Hey cldiver,

Have a great trip. My plans fell through for the x-canada excursion. Turns out my sisters daughter want's me and my family to come out to Boston in October. So that's going to eat my vacation time and bank account. We will do x-canada next summer, almost for sure.

 

I hadn't forgotten the royal tyrell. I was thinking that I will make the call the day before on the way out. If I have a little time in hand I will probably take the time to go.

 

Thanks. I hope the weather is good when you're able to go.

 

Looks like you are going to skirt right around Calgary. I'm wondering how you're getting from Fernie to Vernon? North on 95 then over the Rogers pass on the number 1? That's the way I'd recommend. I hope you're not planning the #3 to Osoyoos then north on 95. I don't know if you can even do that in a day, it's a very windy road and loads of little towns to slow you down. It would be more scenic but maybe over 2 days.

Then you're going all the way to Edson? Probably going through Kamloops? If so you'll miss the Icefields parkway, you could have stopped at Moraine lake, one of the most beautiful places in the world.

hmmm, thinking about it, I bet you are doing Fernie-Osoyoos-Vernon-Lake Louise-Jasper. But in 2 days??? That's a hell of a lot of riding for 2 days.

 

hmmm, thinking about it, I bet you are doing Fernie-Osoyoos-Vernon-Lake Louise-Jasper. But in 2 days??? That's a hell of a lot of riding for 2 days.[/quote]

Yeah that's the way except I don't know where lake louise is. I'll be on the 3 from Fernie to Osoyoos, 97 to Kamloops, and 5 to Alberta. I'll go as far as I can each day. I hope to do at least 700 a day but hopefully I can make up some time on the praries going out and back if I have to. I'm really hoping that the weather is with me. Bad weather could completely wreck everything.
I'm not really worried too much about time as I can call work and take another week if I need it (want it). My boss rides and says if I survive it he'll do it next year. I figure I'm his test dummy.
I'll be going from Moose jaw to Fernie via medicine hat and lethbridge. Do you know that section at all?

 

Looks like I'm not the only ambitious one(smile)

 

Why are you going to Kamloops and north on #5? I mean is there a reason for that? I would recommend from Vernon take the 97 north till you hit the TransCanada at Sicamous, then go east through Revelstoke, the Rogers Pass, Golden then when you hit Alberta you'll be in Lake Louise. You can go see Moraine Lake, it's right there. Then take the 93, also known as the Icefields Parkway north from Lake Louise to Jasper. It's a much more scenic route than the #5 north of Kamloops to Jasper.

Yes I know that road too. Prarie roads. You can set your cruise control, bungie the handle bars straight and have a nap. lol. Nothing too challenging or exciting. Every 20 minutes or so you might meet a curve in the road or go over a 20 foot hill. You can make good time though, you'll easily average 120.

Once you get to BC, or actually just before it, the speed limit will drop to 90 and the road is a lot more twisty with a lot more towns and slow moving traffic on 2 lanes with double solid. So your leg from Fernie to Vernon will be a long day.

 

I'm really looking fwd to that part. I really like little towns. They do slow you down tho. Crap, screwed up the quotes

 

I guess that if you see a radar cop on the praries you could get a ticket. But they are more lienient than the ones in BC. I think the speed limit is 110, so you can go 120 and safely not get a ticket. I've gone through radar traps at 130 and didn't get stopped, and I even got pulled over once at 140 and the cop was nice enough to let me go. So it's up to you, what chances you want to take with the radar cops. Usually speed limit + 10 is okay.


When you're taking the #3 make sure you study the map so you don't miss a turn. I've done that. For example remember to turn left in Creston and go over the bridge, if you go straight you'll end up on the east side of kootney lake on the road to nowhere (I've done that).

You'll like the Creston-Salmo pass, thats cool.

You should go through Trail and Rossland rather than Castlegar, it's more scenic and the hills are fun. Same distance.

If you want to take a short cut, and skip half of the Okanagan take hwy 33 into Kelowna from a turn off just past Grand forks (check the map). You won't see Osoyoos, and Penticton if you go that way. It's like a desert down there, lots of fruits are grown there because it's so hot, nice lakes too. Depends on your time, just giving you options. hwy33 is a good road I've taken it a few times.

 

I have to agree with Zeus33 on the route of Rogers Pass, Golden and Lake Louise.