Initial Mileage: 45,482 km

This trip took place during the Summer of 1999. We left on July 1st and returned July 24th. I hope you enjoy the following journal.

Just a note at the start, because I am publishing an old journal, I am going to set it up so that you read the oldest posts first. This way it will read more like a book and less like a blog.

July 1 - mileage: 46,010 km (distance for the day = 528 km)

So, first day today, started out later than expected, about 10:30-11:00. It was raining when we left, but there were dry roads by the time we hit Hixon. I discovered my visor isn't as good as first thought. It lifts at about 95 km/h. While in Hixon, Kyle went to put his foot on his pegs, forgot the kickstand wasn't down, and dropped his bike. Next stop, Quesnel. Weather was good. But when we went to gas up, Kyle realized he had lost 2 bolts, a nut, and a cotter pin from his rear caliper. It other words, he had no back brakes. So about an hour and a half later, and some manufacturing of the missing parts, we were on the road again. We stopped for lunch in McLease Lake. Kyle lost his highway peg between there and Kersley. While waiting for Kyle's lost peg, we discovered I need a new starter. The weather turned awful at Begbie summit. Very rainy and cold. We stopped in Clinton for gas and food for later. The weather was good after that. We stopped where we thought we were going to camp, Marble Canyon. We decided to keep going to Lillooet. Shortly after we left, my bike stared running very badly, no power, backfiring, and smelling of raw gas. We finally got into camp around ten. As we set up, Judy make an awesome dinner for us all (Thank you Judy.) So that was the day. There were nine people, Mom, Dad, Reg Donalda, Kyle, Scott, Judy, Brock and me. Six bikes, one motor home.

P.S. I forgot to mention, before we even left town, at the Vankosky's, while trying to get on the bike, mom fell and hurt her wrist.

July 2 - mileage: 46,126 km

Well, as Judy said, this had been like a bad movie. We woke up to rain. We discovered that I need a new battery. so we push started the bike, and I nursed it as far as I could. We got about 15-20 km out of Boston Bar. That's where it died and would NOT go any farther. We ended up towing it behind the Magna. Brock was on my bike. Mom and I were in the RV with Judy driving. So we got it there, and continued to tunnels cafe. On this stretch, Judy's fridge opened, and there was curry chicken all over the floor, and mom's helmet. So now we are at tunnels having dinner. there is a battery on the way. We are going to Agassiz. I'll write more when it happens ...

July 2 - mileage: 46,193 km (distance for the day = 183 km)

Still Friday night. We are in Hope. We decided to take a hotel and go to Agassiz in the morning. The battery was the problem. Except for the starter, my bike is fixed. The weather and trip to Hope from tunnels was much better.

July 3 - mileage: 46,339 km (distance for the day = 146 km)

Just a short trip from Hop to Agassiz today. We got up too late and missed the rodeo. The weather was good all day, which was good. We had an awesome catered dinner. After that, I decided to go on a little ride by myself. I headed towards Hope for a little ways, then turned around and came back. Dad found a starter for my bike. It will be here tomorrow. We went to the dance for a little bit, but then decided to go for a little ride. This is when I discovered my bike isn't fixed after all. It stared to do the same stupid thing all over again. This is really starting to get frustrating. The think it might be the stator? now. I don't know. I really hope this trip gets better soon.

July 4 - mileage: 46,339 km (plus one truck ride) (distance for the day = 0 km)

Didn't do any riding today. The bike was parked. Not a whole lot happened. We had the A.G.M., which was long and boring. Dad ran into Chilliwack afterwards, to get the starter. Then dad, Reg and Kyle proceeded to work on the bike for the rest of the day. When it started to get dark, Bruce, on of the members from the Vancouver chapter offered his garage. So that's where it is right now. Things seem to be looking up right now, but we'll see.

P.S. Kyle and I made a ten dollar bet yesterday. Where does Carl fuel up his bike? I say under the seat, Kyle says where everyone else does, but there is a tube that goes to under his seat. (We both agree that the fuel tank is under the seat.)

