The "big" loop

[Ripster]

Just got back from my 3200km "big loop" adventure through BC and Alberta, it was an awesome ride. I decided from the beginning to avoid the transcanada highway since i've done that too many times in a cage.

I went north up S to S and duffy lake road, which is it terrible shape and stretched my chain in a big way as well as bent my license plate from the tire hitting it :mad. After that I headed up the Cariboo highway to green lake and camped out there on the beach. Then north on the thompson river passed mount robson to Jasper and down the icefield parkway to Calgary for the stampede.

On the way back I took a southern route through Fernie, Cranbrook, Creston, then up the best road in BC to Kootenay Bay. From there through to New Denver on freshly paved twisties :) to Vernon, then down to Osoyoos for a quick ride on the jetskis and back through manning park.

The south Kootenays is definety some fine riding, definitely worth the tendonitis in my wrists. Hitting up the hot springs for a soak after a days ride is definitely the way to go, there are lots of them. Provincial campgrounds are great too, and forestry recreation areas are even better if you don't mind sacrificing some amenities.

Here are some of the pics from my ride:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ripster_/sets/72157606214395767/show (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ripster_/sets/72157606214395767/show/)

[J_Scott]

Absolutely gorgeous pictures. I've stayed at the Fairmont, it's a great hotel.

Those pics make me want to ride out to the Rockies this year. Savannah's never been.

Great report, can't say it enough... those are awesome pics.

[klutch]

Great pics; I think I recognize every one of those from my year spent in Banff. My first 3 months riding were all up there, yet I haven't toured back there ever since. Good to see you have a proper touring bike as well...none of those sissy couches-on-wheels.

[Ripster]

I discovered a couple secret pieces of pavement too in Alberta.

The first is the Banff Parkway, that's the old road from Lake Louise to Banff, not the transcanada highway. It is posted at 60 km/h but, there is no traffic or cops. And the powers that be have engineered 3 new sections of single lane race track in there that I haven't seen since Spain. It's truly awesome.

Also, the whole road to Moraine Lake from Lake Louise is very freshly paved and an absolute blast, they haven't even put down the lines yet and it's twisty as hell :)

[smokinjoe]

Thanks for sharing and very nice pics!

[weitaro]

nice pictures!!
and your bike is so clean!! do you wash it everyday during the trip?

[firefox]

Did you ride on Hwy 31A between New Denver and Kaslo? I just did last week and it has to be one of THE best roads for twisties and scenery...nicely paved too!! Can't wait to get back there again! :flashy

Nice pics btw! :)

[Ripster]

nice pictures!!
and your bike is so clean!! do you wash it everyday during the trip?

It wasn't too clean by the time I got to Calgary :) When I got back to Van you could barely tell what the original color was look at the front :)



Did you ride on Hwy 31A between New Denver and Kaslo?

Yep, it's awesome, the best road I've ridden in BC for sure. The whole thing, Vernon-Nakusp-New Denver-Kaslo-Creston was really sweet. Gotta watch out for deer though, I saw loads of them at the side of the road.

[dubster]

Your bike looks amazing!
I can't wait until I can ride the Rockies. Damn!

[bandito]

Nice pics... brings back lots of roadtrip memories.

All the basics in a backpack... well done.

I'll have to checkout the parkway pavement when I am out there later this year...

Did you cook your own pub food @ Sask. River crossing? That's always good for a laugh.

[Ripster]

Did you cook your own pub food @ Sask. River crossing? That's always good for a laugh.

Damn I missed that. I hope you're not talking about where the N. Sask. river meets the Athabasca on the parkway, that's where i had to pay 1.72 for gas on an empty tank and $20 for a bowl of chili.

[anoxion]

whats the info on your hammock/tent? that thing is awesome!

[Ripster]

whats the info on your hammock/tent? that thing is awesome!

http://hennessyhammock.com

Definitely my best camping purchase ever. They also sell them at MEC, but the deals are better on the website. They are based on Gabriola Island.

[anoxion]

sweet, thanks!

[Triplepete]

Nice trip. Glad you found some good roads to stretch her legs. Looks like you had decent weather, can get pretty sketchy that way. Thanks for posting!