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The Best Midlife Crisis We Could Think Of

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Good Days, Bad Days

Some days camping is good. Some it’s bad. Some days motorcycling is good… most days it’s good. But a few can be bad.

First Aid for Riders

When was the last time you took a First Aid course? Do you know what to do if one of your friends goes down on a ride? Do the members of the group know what to do if you go down?

No one wants to think about leaving their bikes, but it happens. Whether it’s due to weather, pushing beyond your ability, or an inattentive driver, motorcyclists get hurt regularly. Knowing some First Aid is helpful in those roadside emergencies and can even save a life. NMBL and I have both done First Aid training but our certifications have lapsed. This week we took the opportunity to update our knowledge specifically for riders. The local Mottorad dealership, High Road Vancouver, hosted a First Aid on the Road clinic  with a pair of paramedics who are riders themselves. Continue reading “First Aid for Riders” →

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Back to Tofino!

And it’s about time. Last year’s riding season was a bit crazy for us so we didn’t do any big rides or hangs. NMBL had her own adventure last year to GBB Fest but that was it! There was very little hammocking and even less motorcycling.

This year we’re getting our feet back on the pegs, hands on the throttles, and gear on the pillion. To get our butts used to the saddle again we once again trekked off to Tofino for the May long weekend. It was a great choice for a few reasons: first, Tofino is less than a day’s ride with some great mountain highway riding; second, it gives us a chance to suss out our gear with low risk after a year off; third, it’s just so damn beautiful over there! The west coast of Vancouver Island is one of the most striking places in an already stunning Province. We’re lucky to live here and have such a gem to travel to. Continue reading “Back to Tofino!” →

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Riding the Monashees, Riding Home, and Wild Fires

We left Nakusp for the North Okanagan to visit with family. That ride took us through the Monashee Mountains along Hwy 6, through Cherryville, Lumby, and on into Vernon. On the list of great rides from this trip, we’re rating this one at number two just behind the ride along Hwy 31A from Kaslo to Nakusp. Going through the Monashees was a treat! There are some very tight high mountain turns along this road that deserve the reputation it has as one of the best rides in Western Canada. The asphalt relentlessly snakes along sheer mountain cliffs. There is one stretch that is 8km of nothing but curves non-stop. It was a magnificent ride.

Continue reading “Riding the Monashees, Riding Home, and Wild Fires” →

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The Continental Divide

This trip has fewer days left in it than have passed but some of our best riding is still ahead of us. A big part of that is the 93 south through Radium and Cranbrook to Wyrie Lake Provincial Park. Right along the Continental Divide. A day of riding the Rockies; we’ll take it.

We woke up to clear skies at Bow River. After the usual breakfast and coffee we struck camp and headed out. The goal was to hook up with the 93 Interchange on the #1 west of Lake Louise. What we didn’t know at the time was that we could have continued along the 1A. Next time. We made a quick roll through Banff since NMBL had never been there. It’s crawling with tourists, ourselves included. 
Continue reading “The Continental Divide” →

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Alberta and Saskatchewan – Catching Up

June 24

It has been a few days since the last post. NMBL and I have ridden from Calgary to Regina in that time and are now heading back west. We’re currently hanging at Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park enjoying nice weather and the sound of song birds as we swing in our hammocks beside the Saskatchewan River. It’s a very peaceful place. 

We’re not riding long days. This trip is about being relaxed and fresh each morning plus giving ourselves time in case something unusual happens. This tactic has treated us well. Neither of us is over taxed with a ridiculous amount of riding. We do between 300 and 400 km a day giving ourselves time to enjoy a good breakfast, have lunch, and get to the next spot with time to set up of the afternoon. Unhurried is the best way to tour. We learned that lesson last year.

Continue reading “Alberta and Saskatchewan – Catching Up” →

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Caution Elk and Truck Tires

What a great night! 

NMBL and I both slept very well at Waitabit Creek campground. It’s a wonderful site. We feel guilty mentioning it because more people may want to go. Still, it’s worthy of mention. We woke up to a beautiful sunrise in the mountains with the creek talking to us as coffee was made, breakfast served, and cleanup done. The water of the creek is a vibrant turquoise blue which just glows in the morning sun. We couldn’t have asked for a better way to start the day.
Continue reading “Caution Elk and Truck Tires” →

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Motorcycle v. Car Interactions

May is motorcycle safety month.

Being on a motorcycle is an exciting experience. Most of the time that experience is amazing. The Venn diagram with motorcycling and joy shows a lot of overlap. However, there are times when the overlap goes into the scary circle. This evening our ride home had one of those. Continue reading “Motorcycle v. Car Interactions” →

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Oil and Rust

On Saturday we went for a day ride which took us out to Surrey and back. At the end of the ride we stopped by the Oil and Rust Motorcycle Show down at our end of town. East Van is a haven for all sorts of artistic talent. Motorcycle artistry is no exception. There are all manner of back yard wrenchers and shops putting out some pretty cool stuff. These people like to tinker and play with their metal masterpieces, getting a chance to put their efforts on display at Oil and Rust. It’s great to have this haven of custom bike enthusiasts right in our back yard. Continue reading “Oil and Rust” →

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Snow on the Mountains

And eagles in the trees! Plus almost all the weather you could think would ever happen in March.

This weekend marked our first overnight trip of the year. We were invited to go camping at Porteau Cove Provincial Park with our neighbour and her four year old son, so of course we said yes. It’s a quick jaunt from home so we didn’t have to push ourselves through bad weather and, if the elements got really nasty, it was only one night. Continue reading “Snow on the Mountains” →

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