Sunday, March 14, 2010

Grande Prairie to Grande Cache

Grande Cache


The view between the handle bars on this day trip is a wonderful one.

It is a full day ride to do the round trip. It takes about 2 and a 1/2 hours to ride one way. (190 kms)
You will want to make sure your bike is full when you leave Grande Prairie as there are no services until you get to Grande Cache.

There are some pretty good restaurants in town and the tourism information centre is very interesting. There is a lot to see tin the centre and worth the ride alone.
The Grande Mountain

The Grande Mountain Get-a-Ways Best Western has a good restaurant and the rooms are pretty nice. The staff was very friendly.  Although there is no motorcycle specific parking, there are some fairly secure areas to park close to the main doors and for those of us who don't do stairs well, there is an elevator to the 2nd floor.

You do need to be careful as there is much wild life on this stretch of Highway.

Belt Drive Betty

Thorsby to Drayton Valley


Only about a 75 kilometer ride but what a beautiful one...


We held our first ever Rider Friendly Business Association Ride & AIM Can Memorial in Thorsby and then rode to Drayton Valley for the V-Twin Family Diner's Show 'n' Shine.


 Rider Friendly Town of Thorsby
The Rider Friendly Town of Thorsby
We filled a good portion of main street up in front of our 
Rider Friendly Business Partner's location: Kountry Kitchen Bakery

At Thorsby


Leaving Thorsby with about 50 riders
Leaving Thorsby with about 50 riders



On the Ride


The V-Twin Family Diner's Show 'n' Shine
The V-Twin Family Diner's Show 'n' Shine

The V-Twin Family Diner's Show 'n' Shine

The V-Twin Family Diner's Show 'n' Shine


Grande Prairie - Wembley - GP via Emerson Trail


If you are visiting in the Grande Prairie region and looking for a ride that only takes about an hour - a little brain clearer - this one works for me.



Head north out of Grande Prairie via 100 st - Hwy 2 Turn left (West) Emerson Trail (which is Township Rd 723) At Range Road 83 turn left (South) until you hit Hwy 43 and turn left again (Kinda like a NASCAR Race) Head back in to Grande Prairie - total trip - about 80 kms.

Heading out on the trail

Heading into GP from Wembley
 
Nothing special about the trip other than low traffic on the road and some nice rolling hills.Like I said - just a little brain clearer.


Red Deer to Bragg Creek Return

If you like meeting other riders, Bragg Creek is a must stop.

Bragg Creek


Here's a great Video that shows off the area: Bragg Creek 

Red Deer to Bragg Creek return: 379.7 km, 4 hr 21 min
This Ride will take you through Didsbury, Cochranes, Bragg Creek, Cremona and back to Red Deer

About Didsbury:
Whether this is your first time visiting or your fourteenth, driving up through the coulee into Didsbury always feels a little like coming home. With its many historical structures, as well as its more contemporary buildings, Didsbury is where old meets new in a wonderful mix of traditional values and community progress.
About Cochrane:
Endless Opportunities for Adventure, Relaxation and Fun
Cochrane is situated at the base of the Big Hill in the Bow River Valley, 20 minutes from Calgary and less than an hour from Banff.  With spectacular vistas of the rolling foothills and majestic Rocky Mountains, Cochrane combines a proud western heritage with all the modern conveniences required for a great vacation.
About Bragg Creek:
The Hamlet of Bragg Creek is nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, 44 kilometres west of Calgary
For more information on Bragg Creek: http://www.braggcreek.ca/

About Cremona:
The Village of Cremona is located along Highway 22, about 45 minutes NW of Calgary. Cremona officially became a village in 1955.
For more information about Cremona: http://www.village.cremona.ab.ca/

 

Red Deer to Buck Lake

This day ride will take approximately 304.0 km, 3 hr 51 min
This wonderful day ride will take you by Bentley, Rimbey,  Winfield, Buck Lake, Eckville and
back to Red Deer.




About Bentley:
Skirting the south shore of beautiful Gull Lake, you break over the crest of the height of land just west of the lake into the Gateway of the famous Blindman Valley. There, before you, lies the Town of Bentley.
Visit our Rider Friendly partner: Slumdog Bar & Grill
For more information about Bently: http://www.town.bentley.ab.ca/


About Rimbey:
Our community is nestled in the scenic Blindman River Valley amongst the rolling hills which border the Rocky Mountains and its many parks and facilities.
For more information on Rimbey: http://www.rimbey.com/index.php/home

About South Buck Lake:
Buck Lake sits in the rolling hills within the County of Wetaskiwin, 105 km southwest of  Edmonton and 70 km north of Rocky Mountain House. The nearest centre is the town of Drayton Valley, 30 km to the northwest.
For more information on South Buck Lake: http://www.hauserscovehomesonthelake.com/aboutbucklake.html (This is a real estate site, but well done and informative)

About Eckville:
Proud home of Skeleton Racer, World Cup Champion and Olympic Bronze Medalist, Mellisa Hollingsworth.
For more information about Eckville: http://www.eckville.com/

Dinosaur Trail

By Harold Boss
One of my favourite day rides is the Dinosaur Trail at Drumheller. 

