BC Railways Adventure Ride and to Alaska

Over the next several days I will try to tell the story of our adventure on the British Columbia Railways and Trip to Alaska.

My Daughter, Missy has just graduated from High School. She will now be moving off to go to college now. So what does that mean at our house???? Time for a ride!

So I asked Missy what she would like to do to celebrate graduation???? "Maybe I asked what ride did she want to do?"



Anyway she said Dad lets ride to Alaska, and all I want to do is see Grizzly Bears in the wild and Kayak with the Whales.



Of course I know that means bears on bikes and don't get the girl hurt, mauled, drowned..... OK, Mom

So with some planning, we would try to do it. We will Truck the bikes to Washington State, then ride Canada to Alaska!



About our adventure: Some of you like me love this stuff:

2 weeks, 2500miles, not the paved routes, mostly back dirt roads, some abandon railroad beds, should be really cool

It's a "Big Bike Ride", 200 to 300 miles per day, maybe more if I blew it. Missy is riding a Kawasaki Versys 650, KLE650 Kevin is riding a BMW HP2 Enduro.

Ride starts on the Trans Canada route of the Kettle Valley Railway Trail, 3 days of abandon Railroad Beds

Lost of water crossings, mostly very remote ferry's, but who knows? (a little bit of the Roulette attitude here)

Ride finishes with a ferry down the "Inland passage" to Vancouver Island. WOW

It's Just Missy and I, no more Parent-Kid attitude, she may have to save me..... (were not messing around here, Remember Grizzly's?)





Our plan is to carry all our gear for the 2 weeks, but each evening to stay in Cabins, Yurts, Hostels, and Motels. Many evening we will have internet access, so we will try to send out an email update about our daily adventure including pictures. (So you are now on our email list and for the next couple weeks will get email)

Slide Show of our preparation for the trip

So I thought Missy should be prepared to achieve her goals of meeting a Grizzly Bear in the wild. See the training we did.

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Mom don't worry, the Bears probably won't get us, it's the Moose we have to worry about.

Can you see us doing this on bikes? Chase the Moose

BTW, this may be my last opportunity to lecture her, so each day we will be discussion life.... Theme each day and by the time the 13 days of lectures are up, she won't ever let me lecture her again!

Upcoming BC Railways Ride 2013 join us

Today started with a nice warm breakfast consisting of oatmeal and cinnamon rolls from Rod's home. We left Anacortes at about 8 am and headed towards the Canadian border. We made it to the border after a back track to the house where Missy yet again forgot her wallet. At the border Daddy got in trouble for taking pictures of me cross the line and I guess my answers to the questions weren&#8217;t as expected because we had to go park and have a background check to make sure we were carrying fruit or weapons. As we went inside the guy at the counter had the meanest look on his face. Once we gave him our information he came with us outside as if he was going to check the bikes but instead he made small talk with my dad about his HP2 and adventure riding in Canada. So as we first went in thinking he would never let us into Canada because of the dirty look on his face but he surprised us and was friendly and said we were totally fine and sorry for the inconvience. We finally entered Canada and our first order of business was to find gas and get some Canadian money. After those two things were taken care of we started on the heart of the ride. We went through some gorgeous back roads surrounded by trees. And I swear about every five miles you come across another lake or river of some sort. It is so beautiful. We came to the lunch stop in a town known as Hope. We ate at the Blue Moose which was kind of a small town espresso bar and sandwich place. Again back on the trail and onto the abandoned railroad track that daddy had promised. This is where the day got tough. Several times the trail had problems and we could not take the route that we needed to. It was either washed out or there was no bridge any longer or some of the route had even been converted into a hiking trail (I mean come on&#8230;who hikes???).



The day ended with some great sections of railway, and Missy putting the Versys through some water. Key was under the mat at a small town motel just as Mom had promised. The small town was nothing more then one small store with food and gas. A bit of a party town, complete with girls riding on the trunks of cars.

