My plan for today is to get within striking distance for a trip through Jasper, Lake Louise and Banf. The three are all connected but seem to each keep it's own name for the part of the park it occupies. I was not aware of any towns of any size before Jasper and I knew that I couldn't afford to stay in Jasper, the cost of a room would keep me up all night. On the web looking at the possible choices, the lowest price around Jasper was $189, in Hinton 40 miles north east of jasper the rooms were $89. Yes you guessed it I would ride the 40 miles out and the 40 miles back for a hundred bucks. So I made a reservation, checked weather and headed out. There was a chance of rain after I passed Prince George, actually a city that was the mid point of today's ride and the forecast for Prince George was 80 degrees and sunny. I tie my rain suit on top of my dry bag as I haven't been particular lucky in getting a dry day, maybe this will be the one. As I head out there are a lot more clouds around Smiters than was forecast but only a few miles of wet roads, the clouds were just a threat with nothing to back them up. The first 100 miles was just like the ride into Smiters, lots of farms and ranches, very pretty and a river close to the road for much of the ride,lots of bridges. The same feel of small town America, even though I am in Canada. The hills get higher and a few evergreen trees on them and a nice curvy road. The terrain flattens out again as we get close to Prince George and it is warm and sunny. That warm and sunny lasted for about 75 miles and it got darker and darker and then wet, I stopped to put on my rain suit and it wasn't long before a rider headed north stopped to see if I needed help with any thing. I said I was just putting on the rain gear, he had his on and said it was wet off and on all the way to Jasper. The road is up and down much larger hill that we had this morning, I do get a good look at a moose standing a little ways off the road on the opposite side of my traveling. I didn't stop in the rain and try and get the camera out. Actually I keep the camera in a zippered pocket in the back of my tank bag so If it wasn't for getting the bike stopped and my gloves off it is very easy to get to. It is the getting ready to get to it that is a problem. I ride on and see a couple of hotels on this side of Jasper that would have saved the extra 80 miles of riding but I am committed now as I paid for a room in Hinton. When I get to the park gate I don't have to pay any thing as I am just passing through, they will get me tomorrow when I return. There is actually a lot of trucks on this road as it is the only way in the area to get from the west side to Edmonton on the east side. Not long after getting into the park there is a big elk with lots of antlers eating along side the road. He doesn't seem to mind being watched. I did stop and get my camera out. He had his head down and was just eating and meanderng away from me. I blew my horn and then he turned and looked at me. I took a couple of picture of him. (I am on a computer now that I think I can down load a picture from) and will try my luck at posting. The ride has been very pretty, a lot of the last bit and into the park was along a river that was running very full with high snow cover mountains to the front and sides. The only pain was all the truck traffic and not many places to pass. The bike is pretty quick and doesn't take much room to pass but when there are two or three cars behind the truck and they bunch up the it takes more room to pass as you have to do 3 cars and a truck. That is why my GPS keeps getting max speeds of 90 plus. The ride through Jasper is very pretty and as I am leaving the east side there are a several more elk. I ride the 40 miles to Hinton in the rain as it started again just as I was leaving the park. The computer at the hotel is messed up and they don't have my reservation or the family right behind me, but there are plenty of rooms so not a problem. I unload the bike, parked under the canopy so I am in a dry spot. It is still raining and I don't really want to go find dinner in the rain, the restaurant next door is closed for renovation so I order a pizza to be delivered, so much for my vegan diet tonight. Each night as I think about the days ride and get mental pictures of different parts that impressed me most I would have a hard time saying what has been the best. The Critter count for the day is one moose, a big elk, several other elk and two Coyotes together. The ride today 523 miles. Tomorrow the park. I had been to the park before, it was in the winter and it was to ski. The Lake Louise ski area was nice, it was on the east side of the valley and the old lodge and lake on the west side so it made for a wonderful views and the skiing was good that day, Sunshine was also there at the time, on the west side of the valley and required a bus ride up to the ski area, an OK ski day. Jasper I will never forget, the coldest I have ever been, It was 8 degrees at the bottom of the lift, 4 degrees at the top and the wind was howling. That was the last cold day of skiing for me, after that, if it wasn't 20 degrees I didn't waste my money on a lift ticket.
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