Iron Roamer, Author at Iron Roamer

Rain Rain Go Away – Prince George, Canada

It looked like a great day for a ride.

I would have liked to have stayed another day at the Brookside Campground but the weather report was for rain the next day. So I wanted to beat it by leaving today for Prince George. The forecast for there was decreasing rain. So I booked a campsite there and got out of Dodge.

It was a bit nippy out so I put on a base layer. After breakfast in Clinton I put on my heated vest without the heat turned on. The clouds rolled in and it started to drizzle. No biggy. But the drizzle turned to rain. Then mother nature decided to add wind to the equation.

You know how things seem worse when you aren’t expecting it to happen? Well, I was expecting a nice ride and now I had rain, cold and wind.

By this time I had turned on the heat on my vest to “Max.” To get the full effect I leaned on my tank bag to press the vest and heat close to my body and to shield myself from the wind and rain.

On a positive note, it was the first test of the Klim Badlands jacket and pants in the rain. They worked great! I was completely dry. The same was true for my Held gloves!. The damage was more psychological than physical Grrrrrr. I took a break in the best psychological place I know – Starbucks ha ha. I have been making good use of the Starbucks Gift Card given to me by my co-workers as a going away gift. Thanks everyone!

By the time I got to the campsite in Prince George it was still raining. Setting up the tent in the rain, while soaked from the ride, was not my idea of fun. Even if I was going to lose my reservation deposit. Off to McDonalds to use the wi-fi to find a solution.

A quick check on Expedia revealed a hotel in my price range – YAY! I got a nice room at the Riviera City Centre Inn. Time to dry out, do laundry, charge electronics, and better prepare myself mentally for the rain. It was actually great for this to happen now. A bit of a baptism for what I am sure will be much greater hardships in the future.

Route for July 4, 2016.

Cache Creek Camping

After a long ride yesterday I decided to make today a short one. I found what looked like a great campsite in Cache Creek for only $20. That would go a little way to make up for my expensive hotel faux paux.

Cache Creek is only a couple hour ride from Kamloops and a beautiful ride with lots of amazing vistas.

Arriving at Brookside RV and Campground I wasn’t disappointed. Check out my review.

Spent the afternoon reading my Kindle in the sun by the pool and and trying out my Helinox chair. Loved it.

Little did I know the next day would be a rude awakening.

The travel stats for July 3, 2016

Brookside Campground – Cache Creek, Canada

After a short ride from Kamloops to Cache Creek, I went to the Brookside Campground for the night – July 3, 2016.

Brookside Campsite
1621 East Trans Canada Hwy
Cache Creek, BC V0K 1H0, Canada
Phone: 250-457-6633
Email: info@brooksidecampsite.com
Website: http://brooksidecampsite.com/
GPS: N50⁰47.620′ W121⁰18.483′

An excellent find and awesome value for $20 Cdn per night. Here are the stats:

Exceptionally clean washrooms with hot showers
Internet throughout the campground
Grass plots for your tent
Warm swimming pool
Five minute ride to Cache Creek for restaurants and stores
Laundry Facilities

It is close to the road so you can hear traffic noises. But otherwise it is awesome.I had a great sleep and talked to fellow bikers also staying there. Check out the pictures.

Last Goodbyes

While July 1, 2016, was my official launch of my round the world motorcycle adventure, I still had two more important goodbyes to make. The first was saying goodbye to my youngest son Nick in Abbotsford.

Then onto Osoyoos to meet my daughter Carllee and say good bye to her. Wasn’t my original plan to ride there. But then again, my plan is to have no plan. So it worked out perfectly :-).

Ok … I know … a stupid picture with me and my helmet on.

Vacation vs. Lifestyle

After a tough day of saying goodbyes to two people I love dearly in my weird way, and still not into a routine or feeling comfortable traveling, I wanted to stay in a hotel for the night to regroup and prepare for what would be the real start of the trip. What I didn’t realize that it was next to impossible to find a vacant hotel during the Canada Day long weekend in the holiday capital of BC, the Okanagan valley without a reservation. Of course I had no plan ha ha. That met a long day of riding before I reached Kamloops at 8 p.m. and a hotel.

