Sadly! And I kinda regret it but I promised "No Big Trips this year". Keeping my promise sort of.. Took the Overland down to Nakusp for the Horizons Unlimited meeting. Had a great visit with both Mike and Chuck, Kevin and Annie. Got a bit of remote camping in but mostly stuck around town.
[Note from the Webmaster: These pics are kinda small as they are posted here. But don't forget, if you have a larger screen, you can click on the pics and see them full screen.]
A bit of smoke had moved in.. This was from Washington, Thanks for bringing that Mike.
Took sort of the back way into town, checking out Rec Site camping areas we have up here in BC
Almost stayed here but it was a tad early and the big black bear that popped out of the woods had me move on. 🙂
Luckily the Quad guys had been through before me and cut a path.. didn't have my big saw with me
Took a break and this nice bridge over the creek
Bigger than a creek actually
The view over to where I was supposed to be. Columbia river actually, just dammed up making Arrow Lake
I eventually found a spot, took a bit to get to as the road was a tad steep and a bit washed out.
Got there and low and behold a fellow camper was there.. Michael, on a 9 year RTW trip. He explained he was getting close to the end but needed to see the North yet.. Canada's Tuktoyaktuk and some of Alaska. 9 years is a long time to be on the road
The morning view
and Here he is to prove it
Then it was to the meet up with the Gang.
Side cars and Sprinters kinda go together don't they ?
Here we are lined up for the Farkle Contest.. We all got a prize. :).
And to prove I do camp. Got serenaded every night from the Vancouver Island boys who were liking their Whiskey
After Nakusp it was a quick turn around to grab the little bike and off to camp at Duncan Dam, one valley over from Nakusp with some of the guys from ADV Rider.. Chris ( a local friend ) and I rode over together
Great fun was had and I mostly proved I am not a Dual Sport rider. A little hard to learn at 69! I did manage to get up to the top a couple of times and a few not so much. Only got stuck once and was able to do a repair on my windshield 🙂 Survived !!!
Then as we get into August it was time to head back to the Kootenays, Kaslo this time with Kathy, Lucy, the RV and sidecar in tow.. Also was a great few days. Got caught up with a bunch of the club members
The whole kit and caboodle
Set up nicely at the Kaslo Municipal Campground.. A lot of the club members RV and Trailer now.. The only way I can get Kathy to join in, otherwise I tent it.
The other way is a promise of good, and I mean real good cinnamon buns-- A small ferry ride to get to the bakery/cafe
Lucy wasn't interested in posing this time
She was more interested in the river walk the next day
Kathy snapping pictures
Not sure how they did it but the trail people packed in these concrete sculptures and placed them in this boulder field beside the river.. Kinda fun and we hike this trial each time we are here.
Some late nights were had discussing the world as we see it. All in good taste mind you.. Only a bit of Whiskey involved. 🙂
THANK YOU for the great photos and captions of your adventures! Love it!!
Hi, like he said! Great pics indeed 😊 . First post by the way!
Hi, like he said! Great pics indeed 😊 . First post by the way!
Arno @trespatas, WELCOME to the greatest sidecar forums on this, or any of the planets.
And....MJ @mj is a lady, a women, a person of the female persuasion. And she is a ball of fire, a laugh every minute. 
And...And...Arno @trespatas, since those of us that talk behind the scenes know that you are looking for build a sidecar rig for traipsing around the USA, with the idea that you are a mad Frenchman from Ecuador, that wants to attack the USA roads like a Aussie on a Bandit 1200....you will find it costs a lot less money to buy an already put together sidecar rig, than to buy a bike, then buy a sidecar, then assemble it all, into a properly functioning sidecar rig.
Will probably cost you TWICE the price to build one, as it does to buy an already assembled rig, that is road ready and proven.
Now, knowing that YOU want to build an "Aussie style" Suzuki Bandit 1200 to reek havoc on small towns in America....our back country roads are nothing like the Australian Outback.
MY opinion....buy a road proven, road ready, fully complete, and up to date sidecar rig here in the USA, use it to tour the Western USA as you had planned, and then when you are done, and ready to resell it, it will find a larger audience to buy it, than an "Aussie style" Bandit 1200 rig.
