The Daily Rider

Wet Luck

2011-09-19T22:27:00.000-07:00

On a twisty northwest road two riders stop mid-hill to break out the rain gear. Again.

Lumix GF1 @ ƒ3.5

Mr. Baker

2011-09-02T07:09:00.000-07:00

Where do you find snow in August on the west coast? On Mount Baker! I was on the way into Washington State for some non-moto activities when, looking at the map, I thought I would be able to make the slight (250km) detour and make a run up the mountain before my afternoon events. Up early and headed over to an easterly border crossing I was suddenly met by a very confused border guard that didn't understand why someone from Vancouver was taking such an out of the way crossing. Logically, I was doing myself a disfavour. He seemed sure i was working in the US and trying to game the system by taking the smaller crossing. My argument seemed to hold just enough water to get me through. "Right, you're taking the long way there..." Car people never seem to understand the joys of long hours on the road.

Panasonic Lumix GF1 @ ƒ7.1

Reprieve

2011-08-31T07:52:00.000-07:00

Taking a minute to enjoy a beverage at the side of the road in a rather sketchy small town in Washington state. Not wanting to leave the bike too long I reclined in the grass behind it and enjoyed a coffee before continuing the next 200km of interstate home. I liked the way the traffic blurred by as my attention faded in and out.

Panasonic Lumix GF1 @ ƒ22

Gold River

2011-05-01T10:33:00.000-07:00

Throwing a dart at a map and going to the closest place with a curvy road and cool name. Can't do better than Gold River, BC.

Canon EOS 5D @ ƒ8

Motorcycle Preference

2011-04-30T08:14:00.000-07:00

Got to love your own spot at the front of the line.

Canon EOS 5D @ ƒ11

Twins

2011-04-19T00:10:00.000-07:00

What are the chances - I ran into another black BMW R1200R! Filling up with fuel the twin actually recognized my bike from the blog (shout-out Zedman!) which was fun. With Ewan selling all these BMW GSes and mileage warriors going for the RT the lowly R with its naked fairing and raw good looks doesn't get much love. Always fun to see another on the road! Could be another 3-4 months before the next R sighting.

Panasonic GF1 @ ƒ2.8
Hope, BC. May '10

In the gates

2011-04-18T21:17:00.000-07:00

It's a tight spot when even the cycle won't fit.

25mph Beach

2011-04-10T07:34:00.000-07:00

Taking a rural road I come across a sign that says 'beach access'. Continuing on the road turns from pavement, to gravel, to sand. It just spills out onto the beach perfect for all your sand driving needs. I'd never before wanted paddle tires but but now it's all I can think of. Please note this is a 25mph beach so don't exceed that.

Skeptical of Cows

2011-04-09T12:37:00.000-07:00

I've always had a love/hate relationship with cows. In one way, they always seem rather dignified as they walk around without a care in the world and chew chew chew. On the other hand they are huge beasts and can run quick when given the need to chase or flee (not that they ever invoke this skill very often). I'm nervous around them. But i think the most distressing thing of all is how they cluster into packs, heads down, chewing... but never take their eyes off of you. They are conspiring, and it's something so grand they have yet to reveal their plans for the world. Until then I'll always stop and watch the cows.

Lumix GF1 ƒ5

more cows!

Stormy Twilight

2011-04-05T22:44:00.000-07:00

I think I had an audience setting up camp this night. Rolling into the campsite the sky was dark but no sign of rain. Taking my time, i searched for the perfect site to give me a twilight view of the ocean and nighttime soundtrack of the crashing surf. The wind stirring the huge waves was also blowing around the skies and soon a dark cloud was upon us. Hail and rain. Jumping to action I think i had the tent up in 90 seconds and turned to a crowd of encouraging onlookers huddled under umbrellas. I could just see the thought clouds above their heads saying "we don't have to do with with our RV!" and I couldn't argue with that. Eventually the rain subsided and a violent stirring of black and blue filled the sky for the next few hours until well past sunset.

Lumix GF-1 ƒ4

Break in the clouds

2011-04-04T23:37:00.001-07:00

Stopping to admire the light as I search for a campground. Two riders on the Port Townsend ferry had recommended I try Kalaloch (map) and so I was.

And the rumble is?

2011-04-04T07:28:00.001-07:00

Akrapovic Exhaust Install, originally uploaded by Zutter Bug.

I decided on a new can for the R1200R a few weeks ago and the shiny new Akrapovic is in, installed, and after my weekend of riding the Olympic Peninsula (very top-left corner of the U.S.) no longer shiny or new looking.

Brrrr

2011-02-25T08:37:00.000-08:00

This is the west coast... and it's the end of February... it's supposed to be warmer than this! Hopefully the spring flowers aren't killed off. Update: the Rev 'it Alaska gloves are finally meeting their match for keeping the hands warm; numb fingers result.

Snow Day

2011-02-21T17:43:00.001-08:00

With mounting snow the evening commute became quiet and surreal.

Morning Pause

2011-01-27T08:38:00.001-08:00

Taking pause to watch the sunrise on a slightly modified morning commute route.

What's up in 2011

2011-01-14T05:49:00.000-08:00

Don't kill your Daily Rider RSS feed just yet.

Daily updates per the tradition for this site have become difficult due to some new responsibilities at home (baby!) and work (lots of it). Where I used to take pleasure in letting the mind wander while on the commute and express that though pictures I find these days I'm always planning the action for my next destination during every ride. Not the way I'd want it all the time but this might be a trend for a while. Fear not as there's still lots of riding, it's just become a challenge to get the photos processed.

I do have some bigger rides planned for 2011 that will definitely be reported here. I'll also try get a few old school posts made as I do really enjoy creating them. I might even post the odd review or how-to as I think i'm refining a pretty awesome gear setup for simple commuting and touring.

One final project for the year is to finally get some of the Daily Rider pics into book form. I do this for most of the trips but this one might make it to Blurb or something so they can be shared.

With eyes open to the next adventure.

Day 9: Rediscovering home

2010-09-24T07:40:00.000-07:00

(Return to the first Utah Loop trip post)

John Day OR to Vancouver BC (902km)

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This was the day of finals as I took down the tent for the last time, made my last pot of oatmeal, configured the GPS for the last time. I was looking forward to getting home and my body knew the worst was over and started to submit to the various pains accumulated over 5,000km and nights in tents with wind storms and bear scares. Resisting temptation I didn't want to skip out with dreary ride out the Interstates and planning a fun looking route through northern Oregon and crossing Washington. From John Day I took the small squiggle in Hwy 19 north and met up with Hwy 206 to the Washington border. Crossing the very large Columbia River that naturally divides the two states I took Hwy 97 into Washington and took the long and surprisingly rewarding ride through the Wenatchee National Forest with grand pacific mountains the perfect bookend to the southern desert columns I admired a few days earlier. Joining the I-5 in Everett I made the monotonous pilgrimage to the Peace Arch border crossing and a cool evening ride across Vancouver to a welcoming garage and home.

As reassuring as waking up next to your horse

The view for breakfast

Bugs are an occupational hazard

Packed for the final day

Winding roads

Straight roads

A ranch

Half way between the equator and the north pole. I had no idea.

The end of Oregon

Now it's looking like the pacific northwest

A massive rainstorm pulled in for about 15 minutes.

Even the little insignificant stops become sentimental moments at the end of a trip

Great skies opening up

In the border lineup

Across the border and the day is almost done.

In the garage at watches stopped. 33,466km.

