The ride to Jasper.

No drama, no opinions, just the best ride for you to enjoy, take a few minutes and just lose yourself in the journey. Join me on Highway 16 as I ride from Hinton, Alberta to Jasper in Canada's spectacular Rocky Mountains. Pour yourself a drink, sit back, and enjoy the ride.
All right here we go!
Music by Paul Black "Better Man" & "Burn"

[@RobertMerz]

If you enjoy my videos and want to help me out with the time and expense that I take to create them please visit my page at Buy Me A Coffee and consider making a small donation. Thanks so much, Robert. www.buymeacoffee.com/lgEFpyZjs

[@vongtaynhanaikptt6066]

Nice sharing my friend 😁stay safe

[@RobertMerz]

Thanks you, for watching and taking the time to leave a comment, and for the well wishes. I will try to stay safe, and you as well.

[@yasinnabi]

A beautiful day starts with watching wonderful videos like this. I have enjoyed watching, thanks for sharing . a fellow creator,.,.

[@RobertMerz]

Thank you Yasin. I really appreciate your comment and I hope you have time to start your day with one of my videos more often.

[@jemery6913]

Beautiful video, love the soundtrack as well, thank you for posting this, and your other videos!

[@RobertMerz]

Thank you very much. I appreciate the comment and hearing that you are enjoying my vids.

[@Liberty4Ever]

Very nice! Thanks for sharing!

[@RobertMerz]

Hey thank you for watching, leaving great comments (keep them coming), and for subscribing! All very appreciated.

[@AutoMoose]

Love the scenery. I hope to see more model T and tractor videos in the future those are my favorite ones.

[@RobertMerz]

I have more of your favorites planned, so I will try to do my best. Thanks for watching, and for taking the time to leave a comment!

[@evilevilrick]

Beautiful country. Good ride.

[@RobertMerz]

It is, it is! Thanks for watching and leaving a comment Rick. I really appreciate it.

[@DeBa1226]

Hope all is well, and the foot is healing nicely, so you don’t need to cut up any more boots! Lol.

[@RobertMerz]

I have now graduated to two pair of boots, a size 14 for my left and a size 11 for my right. However the latest set back is that I now have pretty severe plantar fasciitis in my right foot, makes me hobble around at my best.

[@DeBa1226]

@@RobertMerz Doggone it…. I remember my dad getting that plantar, and eventually he got a cortisone shot in the bottom of his foot, which was no fun, but it did relieve the pain and got that thing healed up.

[@bertbirge3617]

Great job, loved this

[@RobertMerz]

Thanks Bert. I really appreciate the comment, I hope you find more vids on my channel that you can enjoy.

[@s.s.6219]

Hello Mr. Robert! Thanks for the video, always a pleasure to watch. Waiting for summer over here to travel as well. Have a great weekend! Sofia.

[@RobertMerz]

Well Hello Sofia. I am still getting used to seeing the new KZbin name so I don't recognize you right away. Hope all is well with you and you are working hard at getting your license. Glad you liked the vid. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@garymcduffie7816]

Thank you for making the video

[@RobertMerz]

And thank you for watching, and taking the time to comment!

[@DeBa1226]

Just checking in to see how you’re doing. Hopeful you’re getting some riding in.

[@RobertMerz]

I just got a short ride in yesterday. Hey I really appreciate your checking in with me, Thanks!

[@DeBa1226]

@@RobertMerz atta boy, short rides beat no rides any day of the week! Always love those, no agenda, sometimes don’t even know what direction, just take a sandwich or two, some snacks and water, and ride somewhere quiet to park, have myself a picnic and enjoy nature, just the sound of the breeze thru the trees.

[@7452]

Another great video!

[@RobertMerz]

Thank you very much, so nice to hear that you enjoyed it.

[@DeBa1226]

Wow, i could see myself pulling alongside that river, kill the motor, break out a couple of sandwiches from a cooler in my saddlebag, and just sit on the banks taking in that environment for hours….nothing like riding amongst rivers, lakes and mountains!

[@RobertMerz]

It really is a pretty river both here east of Jasper and also upriver south of Jasper. There are lots of places along it that are really inviting for just sitting and taking it in!

[@DeBa1226]

Keep riding buddy, stay in the saddle. Something surreal, and recharging about getting out to shift gears.

[@RobertMerz]

So true, it just seems to make everything better. Thanks for dropping in and leaving a comment!

[@DeBa1226]

@@RobertMerz been referring your channel out to several riders who love to throw down the miles, who’d appreciate your content like me.

[@jeffbrown5675]

Your Roadliner sounds great. Yamaha built a good bike. Always appreciate your videos.

[@RobertMerz]

Thanks so much Jeff. I really appreciate your watching and your comments.

[@DeBa1226]

Just checking in buddy! Hope you’re doing well, and you’re enjoying some one on one time with the bike!

