Out of the park and we’d found the main road easily enough. We’d both heard how the American – Canadian border could be surprisingly troublesome and so we’d already pulled out as much paperwork as we could find for both the bikes and ourselves and had practiced our best English accents…’Jolly good show’…God save the Queen’ and of course ‘ chim chimney, chim…God bless you Mary Poppins’ just in case the Canadian s didn't’ think we were English enough to let through.

The 89 slid easily into the 2 going North, a long open cold road seemingly stretching into the sky. In the distance we could make out the building at the border. Puling up to the small booth that more resembled a toll-bridge pay kiosk, the young customs official asked for our passports. “How long are you planning to stay in Canada sir”, came the question? We guessed around 2-3 weeks but said a month just to be on the safe side. It wasn’t until much later and after checking the entry and departure stamps we’d realize he’d cleared us for a year.

“OK, thanks a lot” chirped the official“Do we need to do anything else?” I fumbled, unsure as to what to do next…there’s always something to do next! “Do we need to show the paperwork for the bikes?”…”No Sir”. “Uh do we need to sign anything with the police?”“No sir”. I could hear in his voice that he was as bemused by my questions and we were with the simplicity of our entry in Canada. We hadn’t even got off our bikes.

Cardston seemed like a good bet for gas and a chance to warm up cold hands. We’d already decided that today would be a short day. What we hadn’t expected was to see such an obvious and dramatic change in feel and surroundings as we swapped the USA for Canada. Just across the border everything seemed to slow down.

The small town of Stand Off came and went and a short 53 miles after the border we pulled up in front of a small motel in the robust sounding town of Fort MaCleod. With the bikes parked and unloaded and a discount arranged for the night we settled ourselves in.

An afternoon run made us feel especially saintly.

After a short walk around the town Lisa’s just found one of her favorite named towns, just up the road… Head Smashed-in buffalo jump!!

Our plan to once again sit astride our glorious motor vehicles and set off to explore this country was swapped for…this little room is comfy…and warm…and the beds so soft. We’ll stay another night ?

With so many photos taken in the last few days we’ve staid on another day to sort through them and catch up computer stuff.

We walked over to the motel office this morning to sort out the bill only to be stunned when talking with the owner. He’d been to our web site and simply decided not to charge us. As has happened before we could only do our best to express our thanks.

With emails checked we now know that Twyla arrives in Calgary tomorrow! So we have arranged to stay with Jean and Wayne – a couple of her friends who will put us up. Look out Calgary here we come.

We were both excited about the idea of riding into Calgary, a city we’d heard so much about. The 107 mile ride North would take just a short 2-hour ride.

Today, our 12th wedding anniversary would see us heading West accompanied by grey skies and cold wet roads. Views and routes that would normally have been spectacular were now fog bound and slippery. The biting cold was affecting shoddy concentration. With all the luck in the world we weren’t going to make good progress today. We resigned ourselves to the slog of it.

By late afternoon the dark of night was fast approaching. We were both wet, cold and feeling like the preverbal drowned rats. Screw the money, it’s our anniversary we’ll stay somewhere half decent tonight.

The larger looking wooden hotel hotel just off the highway looked like a good bet. With the bikes parked up right in front of the lobby doors and bags unloaded we headed for our room. Aaahhhhh! Warm showers are just f**cking great.

We’d both spied the small restaurant on the way in ‘The Curry Bowl’, we’d not had a curry for ages and the enthusiastic lady at the front desk had sung their praises.

With bellies full, and bodies warm it felt great to climb into the huge bed.

There wasn’t going to any other sensible option other than to take the route 3 over to Vancouver which would take us back past Fort Mcleod. We could have kicked ourselves for not taking the photograph of the road sign for one of our favorite named towns so far…’ Head Smashed-in Buffalo jump’, yep it’s for real…that is the name of the town.

The route 3 would keep us company the entire day, along with the wind, rain and freezing sleet. Finally we again gave in and booked into a cheap motel as opposed to getting out the tent.

John had already given some pretty clear directions and just 2 turns off the highway we were pulling into the familiar driveway we’d last seen 7-years ago.

Our last holiday prior to starting the planning and prep for our journey was to Whistler. Our idea to see in the Millennium with a ski-ing holiday ended horribly when we were both diagnosed with pneumonia and after treatment spent 3-weeks with Mo and John. The front porch and house had a hazy similarity to it.

Stood at the front door I cold barely contain my excitement. Strange in a good way, but I’m so bloody awful at staying in contact with both friends and family and yet they're so important to me…I really am my own worse enemy! That said…back on track…Mo & John were stood inside the garage as the automatic door rose. My first thought was bloody hell they’ve not aged a bit!

To be with family again felt great. We shared jokes, stories of what had happened to us all over the last few years and drowned in a wonderful flow of English tea. We joked about how incredibly expensive Canada seemed after our other travels.

Over the next ten days our bodies and minds had the chance to recoup as we shared the easy company of Mo and John and were stuffed full daily of ample amounts of fresh veg picked from the garden.

Lisa health is on the agenda. She been suffering for about 8-months and we need to get something done. With Mo and Johns help, contact and support we’ve set about arranging Doctors meeting and a battery of blood tests. Even with Mo’s help the earliest appointment we could get was a weeks time.

Between the simple doctors appointment (excluding exams) and the blood test we were down $400. At least now we know what Lisa’s problems aren’t and are a step closer than we were a week ago to knowing what it is and more importantly what we can do about it.

The last time we’d seen my cousin Sue and husband Jose we’d been mildly delirious so the chance to see them over dinner was wonderful. Thanks guys for a great evening, hopefully it wont be so long until the next time.

With a little more work to the slide show prior to our Touratech Presentation complete we know our time in Vancouver this time around is coming to an end.