July 5 - mileage: 46,457 km (distance for the day = 118 km)

So today was MUCH better. Dad had some last minute things to finish up with on my bike. When I got up, the sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. It stayed that way all day. Dad got my bike up and running again. So it's fixed, again. I hope. (Cross your fingers) So we packed up all our stuff and brought it over to Bruce's, where we set it all up again. Reg and Donalda stayed in Vancouver to go and talk to some of his suppliers. They should be on their way back by now. The rest of us (Mom, Dad, Kyle and I) decided to go to Mission for dinner and ice cream. It was a gorgeous ride. Bruce and Star have been great. They completely opened their house to us. So we all got to have a shower, which was very nice.

P.S. I forgot to mention, while Reg was in Vancouver, he went and got the front bearings on the Valkyrie fixed.

July 6 - mileage: 46,649 km (distance for the day = 192 km)

We finally got out of Agassiz. WooHoo!! Reg and Kyle brought Kyle's bike into Chilliwack for repairs, while the rest of us broke camp. We left Agassiz at about 2:00 pm and headed towards Chilliwack to pick up Kyle's bike. WE had dinner there, and finally left at about 4:30 pm. We headed to the border. WE were held up there for a bit, and just about didn't get across. But we did, and headed south. We were temporarily delayed, when we missed a turn. So we doubled back and found our way. We are now camped approximately half an hour east of Sedroe Woolley, on highway 20. Oh, one more thing, as we set up camp, Donalda was being helpful and putting pieces of wood under the kick stands so that they wouldn't fall over, except Dad's bike decided to go the other way, and she couldn't hold it. So down it went. (that's two) One last thing, the caretaker of the camp we're staying at is really weired. We had dubbed him Earnest.

July 7 - mileage: 47,028 km (distance for the day = 379 km)

So today wasn't very eventful. When we woke up this morning, it was very overcast. We figured it was going to be cold, so we dressed warm. It was a good thing too. We put our rain gear on in Winthrop. Shortly after, it started to rain. Then we started into the Cascade Mountains. That's when it got REALLY cold. We climbed up to about an altitude of 5400 feet (about 1800 meters) There was snow in the ditches. I'm sorry, but snow and bikes don't mix. We went from one extreme to the next. As soon as we got out of the mountains, it was gorgeous. We had to take off about ten layers before we could continue. It was really nice for awhile, but then it got really windy. It was like that for over an hour, which sucked. But it cleared up, and it was nice again. And by the time we rolled into camp, it was overcast again. So now we are in Leavenworth. We're eating in the dark, AGAIN. Oh well, maybe tomorrow night we'll be in camp before dark.

July 8 - mileage: 46,279 km (plus about 100-140 km)(distance for the day ~ 371 km)

This morning, Donalda, Mom and I went into Leavenworth for about two hours. It was a very pretty little town. The weather was gorgeous all day, and so was the view. It took us a little bit to find highway 97 South though. We went into and then out of Wenatchee about ten times before we found out that it was back towards Leavenworth. Somewhere during that time, my speedometer stopped working, so I don't know exactly how far we went. But it's fixed now. We also discovered that freshly seal coated roads aren't very good on the bikes. We also decided that we don't like the freeway very much. But all in all, today was a very good day.

P.S. As we were talking tonight, Reg brought something to our attention. He wanted me to write it down, so I am. What it is, is that as bikers, we aren't liked very much. There are several events that have happened on this trip to bring us to this conclusion. 1) In Agassiz, Sunday night (July 4), at the fairgrounds, eggs were thrown at the bikes. (none of them got hit thanks goodness). 2) At the border crossing, the second they saw 5 bikes all together, we were sent inside for a background check. 3) While having breakfast in Concrete, we went and sat down at a table, and no sooner did we do that, the people next to us got up and moved. 4) Just tonight the security guard just thought he'd mention that both he and the owner pack guns. Sort of like, "Behave, or else." 5) Last, seems like every where we go, if we are stopped for any length of time, it doesn't take very long for the local police to come and check us out, and keep an eye on us. So like I said, I don't think we are liked very much. And it doesn't matter that we are just two families, on holidays, all they see are the bikes.

