SUMMER TRIP TO EDMONTON AB VI

 ”…it’s about the journey, not the destination…”

Brad and Micki were great hosts.

        The ride from Saskatoon to Edmonton went smoothly. I must admit I WAS focused on the destination this day. I was really looking forward to seeing Brad and meeting his wife Micki. I arrived at their house by about 4 PM. Micki came out and introduced herself to me and opened the garage door so I could put the bike in there. 

Enjoying an excellent breakfast.

        Brad had steaks for dinner that he cooked on the BBQ. We spent the evening catching up. I told Brad about the problem I had had with the latch for the left saddle bag. There was a Can Am dealer about 10 minutes from his house so we decided to take the bike there the next day to have the other latches checked and lubricated. After a pleasant night we went to bed.

Some of the silhouettes Micki has in the upstairs bathroom.
My wife and my daughters all like them.  

         Brad had taken the day off. He called the local dealer to see if they could squeeze me in. It turned out that he had a friend who worked in the service department. He told us to bring the bike in and he would get it checked out. After dropping the bike off Brad showed me around Edmonton. It is quite a large city. That afternoon we got a call from the dealer that the bike was finished. When we got there Brad’s friend told us that the latch on the right saddle bag did need to be adjusted and lubricated. The fee for the work was nominal, and when the mechanic brought the bike around he had even cleaned the windshield!

Bundled up and ready for rain.

        The next morning Brad helped me pick out a destination for the day, Cranbrook AB,  and the best way to get there. It was almost certain I would ride into some rain so I put on my rain gear when I left Brad and Micki’s. 

More from Micki’s collection.

SUMMER TRIP TO EDMONTON AB V

 “…it’s about the journey, not the destination….”

        When I left on the trip I had only taken 3 cigars and 1/2 a fifth of Irish Whiskey. I know I couldn’t take them into Canada and would have to stop at the duty free store. I rode from Minot to Portal ND where I would cross the border. When I arrived at the border I entered the store. You don’t have a great selection, but generally they cover all the bases. I prefer Bushmill’s Irish Whiskey, but had to settle for Jameson’s. The cigar selection was small but managed to get a 10 pack. I would only be in Canada a few days so this would do me.

        Okay….so….I made a slight miscalculation….it was almost 100 miles to the border and I was sooooo focused on whiskey and cigars I did not top off the gas tank on the bike at the border before I crossed into Canada….AND towns were few between and I discovered that I could go 184 miles on a tank…riding with the fuel light on for the last 30 miles or so. Stupid! 

Taking a break, with a full tank of gas, at Weyburn SK.

        I did finally find gas around 10am in a small town along the way and, since this was a 400 mile day, I decided to take a break in a park in this small town. After about 45 minutes of reading, having a cigar, and allowing my nerves to settle I got back on the road. The population of Canada is 10% of ours, and it is the second largest nation geographically on earth. This means LOTS of wide open spaces, and good distances between towns. You’ve got to pay attention. 

An afternoon break.

        From there on the day went smoothly. Take bike was performing flawlessly and by this point I had settled in to the trip. When you go on these trips it takes a few days to settle in. Usually by day 3 or 4 the seat begins to feel very comfortable and the routine of riding 3 or 4 hundred miles a day seems easy. You are no longer in a hurry to get 600 miles in. There is time to stop mid-morning for a break and lunch doesn’t feel rushed. 

         By about 5:30 I got into Saskatoon and found my motel. There was a restaurant right at the motel so after an easy dinner I returned to my room to watch a movie and rest up for tomorrow’s ride.

The wide open spaces of Sasketchewan. Notice all the traffic.

SUMMER TRIP TO EDMONTON AB IV

“,,,it’s about the journey, not the destination”

I never knew there was a town named Anamoose North Dakota!

        As I was loading the bike I decided to see if I could put the liner from the broken saddlebag into the travelbox. It fit with just some adjusting of the contents of the travelbox. As I was packing for this trip I wanted gear for a variety of temperatures. Edmonton is pretty far north, and I had ridden across North and South Dakota in the summer when it had been terribly hot. I needed to prepare for both extremes. 

So much country to seem but you can’t appreciate it unless you get off of the interstate.

       Wide open spaces, little traffic allowed me to just cruise along at 65-70 mph. The Spyder is great at covering ground. The blue tooth stereo worked well and I just settled in listening to music on Sirius from the 70’s. Today was around 400 miles, so it allowed me to stop mid morning and read for a while. From Minnesota into North Dakota towns are a distance apart. The reserve light came on a couple of times this day, but there was no problem. Once I crossed the border into Canada I would need to be more careful.

One thing about the roads out here is that they are mostly straight.

        Once again clouds made an appearance. I had ridden through some light rain, and some very heavy rain. The Spyder gives you enough protection that you don’t have to stop and put on a rain suit unless it is  a heavy rain. 

One of those special people you meet on a trip like this.

