And the winner is.....

... still unknown. I suspect I know who came the closest to guessing the correct number of kilometers we put on the bike on this trip, but I want to go through my emails and comments to make sure I double check everyone's guess.

Also it will be interesting to have J&B figure out the truck km's cuz we probably put 1 to 2 thousand km more on the truck with all the running around we did together.

There is no place like home.

They've done a lot of paving between McBride and Prince George since we rode this way in 2006. It's a fabulous ride now. And though this stretch is familiar territory, now that we've been across the entire country and back, we sort of see it through new eyes. It's not just home anymore, it's a fantastic piece of the patchwork that makes up the best country in the world. And we had the trip of a lifetime experiencing it.

Thanks for coming along! ~ Albert & Liana, Jim & Barbee.

Once again surrounded in McBride

Remember how on our first day on the road we were surrounded by Hell's Angels at the gas station in McBride? We pulled up to the pump for our last fill of the trip. Alb had not even gotten off the bike and we were surrounded once again - by dozens, if not hundreds of ... wasps. It was freakier than Hell's Angels. How we didn't get stung is beyond me. For at least an hour after getting on the road we had that creepy feeling that one was crawling on us, or under our pant leg or in our helmet.

Anyone hungry? Like the entire population of Jasper?

We had breakfast in Jasper at Poppa George's Restaurant. I ordered a skillet breakfast. Thank goodness it didn't come with toast. We should have gotten 4 forks and not ordered anyone else a meal. What a ridiculous amount of food. They must have heard about some of the massive dinners I have been served in the last six and a half weeks.

I had to take a picture:

Bundling up for the 4 degree ride into Jasper:

... and it's only 4 1/2 hours from home. We'll be back.

It was a cold ride from Edmonton to Miette Hot Springs, but what a fantastic destination for our last night on the road. Have you been there? The 15 km road up to the springs would be a great bike ride: paved, steep hills, sharp corners, amazing scenery. But we took the truck. Now that we know, we will definitely take the bike next time.

The water was wonderful, and the setting serene with deer wandering past and the sun setting behind the enormous mountains. We soaked until we were all prune-ish. It sort of took the edge off my yearning for my bathtub.

No, I'm not on the toilet. Well I am, but just sitting there warming up in the bathroom with my feet on the heat register after a cold ride from Edmonton to Pocahontas Park at Miette Hot Springs.

You just can't hide with a 10 inch goatee.

Our plan was to camp at the White Mud River campsite in the middle of Edmonton. Alb and I had stayed there years before with the kids. But we couldn't remember how to get there and we didn't have an Edmonton city map so we needed to stop in at the info centre that was sure to be just west of Lloydminster. (Every province has an info centre when you first enter)

It was very cold that morning and we decided we'd go on ahead of J&B and wait for them at the centre rather than sit while they fueled up. Good plan. Except that there is no info centre in eastern Alberta.

We drove quite a ways and had gotten out of 2-way radio range so we slowed to about 10k under the speed limit and kept going, knowing that eventually they would catch up. They never did.

We got to Vegreville and Alb pulled over. "You'd better call them on the cell." Good plan. Except that my cellphone had gone dead and we had no hook-ups the night before so Barbee took my phone in the truck to charge it. What are the chances? In over 6 weeks this was the first time I traveled without my phone and it was the first time we had gotten separated farther than radio range.

We sat and waited for about 15 minutes. Probably the exact 15 minutes that J&B were pulled over on the highway waiting for us as they were sure we were behind them.

We decided to carry on to the info centre that was sure to be on the outskirts of Edmonton. There wasn't one. We waited on the side of the highway until we finally got radio connection. We followed them through the city as we looked for signs for either the campsite or an info centre. Neither materialized and when we saw Ikea and mileage postings for Calgary we knew we'd gone too far. But... there is an info centre on the south side of Edmonton! The girl was very helpful in pointing out that there are no hook ups at White Mud River and she made us a reservation at Shaker's Acres, which just so happens to be straight over from the Olive Garden. How convenient!

April joined us for dinner and we had a great time. During dinner the people at the table behind us yelled over, "Hey, it's some Ziemers!" Katrina, a good friend of Brandi's from JJ's says, "Aren't you Brandi's parents?" Yes we are. This is sort of funny cuz last fall we were at a restauant in Kamloops (also with J&B) and our waiter there asked us the same thing, "Aren't you Brandi's parents?" Scott was also from Brandi's days at JJ's.

Saskatchewan is the bug capital of Canada

Saturday morning Saskatchewan greeted us once again with blowing winds. After being cold for two days I dug out my heavier leather jacket, my bandana and wore my leather pants and an undershirt.

The last few days the weather hasn’t been terrible, but uncomfortable enough to remind us how blessed with great weather we have been for five and half weeks. Everywhere we went all summer people were telling us how cold or how wet it had been up until just before we arrived. We met other bikers who just came back from BC and said they hadn’t seen the sun for weeks. God is good to us.