[@RobertMerz]

Doing alright, just plugging along you know. I still can't get my swollen foot into riding boots, or any regular size boots. I have severely butchered a pair of work boots so that I can wear work boots here, but they aren't waterproof anymore!!! So that being said no bike time yet for a few reasons, foot wear being one of them, then there is muddy road out to the pavement, farmwork to get done first and so on. How is that house building going for you?

[@DeBa1226]

@@RobertMerz Glad you’re still grinding away, you will endure. Getting to the end of my project, finally… you know how things never work according to my timeline, the goal post seems to be always getting pushed out on everything. Stay outdoors, breathe in that fresh air, riding season is early, so you have time to spit shine and tinker on your bike before you start throwing down the miles!

[@DeBa1226]

I think you’re overdue for a long motorcycle ride thru your favorite US destinations and some you’ve yet to go enjoy!

[@RobertMerz]

I am way overdue, but I fear probably not this year.

[@DeBa1226]

@@RobertMerz Just put it on the calendar as a non-negotiable. When the date comes along, gas up and roll.

[@DeBa1226]

A good cat riding from the west coast on an epic road trip, would really appreciate your content, good guy to sub with… Cage Free Moto

[@DeBa1226]

You hanging in there buddy? Got anything overwhelming on your plate? You making plans for a great 2023? Maybe more riding? Thinking about you up there, been going back watching some of your old footage up thru Laramie, WY recently.

[@RobertMerz]

I am hanging in there. As far as overwhelming, well life does that. Immediate plans are to start editing some vids and publishing, and to that end I have been getting things ready for that. A minor setback is I just contracted the virus and have experienced minor symptoms, a cough, and just quite tired. I still have cattle for a few more weeks before we send them down to lower pasture for the winter, so in the meantime I have to feed them daily and cut a hole in the ice to have water for them to drink. Really sorry to hear about Vee. Thanks for introducing me to the channel. I really love Wyoming, hopefully I can get back down that way in the near future. Hey thanks for checking up on me, I really appreciate it.

[@DeBa1226]

@@RobertMerz Good stuff buddy, love to hear you’re staying busy, have some things on your plate and some things to look forward to. Glad your symptoms are mild, you’ll get thru that. Get your rest, eat well, pound that water! You’ll enjoy Mark’s channel too, he puts out some really fun content. Looking forward to your content as well buddy! Glad you’re doing well.

[@AngelFaceMotoRider]

I can see now why you currently have 12,700 subs.! The opening sequence of this video is REMARKABLE.! Goodness "De Ba" sure made a lotta comments, he must be a Big Fan of your content. 🙂 How well do you know "Dead Nought".? Him and I go way back. I asked to meet-up with him back in about 2016 when he used to live in Edmonton. We have crossed paths a couple times since then. I feel he knows me more then anyone else here on youtube. I say this bcz I am glad to see his comment here on your video. I'm a big supporter of the idea that all of us Canadian MotoChannels should work together and support each other, as you probably can tell already.

[@RobertMerz]

The opening sequence has a lot of layers to it, in more ways then one. Editing wise there is 12 video tracks and 5 or 6 audio tracks supplying the final video and storyline there are several new elements combined with references to older videos, the first music that plays is a reference to my first ride videos a piece of music that viewers such as Rich began to know me by. I also drop in my catch phrases right away. Now, did you notice my Dry Rock Studios Title appears, and the truck that goes by on the highway already has my Dry Rock Studios on it as it enters the frame and as it passes the title merges onto the truck's advertising sign? I spent a lot of time making this happen and only one person has mentioned noticing the truck. You are the second person, that I can remember, that has commented on the intro. I try to make my intros special and spend a lot of extra time on them. De Ba is one of my top fans for sure, and he checks in on me from time to time even when I am not producing vids. I really appreciate that, although I have never met him, it makes him a friend that drops in and gives me encouragement. Dead Nought is someone I noticed on YT and follow, and I guess he follows me. I think he is one of those guys (or girls) that tries to show support and return support, for others. I try to do the same. Back to what I mentioned before. You really should consider a hosting position, make your channel about other channels in that way. Promoting, coordinating, etc.

[@AngelFaceMotoRider]

Robert I feel bad that you invest so much effect and skill into your videos and us Viewers get distracted from seeing the amount of work you've invested 😞 I need to go back and reWatch these 3 videos and look for the elements you are highlighting to me. I think you would get along with "Dead Nought". He was a Major in the Air Force and is a Stand-Up kinda Guy. I have lots of respect for him.!