I know you mind is not looking in the direction of a Honda Goldwing....being French, and from Ecuador...but there is a 1995 Honda Goldwing 1500 SE w/Champion Escort ll for sale, it's in central Kansas, which means you flying into Wichita, Kansas, and the owner/seller will pick you up at the airport.
This bike, for $ 8,200.00 USD is absolutely ROAD READY...it is a proven sidecar rig, it has everything done to it to travel the next 100,000 miles, or 162,000 kilometers with NO mechanical failures, other than oil changes and tires once in awhile.
Just THINK about this.....again...WELCOME to the USCA sidecar forums, greatest show on Earth, and remember...MJ @mj is a lady, not a man.
This is the 1995 Honda Goldwing SE w/Champion Escort ll that is for sale, for $ 8,200.00 USD, by a well know sidecar pilot, and his friendly dog, Cyrus.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Responding to the title, I have a lot to do this year if I want to be able to travel at the beginning of next year 🤣
Finally, my apologies to Brian @MGV8, for stepping on your ride thread....or...stomping on it with muddy boots.
We now take you back to your regularly scheduled program of Brian piloting his sidecar rig, his Royal Enfield, and his pick-em-up truck and camper all around British Columbia.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Thank a lot for these informations; I agree with you, no building, to expensive and myself to old. Yes, I am a great fan of the downunder setup, I do admire the "bush" way of thinking which I share, never ever give up!
..... no goldwin.... I respectufully lnsist.... nonono 
!
Won't give up on that one 
Yes, I will look for a second hand rig or better build, I know now where to look at....
Sorry Brian for hacking your thread, but I have an excuse: I was trying to post the number 1 POST!
Bonne route 😊
Responding to the title, I have a lot to do this year if I want to be able to travel at the beginning of next year 🤣
Just ask any farmer - next year's crop depends a lot on this year's preparation!
Which brings up a VERY important idea: I could easily see a useful article for the Sidecarist magazine going into the "personal preparation" in the off season. We've had many articles over the years about bike/rig maintenance in the "off" season, but little in the personal/medical maintenance vein.
Anyone game to start something?
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
Need no apologies for Tread drift. It is all about the conversation that it creates.. @Arno, Miles @flyingmonkeys is totally correct. I sold my first real rig for half of what it cost me to build. Not including repairs along the way.. I tend to break things for what ever reason . It would have been the perfect rig for what you plan but sei la vie it went to a great home. Of course buying an already built rig you may have to compromise what you get or modify to suit your need once you know.. Building, provided you know what you want and have the resources to pay for it is a great way to go as well.. Arno, you do you.
Need no apologies for Tread drift. It is all about the conversation that it creates.. @Arno, Miles @flyingmonkeys is totally correct. I sold my first real rig for half of what it cost me to build. Not including repairs along the way.. I tend to break things for what ever reason
. It would have been the perfect rig for what you plan but sei la vie it went to a great home. Of course buying an already built rig you may have to compromise what you get or modify to suit your need once you know.. Building, provided you know what you want and have the resources to pay for it is a great way to go as well.. Arno, you do you.
Thank you Brian, in fact, i have decided to do with how it comes......after all, ridding-driving it about feeling, no matter the tool as long as enjoy it
Here is the monster
@thane-lewis That is a great idea, maybe I'll change the name of this thread.. LOL I am planning my next big trip. Saving money as it will take a bit. but also prepping myself mentally and more importantly my dear wife for me to be away. It will take some time, at least more time than I have been away before.. My big trips are usually a month long.. Pretty easy to manage for my wife and I to be apart that long. Easier for me as I am busy seeing stuff. Harder for her as she is stuck at home and even though her routine is much the same as when I am there, she gets bored and misses my company. Hard to imagine, right? The worry also builds the longer I am away. So 4 weeks seem to be about the max for both of us.. I can't seem to talk her into the hardships of how I like to travel and camp. LOL Even in the RV it is too daunting for her. It is what it is but it creates some long discussions between us. If my plans come to fruition this next trip, Bike and physical preparations aside, the mental preparations will be a big test for both of us. By the way, thinking of a four points tour of Canada. With a James bay side trip thrown in.. I got thwarted last time. I've been most places before just not all in one go.
@mgv8 world is small.....I am more or less at the same here......This is actually what I am planning for the next move .
And yes, I agree about the mental preparation .