When I finally found a vacant hotel room I about freaked out at the price – $109 plus tax! Now this is fine for a riding vacation but not for a riding life.

People often confuse what I am doing for a vacation. One of the biggest differences is the budget. In a vacation most save up through the year and blow it all on a two or three week trip, going to exotic locations, staying at nice places, eating well, and doing fun things. Even adventure vacations can cost a lot.

But a riding life is not a vacation you save for. It is everyday living. Take my hotel, $109 a night x 30 nights in a month = $3,270 a month for accommodation! Simply unaffordable for my budget now or when I was working. This is not a vacation budget.

Anyways … I was tired and relented. I paid the price this time. Part of my regrouping was to not do this again. Time to toughen up and get into the adventure motorcycling mode as I start to make my way north.

Today’s Stats

Mile 0: The Round the World Motorcycle Adventure Begins

It’s finally here!! The start of my round the world motorcycle adventure. After over a year of preparation I am totally unprepared. But I was off to Mile 0 in Victoria, British Columbia to start my adventure anyways. I’ve heard that a person will never be fully prepared for an adventure of this type. So I am going with that.

Mile 0

The Mile 0 marker is the start of the over 8,000 km Trans-Canada Highway that spans the entire length of Canada. But it is also symbolic of the the start of my round the world motorcycle adventure. Behind the marker is a statue of Terry Fox. Terry Fox is a true Canadian hero. And as it happens, it is also Canada Day, July 1, 2016.

Terry Fox lost his right leg to cancer when he was 18 years old. He started a cross-Canada run to raise money for cancer research, beginning in Newfoundland on the East coast of Canada, and was to end at the Mile 0 marker in Victoria. Unfortunately, Fox’s journey ended tragically near the halfway mark when he fell ill and passed away from cancer. Since then, hundreds of millions of dollars has been raised in his name for cancer research. He has also inspired millions to achieve their dreams.

Send Off

I was up at 5 am to get to the Mile 0. The day before one of my classmates from Camosun College said she would be there at Mile 0 at 5:45 am to send me off. I really didn’t believe her. I got to Mile 0 at 6 am and to my surprise two of my classmates were there to send me off. Thanks Leila and Michelle! Very special to have the support and encouragement.

Emotions

As I stood at Mile 0, and contemplated the words of Terry Fox, I started to feel the emotions of what I was about to start. I felt relief that it was finally here after a year of planning, struggle and sacrifice to make it happen. There was excitement about the adventure and the places I will see and the people I will meet. And there was also some fear about venturing into the unknown and the risk involved in attempting to achieve my dream and the goal I set for myself. There is no accomplishment without risk.

Dreams

Terry Fox stated,”Dreams are made possible if you try.” That is what I am doing. I hope you are inspired to do the same, no matter what your dream is.

First Day

The first travel Day was simple – Victoria to Abbotsford to meet with my son and drop off belongings I wasn’t going to take but wanted to keep. Hence the weird suitcase on the back of my bike.

Getting there involves taking a ferry from Sydney to Tsawwassen where I was born and raised. The ferry ride is amazing, but unfortunately I have become accustomed to it having taken it numerous times in the past.

A short day was capped off with my son Nick taking me out for dinner to the Cactus Club. And thanks Cactus Club for providing a free appetizer!!

Which Bike Should You Take on an Adventure?

Which bike should someone take on a travel adventure is one that seems to generate a lot of passion, and sometimes contempt, among motorcycle adventurers. Just check out the Horizons Unlimited Bulletin Board on the topic. I understand explaining the pros and cons of motorcycles, but I don’t get the derision for differing views on the topic. Whatever motorcycle you choose, don’t let others put you down over it.

