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Forth and back TOR '19

Welcome to my annual pilgrimage to the Top of the Rockies Rally(TOR).

**If you are looking for BMW S content stop now.**

I still have the S but I would be riding a Honda Africa Twin.

This year’s theme was waterfalls and the our song was ‘Would I Lie to You’ by Charlies & Eddie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_UXvcr22rM

Ralf would ride up to my house near Seattle then we would head north for Canada before turning south for TOR. Ralf arrived with a worn out rear tire after starting with a used one in San Diego. This was part of his plan and he brought a new one strapped on the back. So day zero was spent replacing the tire and any other adjustments that were needed. For Day-1 Tom V., another Pelican member who lives near, would join us for the ride to Mt. Baker.

Day 1-Seattle to Surrey, Canada 217 miles

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We used Hwy 9 then 542 to Mt. Baker. Our goal for the day was DROPTAROTTER’s house for the evening. Ralfie has seen the mountain from my house but today no luck at the viewpoint-

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A light rain started to fall-

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Nothing to see here, move along-

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Nooksack Falls near Glacier, WA where two rivers meet-

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Snack break before entering Canada and Ralf’s new friend. Notice the sign above. This was also the point we bid farewell to Tom-

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Since it looked like rain and we wanted an early start, we camped inside of Mr. Rotter’s giant garage. Most comfortable concrete I have ever slept on-

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Same was true for 2019-

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I see S content in the second pic. Nice to see Ralf has moved from selling Mens underwear to hair care products. was hoping to see more of Rotters garage.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wswartzwel (Post 10647629)

I see S content in the second pic. Nice to see Ralf has moved from selling Mens underwear to hair care products. was hoping to see more of Rotters garage.

Wait, more on that later.:D

Day 2-Surrey to Kane Lake 238 miles

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A big thanks to Bryan and his wife for feeding and putting up with us.

We got lost east of Surrey then it started raining. Time to suit up-

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After several hours of rain riding Ralf was exhausted and fell asleep in the sun on the side of the road. I just took photos and waited-

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The town of Spences Bridge and Murray Crk Falls-

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At Kane Lake CG, just east of Merritt, we called it a day. Beautiful camp site with no one to be seen-

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If I would have known that was the preferred treatment I could have let you sleep on my cement garage floor too!

Day 3-Kane Lake to Shelter Bay 273 miles

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Always nice to start the day sunny and bright, breaking camp-

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We continued east on Hwy 97c to Kelowna then north to Hwy 6 and over to the ferry at Fauquier that crosses Upper Arrow Lake-

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North of Nakusp was a pretty wayside park with a waterfall and we stopped for lunch-

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The Upper Arrow Lake Ferry took us to our camp for the night at Arrow Lakes Provincial Park. Just as we were setting up the rain came through but created a stunning double rainbow. Ralf and I enjoyed talking to a charming young French girl that came around to collect the camp fees. It was her summer job so she could ski in the Canadian Rockies-

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Day 4-Arrow lakes to Banff Nat. Park 264 miles

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Another beautiful morning to start our ride-

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Somewhere in Glacier Nat. Park of Canada-

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After securing a camp site at Protection Mt. near Lake Louise we ran north to Bow Lake-

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The main reason we were going to Banff Nat. Park was so Ralf could show me Peyto Lake and it was impressive with a bonus waterfall-

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On the way back to camp we stopped at Lake Louise. Almost had a tourist riot when a child threw a water bottle into the lake-

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Gorgeous pics... I am a bit envious.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wswartzwel (Post 10648541)

Gorgeous pics... I am a bit envious.

Thanks Bill, only a couple hundred more to come.:)

I miss the Puget Sound, did a bicycle tour in San Juan Islands when I was a teenager, only been back there handful of times.. those landscapes, soon to be lost forever.

Day 5-Banff to Belly River in Waterton Lakes Nat. Park 278 miles

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In the morning we had planned to go back to Lake Louise and then Moraine Lake for some better photos but it was raining so we headed south. We took 742 along Spray Lakes Reservoir to Hwy 40 and followed it all the way to to Hwy 3 near Crowsnest-

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Ralfie walking like a drunken sailor off to do something important-

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When the sun finally came out I noticed this old woman with a bun hairdo coming up from the river carrying a nice camera. Oops! It’s Ralf-

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I though we were in Canada?-

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This is the point where my cheap aftermarket chain guard failed-

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Looking at Ralf’s lunch choice almost made me lose mine and he had a dinner guest-

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Day 6 cont. 2-

Lake McDonald near West Glacier-

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For some reason Hwy 2 from Kalispell to Libby seemed long and boring plus all the campgrounds were full. We decided to take a hotel for the night and get clean again-

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Our room was the one with the pile of dirt and two motorcycles in front of it-

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When does the "How To" repairs section start? We know you use these trips to work on your bike.... :)

RB - Thanks. Great story and pics: one reason why I keep coming back to this site.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wswartzwel (Post 10649940)

When does the "How To" repairs section start? We know you use these trips to work on your bike.... :)

You will have to wait for the KTM spokesman to chip in or until I get to that point in the story.

Leopard print flip flops? WTF??
Great pics RB.......even has maps!

Cheers