A play on words I am now at Golden in the Canadian Rockies having just spent two days of sweeping curves, mountain passes in both upward and downward traverses and a collage of greenery that rivals the Redwood forests of the Western USA states.

However one needed to keep a sharp lookout when riding as the native fanua such as Big Horn sheep, Elk & deer frequently decide the grass is greener on the other side of the roadway.

Today I even encounted a traffic warning sign warning Do Not Get Out of Your Vehicle Bears Have Been sighted Today! Great thanks for letting me know but how do I stay inside a motorcycle? As luck would have it no bears were seen and I even went walking about 1.5kms from my lodgings to the near by town of Golden for dinner and no bears to be seen. It is also colder a max of 19oC today so even the tourists had little bare skin in sight.

The travel was also a first for this trip in that it RAINED! As luck would have it I was stopped for fuel and as the rain started many motorcyclists came in seeking shelter. That looked in a questioning manner as theis Aussie said, "please don't block the exit I want to go shortly" While they looked in disbelief I proceeded to open one of the pannier bags and producted a small package not much bigger then a can of soft drink."Got this wet suit in Europe", I said and unwrapped a one piece garment and in no time at all I had got into it over my full leathers and boots and then produced a pair of fingerless possum gloves and placing these over my normal gloves thumbed the starter and rode off into the rain and remained both dry and warm until the ride ended at my accommodation The Kicking Horse Inn at Golden where my $42 room awaited.

The stopping points were often vista (viewing platforms) that allowed sweeping views of the snow filled lakes or the landslips or cultural features such as the rail line which was often on either side of the rivers. This allows uninterupted travel by two trains one East bound the other West bound and when landslips do occue one one line is out of action.

Stopping at such points does create a possible problem many have warning signs Rattle snakes in this area!

I did enjoy the variety of vegetation that was especially evident in The Revelstoke National Park and as a feature of 2017 admission charges have been waived for anyone applying on line for an annual pass.

The variety of vegetation contains Firs, oaks and Spruce amongst others and one needed to stop and look carefully to distingush the indivual species from the general greeness of the hillsides.

Lunchtime threw up a special treat as I motored along Trans Canada 1 I saw a small sign saying motorcycle museum 10 minutes. The heart rate rose and then quickly settled as the sign was old and so many of the businesses on this route no longer operate from complete complexes of motels,store & garage to the owner grower fruit stalls. Well a quick look at the GPS showed the next town as 10kms away so as I approached I scanned every sign for a repeat but alas nothing so I continued pass the town never sure if I was to venture in would I locate this museum or did it not exist now.

Out of town the speed returned to 100kms then hard on the brakes beside me on the slip road a building with signage sawing DREAMCYCLE MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM & Sprokkets (their spelling) Cafe. I made the slip road and pulling up noted a couple of fellow riders and about 8 second hand bikes for sale. Well at least the cafe would do for lunch it was modern and clean looki... never got to finish as I looked to my left and yes a whole room (later it became evident rooms) of lovely unique restored and unrestored motorcycle with a hugh gift shop.

Without wishing to bore my non motorcycling readers the next two hours were spent drooling over the only remaining WSB Honda factory works bike of 1987, the one of 12 Pierce 4 cyclinder motorbikes (this one exchanged hands for a well documented ex Isle of Man TT Manx Norton, a Ferrari 308 and a LARGE fistfull of dollars). The collection reached from the very early 1900's until the late 1990's. Plus many many items of interest from genuine Kenny Roberts leathers to TT trophies. Yes the owner did insist on telling the stories of his favourite bikes and I enjoyed listening and asking questions. The dream ccomes from his desire to have his own museum and how he bought a old run down premises and restored the premises into a modern restoration workshop with about 50 projects underway, a first class set of exhibition halls, now full, and a modern cafe.

I had long heard whispers of an extensive collection of over 100 motorcycles in Calgary and even visited the former premises that is now a pushbike shop and saw a few early Honda's when visiting last year.

As I left the museum owner slipped me a sheet of paper with a name, his name and a number it is a 403 number which means upon arrival in Calgary I have the number and a personal invited to see "that elusive private collection"good things always come to those who have dreams and never give up until they are realised.