the huge mountains rising on the horizon through the haze. On the way, we learn a little more about the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Our first national park is also on the agenda today. It is none other than the famous Revelstoke Park. The Meadows in the Sky Parkway makes our motorcyclist hearts beat faster, despite the limited visibility. High above Revelstoke, Jan has a little picnic waiting for us. Simply fantastic. In the afternoon, we follow Highway 1, enjoying the spectacular panoramas at Rogers Pass before finally reaching Golden. There, deep in the forest, a cozy lodge surrounded by mountains awaits us. Life couldn't be better.
After digesting last nights dinner, and processing breakfast, it's on the bikes and off for a relaxing start along a huge river at the edge of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. This day is one long highlight regarding the views and nature. Impressive mountain ranges covered with endless pine forests and wild rivers carving their way thrue it. Banff is also very pretty and has a nice atmosphere. The Bow valley parkway is partly closed but we have enough time to drop by at Lake Louise: perfection made by God. The combination between lake, mountains and sky is awesome!
The thermometer shows well below 10 degrees Celsius in the morning. The air is clear and there is hardly a cloud in the sky. Perfect conditions for today's stage. Because this day is, at least in terms of scenery, the highlight of our tour. We leave Lake Louise heading north and drive along what is probably the most beautiful road in western Canada, the Icefields Parkway. It is just over 230 km from here to Jasper. The road takes us through the middle of the Canadian Rockies along the Columbia Icefield. To the left and right of the road, mighty peaks tower above us, with glacier tongues peeking out between them. In the valley, we drive past crystal-clear lakes that seem to lie like mirrors in the landscape. Turquoise rivers feed countless waterfalls. Of course, we also visit the two most impressive ones. In the afternoon, we finally reach Jasper. And although the region was severely devastated by forest fires two years ago, the place has lost little of its charm. On our rest day tomorrow, we will have enough time to explore the town and the region. Life is beautiful.
A good thing about a rest day is that you can sleep in, do whatever you want to do, and still are able to ride! First stop is Medicine lake were the water level is lower then last year. Ine also can see much of the damage of last years fires. At Maligne lake we're having coffee and the atmosphere is really relaxed. On our way back we're walking into the woods to see the Maligne waterfalls. In the afternoon some went up Whistler mountain with the Skytram. The ride was spectacular and the view from the top impressive
Everybody is well rested and ready to start a long riding day. First stop is mount Robson. With almost 4000mtr its the highest mountain in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. And we're in luck because we can see the whole mounting in it's full glory. As we've only had one coffee at Timmy's tgis tour it's time for another visit. The doughnuts are really good! At Dutch lake, one of the most beautiful lakes in Canada due to its name, Thomas has prepared a gorgeous lunch, thanks Thomas! Somewhere along the way we stumbled upon the best ice cream truck of entire west Canada! And although it was a long say, all off a sudden we're already in Kamloops and can enjoy en welcoming cold drinks, cheers!
Another sunny day awaits us. Perfect for our last day of riding. Because today we will be riding one of the most famous motorcycle routes in the country. But before we set off, we first have to take care of one of the bikes. Unfortunately, it decided overnight that it no longer wanted to start. So, without further ado, the van is repurposed as a tour guide vehicle and off we go. Our route takes us onto Highway 99, the Sea to Sky Highway. A wonderfully winding route through the valleys of the Fraser River. The panoramic views are spectacular and, including Duffy Lake, offer a kind of “best of” landscape from the past few days. A little later than planned, we finally reach the famous Whistler. Here, we recharge our batteries in an alpine setting for our final leg to Vancouver. The place where our journey began and, unfortunately, already ends. This little adventure at the end of the tour will remain in our memories.