Jasper, Alberta, Canada

Sunday July 6th 2025

Woke up at about 07:30 am and rested well. Wiped the tent of condense and some raindrops. After moving the outer tent to a sunny place I packed my other stuff. After everybody was done packing, we packed and strapped the bikes on the rack.

We decided to have breakfast in Clearwater. This turned out to be a good, no an excellent decision! We went to the hungry hiker, which served breakfast the whole day. I ordered a full American / Canadian breakfast with an added two American pancakes. It was a treat to hungry bikers (to be)! We had very interesting talk about sustainability in general and the measurements taken in USA and Europe and the Netherlands specifically. For those who know me will know, this is something that is in my attention for over 55 Years and I am thinking of that a lot . All in a positive way. This is now easier, sinds the general mindset now is bending more to that direction. Stil a very long way to go. In fact; you probably need a disaster like the water flooding the Netherlands in 1952, to get all noses (of ALL PARTIES) into the same direction!

After a short stop to stretch of our legs and cleaning the windscreen we continued the route of 150 km. By the way, most European don’t know the USA uses the imperial system; Fahrenheit, miles inches and foot Canada however downside the metric system so; Celsius, km, cm and meters!

The area of Jasper was a terrible sight, a lot of very large forests burned and some green growing low plants. We went towards the wapiti campgrounds I stayed in 2008. But it was a barren area with blackened stumps coming out of the ground. Of course Jasper was relying heavily on tourism’s, so it was rebuild fast and the structure of the campsites and tourism was again erected. 30 % of the small town was burned, so sad. A lot of trailers were set up for (re-) builders and I think also as a temporary house for those who lost their house?

Tonight we went to eat in a restaurant for the last time with the four of us. We had diner in a pub where two big tv screens were showing football and rugby. I went for pasta with chicken, which was very good. The others went for a burger with fries. We ended with an ice cream, although I didn’t take any.

The weather stayed pretty with even a rainbow when we drove back to our campsite. I was hoping for a warm shower, as they had promised, no luck there. Cold, I washed without staying under. Refreshing though! Three other “things”; Two bad luck “things”, After already one night camping I lost my tent stakes, absolutely no idea how that happened. The other “thing” I lost air in my rear tyre. After putting the pressure with the floorpump we brought in the van up to 4 bar, it lost 2,5 bar in one night….

The last thing is something special, when I came back from the bathroom the group was talking to a Flemish woman. She was visiting here to see wales and possibly a bear or two. That wasn’t special, but I was very surprised to hear her name; gre, a typical Dutch name that happens to be my mothers name. I have the feeling she is with me on this trip in a way… Today we were riding over a pass and in another time zone. Now minus 8 hours difference with the time in the Netherlands.

Without a doubt, another day with a golden edge! Tomorrow the real start of the GDMBR!