While I was in Winnipeg, a new friend, Candace, told me about the Winnipeg Jazz festival.  It was great - a free Jazz Festival right in the middle of town.

 

Later in the evening Candace and her friend joined me for drinks right across the street from the festival at the King's Head Pub. 

The jazz festival ended at midnight but and impromptu group of drummers played until 2:00 a.m.  Everyone danced in the streets and a good time was had by all.

What really amazed me about all of this was the lack of police at the event.  Everyone was well behaved and had a good time which was surprising for the size of the crowd.  What struck me was that if this was in the USA there would be police everywhere and we would have been told to disband after the Jazz Festival stopped.

The real exciting part of my trip across Canada - TORNADOS (yes that is with an 's').  I experienced a tornado north of Hamilton and this in the plains outside of Regina.  Not fun on a motorcycle.  That will teach me to watch the Weather Channel more.

 

This picture is for my mom.  I called them on this day and my mom wanted a picture of the Moose Jaw welcome sign - so here it is.

Right next to the Moose Jaw visitor center - The Moose Jaw Moose. 

He needs a little repair but looks good for a moose that stands over 40 feet tall.

Here I am standing next to the worlds largest truck -  The Titan.  It is used for coal mining in the Alberta/British Columbia area of Canada. 

This one is on display just south of the Banff National Park.

I had rain, lots of rain, during my ride through the Banff and Jasper National Park.  One break in the rain allowed me to take a picture of this glacier in the Columbia Ice field.

Becky (L) and Nicole (R) were just two of the nice people I met during my travels. Becky and Nicole rode up on their bicycles and were nice enough to pose for this picture.

I would like to take a moment to thank all the people in Canada who made my stay so enjoyable -- Lily & all her friends (Hamilton - their picture is in the right column, 7th from top), Sylvan (Quebec), Candace (Winnipeg), Glenn (Toronto).

Female Elk outside of Jasper.

The male was not too far away.

Some of the beautiful sights in British Columbia.

Some of the beautiful landscape in British Columbia.

My BMW being attacked by a giant beaver in Beaverlodge, British Columbia.

 

Finally, the start of the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek, British Columbia. 

I got there just in time to have my picture taken with an actual Canadian Mounted Police Officer.  I politely  asked him for a 'get out of jail free pass,' he politely declined.

Although the above picture is the one you see everyone in when they travel the Alaska Highway, the actual mile marker "0" is in the middle of the street (not a safe photographic place) one block up and to the left.  Remember that if you visit.

Lots of animals on or near that Alaska Highway.  They like to come out of hiding and lick the salt off of the Highway.

Here we see some mountain goats.

This one was right on the side of the road - not one bit scared.

  

Some Caribou in the creek bed.

 

An afternoon stop at the natural hot springs near Ft. Nelson.

If you go down some of the side roads of the Alaska Highway you will be rewarded with some amazing sights.

One of many milestones.  Although I have been to the  Yukon with my parents on the Alaska Cruise 2005, getting here on my BMW really feels like an accomplishment.  I am sure I will feel the same when I see the 'Welcome to Alaska' sign.

The world famous Sign Post Forrest at Watson Lake.  There are over 60,000 signs here from all over the world. 

I wonder if anyone wants their sign back?

A single grave along the side of the Alaska Highway.  This just shows you how hard it was to make this highway a reality.