Canadian Rockies '18: Day 21... That's All, Folks!

START LOCATION: Nashville, TN
END LOCATION: HOME!
MILES TRAVELED: 675.1
TOTAL MILES TO DATE: 9650.6
WEATHE: Sunny with patches of rain

I'll cover three things in this post:
(1) The Ride Home
(2) Challenges We Faced, and
(3) The Days Ahead

THE RIDE HOME
The ride from Nashville to Winter Garden was pretty uneventful. The kids were finishing up packing for a weekend trip to Milwaukee before heading in to work. I, of course, wanted to take advantage of every minute I could get with Ruth - so I left at 8 AM. That's a later-than-normal departure - but it was okay with me. I got an extra 90 minutes with that grand baby that I wasn't expecting. I grew up in south Louisiana. We call that lagniappe. I'll take it every time!

The ride home was all interstate, and I was concerned about boredom turning into sleepiness - but I did fine. The most exciting moment was a slip in an oil spill at a gas stop, causing me to almost dump my bike. But a crisis was averted, I filled the tank, grabbed three gas-station chicken tenders, and continued on my way. I hit showers three times along the way, but none were as bad as they looked on the radar, and I was kind of grateful for the cooling-off time the showers provided. I listened to ESPN, Fox News, and added in a little CNN for laughs. I'd been pretty much removed from news of any sort for the previous 20 days, so it was kind of fun to catch up on things.

I rolled in hot, tired, and hungry - but safe. I rolled in with a real sense of accomplishment, knowing we had dreamed a dream, worked the plan, and saw it through to completion. This video captures the last few seconds of a 9,650-mile adventure:

The entire journey, as recorded by our SPOT satellite tracker

THE CHALLENGES
Already, I'm being asked frequently about the trip. And my answer is pretty consistent: "It was beautiful, and it was challenging." This is the seventh of these grand adventures. We've seen beautiful sights with every adventure, but none were greater than the Canadian Rockies. We really did see the splendor of our King on display.

This is the seventh of these grand adventures. We've experienced some challenges along the way - but none even come close to comparing to the adversity we experienced this year. We powered through every one - but oh, my... This one was challenging. The challenge began with my planning, quite frankly. This journey was the most aggressive ever. We covered a LOT of miles (9,650 for me) and spent a LOT of time in the saddle. And then there was the weather. In previous years we've been out west, we've experienced remarkably good weather. It has been hot - but it has been dry. Not so this year. Not at all. We found rain nearly every day, even if for a short while. I can take rain, I guess. I don't like rain AND cold. And it was cold. I mean, who would have thought we would be riding in the high 30s and low 40s at the end of June? What in the world?? The conditions were challenging, indeed - but, yes - we powered through and finished the journey.

And then there were the mechanical challenges. Again, in this, the seventh of these adventures, we have hardly had even a hiccup mechanically. Never a flat tire. Never a dead battery. Never a mechanical failure of any significance. This year was very different - from Day 0 to the Day 19. Four hours or so from home, after riding in driving rain, thunder, and lighting, as the weather improved, I realized my cruise control wasn't working. Thanks to the work of Alyshia Sargent, the service manager at my home dealership, Stormy Hill Harley in Clermont, Florida, as well as the service department at Taboo Harley in Alexandria, Louisiana, I was able to get things diagnosed and repaired without losing much time. So we were on our way.

In Kansas, I nearly killed myself on a long sweeper that should have been easy to navigate. The bike started behaving badly. I wasn't sure if this was due to my riding or to an ill-handling motorcycle - but I was shaken. It was several days before I would discover the problem that created this challenge.

And then I realized clutch fluid was leaking. Having a hydraulic clutch means there is a fluid reservoir at the end of the clutch lever. Having a leak in the reservoir can't be ignored if the fluid is all over the clutch lever. This was my experience. Due to some creative coordination between Annette and the kind folks at Greeley Harley-Davidson in Greeley, Colorado, we were able to secure the gasket needed to fix things after hours, and we were fixed again and on our way. (It was actually a little more complicated than that, but I'll spare readers the details.)