Day 8: Iron ass run

2010-09-23T07:12:00.000-07:00

(Return to the first Utah Loop trip post)

Salt Lake City UT to John Day OR (1,007km)

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Weather reports called for extreme thunder showers in the area and I had been warned about the heat reflected off the salt flats so I was happy to be on the road before 8am. During the 200km ride to Wendover along I-80 I mapped out the rest of the trip in my head and figured if I pulled two big, big, days I could be in Vancouver on a Saturday, leaving a day to regroup before returning to work. I was also starting to show the signs of 4,000km without a break as blisters rose on my hands, head, and feet. My bum was staring to hurt. I'd set course later. Riding into the Salt Flats I had no idea what to expect. This is the area where almost all world land speed records are set and is a naturally flat dry ocean basic made entirely of salt. Following some signs I was on my way along service roads and out into the flats. At the road's end and the salt's start I stopped for a photo and spoke with Peter who was positioned on a lawn chair in a way suggesting he was a guy to talk to. Turned out they were prepping for a race the next day and no one was allowed out onto the salt flats. However, Peter had spent his entire life building racers and hosting events on the flats and we had a remarkable discussion about the flats and their history, geography, track maintenance, and race engineering. He obliged with a few photos of me by miles of white stuff and recommended a route North to Oregon and I was off. Making one last stop in Wendover for gas I struck up a conversation with an old guy, who I think lived in the van he was gassing up, but he knew his bikes and knew the local roads and recommend a different route for me through Nevada and into central Oregon. I took his advice and headed West to Wells NV and then it was up Hwy 93, into Oregon, and I-84 and a series of by-ways to Vale OR. In Vale I had to decide how far to push that night as I was already 800km into the day but there was still at least another 1.5hrs of sunlight. I found a little tent symbol on the map in some distant quadrant and set off ending up in John Day along Hwy 26. I longingly past a few motels and wondered if I should really try to camp on this final night. Again, in the spirit of spite for half-attempts I found a campground and resigned myself to the $25 RV-O-Matic when the camp officer came by and told me to ride out to the backpackers area for $5. I did and ended up having a whole section of the camp to myself. Well after dark another guy on a BMW rolled in and we shared stories of the road and machine and drifted off to sleep to the sounds or horses from the ranch next door.

*Check* Ready to start the day and put on some miles. I would see four states in the next 12 hours.

First view of the salts.

Turning on the TV in the morning the weather report was for massive lightening storms, but coming in the afternoon. I was headed east, where the weather was, so concerned I'd meet it. Dark to the south, bright to the north. The road twisted north and everything was fine.

Looks like I'm bundled up for the cold. But it was 33°c.

The official Salt Flats viewing station off the interstate. There's a little tap to wash your shoes after walking out there.

At the entrance to the Bonneville Salt Flats racing grounds. It's a dead end leading into the salts.

You can't help but have fun at the Bonneville Salt Flats

Welcome to Nevada

I was mesmerized by this trailer when Interesting Dude came over and handed me a sticker saying 'Play Hard, Play Safe, Stupid Hurts - Burning Man 2010'. And off he drove into the desert.

Nevada

Blah. Interstate.

Oregon

Just another abandoned town

Brilliant sunset in Oregon

Ending the day at a great campsite in John Day, OR

Day 7: The breakthrough

2010-09-22T06:44:00.000-07:00

(Return to the first Utah Loop trip post)

Moab UT to Salt Lake City UT (768km)

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I still had no idea where my next destination would be. The original plan was to head to Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park 400km to the south-east but with the time it took to comprehend Arches and Canyonlands I didn't know if my limited time would be enough to respect what their southern cousins had to offer. Every km south would also have to be back-tracked on the return trip and I had a 2,000km ride back as it was. I spent half the day fiddling about wondering what to do when I ran into a fellow BMW rider who had just come from Bryce Canyon. "Hey man, just ride the loop!" After some pencil scratches on a map and mock-riding gesticulations I had a new course set and began a 400km detour that would having me end almost where I began the day. 200km into the ride I was getting tired of the repetitive tundra and questioning the logic of this diversion. I could have been in Bryce Canyon with the same mileage! Feeling the fool I settled down. Then at the southern apex things changed as I entered Fry Canyon and then the sublime Glen Canyon National Park. This was the image I was chasing and the country I dreamed of rolling through, except in this dream the reality beat my expectations as my jaw literally dropped with each turn and new natural monument revealed itself. I didn't even notice the temperature rising to 37°C until the dehydration set in. Hoping it never ended didn't make it so and the land returned to the ranches past Hanksville and Hwy 24 returned me to the I-70 and I had to decide how far I would try get for the day. It was now 4pm and I was essentially where I started and had scheduled to be in Salt Lake City 300km to the north. Knowing this wasn't a trip of half-attempts I buckled down and made the full run to Salt Lake City, or somewhere thereabouts to seek out a campground or motel. It was dark when I arrived and grabbed a motel in the Poplar Grove suburb by the airport. It was a good spot to start tomorrow and an early morning at the Bonneville Salt Flats Raceway.

Starting the day back in Arches at the Park Avenue stop.

Fellow traveler, with a Spanish license plate!

The most dramatic landscape image of the trip.

Last of the flat roads before...

Gateway to the best ride ever

At Natural Bridges National Park.

A great lookout. I didn't stay long as it was 37°c.

This is a good representation of what the whole Glenn Canyon ride was like.

land opens up

Rural Gas Inc. Had a great chat with a guy on a canary yellow Honda Goldwing here.

I don't know how people ride without visors. Awash with bugs; please wash.

The first of many I'll see - and great to see!

A big day's ride and a hotel for the night. Time to wash off some dirt.

Day 6: Navajo sands

2010-09-21T07:14:00.000-07:00

(Return to the first Utah Loop trip post)

Moab + Arches National Park + Canyonlands National Park, UT (330km)

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After the brief time around Moab the previous day I was happy to have planned an off-day in the area to just explore and return to the same campsite that evening. The landscape was spectacular and I was excited to get to Arches' sister-park Canyonlands just a few dozen km east on Hwy 313. I was happy to see that the high walls of the canyon I was camping in provided shelter from direct sunlight for the first hour of the day. I quickly made and ate breakfast and packed what I needed for the day. While moving on the bike the heat wasn't bad, but if stopped and especially when hiking around it was overbearing. I headed to the Parks information centre to refill on water (none in the campground) and learn what I could. I revisited several of the spots E. and I were at the night before and rode and re-rode all the roads in the park. I headed back into Moab just a few km south for lunch. The second half of the day would be at Canyonlands and I was prepared for a limp encore thinking that nothing could match Arches. At first I was disappointed after a 50km ride produced only distant views of something that looked sort-of interesting below the plateau I was riding up. I continued to the end of the road at the officially named Grand View Point Overlook. It was spectacular and in awe I crawled off the bike, grabbed a litre of water, and walked down tot he viewing. There was the usual crowd of maybe 5-10 people at the main viewpoint with a small path headed off to the side with a sign '1 mile to Grand View'. How could I resist? In full riding gear I headed off for one of the most spectacular hikes of my life along the 6,000ft precipice of a 2,200ft drop (over 1/2 a kilometre!) to the rivers below. It was actually impossible for my head to actually understand the scale of the place and I was in constant awe. This was also a time for extreme vertigo as the ledges on all sides dropped out into nothing. The end of the hike rewarded a view of the entire Canyonlands basin and the confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers. Mindblowing and almost impossible to describe without sounding like hyperbole. I was sad to finally leave Canyonlands and made one more drive through Arches before finding a restaurant for dinner. I was looking forward to some air conditioning and maybe a beer as the campsite would still be holding heat even if it was no longer in the sun.

Waking up at camp on the Colorado river

It's a 2,000ft drop off that edge.

Saw lots of these guys. Always pleasant run-ins.

Another starry night and sinking into the tent.

Day 5: Into the inferno

2010-09-20T07:16:00.002-07:00

(Return to the first Utah Loop trip post)

Rock Springs WY to Moab UT (631km)

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The hotel in Rock Springs was fine enough but I was happy to get back on the road. Today I was heading to Arches National Park, which many recommendations had endorsed. Actually, my original plans stopped at Salt Lake City but I was now extending the trip 400km southeast to take in these parks. Leaving Rock Springs I took Hwy 191 south to Vernal WY, and then turned east on Hwy 40/64 into Colorado through such eccentric destinations as Dinosaur. Avoiding the fast food (I've so far managed to go my entire life without setting foot in a Burger King) I stopped at a taco truck in Rangely to much laughter as no one spoke English and my Spanish pronunciation was so horrible I had to point out my order. Turns out I wasn't the usual clientele but the burrito was yummy. These are the moments the dirt and Canadian and BC flags stitched my my jacket were a license for fun interactions. The rest of Colorado down Hwy 139 was underwhelming as the romantic desolation I expected crossing the Roan Plateau was in fact rolling hills of shrubbery and agriculture. It only lasted 100km to Loma and then it was only Interstate 70 and a turn West back into Utah. This was a turning point where I truly entered southern desert climate. The 34°C hit me like a brick after starting the day at 10°C and combined with the concrete monotony of the interstate this was the least enjoyable ride of the trip. The 100km felt like 1,000. The saving grace was getting closer to Moab and the middle point of the trip, and the hopeful highlight of sightseeing. I rolled into Moab at 4:30pm and ran into a friend I made through several chance encounters in Yellowstone and we made plans to meet up later that night in Arches Park. I continued on to find camping suitable to the promised beauty of the area and ended up with a beautiful spot right beside the Colorado River with Canyon walls for cover. With the tent claiming my space I headed in to Moab, the nearest town, and for a 4th time accidentally ran into E. and we had dinner together then headed into Arches to watch the sunset at the Upper Delicate Arch. With the sun down we decided to do some nighttime exploring and headed to The Windows and watched the moon rise and desert come to life as the evening chill set in. It was a frigid 28°C and the cicadas and crickets (?) were now out and the daytime silence turned into a cacophony. Settling into the tent that night I could still feel the heat coming off the ground and with the still air felt no relief from the further heat I anticipated tomorrow.

