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Jul 27th Drumheller Road Trip

For reasons I am yet to understand, I purchased a motorcycle. My intention was to drive it west into the mountains, but, as expected, the forecast has been daily rain since I signed the bill of sale. I decided, instead, to ride south to Drumheller as a bit of an equipment test and an opportunity ride through the badlands.

I headed south of Edmonton on secondary roads and made a detour to the Len Thompson “worlds largest fishing lure” statue, just to say I did. From there it was a somewhat dull drive across the flat prairie, my headphones provided most of the entertainment until I was near my destination. Just before Drumheller, the road dropped sharp into a valley and within a kilometer I went from green, flat, prairie to small sandy hills and winding roads. I investigated a few campgrounds around town and found most ludicrously expensive, lacking in facilities, or both. After paying $30 in Nepal for a nice hotel, its hard to pay $45 to throw a tent in an open field. Far south of town, near the Hoodoos, I found a nice campground with more sensible rates. I pitched my tent and got organized just in time for it to start raining and hailing. I laid in my tent and read my book while I waited for the rain to pass. It eventually did and I was able to make a small snack before bed.

The following morning I tried to go to the museum but being mid summer I couldn’t even find parking so decided against it. Instead I went to see Horseshoe canyon, I hiked down and around it for the better part of an hour. The geology was interesting, but the heat was intense. I then took a motorcycle tour towards the town of Wayne, known for its eleven bridges. The road and scenery were amazing. After the last bridge the road turned to gravel and I could see many bikers had done that road and turned around right there, which is exactly what I did. I got back to my tent just in time for a short afternoon rain. Afterward I went to the camp office and charged some electronics for my ride home the following day. I had a fire and went to bed.

I left the campsite early in the morning so I could take my time on the long drive home. My first stop was Horse Thief Canyon. The lookout, at that time of morning, only had one other vehicle, a camper van with the windows covered. I walked out and took in the scenery and in the distance saw a coyote running, about as fast as I think he could go, right along the ridgetops. I got back on my bike and continued on. My next stop was the Bleriot Ferry. It was a small ferry that runs people across the Red Deer River. I pulled up and a man brought the ferry slowly towards my side of the river, he dropped the chain and waved me on. I pulled up and the boat started moving. I had time to take my helmet off and get a drink of water, the crossing, I believe, took about 7 minutes. The boat man did not say a word. As I left I said thank you and he nodded. It was a long drive home from the ferry. Between Trochu and Camrose I found the winds were severe and pushed me all over my lane. As I came into Edmonton, I was somewhat disoriented. I was tired from several hours of driving, there was smoke from northern forest fires, and my GPS had taken me through a section of city I had never driven through. I made it home around noon, unloaded my bike, and had a very satisfying shower, content with the results of my first Canadian motorcycle trip.

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