All was well for a few days. Arriving in Calgary on Day 12, Randall and I decided to add some air to our suspension systems in anticipation of the girls and their luggage joining the party. We coordinate who brings what tools. Randall had the suspension pump. I connected the pump and was surprised to find 0 PSI of air in the system. Zero. Nada. And the light came on for me. No wonder I hated the way this bike handled. No wonder I nearly killed myself in Kansas when I came off of cruise headed into a sweeper and experienced the bike behaving badly. Go ahead. Tell me I should have known earlier. I should have. But riding a new-to-me bike on roads less traveled... I didn't connect the dots. I acknowledge the failure on my part to know what was going on. Write me off for my inexperience, shake your head, stop reading now, and I'll own the criticism. Or you can read on.

My dad was a great mechanic. He knew how to fix things. He kept a box he called his "100-Year Box". When I asked him what that meant, he said, "I keep things... screws, nuts, bolts... that I might need in a 100 years. But if I need something, I can look here to see if I have what I need." I learned something there. I don't throw things away now - in case I ever need a screw, or a bolt, or whatever I've saved over the years. In case - in the course of a hundred years - I might need something I've saved.

I always watched my dad work on things. His cars. My cars. Things around the house. And I can't tell you the number of times he would say, "I think I have what I need over here in this box." So when I realized my suspension was broken, and that we were well past time when any dealership was open, I thought, "What would my dad do?" To make a long story short, I took things apart, found the problem (a cut air line), then asked Ben to drive me to the NAPA store. Explaining the challenge to the NAPA guy, and hearing him say, "I don't know if I have anything like that," we were able to convince him to think like my dad... to look... and to find some pieces and parts that would work. Once again, with a repair that was holding air, we were good to go again.

All was well through Banff, Alberta, back to Banff... but on the way to Glacier National Park, I told the guys I thought I had a suspension problem again. I missed it the first time. I wouldn't miss it again. I sent the rest of the guys to the Many Glacier while I continued on to our next gas stop (pre-planned, of course) to work on the bike. Hang on to that challenge for a minute, because there's an amazing story here.

The final challenge came after the girls were gone, 120 miles west of St. Louis. First we heard a clattering sound, then "Guys, we need to find a place to stop so I can check on my bike." That check revealed a serious problem that resulted in our leaving Randall in Columbia, Missouri for diagnosis. Leaving any part of our band of brothers as we continued on was one of the hardest things I've ever done. The phrase, "No man left behind" kept running through my heart and mind. I wept as we prayed over him. I wept as I called a dear friend and wise counselor to ask if I was doing the right thing in continuing on. The diagnosis on that machine went from "we'll have you out of here by the end of the day" to the realization that the motor was terminally ill and needed to be replaced. So one bike is still more than 700 miles from home, waiting on repair. Randall is safely home, though, and for this we are all thankful.

So those were the challenges. More remarkable in all of this is the clear evidence of the faithfulness of God - at every turn. Let me share the evidences we observed:

• At the NAPA store, an employee said, "I don't think I have anything that can fix that - but come on back and let's look." I don't know if he was supposed to do that. But have you ever been in "the back" of a NAPA store? That's quite the 100-Year Box. And we found a tiny little piece that formed a repair that got us back on the road. One. There was ONE coupler thing in inventory. One piece. One God who orchestrated that.

• When my bike broke again just outside of Glacier National Park, you know that Annette and I went on to try to diagnose and fix the problem. So as I'm working, a scary-looking biker gang rides up. One of the riders comes over to see what's going on with the bike. When we told him, he said, "I've got a Harley mechanic in my group. Would you like for me to have him look at it?" I mean, what were the chances of THAT happening? Zero, I would say, in the natural -  but not unexpected when the SUPERnatural is at work. But that's not all. I told him what we were dealing with, and he said, "This line is too short to be routed where it needs to run to keep it from getting cut again, but I just happen to have some of this tubing on my bike." Think about that. Of all the parts that could be broken... with the limited storage on a Street Glide... that he would have the exact part I needed. What are the chances of that happening? ZERO - unless God was choosing to demonstrate His faithfulness.

