"... and here's another picture of some mountains..."

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It's been around a week of riding since our last entry, and we've covered around 1,500 miles or so from British Columbia, down through Alberta, and into the 'lower 48' via Montana. We've done around 4,500 miles so far, and our buttocks have taken on a shiny, leathery complexion.

As with most blog entries, we can divide it up into 3 broad categories:

The bit about the scenery
The 'educational' bit
The 'humorous' bit

The bit about the scenery:
Having come down through the Canadian Rockies and into their US counterparts in Montana, we could paste up a few thousand pictures of all the crazy shaped mountains. But we would probably crash the internet, so we'll leave you with two, for which you will probably be grateful.

The 'educational' bit:
You can skip this if you feel the need. We visited a site in Alberta called 'Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump', which basically did what it said on the tin. The native Blackfoot peoples (note PC terminology - not 'injuns') traditionally spent days herding the bison towards the edge of the cliff, then creating a stamped to drive them over. This provided them with meat and other products with which to survive the winter.

The 'humorous' bit:
Where we lighten the mood after the 'educational' bit. In Sparcbrook, British Columbia, we saw the world's biggest truck! This is the town's only visitor attraction. How we laughed!

We are now on the edge of Yellowstone Park, which we will be riding into later on today. I am hugely excited, as we will be meeting Yogi Bear, Boo-boo and friends.

Hold on, Christine informs me that I have confused it with Jellystone. This is a major disappointment. Sorry to end the blog on such a downer.

All the best folks,

xxx

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Photos

Christine and a mountain and a waterfall
Here we go with the scenery pictures...

Some mountains and a lake
etc etc etc etc etc etc etc

The Buffalo jump
To complete the picture, imagine a pile of dead and/or dying bison at the base of the cliff.

One big stoopid monster truck, eh?
You need to say this with a Canadian accent. Note Christine next to the front wheel.

Comments

[anonymous]

Hi you two! I'm getting very jealous now! So you are going through Montana - any nice cowboys for me! The scenery looks fantastic. Can't believe the size of that truck! Chris you look tiny! Looking forward to the next blog. Take care. Susan xx

[Luke Arbuthnot]

Tonka
Blimey - Chrissie's shrunk! Good blogging chaps - keep them coming!

[Paul & Vicki]

Small world
We've been there! (that may not be the last time we say that!). The waterfall picture- athabasca falls? Trip looks great. Very jealous.

[Sophia Robb]

Meanwhile, on a small hill somewhere in Surrey....
...Smiler is still wandering around in his dressing gown - a step up from a backless hospital gown, but nevertheless there is fear that the AONB classification may be at risk as a result. A collective shudder passes through its residents at the thought of what that might do to house prices. Simon is just off to do a 50 mile category 3 race around Ockley; I'm off canoeing up the River Wey with friends who are staying here (if we can persuade their kids to go along with this plan). Better leave it here, but enjoy the riding and keep slapping beeswax on those leathery arses. Sophia x

[jo and john]

Wouldnt like the tyre bill!
Hi guys, looks like you are getting to see loads, and its fantastic - weather looks good too. I m sure they were in yellowstone too - its that attention to detail stuff that we never mastered! (even at 4yrs). Watch the bears - have fun Jo xxxx

[anonymous]

Next time...
... I think you should do this trip in the truck, and include all major cities on your itinerary.

[Alison]

Say hi to Obama - apparently he's in Yellowstone with his family... or is it jellystone???

[Gibbo]

Ohh that is a big truck!
Yo peoples nice mountains nice lake lovely big truck I enjoy the looking of and the reading of your picture book journey. very much so.. shame about the dead buffalo's. did you know: Yellowstone is the world's first national park, the land, wildlife, vistas and famous attractions, including Old Faithful, are as wondrous as ever. President Ulysses S. Grant signed into law the bill to create Yellowstone National Park in 1872. Located in the northwest corner of Wyoming, Yellowstone is a true American wilderness – 97 percent of the park's 3,400 square miles (2.2 million acres) remains pristinely undeveloped Straight off the top of me heed. love Pete