[@RobertMerz]

Not to feel bad. I like the challenge in doing the things I do so I mostly do it for myself. I feel that if I do it well it should appear so smooth and natural that the viewer won't even notice that it isn't anything but real time real world. An example is my audio tracks on the ride videos, so many comments that ask me why I am shifting so often, or how do I get my audio so clear without much wind noise. They really don't realize that all the audio is stripped out and then new audio is dubbed in, and that I am trying to smooth out the video clips with audio that overlaps and conveys a sense of speeding up or slowing down, as well as enforcing the idea of riding a motorcycle. Ghost Lake has lots of audio tricks in it. The wind noise, the waterfall and river sounds, even my voice, is separately recorded and then dubbed in as required to lead the viewer on. Even the mosquitos is dubbed audio, there were lots of bugs, but I wanted to draw extra attention to them with the audio. Speaking of bugs, did you notice the flies buzzing in the Halloween vid? Fresh graves, with fresh corpses, there should be some flies right? I really don't want viewers to think it is all fake, I want them to immerse themselves in the story, in the escapism of it, hence my phrase "lose yourself in the journey". I mentioned these elements because I felt you would appreciate the behind the scenes work involved based on your vid and our conversations prior. And although I want to create something great for the viewer to immerse themselves in without noticing these elements, at the same time I appreciate the recognition when someone does notice the work involved. Sort of a catch 22. Here is a quick look at my constructing a video Christmas card, there are a lot of things going on here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d17LXoONgZ6lr7s and I sort of show a behind the scenes to the viewer. I have not met RT but I believe your assessment of stand up guy. I do try to watch his vids and I always appreciate his comments.

[@AngelFaceMotoRider]

I'm really glad that you are talking the time to explain your video making process to me, cuz when I watched those 3 you suggested, they followed naturally and I didn't pick up all of the different elements and details. Now, I want to go back knowing what you have old me and see if I can spot or hear these things you have highlighted.

[@DeadNought]

great weather and traffic was insanely light. only 2 cars stopped at the wildlife.... I never get that when going through there.... I get too many slow tourists.

[@RobertMerz]

I have an extensive support crew that travel ahead of me clearing the road, scenic pullouts, etc of excess traffic!! But seriously I do a lot of work to keep my videos about the scenery and the road, not the conflict and drama. That work starts with planning the times and days that I record vid considering expected traffic volumes and the angle of the sun. I also practice a lot of defensive driving/riding. I practice good lane placement but also good traffic placement both for safety and for best video results. I don't tailgate. No one wants to see a vid through the Rocky Mountains with most of it showing the back of a transport truck or a motorhome up close (and I can't understand people that drive that way on a scenic road even without even considering the safety aspect, don't they want to watch the views instead of the muddy back doors of a transport?). I also don't put up with tailgaters. It isn't safe and that distracts me from recording video in the style I want (lane placement and speed). Pass or back off! My first step is to use brake lights (only lights not actual braking) to bring to their attention my concern. If the road conditions allow it I will wave them by. If these things don't work I will find a safe place to pull over and get them past. Sometimes I will turn around and refilm a section that I have had excess or problem traffic on. Other times I will wait on the side of the road until I get a hole in the traffic that I like and then I will get back on the road and go again.

[@DeadNought]

@@RobertMerz I do similar things on the Cabot trail - pull aside at a view point and "selectively re-enter traffic".

[@DeBa1226]

How you coming along buddy? Is your riding season over, or are you still able to get some riding in?

[@RobertMerz]

Yes, sadly riding season is over for the year. I did get a couple small rides in to record though, so there will be some news vids, the good lord willing.

[@DeBa1226]

Hey buddy, one of our own in big need. Don’t know if you’re sub’d with Itchymoche n Vee….. great brother in NE Ohio, been giving us great content along time, long time biker, great stories to share. Check out his latest video. His wife’s really been battling brain cancer. Thanks Robert.

[@RobertMerz]

I will head over there right now and have a look.

[@RobertMerz]

Thanks for sending me over to Mark's channel, you are a good friend. He had an update as well since you were last there. Prayers for them both.

[@DeBa1226]

@@RobertMerz Saw the update, appreciated such transparency for all his wife is challenged with, glad you connected with him, like you, he’s a good man. That’s what is so dynamic about our community, it’s like a big Ol’ family, ready to jump in and help a brother. And, like your channel, man I could sit and listen to you both, watch both your content all day long. For me, I love content from guys like you and Mark who have enjoyed a lot of riding over the years, thrown down a ton of miles, and really got out to see the epic landscape all around us. You both really inspire and encourage others thru your rides, your videos, your stories, to stay off the couch, and ride. If you ever see this KZbin interview with Tim Bliss, a pioneer to riding, just type in Lower 48 State Harley ride, I’ve watched that video probably a dozen times. He just spells out riding and the “WHY” we ride so well. I really appreciate guys like you three.

[@marcflaro2011]

Love the videos, next time your in Alberta let me know, would love to ride with you and our Yamahas and a big steak and a bonfire

[@RobertMerz]

Love big steaks and bonfires! Thanks for the offer!