The Hyatt Hill Country was the opposite of the Riverwalk – really nothing to do but sit around in the pool and relax. Oh, and eat. Which was all fine with us! Love the trees here too. So cool.
The rooms are tiny.
Traci chillin’ in one of the many pools.
The view overhead at nearly all times.
The lazy river.
We’re on a little 4 night / 5-day getaway down in San Antonio, staying on the Riverwalk the first 2 nights and then head out to the Hyatt Hill Country Resort the last 2 nights. I told Traci about the Riverwalk years ago and have been wanting to take her here ever since – stoked we’re finally doing it!
Traci drove home in the truck with the dogs (and her bike in the back) so I was solo the last 175 miles. I opted for the long way, following the Delta down to the Bay Area, avoiding freeway as long as I could. It’s great to be home, but honestly a little surreal. Were we really in Banff less than a week ago? Seems like a dream. Thanks to everyone who followed along on our adventure!
Home!
3245 glorious miles. Can’t wait to do it again some day!
We avoided the freeway and opted for the long way through the woods (Lassen National Forest) to Chico. What a great ride! Chico to El Dorado Hills was hot, flat, boring and full of traffic, so no photos from that stretch. :)
Mmmm….
Not quite, but we’re getting there!
Traci picked the coolest spot for our final stop – the McCloud Mercantile Hotel. The place has been here since 1897! The whole town has a great vibe. Wish we had more time here. We’ll definitely be back.
Today was fantastic. And a total surprise. We both had low expectations about riding through the high desert of Oregon, but it ended up being one of the best / funnest rides of the trip. The scenery was great, the road was amazing and we had the place completely to ourselves. Would love to do that stretch again some day.
Today’s ride through Idaho, Washington and Oregon proved you don’t need mountains or rivers to form a beautiful landscape. Golden rolling hills (with nice twisty roads) do the trick all the same.
It started off as a cold ride (40º the first 80 miles), but it was still beautiful. And the place we’re staying in Sandpoint is amazing!
My bike’s (partial) resumé
The view from our balcony
The Pend Oreille River
The Lodge at Sandpoint
The view from dinner
Mmm… Filet Oscar
Love it here.
Breakfast at Lake Louise, a quick ride up the Icefields Parkway, then back to Banff for some bumming around. ‘Twas a day of perfection.
Motorcycles get rockstar parking, which is a big deal here. Cars had to park at a lot 4-5 miles down the highway and take a shuttle.
I mean seriously…
View from the pedestrian bridge in Banff
This trail runs along the river
The Fairmont is no joke
A couple Old Fashioneds with a view
The water is sooo clear
Downtown Banff
Park Distillery and Restaurant
Another unbelievably beautiful ride. 5 1/2 hours of awesomeness.
Leaving Montana
Canada! 🇨🇦
B.C. was beautiful from the get-go
Wildlife bridge
Downtown Banff
A park in downtown. There’s an amazing view from literally everywhere.
Our view from dinner
Words just can’t describe the sights one sees and the feelings that come with those sights while riding this road. And try as I might, I wasn’t able to properly capture any of it with my camera. You simply have to be here in person and experience it for yourself to “get it.” What a magical place Glacier National Park is.
Our new friends who we met back in Idaho, Sam and Steph! So great to run into them at the summit! See you guys in Banff!
Lake McDonald
Beautiful 2 1/2 hour ride today. Flathead Lake is amazing!
The Mission Range
Staying at the Great Northern Resort
Tomorrow we ride Going to the Sun Road!
Absolutely beautiful ride. One we’ll never forget and need to do again some day. This is one that should be on any motorcyclist’s bucket list.
Beautiful, quick ride to McCall. And what a gem McCall is! We love it here!
Leaving Winnemucca
Heading into the hills
First pit stop
Heading into the smoke
Second pit stop
Nice ride around Lake Tahoe and into north central NV today!
6:30 am departure
Entering Eldorado Nat’l Forest
Getting into Lake Tahoe
First pit stop
Lake Tahoe is always a treat
Traci taking the lead
Bikes parked for the night
Finally, after all these months, departure day has come.
Mile 0 of 3,000
Packed and ready to roll.
Today after work I ride up to Traci’s parents’ house where she’s been since yesterday. Her parents are kindly watching our dogs for us so she drove up in the truck with her bike in the back. Tomorrow we head north!
4:30 pm – made it to Traci’s parents’ house!
Some say if you ride a motorcycle every day it’s not if but when you’ll get into an accident. I was really hoping to prove those people wrong, but unfortunately I’m now one of the statistics. Thankful to be alive!
Robert Windel Photography 