Rose Deer Hotel
It's not a long ride but one of the best features is a stop at the Rose Deer Hotel. 
Have a burger and drink, and just enjoy the atmosphere. 

(I heard the Hotel has a paranormal entity :) 
Nonetheless it is a great place and somewhat like a small museum from the mining days. 


There is also a tenting or campsite right outside the door. 
Bikers have been stopping there for decades. 

Check it out; I'm pretty sure you will enjoy the riding and beauty of the Drumheller valley.
Come be a part of Motorcycle Madness and discover the Drumheller Valley with others of like mind!


Saturday, March 13, 2010

Grande Prairie and the Mighty Peace - A trip to Fairview

I live in Grande Prairie and have for several years. Riding in this region has so many diverse possibilities. From the City of Grande Prairie itself there are several directions and consequently vistas that one can head off to.

Grande Cache - just south of Grande Prairie about a 2 hour ride away (190 Kms)
The gateway to the Canadian Rockies from the North, the trip to Grande Cache makes a wonderful day ride or if you have the time you can head on down Hwy 40 until you come to the junction for Hiway 16. Your next decision would be right to Jasper or Left to Hinton and Edson.

Then there is the option to head to the BC border and more mountains. You'll take highway 43 west and north and pass by Beaverlodge and it's incredible Beaver Carving, through Hythe, home of the Hythe Motor Speedway and on towards Dawson Creek.

One of my favorite day rides though is up to Fairview.
About an hour and a half from Grande Prairie this trip will see you pass bright yellow canola fields, take you through the sweeping panorama of the Peace River as you cross the Dunvegan Bridge - Alberta's longest suspension bridge - and in to the town of Fairview an the Harley-Davidson Technical Training Institute at Fairview Campus.

A few years back, we held the Canadian Championship of Bike Building in Wembley, a small town 22 Kms straight west of Grande Prairie.

After the event was over, we took the kids from the Bernice MacNaughton High School Bike Klub up to Fairview to meet Wally Besler and the rest of the instructors of the Harley-Davidson Technical Training Facility.

Here are a few pictures of the area, the people and some the bikes they got there on!
The bike show in Wembley.
A view of the parking lot at the bike show in Wembley.
Look at how big and blue that sky is!
Orval Gladue from Brownvale
On the left is Orval Gladue from Brownvale.
This gent sings a mean Hank Williams and
rides his H-D all over - the joys of being retired!


The group featured here in the parking lot of the Quality Hotel is comprised of Heather Ireland who at the time of this picture was the host of Biker TV, Barry Koenig on the left and Cindy Mckertcher
on the right. In the back ground a group of riders are converging getting ready to head out to Fairview.
Peter and JD




At Rycroft - some of us got fuel and coffee etc...but as you can see, Peter Jonsson of Sweden on the blue Victory and JD Boyd on the red one decided they needed pictures of the famous Tee Pee.


Wally Besler of the Harley-Davidson
Wally Besler of the Harley-Davidson
Technical Training Program at Fairview
Campus












Wally escorting the kids from Moncton's Bike Klub through one of the buildings that houses a number of prototype and one of bikes.

kids from the Bike Klub
Posing under the sign in Fairview -
the kids from the Bike Klub had quite a day!


Here in the north, our dogs love to ride almost as much as we do.
Betty and her owner Paul are from Peace River.











JD Boyd  on the way back to Grande Prairie
JD Boyd crossing the Dunvegan Bridge on the way back to Grande Prairie








It is beautiful and diverse country to ride in.
Until next time...ride safe and enjoy the view!


Alberta, an incredible place to visit by Motorcycle


I have lived in Alberta a good portion of my life and I never tire of the beauty.
This blog is meant to tempt you to come and play in my sand box...Betty's Alberta!


From the majesty of the Rocky Mountains to the simple, clean vistas of the prairies, twisties and wide sweeping, lazy curves and really big sky - Alberta offers the motorcycle enthusiast an amazing variety of views to stimulate the senses.


I hope you will enjoy the trip as we travel and explore Alberta by Motorcycle!