19th July
I wake up at some stupid time in the morning, and doze whilst everyone else in the motel apparently has a shower and leaves – slamming their car doors as they do. I eventually drag myself out of bed at 0715 and go across the road to the Internet café – only to find it doesn’t open until 0900 – Bugger.
I pack the bike & I’m on the road for 0800, heading south west towards Rooville. Just past Cowley, I notice something interesting …
…these are vertical axis generators – a spindle shaped windmill – alongside one of the old fashioned ones. None of them were turning…
I head down through the Crows Nest Pass – scene of another landslide (the Frank Slide)…
…I stop at an A&W and have an unmemorable breakfast. The scenery, as I continue south west, is beautiful, though the weather is looking pretty threatening…
At Sparwood, a mining town, I stop and look at the World’s Largest Truck (apparently)…
…for those that need to know
, 1,220,400lb Maximum Gross Weight, 169 litres, 330 bhp.
I continue south west and, at about 1100, I reach the US border. After 10 minutes, I’m granted a renewed visitor’s visa, good for a further 12 months. The cost of re-entering the Land of the Free? $6
I re-set the GPS to Statute units and continue south towards Libby, where I intend to stop for the night. It’s not far, but I’ve had an early start and there are loads of thunderstorms roaming the countryside – and they’d just love to soak me.
I cross over my old friend the Kootenay Lake…
…and ride down the western side…
The road is poorly surfaced (a sign warns it’s not maintained in winter), but the views are great…
I ride past Libby Dam…
…and eventually I get to the 37 and follow it west into Libby. As I arrive, the heavens open – I spot a small Mom & Pop with a ‘Free Internet’ sign and check in for the night.
I wake up at some stupid time in the morning, and doze whilst everyone else in the motel apparently has a shower and leaves – slamming their car doors as they do. I eventually drag myself out of bed at 0715 and go across the road to the Internet café – only to find it doesn’t open until 0900 – Bugger.
I pack the bike & I’m on the road for 0800, heading south west towards Rooville. Just past Cowley, I notice something interesting …
…these are vertical axis generators – a spindle shaped windmill – alongside one of the old fashioned ones. None of them were turning…
I head down through the Crows Nest Pass – scene of another landslide (the Frank Slide)…
…I stop at an A&W and have an unmemorable breakfast. The scenery, as I continue south west, is beautiful, though the weather is looking pretty threatening…
At Sparwood, a mining town, I stop and look at the World’s Largest Truck (apparently)…
…for those that need to know
, 1,220,400lb Maximum Gross Weight, 169 litres, 330 bhp.I continue south west and, at about 1100, I reach the US border. After 10 minutes, I’m granted a renewed visitor’s visa, good for a further 12 months. The cost of re-entering the Land of the Free? $6
I re-set the GPS to Statute units and continue south towards Libby, where I intend to stop for the night. It’s not far, but I’ve had an early start and there are loads of thunderstorms roaming the countryside – and they’d just love to soak me.
I cross over my old friend the Kootenay Lake…
…and ride down the western side…
The road is poorly surfaced (a sign warns it’s not maintained in winter), but the views are great…
I ride past Libby Dam…
…and eventually I get to the 37 and follow it west into Libby. As I arrive, the heavens open – I spot a small Mom & Pop with a ‘Free Internet’ sign and check in for the night.
