My way back home...

0 km - The truck is loaded down with camping gear, bike, riding gear and anything else I could squeeze in. Note to self - wash bird crap off of the passenger side doors.

48.9km - Stop in Hope for gas as I won't make Merritt without a top up. It's beautiful out! $71.01 in gas - damn it was low!

48.1km - Oh look Tim Hortons...




75.6km - Beastie Boys "License to ill" CD goes in, yeah I said CD!

255.7km - Pulled into my friends Cheryl and Taylor's place in Barnhartvale (Kamloops) - greeted with cheesecake - hell ya! Then the Daily Show and Canucks won 7-3!

281.8km - Hello Toast! Those in the know, know about this Kamloop's gem and those that don't are named Dylan Shredhard.

284.5km - At the Bicycle Cafe to suit up for ride #1 on Peterson. Hard up and sweet flowy down! Thanks Cheryl!




292.2km - Top up the gas ($41 at 107.9/L) for the journey north from Kamloops to Jasper and then on to Hinton and Edson to check in with mom.

445.9km - Rain and sun - feels like the coast, oh I hope it gets better.

457km - Stuck in my first train doing 65-80km/h following a rental motorhome argh!

471.3km - First bear sighting of the season!

589.5km - Stop in Valemont to eat and get gas. Local restaurant has changed hands over the years and the gas station of my youth closed on Tuesday.
($54.50 at 131.9/L)

623.6km - Mt. Robson looms to my left.

680.1km - Cell phone service comes back in after approx. 400km with out it - ah silence is golden!

684.5km - The west Jasper park gates, where they ask you where you are going - never say Jasper or you'll pay, just saying...

705.7km - Make a quick stop at Freewheel cycle and Vicious Cycle to see how things are in my old zone. (Ok I lived close enough to say I was local.)




776.7km - Pull into Hinton to see my friends Greg and Diane before pushing through to Edson. First thing out of Diane's mouth "When are you lifting your truck?" Ha Ha yep I'm back in Alberta!

864.6km Roll in to my parent's place where I am greeted with great food and Mosquitos! I haven't seen these bugs in a long time and I can't say that they were missed, but wow they missed me! Great visiting with the family and to be able to sleep in a real bed was great too!

949.9km - Back to Hinton and in a line up for gasoline - this is a first for me! Gotta gas up the truck and quad - oh ya borrowed an ATV along the way - STOKED! Groceries next and then out to the campsite. Yes I'll be mountain biking again, but it's been ten years since I last really got out quading. ($77.72 at 127.9/L)

963.7km - My buddy Tyson's water tank breaks from his trailer = first and only real casualty of May Long in our group of friends.

965.3km - Finally at the camp site = good times, ATVs, beersbie, sleeping in my truck with lots of nice trailers all around - it's really good to see friends doing well for themselves and I was being too lazy to set up my tent for fear of jinxing the weather and then having it rain on me.




980km - Quick sandwich at Subway enroute to bike ride.

984.8km - At the Munns place for an evening bike ride to the Hinton bike park. They have 40 acres that is being developed for riding and numerous XC trails going in all over the area too = FUN! Dinner with friends in Hinton.

1000.9km- Back at camp! No fires is weird, but Slave Lake's forest fire was pretty real, so everyone gets it. Sleeping in my truck is getting old, but so easy! Heading to Brûlé now.




1018.6km - Brûlé to the cabin. There is an annual ball tournament in town, so I get to watch some action and catch up with old neighbors. I had to bale wire my exhaust up for the trip home - thankfully my neighbors could help me out on that one. The mountains around my youth are beautiful and draw me back all the time.





1044.4km - Back in Hinton and in gas line up number 2 for the trip. Pressure washed and filled up the ATV to return it. You should always try to return things in as good or better shape than you borrow them in. $7.53 for around 3.5 hours of fun was well worth it! ($31.75 gas at 127.9/L)

1046.7km - Meet up with my parents before hitting the road back to the coast and say our goodbyes for this trip.

1327.5km - A bird gives its life to my windshield, lame!

1352.8km - Bear sighting #2 for the season.

1532.5km - Back in Kamloops to gas up after 5 hours in the truck none stop - my ass is numb! ($71.01 gas at 107.4/L) Head out for dinner with friends and then hope back on the road back to the 'wack.

1629.9km - Merritt for a smoothie and bathroom break before the last stretch of highway.

1784.8km - Holy crap I was greeted with the worst smell of all my time in Chilliwack - gotta think positive as it makes money for someone even if it made me gag!

1792.2km - Back at the house and so ready for bed. Oh and look, that bird crap is still there too - oops!