Wandering Retirees

Today was a nice travel day to Jasper, Alberta, at the top of the Icefield Parkway through Jasper National (Canadian), the northernmost point of our trip. Our route up BC 5 took us through a myriad of small towns , some incorporated and others not. All had the feel of places gratefully soaking up the nearly summer like temperatures: highs in the 60’s so far. That’s summer weather up here, by the way. We have had a lot of rain lately. Though the views would be better in sunlight, the folks up here are grateful for the rain. Winters have been a little warmer recently with less snow pack, thus less moisture later in the year, thus more wildfires of late. Rain is better.

We met some wonderful people today. (They’re out there if you look.) Bill (I think) and Daisy run a small snack stand in Avola, BC, a tiny unincorporated town of not many souls. We had a nice lunch and lots of great conversation. Bill works for the Province as a plow driver during winter and is self employed as an everything man the rest of the year. He showed us about a dozen projects he currently has underway. He also was a font of knowledge for the miles that were still ahead. He waxed poetic about Mt. Robeson, the tallest peak in British Columbia – Connie got a number of shots of this spectacular mountain. We both thought Bill was a doppelgänger of Phil, a family friend, but I digress again. Daisy is the heart of the establishment (cook and chief bottle washer) who is just returned from a visit to family in China. I think it must be tough sometimes to make a new life in a new land while having loved ones left behind. We think Daisy and Bill will be successful. (Bill: if I’ve gotten your name wrong, please contact me so I can fix. Thanks.)

The ride today had its moments. We nearly ran out of gas. That’s because the appearance of a town on the map does not necessarily mean that there are gas stations, stores, or even people there. Meeting a sign that warns there is no gas for the next 60 miles (100km) when you have about 40 miles worth of gas left gets your attention. Fancy powerful bikes require regular infusions of fuel. Fortunately, when we saw the sign we were able to reverse course and coast into the station a ways back. The proprietor had that look that says he sees a lot of folk coast back in. He prices his fuel,accordingly. PT Barnum would be proud.

We pulled into Jasper and checked into our hotel, a really cute place called the Tonquin Inn. We met Mike, a man from Chicago about our age who is about 9 days into a trip that will ultimately take him to Alaska via the Can-Am Highway. We started talking because we have the same model bike and our conversation took us through cocktails and dinner. He shared a terrific book that highlights the ride to Alaska and, we’re happy to say, it looks really inviting. He is a retired HR/Personnel Director for a national supermarket group and a font of terrific stories. He also recently toured by bike in New Zealand. Amazing. Turns out we dined next to a couple who are celebrating their 42nd (or is it 43rd) anniversary by traveling by car to Alaska from their home in Scottsdale, AZ – today is their 57th day on the road. Lots of great stories and wonderful time.

A note that comes to mind. Connie and I were chatting by intercom today and realized we need to think of more words to describe the land we’re riding through. “Wow”, “beautiful”, “amazing”, so forth are just wearing out from over use. This is a spectacular land, that neither picture nor word can adequately describe. I’m not often at a loss for words, but these days I am. What wonders of creation!

Tomorrow we hope to make some rounds about the northern reaches of the Ice Fields. Let’s see what the new day brings. Have a good night.

Oh, we’re now back in Mountain Time, only 2 hours difference from the Eastern Timezone.

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Bill and Daisy. They were so nice to talk with.

Beautiful Rockies. Remember the song “Rocky Mountain High?”

Mt. Robson – Highest Peak in Canada