July 9 - mileage: 46,599 km (distance for the day = 320 km)

Today was a very good day. We left Goldendale late, because we had to do laundry. But we never seem to get an early start, so that's o.k. It was very, very hot, I saw that it was 95^F at one point. But I'm not complaining, it was gorgeous. We were looking at the map, and we found that going through Portland, Oregon was the fastest way to the coast. So we ended up going through Portland in rush hour traffic. In Kyle's words, "What a gong show!!" We've all decided we are staying OUT of big cities. I also have to mention, we went over the highest and longest bridge I have ever seen. Mom, Dad and Kyle though it was very cool. Reg, Me and especially Donalda didn't like it all that much. We came through some very pretty country this evening. It felt like we were going through the middle of a forest. Plus, it was really twisty, which is very cool on the bikes. We are now camped just south of Tillamook.

July 10 - mileage: 47,762 km (distance for the day = 163 km)

Today was a good day. The weather was great. It wasn't too hot either. Dad, Reg and Kyle went into Tillamook to find a new batter for dad's bike, no luck. Dad had to do some work on his bike, so we left late. The riding was great. Except Reg had a major allergy attack, so that sucked. I got to see the ocean. I have decided I really love the ocean. We wanted to stay in Lincoln City but there was just nowhere to camp, or get a hotel. So we went on to Newport. We got a room there. It's going to be a cozy night. There are six of us all in one room. That's all right though, we all like each other.

July 11 - mileage: 47,783 km (distance for the day = 21 km)

Today was basically a do nothing day. Dad had a little bit of running around to do to track down a battery, so he, mom and Kyle did that while Reg, Donalda and I went and got a campsite. It's a really nice place too. We're right on the ocean. I took a walk along the beach, it was gorgeous. One crappy thing happened today. While doing a bunch of running around, a car stopped in front of Kyle, and he rear-ended it. He's o.k. It dented his front fender and bent his forks. He was shaken up pretty good though. Other than that, nothing really happened. Dad got his bike up and running properly. And we just had a quiet night around the campfire. We are staying at Beverly Beach, Oregon.

July 12 - mileage: 47,830 km (distance for the day = 47 km)

Today was really really fun. It was "be a tourist" day. We got up and went to Depoe Bay. Right away we went on an hour-long whale watching boat trip. It was probably the highlight of our day. It was so much fun. The sea was a little rocky, but that make it all the more fun. We were being tossed all around. It was funny trying to stay in one place. We didn't see any whales, but we saw seals. After that we went and had lunch. While there, we go to see a whale in the bay. That was very cool. We then went and did some shopping and bought all sorts of goodies. After we were done there, we headed to Newport. There are three main attractions in Newport, and we took them all in. The first was the wax museum. There were some neat things there, but I don't know, I wasn't very impressed. It was good though. Next was the undersea garden. I was disappointed with that. There were some neat creatures, but it wasn't what I had expected. Last was Ripley's Believe it or Not. That was really good. Between Kyle and Reg, they scared me about three times. There was this on display, it was a mirror, and under it, there was a plaque telling you about how people can roll their tongue. So of course, everyone looks in the mirror and tries to roll their tongue. What they don't know is that its a one way mirror. When you go around the corner, you see all these people, trying to roll their tongue. under it reads, "World's oddest person" Also, at the very end there was this room called "The Star Room" Well you go to go into it, and it looks like it is about a ten foot drop. Actually it was just mirrors. It freaked Donalda out though. In the same place as all these things, there was a street performer. He was pretty cool. He made dad a bear on a motorcycle, out of balloons. That was neat. So now we are back where we started, at Beverly Beach, ready to head out in the morning.

P.S. I forgot to mention that the last couple of days have been fairly cold. We've decided, a little (just a little) warmer would be nice.