12th May Vancouver

"You want to do what?" asks the bored Canadian customs clerk. "I want to take my motorbike out of said crate & ride it across BC & eventually to NYC. "What...I'll have to ask my manager. Never had one of these".Having actually seen, nay touched said crate, I was feeling bullish. Canadian customs (unlike the US) is a breeze I'm told. Previous guy in the queue left shouting "I'm pissed off with all this bureaucay. It's only a box of bloody books"& stormed out. I took a seat next to the baggy suited oriental traders & waited. "Mr Robinson-Smith, here is your receipt which we have stamped. Goodbye."

After much overly cautious unpacking the bike was revealed tied tightly down with the suspension & tyres well compressed. It had been packed well. With the screen & mirrors on I headed for the nearest garage to fill up with air & gas (!). Temperature for the 20 minute ride back to the hotel was 24C.After a beer, I headed off back to town to walk part 2 of the coastal walk. Once again roller skating vixens, bearded teenagers & on message oldies all jostled for space - united by their tattoos & uninterruptable nattering. Meanwhile, the views were good.

NB I have had several complaints about the sheer number of motorcycle shots. For today I have limited them to 1 but from here on in expect many many more...