First sights of the red rock

Riding back from sunset

Day 4: '50s Postcards

2010-09-19T08:29:00.000-07:00

(Return to the first Utah Loop trip post)

Yellowstone National Park WY to Rock Springs WY (617km)

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Awaking up to a blue sky and limbs intact I could finally appreciate how beautiful Yellowstone is. My camp was on the edge of a marsh and breakfast was enchanting. While many of the famous sights like geysers are fun there is a subtle beauty I discovered as I re-rode the roads I had burned through the night before and toured about two thirds of the main park roads (several hundred kilometres). I met a few nice people at the various stops and finished the day in the park at Old Faithful. I didn't really want to go here but everyone kept saying it was unmissible. It was actually pretty fun as the best kind of tourist trap and the geyser didn't disappoint. I left Yellowstone via the south gates and onto Hwy 89 then 26 through Grand Teton Nat. Park. Traffic was slow with construction and RVs and I could tell it would be tough to make the miles I planned on. A milkshake at a diner in Hoback Junction and then it was onto the long stretch of Hwy 191 to my final destination of Rock Springs. This was one of the most desolate stretches of the trip and my first real taste of desert riding, or at least deserted riding. Take the gas you can at any stop you see and push on. There was also extensive construction and I picked up a large amount of mud that branded us 'bike and rider well traveled'. Due to the lazy start in Yellowstone then the traffic in the afternoon I was riding into a rising moon for the final kilometres. This was ranch country and no campgrounds were to be had. One traveler at a dusty gas station told me of a museum lawn he was going to pitch tent on but I declined the invite. Accepting that I'd find a motel that night I relaxed and savoured the evening ride into what was almost a full moon, witness to the transformation arid land takes at night. Moments after taking my hotel room and exiting to the streets looking for food I wished I was camping. Surrounded by dunderheads in 4x4s and fast food joints I ended up with the worst meal of the trip and downing a 24oz. can of watery Budweiser from the drive-through liquor store in the parking lot, looking up at the moon hours ago I felt so connected with. Another beer and I was bloated and ready to waddle inside and head to bed.

Waking up in Yellowstone

Yellowstone Campsite

The morning ritual packing up. All of that has to fit into one duffle bag and two saddle bags.

Lookout over the Yellowstone Geysers

The earth steams, spits, and bubbles

Volcanic earth mounds

Breakfast with the antelope

Northern Yellowstone

Beautiful after a night of rain

Canyon

Much of Yellowstone is burned from forest fire

Ladies and gentlemen, Old Faithful

Waiting for construction

Another typical Yellowstone road

Exiting the park and entering the heat

Made it! Somewhere...

Jackson Hole, WY!!

We'll call this 'Middle Wyoming'

More construction. This one was 20km of dirt and gravel.

Sun getting low

Riding in to Rock Springs at twilight. The moon was huge and bright.

Day 3: Top of the World

2010-09-13T00:20:00.000-07:00

(Return to the first Utah Loop trip post)

Helena, MT, to Yellowstone National Park, WY (630km)

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Based on Camper Dan's advice I checked out a few of the historic corners of Helena (state capital, former mining hub, competing religious monuments) and rolled out via Hwy 12 onto 89. These were great fast fun roads. Montana is the hilliest place with the straightest roads making for interesting rural skylines. A bit of interstate 90 then the goal of the day was in sight. I turned onto Hwy 70 and approached Red Lodge MT and the start of the Beartooth Pass, a famed 11,000ft summit that is only open for a few months of the year. This being August I wanted to get some Northern advantage for the heat I knew I would suffer further south. Joining Hwy 212 I started the accent and for the next few hours rose into the sky along an extraordinary series of switchbacks. Numerous times I looked for the summit sign only to roll on to another then another incline. Once finally at the top it was the top of the world. This was one of my favourite spots of the trip and I lingered alone at a summit view down a gravel road out of reach from cars and tour buses. Finally moving on it was onto Cooke City and the last stop before entering Yellowstone Park. The Park is featured in so many American myths I didn't know what he reality would be. With my $20 paid they let me in the gate and Yellowstone unfolded in inimitable style. Rather than natural grandeur it is really a park of curiosities and novelty. Yes, there is a lot of wildlife but it is the volcanic geography that gives it the sulphuric smells, glazed canyons, and bubbling pools. My task at hand was finding a camp spot as I knew many would be full. After visiting 3 and turned away from all I was starting to fret. Sixty km to option 4 and the rains started, and it rained hard. Sun descending it was a relief to score a 'hikers walk-in' at the Norris campground. As I uncurled the tent onto wet ground a buck elk with mighty antler strolled past on the nearby river. I'd accidentally settled into a beautiful spot out of the way of all the car plots. Yellowstone is known for bears and there had been a grizzly attack earlier in the year. I was meticulous with putting all foodstuff in bear boxes then drifted to sleep, knife and bear spray at hand. The rain died down as the moon rose. Next occurred a dreadfully frightening event. I awoke to a foul odour, musty and dank. Then the sounds… heaving breath then a cavernous grunt. Objects being shifted clumsily. I couldn't be still as my own shaking set in and I was sure it was a bear scouring the site. One of the scariest 10 minutes of my life until I noticed that I wasn't hearing any footsteps, just the sniffing and growling. Then I realized it was, most possibly, the snoring of the human in the campsite next to me. Anther 10 minutes and the pattern was clear and it was, in fact, not a bear but an oaf. For the rest of the night i kept awaking to the thought, 'wow, he really sounds like a bear!' The smell? I later realized it was my body reconciling the yummy Indian curry I had boiled for dinner in the evening mist. At least it was a comic ending.

Starting early - Day 3!

Making a quick stop at a rise behind my campsite as I head into Helena and start the day.

These roads... this sky... it doesn't get any better!

Everything was running so well when I finally did have a mechanical malfunction I needed to make a production of it. See, got to make the tools feel useful. A mirror was loose and thankfully I had the 14mm spanner to save the day.

Another cute small town on the road.

Starting the switchback up Beartooth Pass.

Check out all those layers of switchback in the distance!

'Welcome to Wyoming... and the top of the world!

Finally the summit is reached at 10,947ft. It's impossible to describe the feeling being up here.

Finding a quiet rest stop at the top of Beartooth Pass.

The view is okay, but the helmet hair is awesome.

Down from Beartooth Pass, $25 paid, and into Yellowstone National Park.

Welcome to Yellowstone. Yes, the roads all pretty much look like this.

Bison alert! What's Yellowstone without large animals and slow traffic?

The land opens out and the skys close in.

Last picture of the day. Looks pretty doesn't it? This was just before a massive storm rolled in and I rode the final 100km past 3 campsites looking for a place to pitch tent. Fourth was the charm and I set up in the dark, cooked, and settled in to a now infamous 'sleep'.