        I pulled into Minot around 5:30pm. After checking into the motel I decided to go out for dinnner. Looking at information I found a 50s diner fairly near my motel. Right up my alley. I ordered my meal and became aware of an “older” gentle man. He seemed to be a regular. He knew the waitstaff by name and they engaged in a running conversation with him through dinner. He had noticed my license plate and was curious about my trip. We ended up sitting there talking for over an hour, and finally the server told us it was time for them to close. We thanked them and I left a good tip. As we parted ways I was once again reminded that one of the favorite aspects of touring on a motorcycle was the people you meet. Back at the motel I settled in and watched a movie. Tomorrow I would cross into Canada. It would be just about another 400 miles to Saskatoon SK. 

Notice all of the traffic going by? 

SUMMER TRIP TO EDMONTON AB III

 ”…it’s about the journey, not the destination…”

        It so happened that when I checked into the motel to get out of the rain there were a number of bikes in the parking lot. I went out to start loading my bike, and I was parked next to a Harley and a green Can Am Spyder. The woman who was riding it was very friendly. As we spoke I noticed a number of riders getting ready to go riding were women. When I remarked about this my friend told me they were attempting to set a world record for the most women riding to an event. I really enjoy it when more and more people discover the fun in riding a motorcycle.

Really good meal at this steakhouse right next to a Texas Roadhouse.

        As I loaded my bike I pulled on the handle for the left saddle bag. It broke off in my hand! There is no way to open it unless you take the bike apart. RATS! I was going to have to strap that bag liner on the seat behind. Not great, especially if I hit rain. I ran over to a local WalMart and bought some bungee cords and strapped the liner to the back seat. 

The message in these clouds is that you can get wet at any time!

        I decide to ride to St Cloud MN that day, about 400 miles instead of 800 miles to Minot ND. The clouds overhead were ominous, and I did hit a little rain off and on during the day. The Spyder was running great and I made it to St. Cloud without any difficulty. I checked into a motel there and then went out to dinner. I found a local steak house, right next to a Texas Roadhouse. This seemed to be the place the locals went to eat. I sat at the bar and ordered dinner. The food was very good, and the staff behind the bar were exceptional. As one who spent many years in the restaurant business I really appreciated how they worked.

Riding across Minnesota, away from any population centers really gives
one perspective about the richness of the US.

        Back at the motel I settled in for a movie and a little Irish Whiskey. Tomorrow on to Minot ND, arriving a day late. I hoped that weather wouldn’t intrude on my travel’s tomorrow. I sat back to enjoy my evening. 

Very pleasant bar in St. Cloud MN.

SUMMER TRIP TO EDMONTON ALBERTA II

“…it’s about the journey, not the destination…”

My instrument panel after hitting that trench near Gary IN.

        Day two was going to be another day with few pictures. On days like this I am simply trying to get beyond the large metropolitan areas so there are stops for only necessary things. My goal this day was to get to Eau Claire WI, right around 600 miles from Fremont IN. I would have to navigate around Chicago. This meant a lot of interstate riding, with only the break for lunch…and then Mother Nature had her say!

Charles standing near my bike. What an exceptional person.

        I had a good nights sleep, probably because I was tired from Day 1. I got up, got dressed and took some stuff out to load on the bike before breakfast. As I was doing this a gentleman named Charles was having a cigarette at the designated smoking place. We got into a wide ranging conversation about many topics, sometimes on motorcycles, our families, and even on the Constitution! It turns out Charles had taught a class on the Constitution. In addition he was a veteran of the first Iraq war. We spoke for about 45 minutes. Once again what makes these trips so special are the people you meet. 

The view out of my motel window. BOY was I glad to be off of the road!

        In the course of our conversation Charles mentioned that I was heading in the direction of some severe weather. I had looked at the weather but I was hoping to get up above the weather. It ended up that I didn’t get on the road until 10 am. Eau Claire WI was about 600 hundred miles from Fremont IN, and in between was Chicago and its metropolitan area. I put my destination in my phone and headed out.

        It was dry as I rode towards Joliet and Chicago. My GPS gave me the option of saving time by using some side roads to get around a massive problem on I 80 in Joliet. I got off by Gary IN and rode on some side roads around the problem. These roads were HORRIBLE!  I hit one “trench” ( too big to be a pot hole, it impacted BOTH front wheels! ). This impact was so severe it knocked my instrument panel loose from the fairing! It is working properly so I hope I don’t have to deal with this until I get home.

        Another issue I was concerned about was that the impact was so severe it might have damaged the front end and/or flattened the front tires. As I rode I kept my eye on the tires, and they seemed fine. In addition when I took my hands off of the handle bars the bike tracked straight and true. Lucky!

        As I continued west below Chicago I rode in and out of some showers. When I made the turn north on I 39 off of I 80 I hit heavier rain. It reached the point that it was a steady, heavy rain. I still had over 250 miles to my destination and it was raining heavily. I decided it would be foolish to continue on. I was near Rockford IL so I got off and found a hotel. I was soaked so it felt great to get inside and get dry. I called for a pizza delivery and settled in for the evening. I would need to think about my strategy for tomorrow. 