• One more: When Randall's motor broke, as we stood in frustration, wondering what to do, we recognized that there was a nice, new Holiday Inn right across the street, offering a safe haven for the night. But wait - there's more: right across the street from the hotel was a Harley-Davidson dealership where Randall could seek a repair. No unsafe riding needed. No towing needed. Coincidence? We think not.

So what do I learn from all of this? I am a person of faith. I am a Bible-believing follower of Jesus. This does not mean I will not face challenges. In fact, the first chapter of the book of James in the Bible says, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." I choose to receive that Word. And I choose to see God's faithfulness in the challenges.

Here are some words from the Bible I cling to in difficult seasons:

• The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease. For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

• Be strong and courageous . Do not be afraid or terrified because of them for the Lord your God goes with you. He will never leave you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 3:16

• Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

I'm not just a Christ-follower. I'm a worship leader. I help people use the gift of song to worship God... to plant ideas in their hearts that will sustain them in challenging seasons... and then to articulate strong truth with their mouths, speaking those words of conviction in the presence of other believers as an affirmation and as a testimony to others. Just this weekend, our teams led our church to declare these truths:

Your promise still stand, great is Your faithfulness

I'm still in Your hands, this is my confidence

Do It Again, written by Steven Furtick, Matt Redman, Chris Brown, and Matt Brock

Copyright 2016 Elevation Worship Publishing

and

You're never gonna let, never gonna let me down

You are good

King of My Heart, written by John Mark McMillan and Sarah McMillan

Copyright Meaux Jeaux Music, Raucous Ruckus Publishing, and Sarah McMillan Publishing

and

All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Great Is Thy Faithfulness, written by Thomas Chisholm and William Runyan

Copyright Hope Publishing Company

I know it might seem crazy - but I'm choosing to stand on the truth of these verses and these songs. I don't base the foundation of my life on what happened over 21 days of a motorcycle trip. I base my convictions and my response to difficult circumstances on what I've learned about my God over the long haul. I've also learned to let difficult circumstances get my attention. When challenges come, I don't whine. Instead, I observe. I say, "God, what do You want me to learn from all of this?" And that brings me to....

THE DAYS AHEAD

I began to think carefully about the days and years ahead weeks before the 2018 adventure began. I began to think about a shift in priority for me. I love the friends I call our Band of Brothers. I've written about that. Nothing changes there. But I also think we're in a season when our girls need us in a different way. I perceive that we're in a season when the building of our legacy includes pouring meaningful time and influence into our grandchildren.

These are my people. From left to right:
Son-in-law Bryan, Daughter Jaimee, Wife Annette,
Granddaughters Ruth and Lorelai, Me,
Daughter Lindsey, and Son-in-Law Travis

Practically, I want to share the things we've seen with my family. And I can't take two daughters, two sons-in-law, and two granddaughters with me on a motorcycle. And then, as I began to think about where else I want to go on a motorcycle, I'm kind of out of ideas. We've ridden to all 48 contiguous states and many of the provinces of Canada. Alaska is still out there - but I just don't want to do that. We've climbed the mountains. I've ridden 133,000 miles in 10 years. And I just have a sense that that's enough.

So... I think it's a wrap. I think, like Porky Pig, I'm ready to say, "Th-th-th-That's all folks."

It's been a great ride. And the journey is not over. I just think I'm ready to ride on 6 or 8 wheels with a party of 8 or 10... still consumed by a spirit of adventure... still pursuing roads less traveled...

It's time for a new season.

