The First Three Days

Day one and two were a straight shot from Chicago to Calgary; long super interstate runs broken up with a blur of gas stations stops. In the middle of North Dakota, we headed due north and made it to within an hour of the border, before we ran out of gas ourselves. The border crossing was easy and quick, and the rest of the trip to Calgary was made in periodic drizzle and sporadic sunlight.
Monday, day three, we loaded up and headed for the mountains of Banff. Two national parks and elevation changes up to nearly 7,000 feet and the weather turned colder, dipping to 47 degrees at one point, although mostly the temps were in the 50's. Quite a change from the 88 and humid back home in Chicago. Our rest stops stretched out and we found ourselves running behind schedule, deciding to stop in Grande Cache, Alberta instead of Grande Prairie, 100 miles further. To say that I am tired as I type this would be a serious understatement. I only managed a few pictures today before the battery in the camera went dead, but a few turned out ok.
How to go on vacation:
Step 0ne: Take a well engineered motorcycle.


















Step 2: Add a bunch of stuff you probably won't use like tents and sleeping bags and such



















Step 3: Go to a country that has signs about Elk and Bears and ride around.























The placard here tells about the geography of the area and also some of the wild life. There are signs all over that say to keep away from bears.
Who really needs to be told that?


















Looking at a few of the bluffs near Banff and Lake Louise.