The wind blasted us from Yorkton to Saskatoon. It would gust up under my helmet and make my head feel like it was gonna lift off. It was strange, and I found I had to hold my helmet down with my hand to prevent this weird feeling. And no, I couldn’t tighten the chin strap any more without choking myself.

We had to brace ourselves when passing oncoming big trucks. The cross wind this created sort of threw us all over. I know for a fact that 6 weeks ago this would have scared the crap out of me. Now, well now, I feel like an all-grown-up biker who has increased in faith, in God - and my husband. Truly I have learned to appreciate a lot of things about this man that I have taken for granted for years.

While it was windy, it did warm up to 27 degrees and it wasn’t long before I felt like I was in a sauna in all the gear I had loaded on in the morning. I made us stop for lunch after only 2 hours of riding so I could de-robe a little.

The winds died in the afternoon and we made it all the way to Lloydminster, so we’re only just over two hours from the Olive Garden. I mean Edmonton. I’m salivating already.

I missed out on family and fabric too

We stayed in the campsite in the middle of Yorkton. This is where my dad grew up and his brother still lives. I called Uncle Bud to have him come meet us for a drink. He said, “Sure. I’ll meet you at Tim Hortons on the corner ….in Langley.” Apparently his home number forwards to his cell which was with him in BC.

The woman at the camp office explained how to get to a car wash. Betty and the Beast were really getting grubby. The carwash, she explained, is right next to a fabric store. What a score for Barbee! Except that nothing stays open on Friday night in the town of Yorkton. We stood and peeked in the window and that just whet Barbee’s appetite for more. She had Jim drive her back in the morning before we packed up. She says it’s “her store” just exactly they type she would run if she owned one. And I missed it.

There's winter in the air and we hibernate early

For some reason Thursday’s ride seemed extraordinarily long. There was no fog or wind to contend with, and the scenery around the Kenora area is pretty with lakes around every corner.

The temperature never got above 17 and by the time we pulled into the Pine Tree Campground half way between Kenora and Winnipeg I was chilled to the bone. The camp was beautiful and peaceful with lots of trees and creek running right behind our trailer.

Barbee and I were glad to find a little 4 table restaurant onsite and dragged the boys over for supper. Supper didn’t sit well with Barbee and she was down for the count by the time I got back from the free showers where I stood in straight hot water for 15 minutes to burn off the day’s chill.

This would have been the perfect campsite to have a fire and sit around half the night; it was so quiet and beautiful. We didn’t take advantage of it. I think we were all asleep by 10 o’clock. That was a record for us.

I haven't the foggiest clue of what Rossport or Terrace Bay Look Like

The drive from Wawa to Thunder Bay is fantastic. The roads are a bit hilly and winding. The pavement is good. The views are spectacular. Okay, I’m making up the spectacular view part, cuz we really don’t know. The fog was so thick we could hardly see the edge of the road at times.

We stopped to pick up some lunch at KFC in some little nameless town that had no parking for the truck and trailer. J & B went on to find a picnic site while Alb and I ran in to get a bucket of chicken at a gas station-motel-KFC-PizzaHut-RobbinsDonuts. I thought she was joking when she said they don’t sell chicken. Seriously. A KFC that doesn’t sell chicken. We had pizza.

Even after the fog burned off and the sun came out, there is a chill in the air. You can feel autumn looming. The trees are starting to turn colours a little bit. Temperatures did get up to 25 or so but it’s just not the same as it was six weeks ago.

We arrived at the same KOA in Thunder Bay that we stayed in exactly five weeks ago. They recognized us and welcomed us home. It was nice. (When you wear a 10 inch braided beard no one forgets you easily.)

Ontario. It's Big.

Driving through Ontario takes a long time. Once you get out of the overcrowded southern dip from Ottawa to Toronto, there really isn’t a lot of population in a huge expanse of land. For months before we left and all along the way, people have asked what we thought of Ontario and talked about how it drags on and on and sucks the life out of you.

I am determined to enjoy it for what it has to offer. And I am. But it’s hard. Because we are now headed home and there is not a lot of action, we have to fight to not start thinking, “are we there yet?” It helps that we are on the bike and the weather has been decent and the roads are good, so we can just enjoy the ride for the ride.

We planned to camp in Wawa on Tuesday night and we were about an hour away when I started thinking that I really have nothing to blog about. Jimmy added some diversion to the day by occasionally making comments on the 2-way radio about the weather, about signs we passed etc. Typical dry Ziemer humour. He made one such comment as we drove along in the middle of nowhere. “Something’s wrong.” I waited for him to finish saying something like, “It’s been an hour and I still don’t have to go pee.” When suddenly there was a hiss and a bang and the truck and trailer in front of us disappeared in a black cloud of diesel smoke.

The tool box that takes up an enormous amount precious space under our bed suddenly looked so small and insignificant sitting on the road beside the truck with the hood up.

While they boys puttered under the hood I climbed up on the rock ledge at the side of the highway to build an inukshuk. Haven’t you always wondered who the heck stops in the middle of nowhere to climb up there and pile little rocks on top of each other? Now you know.

