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?