Slideshow from the day

Upcoming BC Railways Ride 2013 join us

One lucky daughter and one really, really lucky father!

I'll be keeping a sharp eye out for more of the adventure.

Roll um Lester...

Great Day, no one hurt!

Starting happy.....?



This morning we started a little late. We hopped on our bikes and rode down the abandoned railway. The trail followed a nice rolling river and the entire morning we were watching the beautiful river as we sped down the road. After about an hour of riding we stopped for a hearty breakfast at Billy&#8217;s Family Restaurant.



We had a large breakfast there where my dad yet again got asked by a fellow biker about his HP2. Again we were on our way down the trail and throughout the entire day we came across many huge tunnels and bridges that the trains used to pass over in the old days.


We stopped at a river crossing to have a snack and figure out how we were going to get across.



Missy Explains Tree Down From a Beaver

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After the river crossing my dad came across a baby bear. Unlucky for me it ran away before I could see it and we thought it a better idea to leave rather then let the mother bear come after us. Then we came to a town and got a refill on gas. We passed over a gorgeous mountain and down the valley.

Then there was a swamp in the middle of the railway bed:



Missy Crosses the Swamp

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When we discovered it was 3 pm and we still had 73 miles to go we made a decision to take the road instead of the dirt trail. We arrived at the Mile Zero Motel which is a lot nicer then the previous place at around 6pm. We ate dinner at the only restaurant in town (in the motel). And now off to bed because it was a long day and we are both very sore. I am not sure if I will be able to make the entire trip. This is long and hard and my body is already fatigued.

Slideshow of Pics from the day

Upcoming BC Railways Ride 2013 join us

Today we got up and rode a little until we hit the Anaconda Café. There we ate nice big Spanish style omelets. (But they weren&#8217;t very Spanish tasting coming from So Cal.)



We left the Café to head out on our last say of the abandoned railroad trail. Apparently the trail is mostly for hiking. But as my father forgot to point that out we had to do a bunch of backtracking and finding alternate routes. (And might I add, those of you that know my father, know that he is not one for following the law. But let me tell you this is the most I have ever seen him follow the law in my entire life. He goes the speed limit and if not under. He won&#8217;t go on any trail that is not specified for motorcycles. It&#8217;s crazy. It&#8217;s a new Kevin.)



So we finished up the railroad track with many more cool bridges and tunnels just the same as the pervious days. In the afternoon we took the highway and followed along the Columbia River. It is absolutely breathtaking and the river is so large.



And we went to dinner in a small town at a German pizza place that was quite good. Now we are staying in a yurt which is basically a glorified tent with and composting toilet. I think I might want one in my back yard!



This abandon Railroad stuff is fantastic! I can't believe you can still ride these trails.

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Photos of the Railways below in the slideshow. These are awesome!

Slideshow of Pic from the day

Upcoming BC Railways Ride 2013 join us

what a great trip, and you're taking time to keep us upto date

Here in the UK to pull off such a trip,,,, well we'd have to go to BC too!
I'm sure they told you, but Hope is where the original Rambo was filmed

Nice pics! Congrats on the great ride.

Hey Kevin is this the first run for the Railway that you are planning on doing again later this year................Keep it comin.........

Rich, yes, about 50% of the upcoming Railways Ride is from the best stuff I found on this ride with my Daughter and some from our trip to the Arctic in 2012, then 50% is new stuff that I have been studying.

Sidebar: Everyone: I loved the BC Railways so much that I have decided to do another ride there this summer 2013 and open an invitation to other riders to join me.

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You can find details of the ride and sign up on my web page: BC RAILWAYS RIDE 2013

This morning&#8217;s ride started bright and early.





We jumped onto the local ferry to cross the Columbia River. That was pretty cool considering I have never been on a ferry before.





We rode some logging roads and saw many mountain sides that had been cleared of the beautiful trees. As we headed on we were driving on the road when all of a sudden a mother moose ran right in front of my dad. She was gorgeous and ran right across, afraid of us, not like the other moose in the video. We then tried to search and find the mother reunite with the baby but that was a failed attempt.