Day 2: River runs through it

2010-09-07T20:56:00.000-07:00

(Return to the first Utah Loop trip post)

Creston, British Columbia, to Helena, Montana (631km)

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Packing camp was quick and I was on the road in good time. First stop was the U.S. border crossing and no problems there. My route took me into Idaho via Hwy 1. Northern Idaho was exceptionally beautiful and remained one of the stand-outs of the trip with a blend of sharp mountains mixed with rolling fields of agriculture. The smells were sweet. Stopping at the 'Welcome to Idaho' sign a woman emerged with a little girl in a wheelchair. "Just taking her for a spin!" was the call as they wheeled around me. This was obviously a financially destitute community. She came over and we chatted a bit and she took my picture by the sign and then they were off. They were beautiful together. Next Hwy 2 took me into Montana then the 56, and 200 along the Clark Fork River. Montana was a blast to ride through with a blend of twisty roads following rivers full of old fisherman and young water tubers (ie. riding inflatable tubes down the river). I followed 200 for most of the day except for a detour down a by-way (SR-141) into Avon MT. This was the last town before I found my campground just outside Helena. The skies were getting dark and I was anxious for a place to stop and found a beautiful campground on a grassy hillside. Unpacking, 'Dan' came over inquiring where I was from–he had seen me riding around looking for a plot–and we had a great chat with him telling me all about the Helena area and tips for heading South. "We're brothers!" as he told me how much Canada and the U.S. shares. Diner was at the Avon Cafe 5 miles back on someone's Internet recommendation where the table next to me had two generations of local cops swapping stories. Riding home in the dark I was concerned for deer and took it slow. Then a most remarkable sight: The moon that was almost full cast over the sky the sky ahead such that all the bugs in the air illuminated! As many ended up plastered on my helmet visor it was a most surreal experience. That night I fell asleep to the calls of elk on the range and then awoke at midnight to a terrific windstorm. Served me right for not doing like the locals and setting up camp in the trees. It was violent but nothing blew away and I still managed to find rest from the day.

First state of the day crossing into Idaho. Loved this area!

Second state of the day crossing into Montana.

Some of the spectacular northern Montana country.

Overlooking a large lake. Many signs posted about protecting the local trout populations.

Following a gravel road down to a river for some lunch.

Classic view

Western Montana really seems to be filled with amazing and accessible rivers.

A squiggly line on the map looked like a great shortcut until I got a few km along and realized it was going to be 56km of washboard. The gravel I don't mind, but I was worried about my saddle bags and other bits rattling off. Coda: Turns out I did break a screw off my saddlebag mounts.

Many of the gas stops were at these mega-fuels.

Heading East and Montana starts to flatten out.

Flattening some more and it almost feels like prairie.

With the sun setting I grab a campsite. This was accidentally a perfect spot on a beautiful hillside.

With the tent set up to claim my plot I head out for some twilight adventuring. The lighter load is appreciated.

After talking with 'Dan' about all things Montana I head off to the Avon Cafe for dinner. I felt a bit guilty for not cooking at the campsite but the Avon was a great stop.

Fortunately I had the foresight to switch out the dark visor for a clear one before sitting down to eat at the Avon Cafe. The bugs were so thick I would have never made it home otherwise. The moon lit them up like flakes of snow. I'd never seen anything like it before.

Settling down for the night. The moon, soft breeze, and Elk in the distance made it a stunning spot. There weren't even many mosquitoes, but many moths tried to get in the tent when i lit the lantern. A windstorm erupted in the night and did wake me for a while but it was somehow comforting.

Day 1: The hills burn

2010-09-04T14:21:00.000-07:00

(Return to the first trip post)

Vancouver, BC, to Creston, BC (770km)

The trip begins with an early morning launch and the familiar straightaway from Vancouver to Hope. This was the prelude to what is one of my favourite rides through the BC Kootenays rolling through Grand Forks, Castlegar, Salmo, and finally Creston. It's beautiful country with perfect biking roads of broad sweepsThe big excitement for the day came as I rode past an active forest fire with helicopter crews dumping loads of water from the nearby Similkameen river. Just past this was a row of fruit stands where I bought some of the famously delicious Summerland peaches and ate them while watching the landscape burn. Creston was the day's destination with plans to cross the border into Idaho the following morning. Also, this was going to be my first night camping so I wanted to find something accessible to develop some camp savvy. My biggest worry about camping was finding spots and I had a list of Googled 'places to camp near Creston'. This was completely useless. I quickly learned that the best strategy is just to ride until you want to stop and start looking. A campsite will reveal itself to you. The one I ended with was nice, if the most expensive of the trip at $25, but also the only one to have the luxuries of a shower and available water. The tent, cooking gear, and foodstuffs all performed flawlessly and a happily uneventful day drifted away.

View Larger Map
First day's route

Clocking in at 27,180km to start the trip

The bike would never be so clean again

First lunch on the road was cold pizza by a corn field

Coming past Osoyoos a forest fire burns the hillside. Helicopters dumped water and RVs stopped to watch.

Another km down the road and a peachstand by Peachland offers the most delicious fruit you could ask for. The fires burn int eh background.

Highway 3, Crowsnest, is a spectacular route for road and scenery.

Osoyoos was hot and full of watersport fans looking for shade.

Getting into the kootneys the mountains rise and the forests begin.

The first camp of the trip was also the most expensive at $25. It had full services such as showers and potable water, which spoiled me for all the other campgrounds to follow.

Utah Loop: Pre-Flight

2010-09-03T18:51:00.000-07:00

The beginning for this trip was like most others: There was a spark of an idea–likely over a few beer late one night–and with a napkin doodle in hand the plans are set in motion. My favourite part of excursions like this is how innocently they start. Come to think of it, most big undertakings come to life the moment the idea is exhaled, "how about we…" and with that the switch is on.

Strapping on new gear outside MEC - the tent's first ride on the bike!

My usual partner in crime for these types of trips, SM, was on call to other life duties at this time. Never looking to have the 'no one to go with' to stop me I proceeded anyway, silently hoping that a willing accomplice might come along. After several impassioned sales pitches extolling the virtues of Yellowstone and primal beauty of the desert I still had no takers. I think I lost them with the parts about nightly camping, aggressive mileage, and desperate gas stops. Details.

Testing the tent in the back yard, or more correctly testing myself to put up the tent in the back yard.

Planning is one of the most fun parts of a trip like this. With a clean slate you can pull out a map and dream of lands unconquered. As you shift your body over the lines on the page your mind can wonder into dreams of what adventure waits inside those lines on a page. Like all great tales of fantasy and horror it's the details that are omitted that are the most powerful. With the anticipation of known attractions comes the reservations of unknown lands (to me) such as eastern Colorado or northern Nevada. Lines stretching out one the map with ominous descriptors such as 'desert' or 'basin'. Managing expectations becomes important to your sanity and focus turns to logistics and material preparation. Is the bike in condition? Can I carry enough water? Then passports, money, insurance and the dreams that put this all in motion temporarily slip away to the more mundane tasks at hand. They'll return once the helmet comes on and the solitude of the highway envelopes you.

With everything packed a final test ride is made. Nothing shifts or falls off. We're ready to go!

There were three certainties to work with. First, I had eight days to convert into this moto-bonanza. Work and life would be keeping a watchful eye. Second, I wanted to camp for the majority of nights. This was a curious requirement and I'm still not sure where the motivation came from but like my ice cream addiction I submitted willingly. I think it was a desire to take on the extra challenge, to 'do this thing right if to do it at all', and recapture an activity I had such fond memories of with my father from decades past. Motorcycles and camping are often romantically linked in the holy scriptures (Jupiter's Travels, One Man Caravan, Zen and the Art of MC Maintenance to name a few) as they share the same principle of submitting to the environment and embracing all that comes with it. Few people jump on a bike to cross a continent and are disgusted when a white linen dinner isn't waiting at the end of each day. Finally, I knew that this trip would include big mileage. Partly because I enjoy geographic slide shows while I ride and also because there was still much country I had not seen. I had never been to any of the western states that didn't have a coastline and in my mind an image played of a bike, a road, and a landscape flashing by in grandeur. This was the image I was chasing.

The adventure begins

2010-08-20T00:37:00.000-07:00

After a flurry of Google mapping (wasting all the rest of my time on work and packing) i think I've come up with the tentative route for my next trip:

View Larger Map

I'm now dipping much further south, trying to make it as far as Bryce Canyon. Thank you to those that left comments on my previous post and lent advice in other ways. This will be a better trip because of it and you have my sincere appreciation.

Now off to start the journey. Leaving in seven hours. There will be no updates from the road. See you in 11 days.

Eyeing the next adventure

2010-08-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

Despite the pictures on Daily Rider getting a bit dusty for updates, there hasn't been a stop to the riding this summer. There have been many after-work jaunts and the occassional day trip, but nothing longer. I found a sliver of time between other duties next week and I'm hoping to get out for something a bit more extended. Two years ago i rode up North, last year i rode South, and I live on a coast so that just leaves one more direction: East. Planning for the route below.

View Larger Map

A few sights I'm particularly excited about:

Kootenays (BC Highway 3)
Beartooth Pass
Crater Lake
Bonneville Salt Flats

What I'm not excited about:

The heat at pretty much every location on this route. Many of the stops are over 35C during the daytime high.
Running out of fuel.

