whitefish to livingston, lots of nothing in Montena

 I guess somewhere around here there is a fire or something creating smoke. The whole day was a bit foggy, I cleaned my glasses and my helmet, nothing worked

 I've entered cowboy country, lots of these kind of buildings and a whole lot of black cows.

 This was a nice part with lots of corners, but no fuel station, I was done to my last fumes when I reached one.

No more train. This track was used to transport cattle, I don't know why it is no longer in use, besides the fact that they removed the rails. But the bridge is still standing.
I wanted to make it to yellowstone, and I could have, but I couln't find any hotels in the area, so I went to Livingston. This is 45 minutes away from Yellowstone, so tomorrow morning I drive that way. I stay tonight in the hotel murray, build in 1904 and so is the elevator. It is a really nice place with atmosphere. I'll post some pictures tomorrow. So Yellowstone tomorrow and after that towards the salt planes in bonneville. Not sure how far I will get tomorrow.
The people here are very friendly and want to know everything about my trip, it is nice to see that people are open to talk and also take some time for it.

Banff to Whitefish, back in the USA

 So today I started with rafting, I had done it once in Skagway, I think, but that was together with the passangers and I make more waves in my bathtube then what we saw there. It was great fun, small group, white water and beautiful views. The top picture is the best mirror picture so far. For the rest the roads were the same untill the border. I drove into Montena and straight away the country side changed. O, the border took me 5 minutes, I was expecting it to take a lot longer.

 In the distance Canada, close by Montena.

This is how my shadow looks in Montena. I stay in Whitefish tonight, tomorrow I want to make it to Yellowstone, not sure if I'll get there, but I'll make a good start. The weather is just boiling hot. 33 degrees in the shadow! I've been drinking lots of water from my Camel Bak, my best friend at this time.

Jasper to Banff

 So today I drove trough Jasper (Alberta, Arie) park and Banff park, Via some stunning lakes, rivers and glaciers. It was a busy road with loads of RV (recreational vehicels) and harleys. But that made the driving more fun

 In the park hunting is not allowed, that makes the animals less jumpy, or they are being fed by the people passing, anyway, I got to see a dear.

 Just in time to take this picture, 5 minutes later the tourboats set off and created waves and disturbed the image.

 Another very blue river. I suspect that they use a lot of spa blue in this area.

 The beast in front of a glacier

 The driver in front of a glacier

Shot while driving. Again, the photos don't do it just, but it is so big and vast here. It goes on and on.
Tomorrow I have another slow day, I am going wild water rafting in Banff and after that I'll drive for a bit untill dinner time. Should take me just to the border with the US. I'll keep you posted

into the rocky mountains

 Today was great and it made me a bit emotional. The pictures don't do it just at all, but it is the space and the beauty of it! Yesterday I drove too long and that got me a bit grumpy and the hotel and dinning arrangement didn't help. So for today I set myself to drive to Jasper instead of Banff, 3 hour less driving. This gave me some more time to stop and look around and I even had a little snooze in the sun for lunch. The video is of thousands of tiny frogs sitting in the sun all over each other. When I first walked on the grass it moved and I jumped.

 The roads were still great and dry.

 another bear, walking directly into the garden of a lodge. I am not used to bears walking around in the backyard, but I guess it is normal in these area's

 As the temperature climbed, I had to go change. This was a good spot for it.

 Into the mountains. Yesterday I noticed there were fences around farmers land etc. This was the first time since I started driving that I saw them again. It is very nice to drive and drive without fences, stop signs, and traffic.

For Jasper, my nephew.

more rain, more bears, And Sunshine!

 Snow in the mountains, not a good sign, but I kept away from the mountain! Smart move, I might add.

 My second bear, so sad. I wasn't the one to hit it, luckely. What would a nice bear skin do?

 My third bear, a bit difficult to see, but this one is alive!

 The last part of highway 37. If you are ever there, drive it! It was amazing and the pictures don't do it just.

 After the 37 I took the 16 t Prince Rupert, there was more trafic on the road and also the landscape changed. And the temperature also went up, this morning it was 6 degrees, when I stopped it was 21.

All and all a very good day driving, saw lots of beautiful things and the roads are still great. The only thing that needs work it the sleeping arrangment. I knew Alaska was expensive, but didn't expect that to go on in Canada as well. I'll start planning my stops better, and search the net in advance.
O, and can somebody tell me what the big insect are, that have yellow stuff inside and cover my whole screen when I hit them? They are not nice!
Tomorrow I drive to Banff. Or close to it.

Whitehorse to Dease lake, in the rain, but with a bear

 Some more beautiful views, first on the alaskan highway

 A waterfall, very clear water and it tasted great

 And my first bear, eating grass or something. This was just off Highway 37. This road looks more like a lane in a park then a Highway. I stopped and shut down the engine to not disturb the bear and got out my camera. That moment he looked at me and started to walk my way. I didn't feel that safe, but then he kept on eating. So I got the picture and drove off. Do bears like motorcyclists?

 A blue lake, would have loved to see it in the sun.

Great driving conditions, even on the wet roads. This section was amazing and all 7 kilometers without any trafic. Tomorrow I have another 565 kilometers of this road to go. What a trip.

Fairbanks to whitehorse, bye bye Alaska, hello Canada

 I left fairbanks on a gray morning and it rained most of the trip to the taylor highway. I was a bit worried, the taylor highway continues in the top of the world higway and that road is unpaved and turns into a nice slip and slide (so I've been told) But, I don't believe anybody, so I had to go see for myself.

 Wildfires have gone trough this area, it went on for 30 miles or so.

 The slip and slide, it is true what they say! Still, lots of fun and still ok driving. I am glad I got the tyres that I have now, on normal street tyres this would have been a challange

 Canada he. Border crossing formalities. Did you bring a gun? How fast does your bike go? Did you see any caribou? Stamp and off I went. If all crossings could be like this...

 Dry roads in Canada, great views again and having the time of my life.

 The ferry I had to take to get to Dawson city, across the fast Yukon river.

 Dawson looks like a wild west town, the roads are still unpaved and you walk over wooden side walks.

 The next morning the weather was better, but cold, 2 degrees when I started and it didn't get much warmer then 10. But the sky was clear, so all was good.

 Crossing the Yukon again. Alaska might only have one bridge crossing this river, in Canada they have plenty.

Five finger rapid in the Yukon. I promise this is the last picture of this river. I love the roads over here, very quiet and very good. I had to replace my headlight, it burned out on the rough roads. I used the spot yesterday for the taylor highway, I'm not using it every day as it eats batteries. Tomorrow I drive to Deale lake, via highway 37. I've been told that there are many black bears there!