I spent 2 nights held up in Smithers B.C.due to my informant notifying me that Col. Decker was waiting for me in Jasper. See, in 1972 I was part of a crack commando unit that was sent to prison by a military court for a crime we didn't commit. We promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, we survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find us, Well…..you know.
I do love it when a plan comes together.
I had a lot of time to catch up on bills, rest and whiskey drinking yesterday. I emptied half of my 5th, thus lightening Kai’s load.
But then again, when I have idle hands, I tend to snack….
Thus keeping Kai’s load most likely of identical weight, if not heavier.
Writes “gym” on his list of things to do when he get home.
I make a fuel stop before I leave, and notice that the shelves in the Gas n Go are only chest level. I assume it is intentional, as this is a hugely Native populated town. I have found that most Natives are diminutive in nature, I tower above them and I wonder if my bike has washed ashore the town of Lilliput.
I can feel the stares of these people, and I’m thankful that I showered this morning, as I’m sure it’s not worth their time to scalp someone who has already prescalped himself.
I freely use terms like these people and scalp because, well, my best friend is Injun…so, yeah..That’s how that works.
Right?
Black Eyed Peas Boom Boom Pow was playing over the gas station speaker, and now, flying down The Yellowhead Highway East, I can’t get that song out of my head, and I am saving Uncle Igor for when/if I get bored today, so I am stuck with trying to force it out.
I’ve been in this position before, like the time I got Rick Dees Disco Duck stuck bouncing around my 7 year old brain. Luckily, I wasn’t sure how my young brain worked, and I was quick to let it go when someone handed me a Wooly Willy, a set of Weebles or my G.I. Joe with the Kung Fu Grip.
Oh, speaking of ducks, I was cruising about 80 mph when I saw a couple of tiny ducks following right along with mama duck, and 4 other ducks just in the middle of the road, trying to find their way. I tried desperately to avoid the last duck in line, but it was like Kai was an unstoppable cyborg on a mission, and just flattened it and my heart.
She didn’t actually kill it, just maimed it for life.
Actually, I made all that up. Not the ducks, they were there, but the story had a great ending to it, as yours truly pulled over, and got off my bike to corral the 4 towards the direction of Mama duck.
The Yellowhead isn’t the busiest highway I’ve been on, and I’m sure the 4 would’ve found their way, but I did leave a convoy of tractor trailers about 3 miles back, and I was afraid they would’ve flattened them for sure, as they were not the fleetest of foot (web),
Ducks safe in the grass, I remount and grab some throttle and pass yet another black bear. This was the 5th one I saw today. The grass is high on the side of the road, and every few miles I just see a black head pop up to take a sniff and a look see.
Reminded me a bit like Whack a Mole
About 40 miles outside of Jasper Alberta, I approach Moose Lake, and man what a gorgeous sight. Seems like all the bodies of water up this way are this Emerald Green of color, and as I sat and soaked in exactly where I was, I happened to look at Kai and wondered just where her “next of VIN” where located at this moment, and how much of the world they get to see.
Hit a few spots of construction that held me up a bit, but it’s no worries, as sitting there allows me to take in the view and write a bit. That is when the flag men (and women) stop chatting my ear off. Man Canadians are a pleasant bunch. Even their signs are overly nice.
When leaving the construction area, they have signs THANKING YOU for your patience and PLEASE resume speed.
Also, the signs are hung on the flanks of a Unicorn, with the cast of Chuck E Cheese behind them, all holding up individually waving Teddy Ruxpins, bidding travelers a Fond Adieu.
And I swear I saw a rainbow right after that.
These Canadians sure are awesome.
Gonna miss this country.
Tomorrow, Jasper National Park, Icefield Parkway, and Gotta Get Get that Montana!
Peace Grease and Beats
