Birds and a Butterfly in Quintana Roo Mexico

Birds and a Butterfly in Quintana Roo Mexico

We managed to capture some incredible photos of  birds in their natural habitat on our recent trip through the Sian Ka’an biosphere, southern Quintana Roo, Mexico.    Enjoy!

Cruising the Canadian Rockies on our Harley's

Welcome to my blog

This is a little different type of trip we did on our motorcyles in the summer of 2011. Please enjoy and comment

Leaving Edmonton with the forecast stating sun, sun and more sun, we set out for our first stop, Jasper Alberta. The 4.5 hr ride is just long enough and we arrive at our B & B, the 'Glass House',  that we had pre booked to ensure that they wouldn't have any problems with motorcycle riders.   We pull the bags off my bike, had a quick shower and walked to main street, choosing an old family restaurant that has been around for years.  Once that was out of the way we were ready for bed and looking forward to the next day that would take us through the Rockies into Revelstoke

The lodge all to ourselves

Cruising to Revelstoke, BC

Up early and had a great breakfast.  Our host even packed a paper bag with fresh naked breakfast goodies for our trip.  :)   Absolutely beautiful scenery with mountain goats, deer and elk all along the way.  The speed limit is 80 km, so you just have to turn up your I pod, relax and enjoy the scenery.  The highways are excellent and there are so many breathtaking places to stop and take photos.  Every lake is a different color of blue or green with many streams and rivers along the way.  In no time at all we are now approaching Revelstoke. I found a cool place to stay on trip advisor, which, by the map I printed off, was a little ways off the highway and up the mountain from the highway.  A few kilometers on asphalt roads and we found our place for the night which looks like a rustic lodge.    

We park our bikes and make our way inside, greeted with a huge smile by the owner.  We are shown to our room, looks good and we again grab our bags, change and head upstairs for a drink on the huge balcony that overlooks the tree tops to see the mountains surrounding us. Our host sits with us and chats as if we known her forever and she tells us how her and her husband have built this place from nothing.  Incredible!!   She does all the hosting, cleaning and cooking.  We are asked if we would like to eat that evening and if we would be good with whatever she makes for us. Her German background makes us think that it will be good and was it ever!  Schnitzel and Spaetzle. Can't get any better than that and then topped it off with German cheesecake.  Excellent meal,  a drink to finish the night and off to bed we went.

We wake up to another beautiful morning, have a fantastic breakfast (her pancakes are to die for),  pay our bill and say our goodbyes.  We will definitely be back!

We gas up in town and find our way to highway 23 southbound, heading to Shelter Bay where we will take the free ferry to get to the other side of the lake then head south for about 20 minutes to a place called Halcyon Hot Springs.   We booked a stand alone barn style bungalow with a view of Upper Arrow Lake.   We register, unload the bikes and head for the pub to sit on the deck and enjoy a beer, relax and enjoy the views.  We had to check out the lake that we were over looking as well.  Hiked down the bank and tested the water for a bit, before we headed to the restaurant for dinner.  Of course we had to take a dip in the hot springs as well.    What a great way to finish another day on the road.

Our cabin for the night at Halcyon Hot Springs

Halcyon Hot Springs, BC

Museum, Kaslo BC

Again, wake up to a beautifully sunny hot day, pack the bike, grab a quick breakfast and make our way south. The ride is just a short one to a town called Kaslo.  But we take our time thru the winding roads .... this is bike country, passing so many riders with huge smiles on their faces , as we are all enjoying the curves and scenery.   Once we reach town, we find our way to the famous Kaslo Hotel and are shown to our room and are blown away!  This is five star quality.  Incredible furniture, finishings and our own patio with a view of the lake. We get settled, changed and explore the town, lots of cool stores and an old steamboat to explore.  You have to check out the book store!  The smell itself is very nostalgic.  That kept us busy till the end of the day where we ended up on the deck enjoying dinner and drinks. Nice place to stay.

Kaslo Hotel, BC

The road from Kaslo to Crawford Bay is nothing but curves and turns and we are seeing a lot of motorcycles.   One of the more exiting parts of the trip is taking the ferry across the lake.  Our timing is off, so we have to wait a bit for the next one, so since we have some time to kill,  we  chat it up with  some other bikers, enjoying coffee and fresh pastries at the local bakery.

Cool Stores just down the road from the Ferry to explore

Nice thing about being on bikes, the ferry staff can fit you in anywhere on the boat. There were at least 15 other bikes on the ferry this time as we crossed. Once off the lake, about 10 minutes more south, there are a bunch of cool artisan shops to check out.  A glass shop where they blow their own glass, a rod iron shop, with all sorts of cool stuff, broom shop where they weave brooms as well as other shops. We couldn't waste too much time as our next destination was Kimberly via Creston which was one of the longer stretches of our trip.

Cruising somewhere in eastern BC.

Taking a break and enjoying the scenery

Again, lots of turns to enjoy and lots of other motorcycle enthusiasts also on the road. A quick stop to say hello to my wife's parents in Creston, have some lunch and gas up, making our way to Kimberly. we've never been there before,so we didn't know what to expect.  Found the hotel, unloaded the bikes (we're getting good at this) and  cleaned up for dinner.  The hotel was close to the town center which has a variety of restaurants and pubs to choose from.  Burrito Grill was recommended to us and since we're partial to Mexican, we went for it.  Fantastic food and great service!  Several margaritas later, we head back to our hotel and crash for the night.

Next stop, Lake Louise, Alberta. The journey from Kimberley brings you through all different kinds of scenery until you get closer to Alberta, where the Rocky Mountains start casting shadows on the road again.  Once we turn North on highway #1 towards Lake Louise the traffic is horrific.  We take our time watching for stupid drivers and find our way up to the hotel.  My wife got a super deal at the Chateau Lake Louise, so this is where we'll enjoy the night.  In the back of my mind I'm thinking what will the hotel and guests think of a couple of loud Harley's pulling up in front of the hotel?   No worries though.   There's about 30 other Harley's parked out front on a tour from the States.

Sunset on Lake Louise, Alberta

We check in, park our bikes and haul our for what you get. I would never pay the regular price, no way.  Anyways, we get our shorts and flip flops on and start hiking the trail around the lake.  We went 7 kilometers and decided to head back.  Not the kind of trail you want to do in your flip flops, but very scenic and peaceful.  We found dinner at the hotel acceptable and the service, so so. I think the hotel staff have grown accustom to large bus loads of tour groups and treat everyone like cattle, knowing that there will be another group the next day, putting little effort into good service.

Again, we wake up to beautiful sunshine!  Today is our last day, heading back to Edmonton via Saskatchewan River Crossing, Highway 11, which takes you east past Nordegg, then up Highway 22 and east again.  We hit a terrible hail and rain storm on the way home for about an hour, stopping in Rocky Mountain House to dry off and catch our wits about us.  For the most part though, we had excellent weather and after logging 1500 plus kilometers,  it was nice be back to our own bed for the night.stuff up to our room.  

Your view as you cruise along the highway in the Alberta Rocky Mountains