Since 2003 I have been traveling the world with my bike. This journey has taken me to many amazing journeys and I have no plans to stop soon. I hope that you will follow me on this journey and see the road through my eyes. This blog will feature my stories as well as tips and tricks to extended bike travel from my experiences.
Working to continue the journey. High rock walls and soft snow in the high sierras. Since late December If this year I have been spending time in Yellowstone National Park. I rode in, descending thousands of feet into Yosemite Valley. I have been working here to help keep my journey alive. Most people think that the National Parks are only open in the summer. This is not the case. Although less crowded the park is alive and well. Visitors come and go but without the crowds. Ever since I was a boy it was my dream to visit this magical place.
This morning I had an opportunity to get on my bike and ride up to the pass that separates Yosemite from the rest of the world. As I was riding along I found a moose crossing the road. These goofy creatures are both funny and yet terrifying. Since traveling out this way I have been told not to underestimate the moose. These huge creatures tend to get easily confused and frightened. As a result they are known to frequently charge humans and trample them with their long legs. While I was fairly safe on my bike I wouldn't want to run into one on foot.
When I first though up the idea of riding down to Patagonia I had never owned a motorcycle. So my first step was to go out and buy a bike. After reading countless reviews I came down to two possible bikes. First the bike was the KTM 1190 R but I decided to get the BMW 1150 Adventure. However this bike was way out of my price range. As a result I ended up having to refinance my car. But in the end it was worth it. Despite a coupe of repairs over the years, the beast is running well and hopefully I have her for another 10 years.
It was a great weekend in the valley. I had the chance to go for a wonderful yet brisk ride. I had an interesting revelation on my last ride. It seems as though you reach point in any journey where you realize that It is time to depart and move on the the next destination. I have begun planning my route and come spring I will depart. Until then I will be talking about my trip planning. I recently found out that next year will be the centennial for the national park system. As a result I am thinking of venturing to each of these national parks.
Vagabonding is the lifestyle I chose. I was tired of the daily grind, making money to accumulate goods and keep up with the neighbors. Living life without the stress of possessions is the basis of this lifestyle. Traveling is a style of living, not a goal for a vagabond. Vagabonds travel to see new things and meet new people. They make memories by doing and seeing.
I know that It has been a while but It was time to get back on the Road!! Happy to be back up north in Alberta Canada.I want to start off by apologize to those of you who have been reading and want to know what happened. The last month has been crazy! It was time to leave Yosemite. I will never forget this amazing place and the impact that it has had on me. I have since moved further north. I am on my way around western Canada towards Alaska. The aim is to reach Wrangell St. Elias National by May.
I have not yet reached Destruction Bay. This has been a long and perilous journey by bike. I decided to change my route and go through Banff to see Lake Louise. This has also led to more stops. :)
Banff is such a beautiful place. Because of the low snow year the lake was not iced over and it's shimmering teal waters lit up like in all of the pictures. I camped out here for a few days and explored some of the trails that traverse up to the continents only triple continental divide. The water here flows to the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
I have not yet reached Destruction Bay. This has been a long and perilous journey by bike. I decided to change my route and go through Banff to see Lake Louise. This has also led to more stops. :)
Banff is such a beautiful place. Because of the low snow year the lake was not iced over and it's shimmering teal waters lit up like in all of the pictures. I camped out here for a few days and explored some of the trails that traverse up to the continents only triple continental divide. The water here flows to the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
The last 2 weeks have been difficult following the Nepal tragedy. However I am taking some time to help these amazing people though dark times.As many of you know the roughly 2 weeks ago Nepal was struck by a massive 7.8 earthquake. This devastating quake affected many of my friends overseas. several were injured as the city of Kathmandu rose 3 feet. I can't even begin to imagine an entire city rising several feet. Out of the bad always comes good.A friend and fellow biker told me about his fund to help the sherpas who were some of the hardest hit.
I recently left Alaska to Help with the relief efforts in Nepal. Below is a short account of the feel over there. As you know from my last entry I wanted to help out after the horrifying earthquakes which shook Nepal. I decided that making a post was not enough. I left the bike with a friend and headed to Asia to help the amazing people of Nepal. I took off from Anchorage and woke up in Katmandu international Airport (KTM). I spent 2 weeks in the mountain helping the small villages in the Khumbu Valley which was one of the hardest hit area.
I have been working more on the route for the past few days. It looks like we will be reaching the lower 48 within a month. This will give us ample opportunity to see all of the amazing sights along the way without rushing as we did last time on the way up. Our route will take us through the Yukon and down the coast of British Columbia. This remote stretch of road is not only beautiful but is filled with some of the most spectacular scenery on earth. As we begin our journey south many preparations will need to be made.
I plan to depart on the 5th of August riding down the mountains all the way from the Arctic Sea. This journey will extend for more than 20,000 miles and take more than a year. When I last wrote I had just returned from the Himalayas where I was helping with relief efforts
Having been back on the road for nearly a month everything is getting back to the way it should be. The air is warm, the breeze cool and the road stretching into the sunset. I have been very excited for this trip for a very, very, very long time. For the past few weeks we have been winding our way down through British Columbia in the Canadian Rockies near Banff and Jasper. This stunning landscape is made grander by the intense and serene blueish green of the Athabaskan River which plunges thousands of feet in elevation rushing towards the bustling city of Calgary.
Of all the places that I have been, Glacier National Park is one of the most special. Like Yellowstone, there is enough infrastructure for people of various levels of adventure to enjoy themselves. While I love to ride my bike to exotic destinations I do enjoy a nice chair and bed. Glacier has all of that with an incredible view. It has been a long time sine I have traveled to Glacier. Things are now quite different. Last time I went visitors centers were no more than small huts with a ranger inside and maybe a few maps if you were lucky.
Living on the road during the cold winter months is certainly possible, as I've been doing so for many years. However, doing so requires knowledge of a few guidelines and tips that will make the experience a much more pleasant one. Taking your bike out on the road during the winter can make for a freeing and adventurous experience, which is why it's essential that you're prepared for what the winter temperatures bring. Here's an in-depth guide on essential items to pack for bike trips and what you need to be aware of when living on the road in winter.