Before I post this update... I would be remiss to not express gratitude to some folks who have shared this most recent season with me in one way or another:

• When I pitched an idea to my wife in 2011 that we ride all 48 states in three summers, I thought she would say I had lost my mind. Instead, she encouraged me to pursue a crazy, crazy dream. When we finished the 48, she allowed me to keep finding roads less traveled. And if that wasn't enough... she joined me on every adventure. She's a keeper - and I love her with my whole heart.
• My kids encouraged me despite the risk and fear of what could happen. I hope the result is that I've instilled in them a spirit of adventure and a desire to seek life-enriching experiences.
• My mom and a host of others have prayed me through all of this. I am convinced we've been granted divine protection, and I don't take that for granted.
• My friend Randall was the first call when Annette gave me the green light to pursue the 48. I shared the vision, and his response was immediate: "I'm in." We've been friends for 30 years. We enjoy a special kind of forever bond. And we, along with our wives, have shared a lifetime of experiences these last seven year.
• That Band of Brothers who have ridden with me is special. I love those guys. I'd die for them, and I know they would do the same for me. Though the two-wheeled season is coming to a close for me, they'll ride on - and we've already discussed continuing to travel together. They'll be on two wheels, while I use a few more. The Band is characterized by a bond that doesn't end as this season changes for me. 
• My work associates, who have allowed me the freedom to be gone for extended periods, and who have covered for me while I'm away. What a team!

I am a blessed man. Blessed indeed.

Canadian Rockies '18: Days 19 and 20

START LOCATION: St. Louis, MO
END LOCATION: Nashville, TN
MILES TRAVELED: 319.2
TOTAL MILES TO DATE: 8975.5
WEATHE: Sunny, 5 minutes of rain

Trent and the girls left us in Billings. Randall stayed behind with a broken motor in Columbia, Missouri. Junior was staying in St. Louis with family. That left three of us leaving from the Hampton Inn in St. Louis - Matt and Steve headed from home in New Orleans, while I headed to to Nashville to see my daughter Jaimee, son-in-law Travis, and granddaughter Ruth.

My solo ride to Nashville was relatively short... just 319 miles. Physically spent, however, and absent the conversation with the other guys, I struggled to stay alert. I struggled to stay awake. I stopped several times to hydrate and walk around a bit, and finally made it safely to Nashville.

I had a wedding to attend in East Tennessee later in the evening. The following day (Day 20), I rode nowhere, dedicating this day to spending July 4th with family. Exhausted, I took four naps. In the evening, I enjoyed celebrating the Fourth with Phil and Sherri Wines and more of Travis' family. But the best part of this respite in Nashville was spending time with my granddaughter.

Cool motorcycle guy who rides a nice bike on epic adventures? Not really. I'm a family guy whose priorities are centered around three things: being a faithful follower of Jesus, being a family guy, and being a good friend. I write these words often... "more on that later." Really - I'll write more on that later. For now... here are just a few pics from Nashville:

Daughter Jaimee and first granddaughter Ruth

Dudley - the newest member of our Nashville family.
He's an Aussiedoodle.

Canadian Rockies '18: Day 18

START LOCATION: Murdo, SD
END LOCATION: St. Louis, MO
MILES TRAVELED: 833.9
TOTAL MILES TO DATE: 8656.3
WEATHER SUMMARY: Getting hotter

This day really was to be a "put your head down, hold on and ride hard" day. The plan was a straight 830-mile day... gas, bathroom, hydration, and a quick lunch stop... determined to reach our goal of St. Louis, Missouri before sunset.

The first 710 miles went as well as could be expected. With 120 miles left to ride, we all started hearing an unfortunate sound. "Hey, we need to stop to check my bike." The sound we were all hearing through our PackTalk communicators was a lifter failing in one of the motors. In a separate post, I'll speak more to the providence of God in every challenge we faced. In this one, the evidence of the faithfulness of God was there was a Holiday Inn across the street from the service station where we stopped, and a Harley-Davidson dealership directly across the street from the hotel.

In a terribly-painful decision for me - made through tears as we prayed for the brother we would leave in Columbia, MO, and then again as I called a friend for wise counsel, asking if I was doing the right thing in continuing on to Nashville - we rode on, arriving in St. Louis well past our intended arrival time.

Just one photo... a shot of our band of brothers leaving the Rockies in our rear view. Some of the most beautiful roads we've ever ridden... roads that were taxing to reach... behind us as we headed for the finish line.

