A month of Half and Half, working in Kamloops on a Microtunnel and back in Calgary taking courses then it was off to grab "my boy Blu" the motorbike and head South as far as the Mexican border via Portland, Yuba City, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. Stay tuned for October Part 2.
Working in Kamloops for the first part of the month, well that was the plan. Unfortunately with out all the now needed new courses when I got off the plane and being unable to get in to these courses in Kamloops it was a few days and then back on the plane to Calgary to take courses. Then back to Kloops.
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| A little engineering humour |
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Not appropriate PPE for site.
But hey it's the end of the day. |
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| Dash 8 to YYC |
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| Amazing views |
Fraser River from above
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| Glenmore Res where I sail |
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| Nose Hill, like a big mole on the face of Calgary |
Miles and Miles of farm land to the East of Calgary
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| Bow River |
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| Calgary skies out near the Airport |
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| Not a bad spot for a week |
And then back to K-loops!
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| May little starter home, only $650,000??? |
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| Quaint |
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Love this shot of the tops of Cascade Mountains
in route to Victoria |
With work out of the way for now it was time to reconnect with Blu and head South. Thanks to Brian and Dallas for everything, really. Rides, roof, food and care. You guys are truly special people.
Day 1 - Canada to US somewhere near Portland via ferry to Port Angeles, WA. Took Black Ball ferry for $65 USD and met Cal on an mint condition 2003 BMW GS1150 who was going all the way to San Felipe, Baja California after some stops in the USA like me (different stops). Thanks for the tips Cal.
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| Just how I left you amigo |
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| Good bye Canada |
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| Early morning |
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Love seeing floater planes coming in from
the boat |
Highway 101 (Port Angeles) to Olympia C5/6R7T7V8 had coast, green, woodland, hills/mountain. Easy in to the US inland temp at 26C and coast down to 20C as fall kicks in. Second half of day after a pricey cider ($14CAD incl 20% tip) went all the way just South of Portland where I hoped the moto wouldn't get stolen.
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In without an issue. First time since 2018
sail trip to Mexico. |
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| Fall colour |
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| Salty bays calm like windless lakes |
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| Look close, Latin flare? |
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| Parker bridge in Portland |
Day 2-4 - Yuba City. Almost 11 years to the day I was riding a 2008 Vstrom South to Latin America and I reminded my friend Toni of that. She said, "well you better stop here!" 4 hrs of Insterstate-5 stopping at Black Bear Diner to eat and receive Toni's messages added another unexpected 5 hrs at the end of the day. Challenge accepted. Not so fun riding through the mountains with a bunch of big trucks at 130 kph in the dark, but at least it wasn't too cold. 10pm arrival!
The next morning after a great catch up with Toni as I was checking over the bike I noticed the chain had a super tight spot and it needed to be changed out. Long story short, "Toni, can I stay 2 more nights, please". Thanks so much Toni for the hospitality and also to Brandon at Work and Play Motorsports for getting the chain on the bike as quick as they could. And thank god I didn't panic and get Mike's Custom to do it for double the price ($650!)
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| Oregon State Capital in Salem |
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| Open prairie type areas middle Oregon |
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| I-5 is a great ride |
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| Scenic |
Black Bear Diner, the gas station guy's recommendation. Tasty. If only I could eat the pies!
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You pay CASH,
you SAVE CASH! |
Unfortunately riding in the dark there wasn't anything I could do for snapping good photos. Hopefully these help depict the forest filled to desert like landscapes from Southern Oregon to North California.
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| Southern Oregon |
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| Northern Cali |
A few days in Yuba City where Toni works as a teacher and plans her next global adventure. Good to see her mom and sisters again too. More kids than were in the picture 11 years ago.
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That's right, I promised a case of beer to help
lube the wheels of delivery of service. |
Day 5-6 San Francisco. My old Sailing Buddy, Sterling, from our 2018 Gulf of Mexico crossing. Thanks for having me amigo and for the good times.
Highway 113 to Rd 13 to 505 C3R7T3/4V4. Farmland and 31 deg C in the late afternoon.
Highway 37 off 505 in to SF and over the Golden Gate Bridge in Fog and 15 deg C. All this in about 130 km from hwy 113 to SF.
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| Dusty and dry |
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| Traffic coming out of SF |
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| Big bridge, but not Golden Gate |
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| A great lowlands before climbing to SF |
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| Last of photos before fog and cold |
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| Golden Gate |
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| Downtown San Francisco |
Staying in Potrero area on the hills of SF. Great spot, great room, and great company.
Day 7-9 Los Angeles. Another stop that I hadn't made since my trip to Argentina in 2011, seeing my friends Dorit and Gareth and their new baby who is now 9 years old, Kayden and loves sailing! Exciting stuff.
Big ride; starting on the Hwy 1 to Monterey C5R8T4V7/8, coast, coast, coast.
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| Not warm, 15C and moist |
Then Monterey to Cambria still on Hwy 1, going past Big Sur, etc. C7R7T4V8 coastal cliffs, islands.
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| This was warmer last time no? |
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| Curves and cliffs, where there's one... |
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Yeah, that's double the price of a gallon only
50km inland. The guy said "there's cheaper in
30 miles, don't buy here unless you have too." |
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| Glorious |
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| Happy Blu |
Although I couldn't remember the exact route from 2011 I had definitely been to Cambria and further down the coast, but due to the cold 15 C temp with a bit of rain I decided to head inland on to Hwy 101. Oh and I still had 2.5 hours to go to LA plus the mess that is LA. Hwy 154 C6R7T3V7. Lake Cachuma.
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| Lake Cachuma look out |
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| The activities of Southern California |
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| That's how you get cheap beachfront near LA |
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| Concrete, concrete |
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| Topanga Canyon C7R7T6V6, Hwy 27 |
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| Cabins for sale??? $1 Million? |
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| Coming out on Hwy 1, Santa Monica near |
A few great days hanging with Gareth, Dorit and Kayden. Thanks so much for everything guys!
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| Off to the beach just down the hill |
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The famous Hermosa Beach Volley Nets
where "Better at Beach" films |
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| Affixing my makeshift fork skins |
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| Fully loaded and ready to go! |
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| All you can eat free salsa bar!!! |
VR gaming for the first time. Intense! Well, wait for it in the second half of the video as the first part I was just warming up.
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| Rhea confused |
Day 10 - San Diego. My excitement to get back into Mexico had me almost skipping past what turned out to be a great city. Amazing views, tonnes of sailing, aircraft carrier! nice city centre and an excellent community called "Beaches".
Took PCH 1, C3R8T8V7 to Laguna Beach (memories) then on to I-5, C2/3R8T5V6 and all the way in to San Diego to stay at Loma Point near the massive Naval Base which made sense since this is basically the Mexican Border (15 min by taxi).
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Concrete and Clouds
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| Last of the vball beaches |
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| Oceanside, CA |
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| Interstate 5 for the last time |
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Wasn't there a Dolly Parton joke with this?
Maybe in "Naked Gun?" |
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| Watching that helicopter coming in |
Where's Ron Burgundy? Stay Classy San Diego...
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| I'd buy that for a dollar! |
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| Boat load of boats |
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| I'm sure there's a cost for this view |
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| Hard Kombucha 7% |
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| Aircraft Carrier!!! USS Midway |
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| Some well lit pirate boat |
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| "OB Noodles" was just great! |
Other Stuff
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| Shit Sketchers products |
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| 2nd place on the toughest game at Pinbar. |
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This happened right in front
of us in San Fran. Smash and
Grab! |
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Oh that's a good cider at
"On the Rocks bar", Kamloops
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