Beautiful  morning in Jasper as we loaded up the bikes.

We are staying in two nights in Jasper so the first day we need to ride 50-60 miles out and then be vanned back to Jasper. BillyB had the brilliant idea of vanning us all out together to a 60 mile point and then each of us riding back at our own pace arriving at the hotel.

. . . but first we had to get the necessary permits for the van, and for ourselves as bikers.

Jasper is VERY crowded with visitors from all over the world. They arrive by the trainful.Lots of languages spoken. Many we had not  heard before.

. . . the Jasparian’s are a happy bunch!!!

Soon we we at our 60 mile mark where is was COLD!!! We put on every piece of clothing we had brought for the day. Temps were in the high 40’s F.

Three of the five riders, plus the ‘unknown rider’.

First view of a one of the many ice shelves and glaciers we would see long the way. . . .

. . . but don’t  take your eye off the road too long!!!

A Kodak moment around every corner.

The landscape varied but there were many boulder fields such as this one.

Soon I saw two riders approaching . . .

Frank and Annette, from Germany, were traveling fully loaded. They had started in Banff, ridden to Jasper and now were heading south to Glacier NP. We will probably run into them again along the way.

Athabasca Falls along the way was not one to miss!!!

The wide open road . . .

A view worth the climb! Water running everywhere.

Soon I met Sabian and Enatin, from France, two youngsters’ heading from Jasper to Glacier NP. Seems to be a popular route!  They were heavily loaded.

One last LONG . . . uphill lead us to a BIGGGGGG downhill back into Jasper. A rider loves to see this sign at the end of the day. Other than dodging a few rocks it usually means a nice final glide path for the end of the day.

After showers  we headed down to the Whistle Stop Pub, a place our man about town BillyB had discovered on his first night in town. Oh those Canadians have a sense of humor!!!!!

05:30am rolled around too soon and soon TommyG was pounding on the door. He, emJay, Daisy and I loaded up and headed for the airport and our 9:00am flight. Greg and TommyH soon arrived, we were on the plane and being whisked to Denver.

TommyH enjoys a nice pannini before we left Madison. Oh . . . our carbo loading (of one sort or another) has begun!!!

A short layover in Denver and our final leg onto Edmonton. Connections were good, weather was nice and the pretzels were FRESH!!

We rented a car In Edmonton and 4 hours later we tied up with BillyB in Jasper.

After much discussion, much consternation, and many meetings, our mbbt tour guide Greg was able to massage it all into what will be a FANTASTIC Canadian adventure!!! We will cycle from Jasper Alberta, along the Canadian Rockies, crossing over them twice, down through Banff, Lake Louise Waterton park, into the United States through Glacier park, over the American Rockies and down into Whitefish, Montana. All in 12 days, over 600 miles and approx. 34, 000 of climbing!!

One of the gang, BillyB, agreed to drive our rental van with all the gear for the adventure from Madison to Jasper. The other four of us will fly to Edmonton, Alberta, rent a car one-way to Jasper and join up with Bill there. From there it’s all south!!!

Here is our Captain Greg, loading up our rental van. We removed three of the bench seats and all of our gear, all of the bikes and the 5 of us fit inside the van. Perfect, especially during inclement weather. Connie Cannondale, in the foreground, awaits to be herded into the van . . .

. . . and before you know it everything was inside!!!

Including some ‘special nourishment replacer’ our Team Trainer, TommyG had brought along.

Of course, I have been doing some of my own pre-ride ‘training’, including a dinner the last night in Monticello with Smoochie . . .

And we did each have our own dessert. I finally caught onto her . . .”I only would like two small bites” trick from the past. When I’d turned my head, or go to the restroom, the whole thing would disappear!!!