Not the real picture, we were not able to get a pic. You Know "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story"

Today we came into the last big town that we will probably see on the entire ride, so we stopped at the local Beamer store and got a new tire for the HP2. After the clerk telling us that it would cost $110 per hour for labor my dad decided that he would take matters into his own hands. And so, he changed the tire right in front of the store in the middle of the parking lot. (Not that surprising for Kevin&#8230;but still funny.) We stopped for lunch at a food chain called Tim Hortons. Then we finished off the ride with some nice street riding and traveled along the highway. And might I add as you drive along the highway you see some of the most beautiful natural swamps. I will take pictures and send them along another day.

Slide Show of Picture from the Day

Upcoming BC Railways Ride 2013 join us

My daughter is graduating high school this June. Gonna try and do a trip 2 up with her this summer. Don't have enough time to turn her into a rider. I'm guessing Missy started riding dirt bikes a while back. Enjoying seeing local BC scenery from your perspective.

Having ridden almost all of the KVR that is legal to ride a couple of years ago on my way to Alaska
this ride report is really going to be enjoyable to me.

Awesome------thanks !
Wish my son could have went along.

Holaday: Wow checked out your posts, Awesome, Who are you? Wow cool, BTW. I get that. Missy started very young, she was still 3 something, by late 4 she could ride her brother, fast.



By 6y she grew the XR70



Then she got that serious Motorcycle Face



By 8 we did the KTM thing



They grow up fast.

And she never stopped. She is an awesome dirt bike rider. And to my surprise (not really) she can put a bike bike through anything.

Wow thanks for your support, have a great graduation with your daughter, I always wanted a girl that I could really ride with, well dreams do come true. I just had to raise her. But now I got a riding buddy for the rest of my life!

I realize building memories is what you get in life.

Loved your posts, Loved BC, we should meet one day.

Mark: Make me laugh, I think Missy and I were only a couple of day behind you.

Wait until day 6 report where we come across this sign, from you.



Missy has some words for you....

After the ride we were going to email you and tell you of our experience, but we some how never did.

See you on day 6

Awesome----just too cool !!!!!!!!!
Wonder you didn't pass us-------were' kind of slow !!!

I can't wait to tell Dingweeds about this.

BigDog

Cool trip!
I love RR routes.

Today was supposed to be our shortest day of riding but we didn&#8217;t get started until about 10. (Those of you that were following us on the spot were probably wondering why&#8230;?) Well we left the motel at 8 like normal. Because we were in a city we decided to do breakfast at a local restaurant called the Coldwater Hotel.


I guess this place is known for it showers

(And across the street was an abandoned store that literally contained like 15 cats. They were all just sitting in the window looking at the people passing by.)



After breakfast, we stopped at the local outdoor store to purchase another bottle of bear spray. (So that each of us would have one and not rely on the other when a bear is actually present.) At the store we had to wait for his wife to show up and bring in the new shipment of spray. After a long wait we finally were on our way, bear spray in hand.



We rode awhile and pulled over at a gas station for a refill and some much needed ice cream on a hot day.



After our snack we rode on and we came to a section where we were supposed to cross the river. But in fact the ferry that was located on the opposite side of the river was closed. After we sat on the bank for about 15min the driver decided that he should yell across the river. But because of the roar of the rapids we could not hear him. So we waited another 5 min and I think he realized that we were still waiting so he got on the load speaker and told us that the ferry was closed.



We then had to find our way on dirt paths to the city that we were trying to get to. So our day that was supposed to be shorter turned out just as long. And I will say my glove tan is beginning to be quite bad. More tomorrow. Keep following us!


Missy carrying the extra tire because the Beemer can't do it.

Missy Farts while riding, Wow still a kid
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Hot, fun day

Slideshow of pictures from the day

Upcoming BC Railways Ride 2013 join us