Day 21, Tuesday, July 31st

Today was a long riding day - just a little shy of 400 miles through the mountains. We left Abbotsford this morning about 7:30 am and as soon as we headed out of town we started up into the mountains. Beautiful but cool - about 50 degrees until afternoon about the time we made it in to the Harley dealer at Kamloops to look around and buy some trinkets of course. Then we made our way on in to our destination for the evening - Valemount, which is about 70 miles outside Jasper where we will ride 146 miles down the Icefields Parkway into Lake Louise tomorrow.



We rode Hwy 5 most of the day. It started out as a 4-lane divided limited access highway/toll road and ended as a twisty two-lane road into Valemount.



A shot down into a valley with a beautiful lake taken from one of the overlooks.



I took this from the bike as we were motoring down the highway.



Look at the next photo and you'll understand how this river got its name.

Some awfully strong currents and white water.

Pyramid Falls - about an hour before Valemount.

Our fair city where we stopped for the night.

Our lodging for the evening.

This is where we're heading tomorrow.

Day 20, Monday, July 30th

The day began with our farewell breakfast. Marshall Joe Dowd reviewed the high points of the journey and the photographers presented an awesome slide show in which we were featured several times. Have to buy those for sure. HOG sure is smart and know how to get you to part with those coins.

After we left Portland we turned the cycles north and completed the day's 300 mile journey in Canada - Abbotsford, BC, to be exact. On to Valemount tomorrow and then Banff on Wednesday.


Loading up so we'll be ready to leave after breakfast.

Our other friends from Florida - Jorge and Martha at the breakfast.

Look! We made it!

Day 19, Sunday, July 29th

We rode from Kennewick, Wa, to Portland, Or, today along the beautiful Columbia. We started out on the Washington (north) side on Hwy 14 but were getting beat up so bad by the wind that we crossed over on Hwy 97 bridge to the Oregon side and rode I-84 on in. It proved to be almost as bad for wind. Man it sure can blow up here!

The river gorge was awesome and I could have enjoyed it much more if I wasn't having to constantly correct to keep the bike on course. One guy stopped for a photo on a gravel shoulder and a big gust of wind caused him to lose his balance and drop his bike. It was that strong but we made it unscathed save for some windburn.

Checked in at the hotel then headed over to Paradise H-D for the dealer party / luau and then back to the hotel bar to celebrate the completion of the Posse ride.


Along Hwy 14.

A damn big dam on the Columbia.

Hi from the rest stop.

We made it, Hell Yes!

The posse with our marshal.

Hotel restaurant and bar

You probably know these guys.

The gals with some of our posse friends. J.R takes Maverick D. Bear everywhere with her. He has several changes of clothes, a rain suit, his own driver license and HOG card, helmet and sunglasses. She has way, way too much time on her hands!

Pat enjoying the last night party.

She was hanging name tags on folks so she would remember who they were, but this is ridiculous.

Click on the photo and read the sign. It says it all.

Day 18, Saturday, July 28th

Today we rode from Missoula to Kennewick, Washington, a total of 371 miles of extremes. Left at 6:30 am to beat the heat and boy did we ever! In the mountains it was in the low 50s and we were fully leathered up. That heated seat and grips sure felt good. Then once we were out of the mountains about mid-morning it heated up and heated up and heated up. The last few hours were very, very hot as we entered Washington state. The area is very arid and the only green was irrigated crop land. There was a large vineyard we passed and some orchards also which were being irrigated by sprinklers. As we passed you could feel the temp drop due to the moisture in the air but it did not last long. In Kennewick the temp was 102 when we arrived. I thought Memphis was hot but this is riduculous. Guess Al Gore has been up this way!


Here we are beside the Clearwater River up in the mountains - chilly!

Our first gas stop. We passed through here in 2004 on the Western Campaign Posse Ride. Guess someone has left since then.

The gas station / convenience store at Lowell.

How'd you like to meet this guy with only a bow and arrow for defense?

At the rest area in Hwy 12 where we had to peel out of the leathers since it had really warmed up. Here we are climbing back up the embankment after we treked down to the rivers edge.

Hooray! We made it!

Pat having a gourmet lunch in the first class section of the local dining establishment. It just doesn't get any better than this!

Day 17, Friday, July 27th

Today was an off day for a little r&r before we wind up the Posse and return through Canada. Slept late, had a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, then spent over three hours with maps, mapping software and the telephone planning our route back. Ah, but that is for a later entry.

After that HQ insisted that we visit the local park and see the carousel, that's her thing. If you're interested in the particulars visit www.carrousel.com (yes I know there are two r's but that's how they spelled it).


A poster about the carousel.



If that won't discourage the practice then nothing will.



The girls waiting in line for their turn to ride the ponies.



An old building downtown that used to be a auto dealer.

This evening we went to the dealer, Montana H-D, for the dealer party. Pretty good grub catered in by a Mexican restaurant. But it was hot, hot, hot so we left after a couple hours and retreated to the air conditioned comfort of our hotel.

Long day tomorrow over Lolo pass into Washington. Plan to leave early to beat at least some of the heat.

Thursday, July 26th, Addendum

Walked to dinner this evening and took a few shots along the way.


Cool fish sculptures in a little park near the hotel.

On the road to the restaurant.

A great little Italian restaurant it was indeed.

Waiting for our main course.

Gave a Posse coin to Melissa, our waitress.

Day 16, Thursday, July 26th

We had our official Posse group photo this morning at a great little grass strip airport at Seeley Lake. This was about 60 miles from Missoula and was a part of the “Missoula Loop” they had laid out for us. The loop was 233 miles of mostly gorgeous mountain riding. Total mileage for trip is 4,217.



Neat grass strip airport.

Now this guy is a rider, Bobby Bacon from Texas. Click on the photo to enlarge it and read his HOG mileage patches. Wow, I'm impressed!

Do NOT try this at home. This is a trained professional, Lt. Tim Deluca of the Old Orchard Beach, Maine, police department - our official law enforcement liaison.

Neat old 1949 Cessna Clipper used as a prop in the group photo.

Photographer noticed that the wings were not quite level, so heave ho and slip a rock under the wheel to make things perfect.

Marshall Joe Dowd speaks to the Posse riders to get them into position for the group photo. Kinda like herding cats.

We were right up front (well I was taking this shot). This was way early before the assembled masses of 500 folks all showed up.

On our loop ride we met up again with our friend Larry Reid from Amite, LA. That's Larry in the red shirt next to J. Carolyn. With him are his new riding partners he met on this ride - a second Larry from (can't recall but I'll find out) and Brenda from New Jersey.

Here we are at Flathead Lake. Beautiful ride along the shore.

Here's Louis - Pat did not want to get off her bike for the shot.