It is closer to bedtime than it is to dinnertime when I finally park the bike. But the kitchen is open until 10 p.m. here at Vimy’s Lounge & Grill at the Waterton Lakes Resort, so I order yak meatballs (since they are fresh out of elk chili) and get a room for the night. I am at the end of a satisfying day of riding along a portion of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Loop, a route that I plucked from drivethetop10.com. The loop winds through Waterton Lakes and Glacier National Parks and cuts through sections of Montana, British Columbia, and the Alberta Rocky Mountains.

The owner slowly scuffles toward the entrance of his café, unlocks the door, and lets us in. Like him, the interior is simple, original and down to earth. Breakfast is the same: a huge pot of coffee, hash browns, bacon and eggs. Eat it or leave it. But something else is provided here in abundance: a great sense of freedom.

What a scary welcome. The captain warned us that there would be some turbulence as we crossed the barrier of the Rocky Mountains from the west, but the effect of the thunderstorm is still intimidating. The plane is shaking and rattling in every joint. It feels like we’re sitting in the epicenter of an earthquake, and our stomachs are protesting. We make it through 15 minutes later, however, and smoothly touch down at Denver International Airport. Outside it’s already dark, and as we ride into town the Rocky Mountains are highlighted by lightning every couple of seconds.

I don't really need a good reason to go on a motorcycle trip, whether it be for the adventure of exploring a new area, tackling a challenging road, or just getting away from my daily routine. But this ride is something special, and I'm excited to get to ride through Yellowstone National Park, a perfectly good reason for a trip! I can't wait to witness the beauty and wildlife of the very first national park.

Here we are in Castlegar, Nelson can't be very far.