Greetings from BC. Sept 2004
Well, we didn't expect to writing another update quite so soon but we've seen so much in the last few days that we thought we'd do one before we forgot just what we have done. After waiting out the weather in Jackson Hole, Wyoming we decided to bite the bullet and ride on to the Great Teton National Park and then to Yellowstone. As soon as we cocked a leg over the bike the inevitable happened. The weather got worse. The only reason we know we rode through the Great Teton National Park was the fact that the Ranger at the entrance gate asked to see our National Parks Pass. However, having asked she took a further look at us and told us not to bother showing it, just to ride on through. Sometimes pity does have its advantages! When we got to the other side of the park we stopped at the Visitor Centre and bought a postcard so we would know what the Tetons looked like. The cloud and rain was pretty impressive too!The Tetons and Yellowstone Parks abut each other so having left one park we immediately entered the other. On entering Yellowstone it stopped raining. It started snowing instead! Luckily Liz in her role as 'Tour Company Rep' had booked ahead for us to stay in a cabin beside Old Faithful Geyser so we only had 30 miles or so of the snow to contend with.
Yellowstone was one of the top places we really wanted to see in the States and even though the weather was against us on arrival we were pleased to be there. Old Faithful is one of around a hundred or so geysers in its immediate vacinity but is the most famous. Every 92 minutes (+/-10) she erupts sending a flume of steam and water hundreds of feet into the air. At each eruption hundreds of people gather around her jockeying for position and the noise of the geyser is almost drowned out by the sound of hundreds of camera shutters going off. Both Old Faithful and the crowds are impressive in different but equal measure. Having booked a cabin Liz and I had a couple of days to wander around the area so during the day we would head off into the forest and mountains to explore and in the early morning and last thing at night walk around the geysers. As we wandered off into the wilderness we stopped to talk to a Ranger. I asked him if there was anywhere we shouldn't go. He replied that the next thirty million acres were all ours and to enjoy. We did too, although we probably explored closer to a hundred acres though. It all looks the same anyway (not!).
In all we stayed for four days in Yellowstone and after the wintery ride to the park the weather turned round the next morning and we had wonderful sunshine. Yellowstone was far beyond our expectations. Friends had told us it was wonderful and even shown us their photos but its one of those places that descriptions and photos can't do justice to.
From Yellowstone we rode across Montana which overall had to be our favorite State just for its beauty but our goal was the Canadian border. We finally crossed the border on the 31st August. For both the USA and Mexico taking our bike into the countries had meant a pile of paperwork at each Customs Post but Canada being a Commonwealth country only required a stamp in our Passports. It took all of 5 seconds for an entry permit with the bike valid for 6 months. That'll do nicely. British Colombia is huge and we've only been here three days but what a change from the States. The people are totally different (aside from the usual physical characteristics that the human form generally has of course). Stereotypically attitudes to life are different and the way people talk with each other is different. Its difficult to explain how so I won't but take our word for it. This part of BC is mountains, trees, trees, trees and water. We're a little way outside Calgary beside the Kootenay Lake. Its not too wide but it's 97 miles long which is quite impressive as lakes go. We've booked into a cabin beside the lake for a few days while we explore the area. There are hot-springs to swim in, sea kayaking on the lake, walks in the mountains and perhaps surprisingly best of all a kitchen to cook in. We haven't had a kitchen for 6 months and aside from our own toilet its the one room of the house we miss the most! So tonight it'll be a culinary delight like never before - good or bad we'll have to see but we'll enjoy it either way.
In some ways we're killing time a little as rather than head further north for the moment we're going to go to the Horizons Unlimited Bike Meeting on the 9th-11th and talk bikey / 'overland' stuff for a few days with mad people like ourselves. Its going to be strange catching up with friends we've never physically met before but seem to have known for a long time over the Internet.