I'm also planning to camp for several of the nights, site depending. Now off to reasearch where those sites would be...

Daily Shuffle

2010-06-11T22:41:00.000-07:00

Pausing at a light everyone else rushes by quickly.

Canon IXY 910 @ ƒ2.8

Winter runoff

2010-06-09T23:50:00.000-07:00

Winter snows create wonderful spring rivers. Sometimes the falls cascade down cliffs at the side of the road and spray across the visor. Taking a break at the side of the road I had the chance to enjoy one of the larger streams. Not quiet, but a great view.

Panasonic GF1 @ ƒ5.6

Share the Road

2010-06-08T23:43:00.000-07:00

Thank you.

Panasonic GF1 @ ƒ6.3

Survey in Motion

2010-06-07T06:51:00.000-07:00

Here we go - the first video to appear on Daily Rider! I'm not sure how many i'll end up with, but i thought it would be fun to mix up the still images with a few movies once in a while. This pan is from a rest stop on Duffey Lake Road west of Lillooet in BC. It was a beautiful stop with a light breeze and crisp mountain air.

Panasonic GF1 @ ƒ5.6 (video)

Straight rise

2010-06-06T10:24:00.000-07:00

One of the fun parts of exploring familiar territory is discovering how many unexpected roads there actually are. I'm constantly amazed by the geology and civic planning I was previously ignorant to. For example, diving into a mountain range, ready to do battle with curves, only to discover kilometers of straights. Add in some dry tundra when you're expecting rainforest and it makes for a fun change. The unexpected is the blessing and curse of adventure.

Panasonic GF1 @ ƒ2.8

Night Rider

2010-06-04T19:25:00.001-07:00

It was a warm evening and fun to take the back roads home. Residential streets turned into mazes with old growth ceilings and flowery dead ends. If you actually focus where the headlight shines it becomes a bit hypnotic as the road passes on. But riding slow that's okay. It's still, and quiet, and dark. You enjoy it while it lasts.

Panasonic GF1 @ ƒ3.5

Perfect pair

2010-06-03T22:56:00.000-07:00

Maybe they are a bit of an odd couple but I always think the Vespa and BMW make a nice pair. There's the big black 1170cc Bavarian monster and the sleek svelte 50cc Italian. Riding along (and with no input from the riders) the BMW dotes over the Vespa, passing then falling behind - always a watchful eye for hazards and admiring the delicate silhouette in the sun. Today they both get a wash. The BMW is darker than ever as the black finish makes a siren call to jump on and ride into the unknown. The Vespa's cheery yellow reflects back and somehow makes everything around it seem that much brighter. The day too.

BMW R1200R + Vespa LX50
Canon IXY 910

At cold feet

2010-06-02T15:54:00.000-07:00

One of the great things about riding in British Columbia is you're never far away from mountains. If there isn't an ocean over your shoulder then you can be pretty sure you'll see a mountain's shadow. On a bike this makes for great roads with spirited ascents, spectacular views, and chasing raging rivers down down down to a coastline. Another by-product of mountain life is tempermental weather systems. What was sun a minute ago can quickly turn into a foggy snowstorm, especially when you're riding in May.

Panasonic GF1 @ ƒ6.3
Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, BC, Canada

Skybound

2010-06-01T10:39:00.000-07:00

Caught in some depressing traffic my eyes gaze down, desparate for a distraction, only to realize what a brilliant sky loomed above. I was startled because with all the buildings and trees and 'paying attention to the road' nonsense I'd completely missed the spectacle overhead. It was that unique spring gift where the rainclouds are dominant but warm weather (and cloudy humidity) fight to break through. It was fun to watch the blending clounds bend around the curves of the tank. I started getting a bit homesick for the prairies and big sky country. Straight roads ruled by an autocratic sun. The surprises and certainty dealt out by an ocean of land. I've just convinced myself -- the next big roadtrip might have just been decided. It's amazing the plans that are conjured up from the most innocent events - such as gazing down at your gas tank in traffic.

Panasonic GF1 @ ƒ5

Two of a kind

2010-04-29T17:59:00.000-07:00

Even when you ride together on a motorcycles you are riding alone. Once more than two meters separates comrades the wind takes over and it becomes a solitary experience. The faster you go the more the world collapses in around you, vision narrowing. Every experience amplified by the extremes directed at every sense. Hearing also becomes more selective, although i suspect this is less evolutionary superpower and more how bloody loud it gets inside a helmet. But it's your noise. Then you stop, and park, and pull off that helmet and look at each other with wide eyes and lips already telling stories. The Bikes wait patiently.

Powell River, BC, Canada
Triumph Bonneville & BMW R1200R
Canon IXY 910

Signs of summer

2010-04-28T00:59:00.000-07:00

A blazing sky was a sign of another hot summer to come. After a mild and dry winter this could turn into a scorcher. One of the predicaments of summer heat is the temptation to ride with an open jacket and helmet visor, but the reality that the air is now full of bugs and insects. I tend to ride with an open viser through the winter 'cause i just love the fresh air, but after several tasteless encounters with bees, dragonflies, wasps, and flies I close up when the flowers are opening. Last season I also had a wasp fly into my stylishly open jacket and start stinging me as i cruised down the highway. Not fun. Or maybe i should go had core with a skull-cap and t-shirt like the Harley guys so the bugs just bounce off. Options to consider while we still surely have more rainy days to come.

Canon IXY 910
Vancouver, Canada

Granville Streak

2010-04-27T07:44:00.000-07:00

Another late night departure from work and a new camera swung over my shoulder. Tanks bags don't help when you have to leave the bike (i already have enough stuff to carry) and the in-pocket camera, frankly, sucks. And so I turn to a timeless setup with lens at my side ready to shoot. In this case a blurry dash of colour, but it can only be onward from here. snap.

Panasonic GF1
Vancouver, Canada

Happy Dance

2010-04-22T19:31:00.000-07:00

Triumph Bonneville T100
Canon IXY 910 IS

Nootka Air

2010-04-20T23:26:00.000-07:00

It's the Nootka Air station and this is the end of the road for those traveling to Gold River, BC. It was our chosen destination because it was the furthest place we could find that wouldn't have snow. We couldn't cross the border into the U.S. for various reasons so had to find an nice adventurous destination a little closer to home. Vancouver, being nestled in the mountains, can be hard to escape on a bike in the early spring. Many mountain passes. Gold River was a safe bet, and would give us an excuse to ride the Sunshine Coast, up to Powell River, and over to Vancouver Island. We didn't even mind the 4 hour ferry wait at Earls Cove. The locals were generous with the beer.

Here's the route: http://bit.ly/bb8SLj

BMW R1200R
Canon EOS 5D
Gold River, BC, Canada

A. Vespa

2010-04-15T17:31:00.000-07:00

Personalization is a popular motivation for bike riders of all stripes. Pedal or powered, everyone loves to have something streaming off the bars or tricked with the wheels. Bikes invite it. Cars are expensive or far more time consuming and the stakes are high if you mess up. So we all settle for fuzzy dice, or an exhaust tip if you are 16. But bikes... I remember once stripping a bike down one night and taking a can of rust paint to it. It was dry by morning (thanks, heater) and reassembled by the time the rains set in and the mud was thick (I'm making this part up, but in memory my entire youth was one long wheelie through a mud puddle). It was unrecognizable and unmistakable at the same time. It had my signature on it; this is just an initial.

Canon IXY 910 IS
Vespa LX50

Thirty-two days

2010-04-15T17:14:00.000-07:00

Yikes - over a month between updates. There's been lots of working and lots of riding. Sadly, the Daily Rider is a third priority. Did i mention there was still lots of riding? Life remains good.

Lazy focus

2010-03-12T09:21:00.000-08:00

Sometimes leaving an afternoon destination you just want to stretch back and feel the wind and listen to the busyness around you. The day is done by official metrics and there are a few moments you can claim as your own. "I usually turn left here, maybe I should turn right?" Maybe never going above 3rd gear to keep it slow, or never going below 4th gear to keep it cruising. And when it's done maybe you don't remember any of those details. But the afternoon will continue to replay in your head for the rest of the evening, maybe the next day, or maybe for an entire week.