It didn’t take long for the guys to figure out that the turbo hose had blown of and they had it fixed in no time. Their egos were puffed up when we girls expressed our great admiration for their talent and intelligence. So they decided they’d do it again. And again.

By the time it blew for the 4th time, we were only about five kilometers further down the road. It was time to admit defeat and call the roadside assistance that came with the new Jayco trailer J & B had purchased. Cell service was touchy but we managed to make the appropriate calls without having to drive the bike into Wawa, 80 km away.

It took about 2 hours for help to arrive because the nearest tow truck capable of hauling a truck and trailer was in White River. Alb and I abandoned J&B at the side of the road to ride in and get a campsite while it was still light out.
It turns out it was just a stretched turbo hose and torque clamp. (or something like that) An easy fix. Jayco paid the tow bill. Ford covered the parts and labour. We paid a $100 deductible and got the oil changed at the same time, which we (the royal “we”) had been talking about doing for a few days. We were on the road by noon – pretty normal for us.

I've always said "Age is just a number" However.....

Monday night we camped at a mostly seasonally permanent campsite on Lake Nipissing. As the caretaker was orientating us to where the laundry, showers and things were she pointed out the “music hall” in the centre of the camp. This got Barbee all excited and together they started organizing a music night.

As I joined the audience that was smaller in numbers than the large circle of musicians, I thought, “Holy crap! Somewhere along the line we have become old people.” I am sure I came across as rude when I refused to joined a little group of ladies when they offered numerous times for me to come sit with them in their little knitting circle. Okay, they weren’t actually knitting, but I’d bet fifty bucks each of them had a bag of wool and some needles or crochet hooks back at their sites.

uhhhh.... I'm lost for an adequate description

When you have four people experiencing an event you get four perspectives. I don't think I can adequately blog about our weekend in Hull.

It was a weekend of hugs and double hugs and people I don't know, who don't speak my language. I recognized Jocelyn and Valerie only because of the location we were in. Had we passed them in a mall, I may have thought "I should know who they are" but don't think I could have named them.

Of course they felt the same about me. Searching my face trying to recognize it thinking they should know Albert's wife, but somehow just can't place me. The people were very friendly, don't get me wrong. It's just that I am not. Three of us felt like they were at home and this little english baptist girl was completely out of her element for most of the weekend.

I will collaborate with the other 3 to produce the blog for this weekend.

Running the gauntlet to Gatineau

We weren’t really looking forward to driving through Montreal on a Saturday afternoon, so Barbee and I decided we’d go for a change of scenery. We took the cut off to Trois Rivieres and traveled down the west side of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers to Gatineau.

About half way there we phoned ahead to reserve a campsite and get driving directions. We were determined not to sleep at Reno Depot this time in Gatineau. The woman at the campsite suggested we go ahead and cut right through the middle of Montreal as it would be easier than trying to get through the small town of Montebello. How were we to know that Presidents and Kings and Dignitaries were all gathered in Montebello; we’ve been news starved for 5 weeks. Well, not starved but more like fasting and it’s been good.

We decided to tackle Montebello. And other than helicopters buzzing overhead and the streets being lined with 8 foot wire fences, police officers and large dogs, we got through without a hitch. Had we not spoken with the woman on the phone we probably would have been rather curious as to what was going on.

Brown is for Bumpy

We took highway 108 from Doaktown to Edmunston. It was a more direct path and was at least 100 km shorter than going back to Fredericton or on to Miramichi. Uh, yeah. A word to the wise: roads that are brown on the map are not meant for tour bikes. We might have saved 100 km, but we certainly didn’t save time or wear-and-tear.

It had been sunny all day that Friday as we traveled, but as we neared Quebec City a storm blew in from nowhere and we took the opportunity to pull over and sort through the tourist guides and maps to find a campsite. We stayed in St. Nicolas just south of Quebec City.
We want to be in Ottawa for church Sunday, which means we don’t have time to waste on rain storms. As I listen to the rain pelt the camper all night I wonder how fun our Montreal drive-by is going to be this time.

A Bathtub. My Kingdom for a Bathtub.

The next day we made it to Doaktown in time for Keith and Cheryl to over-stuff us at lunchtime in the family restaurant. Keith led us out to their beautiful, isolated new home on the banks of the Miramichi River and left us there to relax while he returned to the restaurant for a couple of hours. And relax we did. Barbee and I had a nap in these beautiful peaceful surroundings while the boys built a porch swing.

They toured us around the area and showed us the old homestead and took us to the swinging bridge. A very long swinging bridge. I even walked across and back, brave girl that I am.
We had a very enjoyable evening and stayed up half the night playing cards. Albert and I slept in the house that night, in a real bed with a real bathroom right next door. Oh how I longed to soak in the bathtub. It was that close to me. I miss my bathtub. I know I would have been more than welcome to use it, but it was nearly 2 in the morning by the time we settled for the night.