Motorcycle Options

People have traveled the world on a Vespa, Honda 90, Honda 250, KTM 690, KLR 650, Suzuki GSX-R 1000 sport bike, Harley Davidson Electraglide, and of course the ever-present BMW GSs made famous by Long Way Round. There is even a person who wants to ride the world on an electric motorcycle. Basically, any motorcycle is an option!

Questions to ask Yourself

There is no such thing as the perfect motorcycle to take around the world. There are pros and cons to every bike. Your choice depends on a lot of things like:

What motorcycle do you love?
Where you want to go? Some countries do not permit large motorcycles.
Do you want to set a speed record or wander around?
Do you want to ride trails, dirt roads, paved roads or freeways?
Do you want an easy to fix bike no matter where you are at?
What motorcycle do you have now?
How much money do you have?
How strong or big are you?
What is your skill level?
What is your vision for the trip? Do you want to do something never done before? Or perhaps you envision being Easy Rider.
How much gear will you be bringing?

My Motorcycle and Why

I am taking a 2013 BMW 1200GS for my around the world trip. So why did I choose this bike?

I bought this bike in 2013 to do a six month around the USA trip. To be honest, I chose it because that is what I saw all the adventure motorcyclists riding and I wanted to be cool like them! It has been a good bike and I have had only few problems with it, mostly switch problems. Although sadly, BMW service is not as good as I expected it to be. Long story.

Perhaps the two biggest reasons I am taking it on this trip is because it is the bike I have, and I would rather spend money on the adventure than buying a new motorcycle like the new Honda Africa Twin, which I would love to ride around the world with!

You will often hear the phrase, “You will never wish you had a heavier bike.” In my case there is some truth to it. After riding the USA it would have been nicer to have something lighter. On technical trails it was a bit difficult for me to control the sheer size and weight of the bike at my skill level, age, and strength. On the other hand, the motorcycle performed amazing well on the roads and navigating the curves and corners.

I intend to ride mostly on roads and perhaps 40% of the time on the dirt. So I wanted something that could handle both well. A dual sport is a good option for this.

I will also be carrying more gear than many people. For example, I will have a week’s worth of clothes and have to carry a fair bit of medication with me. A larger bike will accommodate the load easier.

Having said all that, I love my bike and I am looking forward to riding the world with it.

Now the Answer to the Question

The answer to which motorcycle you should take on a around the world adventure is found in my travel philosophy.

I believe we should transcend judgments and simply support and encourage people as they fulfill their life’s purpose and adventure. This includes which motorcycle someone decides to take.

Your adventure is anything you want it to be. Don’t let others define this for you. There is no right or wrong way to have your adventure. And there is no right or wrong motorcycle to do it on. It is your adventure and no one else’s.

People have ridden the world on large BMWs, Harley Davidsons, Vespas, sport bikes, and motocross bikes. It doesn’t matter the make, model, or size of your vehicle. Since it is a motorcycle it is awe-inspiring by definition. But that is me. If you prefer a Unimog, Toyota or Range Rover, I’m also behind you 100%. It is YOUR overland adventure!

Some like to ride the dirt roads, while others prefer pavement. Some carry lots of gear and others barely a change of clothing. Some like to stay in hotels or hostels, where others like to bush camp.

Whatever your chosen path, your trip is the artistic expression of your life. You are the master of your own destiny. And my motorcycle journey is my own expression of life. Both our expressions are awesome! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

So my advice is to express your life through your overland adventure in the best way possible. Take in what others have to say and learn how to do YOUR adventure better. But never compromise on your dream. Take the motorcycle that fulfills YOUR dreams.

19 Items to Take Motorcycle Camping.

Thinking of Motorcycle Camping?

Below are the 19 camping items I am taking on my round the world motorcycle adventure, and one item I am surprisingly not taking!

Continue reading 19 Items to Take Motorcycle Camping.

Once Known, Long Since Forgotten

“Once known, but long since forgotten.” I have pondered these words many times since motorcycle adventurist Alex Chacón said them at a Horizons Unlimited travel event in Nakusp. Will I be forgotten? Continue reading