Hi there,

Also planning my first big ride, but I'm going to go out East instead. However, I've driven Calgary -> GTA before (moving here to take my job), and am a bit familiar with BC and the West.

For more fun, here's a few things I'd suggest:

-Driving to Whistler, I went the back way through Lillooet to Pemberton. It was awesome and pretty unforgettable, and would be a lot more fun. 60 km/hr limit, very quiet, lots of elevation change, sleepy towns... http://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=Kam...&via=1&t=m&z=8

-An alternative from Calgary to Vancouver would also be to go South to the Crowsnest Pass, and then take Highway 3. I've taken it from Calgary to Creston (going to Sasquatch Music Fest '07 in Washington), and it's scenic and curvy: http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?msid=2...6569,86.572266

-Driving out here, I went through the US and then took HWY 2 from Duluth, MN to Flint, MI. It was pretty scenic, and half-decently curvy, and also quite a bit shorter than going through Canada. Manistique to the Mackinaw Bridge was beautiful. http://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=dul...&via=1&t=m&z=8

Just some food for thought.