BMW R1200R
Canon IXY 910

We don't always get what we want

2010-03-10T13:54:00.000-08:00

BMW R1200R
Canon IXY 910

I went for an amazing ride and all I got was this lousy picture

2010-03-09T09:54:00.000-08:00

I retraced the Fields of Baker loop last weekend, this time in reverse direction. Here's the exact route (350km). It was a spectacular day and I got my first taste of spring insects too as I raced through the Chilliwack valley farms. The visor was a grim field of buggy carnage. Somehow I never managed to stop at the good photo scenes I passed and this was all i got. It was a nice piece of shade to rest at after 200km and watch the planes take off from the regional airport. A fun juxtaposition before narrowing to the valley straights again.

BMW R1200R
Canon EOS 5D
Chilliwack, BC, Canada

Control Tower

2010-03-05T15:19:00.000-08:00

Watching the watchers.

Canon EOS 5D + 20mm @ f/8
Vancouver, BC, Canada

Sad stand

2010-03-04T14:18:00.000-08:00

The worst part about winter riding is the holiday towns are all boarded up. While this makes for open roads and enjoyable traffic flow, the ice cream situation is dire.

Canon EOS 5D + 20mm @ f/2.8
BMW R1200R + Triumph Bonneville T100
Cultus Lake, BC

Pink attack

2010-02-25T19:09:00.000-08:00

Riding home tonight I was greeted by row upon row of blossoms. So many, so early, i'm afraid there'll still be some frosts to kill them. But for now it's that wonderful spring when it is warm enough to take off the heated vest, but not so warm that the bugs are out forcing the helmet visor down. I'll enjoy it while it lasts.

BMW R1200R
Spring blossoms
Canon IXY 910 IS

Fields of Baker

2010-02-24T22:20:00.000-08:00

Stunning. This was the word rattling around my head as we putted around a 400km loop from Vancouver to Hope and back, taking the longest routes possible. For February the weather was downright creepy as I don't remember so many days of sun and warmth this early in the year. As the mountain air was still cold the skies has that clarity that only the winter provides and in this shot we are treated with a view of Mt Baker in Washington State. Stunning.

BMW R1200R
Chilliwack BC Canada
Canon EOS 5D + 20mm @ ƒ/11

I'm not sure if the wide crop is maybe better.

Loitering

2010-02-17T18:12:00.000-08:00

A beautiful spring day and a free afternoon - perfect. This was also the first ride in months when i didn't even have the heated jacket on. Actually, I was stripped down to leathers and a thin wool sweater. With Olympic chaos pulling everyone into the city, the backroads were quiet and filled with rural elegance. And then there were these barges that just looked like they were waiting for some attention. I think this one looks better large.

Canon EOS 5D @ ƒ/20
Vancouver, BC, Canada
BMW R1200R and boats

Pack animal

2010-02-15T22:40:00.000-08:00

Riding daily means sometimes packing heavy. I've become (i think) rather inventive with the straps and techniques for carrying odd objects. While my attention is usually focused on whether a load is about to fly off the bike or not, sometimes the mind wanders to what other drivers think. "Is that a duvet on the back of that bike?" Or, "how many flats of beer are stacked on there?" Packing for an adventure tour is systematic and purposeful. Packing for the daily ride is chaotic and essential.

Canon IXY 910 @ ƒ/2.8
Parkade somewhere

Nanaimo/Victoria

2010-02-13T10:15:00.000-08:00

Running from the Olympic crowds to catch some miles on Vancouver Island. A misty, blue, and cold morning.

Canon EOS 5D
BC Ferries, Vancouver, Canada

Broken promises

2010-02-08T20:31:00.000-08:00

It was supposed to be sunny. Okay, maybe not sunny, but at least no rain. This is what the weather website promised. But February being the soggy sod it is i was really wishing i had the rain pants on. Fortunately they were in the tail bag for the ride home. My trip was over to Victoria for a quick day trip. I always enjoy taking the ferries. I think it's one of the most beautiful 1.5hrs a person can have. It's also some forced quiet time to read or get some work done. And there's the fun ride to and from the ferry. As bonus the bikes get to shoot ahead of all the cars when loading, and get off first at the destination. It was pretty wet though.

Canon EOS 5D @ ƒ5
BC Ferries, Vancouver, Canada

First spring wash

2010-02-05T19:52:00.000-08:00

It's February fifth, but it felt like spring as the bulbs have started to flower in the garden and anything more than a t-shirt feels too warm when you're moving. Who would have guessed it was the winter Olympics that are only a week away. But the weather has been crummy and the bike was covered in a silty dirt that gave it an agonizing sandpaper-crunch whenever you touched it. That can't be good for the paint. It also had black wheels, which is odd because they were born as clear coat aluminum. Harley-Davidson guys + girls are famous for their meticulous washings. BMW guys + girls are infamous for logging mega miles on dirty steeds. Today kind of felt like a betrayal as i polished her up when i know there's a lot more rain and mud to come. But it was a fun excuse to enjoy the spring flowers.

Canon IXY 910
BMW R1200R
Vancouver, BC, Canada

03:00

2010-01-28T03:32:00.000-08:00

Heading home from work at 3am is not my idea of a good time (hint: I don't do shift work) but it does have advantages. Wide expanses of empty blacktop. Tonight there was also some irony as I careen through empty Winter Olympic venues and traffic controls with a 'We welcome the world' backdrop. Maybe. But tonight it's ours.

Cambie Street + King Edward Boulevard
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Canon IXY 910 @ ƒ/2.8

Theatre Parking

2010-01-26T20:31:00.000-08:00

A quiet moment after the crowds have departed from a rather good musical biography of Edgar Allan Poe at the Granville Island Theatre. The bike slides up nicely next to the no parking sign and i have direct line in and out. Funny that i try so hard to park close (it's the challenge!) and then linger so long at the bike when i leave.

BMW R1200R
Waiting for Nevermore, Arts Club Theatre Company
Canon IXY 910 @ ƒ2.8

Imagine the night like a Cubist Christmas tree

2010-01-20T20:17:00.000-08:00

One of the best parts about riding at night is the lights. That might sound self evident, but the lights that surround you transform the landscape in interesting ways. As someone who often looks at things with an imaginary camera to the eye, i'm also interesting in the colour of light. Nighttime excels at providing a great diversity of warm amber street lights, cool blue halogens, and flashing red warnings of who-knows-what ahead. Imagine how a Cubist might deconstruct a Christmas tree. That is riding at night.

Canon IXY 910 @ ƒ/2.8
Vancouver, Canada

How it looked or how it felt?

2010-01-13T23:13:00.000-08:00

Too many crazy-long days at work had my vision decidedly biased to the 24" range. I had laptop eyes. And a headache. A ride sounded like a suitable antidote and off i dashed into the chaos of 4pm of a Wednesday. I'm fortunate to live/work close to a fairly massive university campus with many scenic and quiet roads to get away on. It was 26km well-spent.

I'm going to share what are essentially two version of the same picture. I couldn't decide which to post. The first is a true reflection how i felt today on my ride: Rich, warm, busy, damp. The second is closer to how it actually looked: Sharp, cold, hectic, wet. Let there be no mistake – i tweak most of the photos before they appear on this site. It's always done when i think the camera's images doesn't quite match the mind's interpretation of the eye's view of the heart's motivation. You know how sometimes '10°' can feel both hot or cold, depending on what's going on? Well that's what i try to capture. Today it was a warm ten.

How it felt
Canon IXY 910 @ ƒ/2.8

How it looked
Canon IXY 910 @ ƒ/2.8

The mysterious case of the tormented footwear

2010-01-12T06:35:00.000-08:00

One good thing about the winter rain is it makes me a little more honest about wearing appropriate riding gear. The Grenson's leather soles become quickly inadequate. If you don't have gore-tex boots running up your legs the rain will stream down them. And so I drop the shoes into my courier bag and head out for the day. Except today. Arriving at work there were no shoes in my bag. "I know I took them" I mutter as I not-so-quietly question myself. But really, what are the chances of loosing both shoes out of my bag? Despite the fact that life is a bit of a batter's cage at the moment (have you noticed the dearth of blog posts?) I give myself the benefit of the doubt and decide that a gremlin somewhere on the road must have stolen them. Inspired by lore of sought and found treasure I take the 45min before my next meeting to retrace my steps to find the shoes. (At this point i suspected my eagerness for the adventure could have more to do with the opportunity to ride during the workday than actually finding any shoes). But I did find them, both of them, together, right where the gremlin left them after realizing he is not a size 10. I'm not fond of relying on 'luck' but this day i sure got some!

Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise as I'm now sporting a Kriega US20 which mounts more securely and keeps things way drier than the courier sac ever did. Especially my shoes. If only it was about 10L bigger it would hold my lunch too. Gremlins probably like that even more.

Scene of the shoe crime, Granville St. @ 23rd Ave, Vancouver, BC
Canon IXY 910 @ ƒ/2.8

A fresh start

2010-01-11T09:27:00.000-08:00

Brrr. 2° when i started up the bike this morning. It's actually a great way to start the day and arrive at work invigorated.

Canon IXY 910 @ ƒ/2.8
BMW R1200R dashboard on a chilly January morning

Cut up sky

2010-01-10T17:34:00.000-08:00

Slicing the morning sun.

Canon IXY 910 IS @ ƒ/8
Granville + 41st, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Peeking out

2009-12-24T10:35:00.000-08:00

Winter riding means you never know what weather is going to meet you in the morning. High of highs and low of lows are possible. Sometimes, the cold brings a clarity to the air and range of vision that is unmatched by the hazy summer. The mountains look spectacular. Of course, there are plenty of aweful days too. And so, as the garage door opens for each morning's commute there's equal parts trepidation and anticipation. This was a good morning.

Canon IXY 910 @ f/2.8

We own this town (and maybe no one else wants it)

2009-12-01T06:04:00.000-08:00

An early morning scouting or late night retreat? I don't know, they all roll together these days.

w 8th Ave @ Hemlock St., Vancouver, BC, Canada
Canon IXT 910 @ ƒ/2.8

Hoops

2009-11-30T06:52:00.000-08:00

A common theme amongst all motor sport (and pedal!) enthusiasts is a fascination with tires. Only engine oil rivals them for making and breaking bonds of trust and friendship. Secret pacts and allegiances are made to geometric patterns born of rubber mold. How big? How small? How far? How fast? I just got a new set. A small part of my soul is now invested into this particular pattern and compound. I am assured by the tribe it is not too big, nor too small, and goes fast and far. We may still associate if you have an alternative, but I will quietly judge you while we are diving into the corners. [And please read that as a joke.]

Michelin Pilot Road II 180/60/R17
Canon IXY 910 @ ƒ/2.8

Morning passage

2009-11-28T11:52:00.000-08:00

The ride into work is always upredictable in the winter. Often it is cold and raining, sometimes so hard I never even pop up the visor for a blast of fresh air. Other times the rains stop for a moment and you can catch a glimpse of how beautiful things are in that peculiar water-logged brilliance of pastel light and reflective surfaces (everything sparkles when wet). And then there are the days that start with an uncertain calm, mist burning off the ground and fog falling from the sky. Light looses focus. No breeze to wisk away smells. In that moment, riding, being a part of it, is a transcendent experience.

You can still get pretty wet though.

Canon IXY 910 @ ƒ/2.8

Night wash

2009-11-19T16:54:00.000-08:00

I was taking my bike in to get a new set of tires the following day and didn't want to leave the mechanic with a mess of mud and leaves to deal with. Fall can be harsh. I know I don't really need to do this, but I always feel as if the more attractive I make the bike to work on, the better job a mechanic will do. Changing tires on a mud-crusted rim can't be a good thing. Being fall it gets dark around 4:20pm now, not leaving any daylight hours after work for such missions of cleanliness. And so what is usually a simple task turns into a ceremony of rarefied acts under cover of darkness. Add some misty rain and biting cold and you've got a test of faith to separate the true believers. Then it started to hail.

Canon IXY 910 @ ƒ/2.8

Final Fall Colours

2009-11-16T23:46:00.000-08:00

Parking next to a tree the poor leaves were holding on to the bitter end as the wind kicks up and the mornings get colder. We're soon in to the grey winter. For now, enjoy the final flames of fall colour.

Downtown Vancouver, Canada
Canon IXY 910 @ ƒ/2.8

Group Rides

2009-11-15T23:42:00.000-08:00

I finally went on my first group ride. People met at a specific location, at a set time, and rode a defined route together, in formation. The real deal. It was also my first time riding with a Harley crowd, which was very interesting. I never understood what people meant when they say BMW riders are 'technical', but I think i get it now. Speeds, lane position, posture, formation, are all a little more, ahh, finessed with the cruisers. And a big difference is the number of breaks taken. I'm used to putting in at least 150km for a nice ride. We covered 55km in about 4hrs. This included two coffee stops, a meetup, a lookout, and getting dinner. It was great conversation, just not a lot of riding. I'm not against trying it again, but I'm also happy to have the roads to myself this winter.

Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Canon 5D + 20mm @ ƒ/2.8

Empty Streets

2009-11-10T07:47:00.000-08:00

It was Thursday afternoon and a huge rainstorm hit downtown Vancouver. This might sound like it should be common for a city perimetered by rainforest, but the rain here tends to be slow and long sometimes lasting weeks at a time. We don't get monsoons or heavy bursts too often. But this Thursday we had a big dump and the citizenry ran for cover. The streets were empty of cars and boots. Fortunately when I had to go out was the exact moment the rain cleared and the sky broke open into a marble of blue, white, and black. An exceptionally surreal ride.

Vancouver, BC, Canada | downtown
Canon IXY 910 ƒ/2.8

Familiar Places

2009-11-03T07:20:00.000-08:00

There's something to be said for familiar workplaces. Like a desk, a toolbench, or a cockpit. These places slide into the background of thought so the challenges at hand may consume all due effort. Walking up to the bike this morning I crossed a line. After 19,000kms travelled this bike now feels familiar. I know the controls, the weights, the distances. Limbs fall to the bends of the machine. I know what the bike will accept and what will be rejected. I don't think about riding it, I think about the adventures ahead.

Canon IXY 910 @ ƒ/2.8

Ends of the day

2009-11-01T21:32:00.000-08:00

Photography and motorcycling have one convenient thing in common: both are best at the first or last ends of the day. It's all about the light. Sunrise is a crisp and alert light washing over still-sleeping subjects. It comes on fast and strong and fills the landscape with motivation for the day. Sunset has a muted brilliance that burns to live up to the photographer's naming, 'beauty light'. Everything looks more perfect awash in scarlet haze. The bike likes these things too as it rolls through familiar terrains temporarily disguised by the lights and shadows of the ends of the day.

Canon 5D + 20mm @ ƒ/5

Flare

2009-10-26T00:22:00.000-07:00

I didn't take a lens hood (thingy to block the sun from shining straight into a lens and making it flare) this morning since the weather was so poor and rainy when i jumped on the bike. "Won't need that!" Once on the road, and heading a little further south away from the mountains, the sky opened up to a beautiful fall day. Spring has urgency as everything is busy growing and flowing. Great fall days seem to drift along as nothing really wants to see them end.

Canon 5D + 20mm @ ƒ/4.5

A Day in Bologna (Hint: Ducati)

2009-10-22T06:42:00.000-07:00

Daily Rider goes to Bologna

Taking a break from the daily commute I recently had the fortune to spend a few days in Bologna, Italy. Why this may be of interest to Daily Rider readers is Bologna is the home of Ducati, one of the most iconic motorcycle brands in the world.

My own experience with Ducati is limited to imaginary test rides at bike shows and window shopping. I've never ridden one (anyone want to trade for an afternoon?). But I do remember walking into a bike shop back in 1994 and seeing a Monster M900 for the first time - wow. It really messed with my expectations of what a bike could be, and far more attractive to my young eyes that any of the plastic fantastics buzzing around the streets.

I'm not the best source for a rolling history of the brand or racing pedigree so check out Wikipedia or the museum has a brief website based on the museum with more background information. So… on to some pictures!

To visit the museum you have to book ahead (thanks, A.S.!) When we arrived a big group was waiting and two English and two Italian groups set out. It was pouring rain and everyone was soaked, especially the several who had ridden to the museum on what looked like part of an extensive European motorbike tour. But everyone was happy, perhaps even a little giddy at what they were about to see.

The displays are organized chronologically starting with the early radios and electric razors that got the company started and moving quickly to the piccolo bicycle engine that fuelled a post-WWII transportation boom in Italy.

Most of the museum is devoted to Ducati's racing heritage. Surprisingly, there wasn't a single Monster in the museum, considering its been one of the top sellers for over a decade. Bikes were all nicely cleaned without being over-restored. There was a special section for the Moto GP models. It was the obvious pride of the stable.

The black stallion was originally used by both Ducati and Ferrari.