Canadian Rockies '18: Day 17

START LOCATION: Billings, MT
END LOCATION: Murdo, SD
MILES TRAVELED: 628.7
TOTAL MILES TO DATE: 7822.4
WEATHER: Pleasant to rain to hot

In the original ride plan, this was supposed to be another of those "head down / cover as many miles as we can / get as close to home as we can" kind of days. As I was reviewing the route one day, I noticed that we were going to literally be skirting the top of the Black Hills, another motorcycle-riding meca for many - especially those who frequent the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. We were routed to ride a lot of these great roads the last time we were in the area, and inclement weather caused us to get a sampling of the area and head out of the region. This was disappointing. Also considering the fact that Junior had not been to Mount Rushmore previously, I suggested we ride the Black Hills. The other guys liked the idea - so we planned a dip south into the mountains.

Time was a real factor on this day. First, we were covering a lot of miles - just north of 600. Next, the speed limit in Montana and South Dakota is 80. The burn rate on fuel is not so good on Harleys above 3,000 RPM, so we had to plan extra fuel stops. And I really wanted to be off the road by sunset due to the possibility of wildlife on the roadways. So we made it a point to hustle all through the day.

The roads we added in to the mix included:

• The Spearfish Canyon Ride is a very scenic ride in the Black Hills area. The ride has astonishing views of  epic cliffs, streams, and tumbling waterfalls. Most of this ride is made up of long, sweeping curves.
• The Nemo Road Ride us made up of a picturesque ride through Boulder Canyon. This route also includes rides through the resort town of Nemo and an old mining ghost town.
• Needles Highway proved to be one of the highlights of the day. Oh, my goodness! I've said in another post - and often say in conversation about our rides - that one of my goals is to find the hardest roads we can find and the ride them as fast as we can. If I ever ride another technically challenging road in my life, I think I can say with this one I rode the mack-daddy. The Iron Mountain Road part of this ride is 17 miles long and contains 314 curves, 14 switchbacks, 3 intense pigtails, and 3 single-lane tunnels. This motorcycle roller coaster makes the Tail of the Dragon seem like child's play! I'll post video of this ride when I get a chance to do some editing.

We stopped in at Mount Rushmore as planned, then made our way to the last of the National Parks we would visit. Badlands National Park is a wonder unlike anything I've ever seen before. I'll let the pictures describe this one for you.

Leaving the Badlands, we set our sights on Murdo, South Dakota. Arriving safely, we found our Best Western less than satisfying - but we just needed a night of sleep. I spent quite a while trying to kill flies in my room. I finally went to bed having disposed of all but one who managed to elude my every effort to send him to insect heaven. While our hotel left much to be desired, the pizza at Prairie Pizza was better than expected, so all was not lost in Murdo, this curious little place on the road less traveled.

Our first vies of Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore seen through the windshield of a Harley - sort of...

Wildlife sightings on the way into The Badlands

Bighorn sheep "hiding" in the grassland

Canadian Rockies '18: Day 16

START LOCATION: Whitefish, MT
END LOCATION: Billings, MT
MILES TRAVELED: 493.7
TOTAL MILES TO DATE: 7193.7
WEATHER SUMMARY: Getting warmer

With the end of Day 15, the real fun... the scenic wonders of the great northwest... were in the rearview mirror. The remaining days would be about the long ride home.

Annette and Elizabeth, choosing to stay with us another day, rode one of the return days with us. Leaving Whitefish, Montana, our destination was Billings, Montana. This destination was chosen because of the easy access to a fairly major airport that would facilitate the girls getting home. The weather was favorable for what would be a pretty boring ride if not for the company and camaraderie we enjoy.

I was in Helena recently to play for an event and ate a couple of times at a country diner. I thought it would be fun to get off of the interstate, enjoy some national forest riding, and grab a bite at Shellie's Country Cafe. Thought the route was planned carefully, we experienced challenges finding the diner. Annette and I were nearly sideswiped by a driver making a u-turn, and I was seriously questioning the wisdom of this routing choice. We finally arrived, though, had a decent meal, and had pie that Shellie's is known for.

Continuing on our way, we finally arrived at Hampton Inn in Billings, cleaned up a bit, and enjoyed a great dinner at Jake's a place recommended by my Montana friends.