SUMMER TRIP TO EDMONTON 2026

 “…it’s about the journey, not the destination…”

While stopping for gas on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Ron, a Marine Corps
veteran came over and asked me about the Spyder. 

          While was on my trip to Montana and Wyoming in 2023 I met two brothers from Edmonton, Alberta Canada, Brad and Murry Reid. Over the next few years the attraction of a trip to visit them became more and more appealing. I decided that that would be my trip this summer.

The Eat’n Park in New Stanton PA.

        While I was on that trip I “fell over” two times: once in a parking lot and once at a gas station. I was riding my Gold Wing, which weighed well over 1100 pounds when fully gassed and loaded. It became clear to me that, in my 70’s I just wasn’t strong enough to keep that bike up if it started to fall. I ended up selling my Wing and my ST 1100 Honda, which I LOVED!, and going smaller. At that time I bought a Can Am Spyder, which became my long distance touring machine. 

In the afternoon the heat and distance was getting to me so I stopped at a service area
on the Ohio Turnpike…and had some Baskin and Robbin’s!

        I planned the trip to take a little over 3 weeks, and around 7,000 miles. In order to get beyond Chicago I planned 3 600 mile ( + or - ) days. After there would be several 400 mile days, but most 300 or 200 mile days. There is even a 115 mile day in Idaho. 

        The first day I rode from Newark DE to Fremont IN, a distance right about 600 miles. The plan was to ride to Eau Claire WI day 2, and then onto Minot ND on day 3, The next day I would cross into Canada to Saskatoon AB, and finally to Edmonton AB on day 5. A whole lot of riding and not many pictures.

        I made it to Fremont IN on day 1, although it was a long day. Generally I rode around 150 miles before stopping for fuel. I ended up having lunch at the Eat’n Park ( their spelling! ) in New Stanon PA. While my Inlaw’s were alive and living in Ohio, we often stopped there when going for a visit. 

        If you google the trip from Newark to Fremont the route ended up with many toll roads. I think I paid over $35 in tolls that first day. I don’t want to hear about how expensive toll roads are in the Northeast! When the dust settled I was on the road for about 12 hours. I got to the motel in Fremont about 7:20 that night. It was a long day, but I reached my goal. How many times would I do that on this trip? 

Motorcycle Breakfast 11/02/25

 “…it’s about the journey, not the destination…”

Due to mid 40 degree temps I decided to ride the Spyder to the “breakfast”.

        On each first Sunday there is a motorcycle gathering in Ephrata PA if the weather cooperates. It is at the American Legion, which, April through October, serves breakfast in their building. In the summer there can be over a thousand bikes or more there. Some of us go there November through March, just to get together and talk bikes. Today was one of those days. 

This is a Honda ST 1100. I had a black one that was one of my favorite bikes ever. 

        I had wanted to take my V50 Moto Guzzi, but the morning temperature was in the mid-40s. The only bike that I have with enough protection to ride in cold weather is the Can Am Spyder. I put on my winter overpants, wore a warm fleece under my jacket and left around 8 AM. I put the heated grips and seat on high and rode north. 

A very nice 90s vintage Buell. 

       The ride to Ephrata takes about an hour mainly along back roads. I got to the American Legion around 9 AM. There were a few bikes already there. I got out my chair and set up to enjoy the morning. I should have done a better job of taking pictures because, as usual bikes came and went, with a few of us staying there for a while. Unlike a “regular” first Sunday there were few Harley Davidsons. It was an interesting mix. 

There was a nice blue Harley with chrome wheels. 

        We just talk about bikes, past and present, and ask questions about bikes that stand out. My Spyder got some attention due to its paint job. Several guys appreciated heated grips and seat. One aspect of this was that the passenger seat is heated, as are the passenger “grips”! On a chilly morning they appreciated this feature. 

Several Suzuki Hyabusas came, one with the extended swing arm to
prevent the front wheel from coming up when accelerating.

        As I sat there I realized I needed to take off my insulated pants. It warmed up nicely into the low 60s by 11 AM when I decided to leave and go to lunch. As I rode out the sky was blue, the temperature was perfect for a fall day. I rode back along the route I had taken early this morning, to the town of Gap. There I went to the Brass Eagle Restaurant, on US 30 above Gap.

A very nice BMW RT.

        After a nice lunch I made my way back home. My friend Curtis makes fun of me because I stop on the way home to top off the tank. In this case I had ridden over 90 miles today so I stopped as usual to fill up. I’ve found that if I fill up then when I want to go riding I don’t have to worry about filling up when I start a ride. After gas it is 7 miles or so to my house. I put the bike in the garage and then set up to watch football on the deck. There were probably around 25 bikes there today, but it was still fun to get together and talk bikes. If the weather is “decent” I’ll probably go there again on the first Sunday of  December. We’ll see.

Nice triumph with a side car.