Today, I make it to Kelowna and the end of Leg 1. How fast time flies when you are having fun.
I get up at 5:45 and start packing but reflection has revealed the morning routine bottle neck is the eat/dump shower routine since I can’t pack the eye drops until after the shower and the toiletries back until drops are done. I generate a temporary solution to that problem and all the bags are packed quickly. Steve is no where to be seen (turns out he had already dumped his old oil at a gas station disposal site. He drops by as I am almost finished loading the bags and we head out for coffee and I have a Tim’s egg sausage meal. Another lengthy conversation on business, politics and motorcycling and we end up with a later start. I load the last bags and sweep the room and he’s had his shower/dump and is putting on his helmet while I’m strapping down my sandals. Darn, I can’t go fast.
We fill with gas and I am relieved that even with the mountain runs, the lack of wind allows the computer to announce we can now go 530km on the full tank. The morning is cool and Steve stops to put on a sweater. I have a panic attack because find my phone app reports my iPad is back in Cranbrook. I turn around but then remember putting it in the top case. I pull over and check - sure enough, it’s where it should be - darn technology.
Coffee stop is at Tims in Creston and accompanied by another long chat. It’s getting hot and Steve’s sweater comes off. The charted route stays west on Highway 3 but 3A offers an exceptionally scenic loop. If I had more time/ energy that would be the choice, but today Kelowna fast is the target.
The next stop is just past the top of Nancey Green park. Steve needs to reduce heat so he switches to tank top. Lots of bikes on this stretch and we hear one bike blasting his horn, turn around and there are three deer crossing the road. Wild life encounter number 2. We chat for half an hour and now I’m antsy to get on the road. His ride ends at Grand Forks so we say our good byes. The ride in this area is excellent and the view of the cliff road Christina lake is what makes trips like this worth while.
The last stretch of road is Highway 33, a 123km stretch of remote mountain highway at altitude. There very few vehicles, few straight sections and steep mountains on each side. I’m eager to end the ride and say hello to Jonathan but this is a fitting way to end the ride. The final sections is Big White ski resort which has a steep descent and lots of curves. Half way down, behind a blind bend, a brain surgeon decided to park his pickup and trailer so that the trailer crossed the middle of the right hand lane - no cones or warnings above the curve. The car in front of me swerves and I react to it’s brake lights. Fortunately, there was no opposing traffic. A bike going hot through those corners would have clipped the trailer.
Julie texted Jonathan’s address and we unloaded the bike. Nice to see him again. He has a great location with a pool but no transportation and he’s way out of town. We go for pizza that is in the condominium grounds, walk about parts of the golf course - Quail Run. It’s a good course with a $150 greens fee.
I’m tired so off to bed early. Tomorrow, seriously look at reducing gear for the Inuvik run. I weigh the gear and have 180lbs of stuff. While that’s well within the weight rating for the bike, the top heavy weight will not be good on the dirt roads.
Got a text from Jeff - he and CiPi are on the road. They have two long days of driving ahead of them, arriving on Tuesday. My tire appointment is at 9am Wednesday and I hope to be on the road by early afternoon.
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