I don't think I captured any images at all on this day. If I did, I'll post them later.

A good night's sleep was desperately needed, and Annette and I called it a night early. While her flight schedule would allow for a leisurely morning, the boys and I were gearing up for a couple of grueling days as we would continue east and then south on the road less traveled.

Another update soon....

Canadian Rockies '18: Day 15

START LOCATION: Banff, AB
END LOCATION: Whitefish, MT
MILES TRAVELED: 346.6
TOTAL MILES TO DATE: 6700
WEATHER SUMMARY: Nice to nasty

On this day, we headed south, starting the long journey toward home. We crossed the border back into the United States with our primary destination being Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park. We made our way to the border on Highway 17 and over Chief Mountain. While crossing Chief Mountain, I began to suspect we were encountering one of several challenges we faced with our motorcycle. I'll detail all of this - and the miracle that ensued - in a post dedicated entirely to the mechanical challenges we faced on the 2018 adventure.

Making our way to Going-to-the-Sun Road, we began to experience wind that proved to be a precursor to fog changing to rain. But we pressed on. We knew what was to come... more than 50 miles of an engineering marvel characterized by some of the grandest sights in the Rocky Mountains. The road hugs the mountainside as it traverses steep drop-offs and sharp curves. During the dedication of Going-to-the-Sun Road, Governor Frank H. Cooney stated, "There is no highway which will give the seer, the lover of grandeur of the Creator's handiwork, more thrills, more genuine satisfaction deep in his being, than will a trip over this road."  I think this might have been true for us except for the weather. Cold, foggy, then raining... all of this caused us to hurry from the summit of 6.646 to get to the warmth of our hotel room in Whitefish. We came. We conquered. But we had to hurry through this gem of the national park system due to weather. Even so, the vistas were awe-inspiring, and once again pointed us to a profound appreciation for the artistry of the one true God we adore.

Canadian Rockies '18: Day 11 Update and Days 12, 13, 14

START LOCATION: Nelson, BC
END LOCATION: Banff, AB
MILES TRAVELED: 318.7
TOTAL MILES TO DATE: 5535
WEATHER SUMMARY: Overcast to perfect

First - there are four days of updates in one post. This is due in part to the fact that I have been so tired I simply can't take time to post. I have pushed us hard this year. Maybe the fatigue is because I'm getting old. It could have something to do with the medication I'm taking. Of course, the challenging pace has a lot to do with it. But I know I must rest. And then there's another important factor: My girl is here with me now, and spending meaningful time with her is a priority. So... not posts for several days. Here's a quick update. It's 4 in 1.

I posted a brief update of Day 11 previously. I'll add pics here. Days 11, 12, and 13 are all about the "prize" of the 2018 adventure. This is what we came to do. These days, we experienced the Columbia Icefields Parkway.

The Icefields Parkway is one of Canada's national treasures and most rewarding destinations. Stretching 144 miles (or 232 kilometers, as we found ourselves calculating for these days) through the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, this world-class journey offers access to a vast wildeness  of pristine mountain lakes, ancient glaciers, and broad sweeping valleys. I'll let the pictures describe what we experienced.

Day 12 started with a rainy but still pleasant ride on the Kootenay Bay-Balfour Ferry. We completed the Kootenay Lake route, then made our way to Banff.

We had planned to visit Lake Louise on this day, but drawing close to Banff, we decided to go directly to our hotel. We met friends Ben and Tami Kreitl there, had a pleasant dinner, and called it a night.

START LOCATION: Banff, AB
END LOCATION: Calgary, AB
MILES TRAVELED: 314.6
TOTAL MILES TO DATE: 5849.6
WEATHER SUMMARY: Snowing!

The idea was to relax a bit on this day. We desperately needed to catch up on some rest before the girls arrived. We set out to "scout" a few things on the Parkway in anticipation of the girls joining us for the adventure, and we did just that. We then made our way to Calgary to meet the girls via the Kananaskis Trail.