The guide mentioned that Ducati has patented the exhaust note of their 90° twin, but there was no mention of this nor samples of the sounds of the bikes. I don't know about anyone else but it is the sounds that elicits the most excitement with the Ducati brand. A nice touch were the magazine clippings for some of the models from trade magazines of the day. "The Italian rocket for '75" and so on.

The gift shop was reserved for such a flagship location. Nothing like the gaudy Ferrari wonderlands that ferment on Euro-trash real estate. A.S. tried a leather jacket, but they only carried two (wrong) sizes.

I went into the experience thinking of Ducati as a stylish if flamboyant manufacturer. They obviously see themselves as a technology company solely focused on winning races. I think they know what they're doing.

Definitely a great visit if you're in Northern Italy.

Postscript - While in Modena next door i was passed by a Ferrari prototype test drive on public B roads complete with obscured bodywork. Fun!

Brief checkout

2009-10-04T07:12:00.000-07:00

I'm heading off on some fresh adventures with no computers. Photos to return in several weeks.

And so these parties divided upon that midnight plain, each passing back the way the other had come, pursuing as all travelers must inversions without end upon other men's journeys.
~ Cormac McCarthy, Blood Meridian

University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Canon 5D + 28mm @ ƒ/6.3

Neon blues

2009-10-03T13:07:00.000-07:00

Vancouver used to be known as one of the great neon cities in North America. This sax at the Yale Hotel is one of the last remaining. Now we take our glass clear and covering condos.

Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Canon 5D + 20mm @ ƒ/2.8

Birds!

2009-10-02T19:29:00.000-07:00

There's a fowl ritual in Vancouver where each night the crows evacuate the city for the greener pastures of the suburbs (I hear Deer Lake). On a lazy summer evening many years ago a friend offered in inimitable wistful tone, "there go the crows, again." For some reason that saying returns to me each night when i hear the flocks overhead. Birds will be birds.

Canon 5D + 50mm @ ƒ/4.5

11:35pm

2009-10-01T18:11:00.000-07:00

Stumbling out of the restaurant on a sugar high from soda water. The traffic was light and what there was travelled fast on the empty Main Street. The street lights burn a strange orange glow. We no longer notice how alien it is to the calming blue of the natural moonlight.

BMW R1200R @ Main Street, Vancouver, BC
Canon IXY 910 @ ƒ/2.8

Distant Relatives

2009-09-30T09:35:00.000-07:00

Daily Rider is about photographing the experience of riding a motorcycle. But, photos are a quite different thing than riding, and sometimes the pictures that turn out well were taken at the most uninspired times of riding, and vice versa. Here's a shot that you'll have to use your imagination with a bit (view large?), as it was one of the most spectacular views I've recently had. If you look really hard you'll see Mt. Baker, WA, in the distance. It's a familiar sight from Vancouver and on this evening it was cast in a scarlet and tawny glow that rippled with the quickly descending sun.

Mt. Baker, Washington State seen from Queen Elizabeth Park, Vancouver, BC
Canon 5D + 50mm @ ƒ/6.3

Tiger Skies

2009-09-29T09:19:00.000-07:00

BMW R1200R
Canon 5D + 28mm @ ƒ/2.8

In the gutter, but staring at stars

2009-09-28T07:32:00.000-07:00

Fall is definitely here as the leaves pirouette and collect in the gutters. Evenings are now cold for riding. Another few weeks and the jacket liner will be zipped in for sure. For now i'll enjoy the novelty of rose cheeks bitten by the wind.

Canon IXY 910 @ ƒ/2.8

Far and away

2009-09-26T07:12:00.000-07:00

BMW R1200R
Canon 5D + 28mm @ ƒ/2.8

Cloud Nine

2009-09-25T06:54:00.000-07:00

The rain had stopped earlier that day but the road was still wet. Normally I don't mind riding in the wet/rain but after a long dry summer it was smart to watch for dust and oils washing off the road. It was a day of slow cruising. One nice thing about the rain is the reflections on the road. They dance.

BMW R1200R
Canon 5D + 28mm @ ƒ/4

End of days

2009-09-24T07:17:00.000-07:00

Taking in the sunset at Spanish Banks, Vancouver, BC.

Canon 5D + 28mm @ ƒ/5.6

Stoned

2009-09-23T13:00:00.000-07:00

Taking a moment outside a cemetery in Tsawwassen listening to the trees in the breeze.

BMW R1200R
Canon 5D + 50mm @ ƒ/10

Laser Tag

2009-09-22T23:11:00.000-07:00

The rest of the world goes by so fast when you're at pause. And that's the point.

BMW R1200R
Canon 5D + 28mm @ ƒ/8

Making Money

2009-09-18T06:48:00.000-07:00

By the BC Ferries, looking out to Deltaport dockyard where precious (industrial) powders make way across the Pacific.

Canon 5D + 50mm @ ƒ/5.6

Try Nitrogen

2009-09-17T07:08:00.000-07:00

At least, that's what the promotional poster by the pumps says.

Canon IXY 910 @ ƒ/2.8

Ships Ahoy

2009-09-16T07:27:00.000-07:00

Vancouver harbour is commonly filled with freighters waiting to go into port. Here's one at twilight. The sun was dropping so fast that each successive shot's light fell by almost a stop.

Canon 5D + 50mm @ƒ5.6

Next turn?

2009-09-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

Today Daily Rider turns 100. Pictures, that is.

Enjoy these photos? Leave a comment and let me know where we should go for the next 100.

I started Daily Rider as a way to record the photos I was taking during my daily commute by motorcycle. It seemed a natural fit as I enjoy both. I've been pretty happy with the shots I've captured over the past year, but there's always a new challenge on the horizon. I have some ideas about how things could change:

* describe the technical features and specifications of the photos
* literal descriptions of where the photos were taken
* commentary about the photos and what they symbolize for the riding experience
* fewer bike shots and more road/scenery? More bike shots?
* Standardize around a theme?

With RSS this site has a pretty anonymous readership. I'd love to hear from anyone that has ideas for the next series!

Thanks,
Dan

Where to? Canon 5D + 50mm @ ƒ5

Cat eyes

2009-09-11T05:38:00.000-07:00

Canon IXY 910 @ ƒ2.8

Dry rain

2009-09-10T23:52:00.000-07:00

Canon IXY 910 @ ƒ8

Sunburst

2009-09-08T15:52:00.000-07:00

The sun starts to release the heat of the day near the end of an early morning ride.

Canon 5D + 50mm @ f/22

Sideways II

2009-09-07T07:12:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's fun to travel in packs.

Vespa LX50 and BMW R1200R on Cambia street, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Happy Birthday, Bike

2009-09-05T09:58:00.000-07:00

The R1200R turned 1 year old this week. The odometer cleared 18,000km which i guess is not bad for twelve months. Most of that riding was in the dreary winter months, and 6,000km of it was from the infamous snowy trip to San Francisco in March '09. This summer was just too busy with buying/selling/moving houses to get out for many rides. I really wish i could have done at least two more big road-trips this summer. But, truth be told, fall is my favourite time to ride anyway, and this fall I have the newly discovered and life-changing heated jacket to plug in. Everyone: go buy one now!

I was trying to catch a spectacular sunset, but, as usual, by the time the technology caught up with Nature it was too late. Or, at least that's how i remember it. BMW R1200R outside a Safeway, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

City of Glass IV

2009-09-04T08:42:00.000-07:00

Entering downtown Vancouver via Georgia viaduct. These window will have a great view of all manner of shenannigans during the 2010 Olympics.

BMW R1200R on Georgia Viaduct, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Sideways

2009-09-03T08:04:00.000-07:00

The Vespa has a slow leak in the rear tire so we've been doing gas station runs every few nights to top it up until i have time to diagnose the problem.

Vespa LX50 and BMW R1200R make a great team.

Parking gymnastics

2009-09-02T01:00:00.000-07:00

Let's call it the parallel bars.

City parking gymnastics.

Trailing (part 2)

2009-08-24T09:14:00.000-07:00

part 1

Further down the road the concrete stops and gravel begins. The GPS says there is a path continuing on. Our goal is to get back to HWY 25 as a washed out bridge has prevented any access South. This road is our ticket to get up the back side of Mt. St. Helens so we push on, curious about what exactly is "two miles ahead" as the sign warns.

BMW R1200R en route to Mt. St. Helens, WA, U.S.A. somewhere around HERE.