We visited five sites on the Parkway: Lake Louise (which we elected to postpone on Day 11), Hector Lake Lookout, Crowfoot Glacier Overlook, Bow Lake Overlook, and Peyto Lake Lookout. Each was rewarding, as the pics below prove. Ben and Tami told us about another site we should try to visit - Maligne Lake - that was not on our itinerary, but the parking lot was full on our way up to Lake Louise and was fill on our way back down again, so we were unable to see this site. Postponing experiencing this site would prove to be a blessing, as we ending up finishing our time on the Parkway with this gem. More on that later in the post...

It was cold and SNOWING on this day. If I had know we would experience snow will riding at elevation, I might have reconsidered - but the snow was light and didn't impact our riding at all. It certainly made for a memory, though!

Ben and Tami

The Steves

Matt

Snow on my seat!

Peyto Lake Overlook

The Kananaskis Trail was one of those unexpected blessings we experience so often on these trips. The scenery was stunning. The ride was exhilarating. And we found wildlife we didn't expect. First, we came screaming around a curve to jam on brakes as we saw a family of grizzlies just down a little embankment next to the road. We saw a family of little birds of some sort (no pics of these), and then encountered a herd of mountain goats of some sort. I love animals!

Finally arriving in Calgary, we were able to get settled - and deal with a bike issue I'll address in another post - before I headed to the airport to meet the girls. It sure was great to get to see Annette!

START LOCATION: Calgary, AB
END LOCATION: Jasper, AB
MILES TRAVELED: 296.8
TOTAL MILES TO DATE: 6146.4
WEATHER SUMMARY: Absolutely beautiful

We started this day bright and early. Though not a long mileage day, we had a full ride plan.We stopped at a couple of easy-to-access sights on the way north, but pushed hard to get to the Columbia Icefield and Skywalk Visitor Center, where we would have lunch and then enjoy two amazing experiences - a ride in a giant snow coach up to the Columbia Glacier, and a walk on the Skywalk, a glass walkway suspended over a deep gorge. Along the way north toward Jasper, the northern-most point in our adventure, we visited a number of awe-inspiring wonders, including Howse Pass Lookout, the Weeping Wall, Big Bend, and others. We visited two powerful waterfalls, Sunwapta Falls and Athabasca Falls. Finally, we made our way to Jasper, where we enjoyed dinner together before retiring for the evening.

Find the rainbow in this one!

START LOCATION: Jasper, AB
END LOCATION: Banff, AB
MILES TRAVELED: 207.0
TOTAL MILES TO DATE: 6353.4
WEATHER SUMMARY: Overcast and cold

On this last day on the Icefields Parkway, we would make our way from Jasper back to Banff - and officially begin the turn south, toward home. While at dinner the previous evening, we made the difficult decision to skip a planned boat ride on Maligne Lake. While I had been looking forward to this experience, we knew we would be cold, that the forecast was less than favorable, and that the experience would make for a really long day. Given our fatigue factor, we opted to sleep in, start our ride at 9 AM, and head for Banff.

Along the way, we saw beautiful sights, including Tower Falls, Peyto Overlook, and Lake Louise. This also turned out to be great animal sighting day. We finished Day 14 with the highlight of our time on the Parkway, Moraine Lake, before ending up in Banff for dinner.

These are the evidences of the handiwork of God we came so far to experience. To say we were not disappointed is an understatement. Lyrics to songs I sing so often were rolling through my heart and mind as we beheld all of this together...

O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder

Thy power throughout the universe displayed

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art!

and

The splendor of a King clothed in majesty

Let all the earth rejoice...

How great is our God!

O friends, if you don't know this God of creation - look for Him in all of this beauty. Marvel at the power that must be at the disposal of this One who fashioned all of this. And consider this truth that is almost too much to comprehend: The God who formed all of this formed YOU and desires a personal, intimate relationship with you.

See Him. Marvel. And step into life-changing relationship. He's as close as the mention of His name. Not sure about how to begin a journey that is far more meaningful than the Canadian Rockies Adventure? Ask me. I'd love to help you start down a REAL road less traveled... an adventure far greater than Canadian Rockies '18... and one that will last far longer than a lifetime. Yes, I'd love to share the "what" and the "how" with you. Really. I would!