Hudson's Hope

Overcast clouds rain sprinkles and fog at Taylor bridge had us pull off into Fort St. John for a drive around and coffee stop. Gayle wanted the sunshine promised for the day on TV to materialize before taking one of the most beautiful rides of the whole tour. We fell in love with this Peace River valley back in June 1978 when we first came into this area to work for BC Hydro as Protection & Control Techt.

Now it was Aug.15, 2013 and the weather did clear as we rode up this majestic valley stopping many times to gaze in renewed wonderment at the river I canoed so often and the valley I drove so often those many years ago. For anyone who enjoys nature and the beauty of a river valley this ride\drive will be jaw dropping! 

                                       Looking south east at Bear Flats.

                                                     Looking west at Bear Flats

                                                 Tourist pullout farther up river.

    As you can see, some are not fond of BC Hydro's plan to build a third dam on the Peace!

    You will get both pro and con views depending on who you engage in conversation.

                                     Looking down river near Ardill's Ranch

We were on the lookout for deer on this entire ride because Nicholas and I saw quite a few here in the valley on our 2010 tour. Also our friend Markus had a deer hit while riding home on his motorcycle just before we met him on that trip. He and his Yamaha Teneré were the big losers.

We took a ride around town checking for changes, Gayle had not been here since 1987. Next we dropped in on old friends Arlene and Sam Kosolowsky. After promising to return the next evening for supper we looked in on Lenore and Wally Harwood just down the street. Had a great finish to the afternoon chatting about all sorts of HH topics and accepted their invitation to supper. We went to check into the Sigma Motel, while Wally worked his magic in the kitchen. The evening temperature after supper allowed us to sit out for extended conversation catching up on their lives and those of their children's. Still amazing to me that they all have children of their own! Where does the time go??

                           Harwood's veranda on the bank of the Peace River

Grasshopper pie was a great way to end a fantastic return to HH. Thanks so much for making us feel so welcomed after so many years. Back to the motel for a good night's  sleep.

The next morning I hit the road for the first run in weeks. I was going to retrace a run that I used to do as training in the fall prior to hockey season here in HH, but found one of the highway access roads is now closed and gated by a farmer. So instead I just ran out towards the Glen and returned via the Arena and Dudley streets through town. Deja vu! I was out early enough to see deer in several places around town.

I then took a ride to check out Peace Canyon Dam and when I returned to town I went to see Wally to get some WD40 to spray a squeeky front suspension pivot. Lenore told me that Gerry and Ida Sauraeur had returned her phone call of yesterday (telling them we were now in town) so I decided to ride out to their place only to find their place empty. Later Lenore surmised that they may have gone to Fort St.John for the day. Another missed opportunity on my part!

Back at the motel Gayle was ready to go for another trip down memory lane. We asked to have St. Peter's church opened so that we could have a look around. Church services are still held here but sporadically we are told. We found our names in the Vestery Book, as we used to take services on Sunday when our Anglican priest Dorothy Daly couldn't make it in from Cheywynd. Many fond memories of our church involvement and community centered around this little log building, (circa 1935)

We had made plans to meet Franzi, Markus Zwygart and their children Naomi and Sami for lunch at the WAC Bennett Dam tourist centre cafe, so were surprised to find Markus in the museum parking lot, when we left the church. It was so good to see his smiling face and hear that he is doing much better physically than when I last saw him in 2010. Back then he was limping quite badly and had one arm in a sling, as he was just beginning to convalesce  after his motorcycle crash with a mule deer.

                                                  Markus,Sami and Naomi

We went to the cafe at the WAC Bennett dam where we met markus's wife Franzi, and children Naomi and Sami for lunch. Afterwards Markus took the opportunity to try out the K1600GTL. First with Naomi and then with Franzi. First time on a highway bike since 2010! The grin on his face when he took the helmet off said it all. What biker would not enjoy the opporunity to ride such a wonderful machine?

                              Markus and daughter Naomi two up, ready to ride.

                                                            Now it's Franzi's turn.

                      These boots are made for riding protection, so that is what I'll wear!

Gayle and I then took the opportunity to ride across the Bennett dam before dropping in to see Bonnie Pringle at work at GMS and of course take a picture in front of her office at the powerhouse enterance.

Off again to drop in to visit Franzi, Markus and the children at their home and enjoy a tour of their house renovations completed upstairs and down. Then we enjoyed rhubarb juice and chocolate chip cookies, before our supper date no less. Talk about being treated well and made to feel special. So happy to have made this reconnect and yet hard to say another goodbye.

               Thanks Franzi for taking the photo

A quick dash into town to Sam and Arlene's to enjoy their company and great food( prepared by Sam , assisted by Arlene) and the company of Lenore and Wally for the evening. When we mentioned that we wanted to step out to a local park to meet Bonnie and Doug Pringle's grand children, Sam said "ask them over for ice cream." So a few minutes later the house was filled with more chatter and laughter as we reacquainted with Doug and met their son in law Coleman's children Penelope and Thatcher.

                    Gayle, Penelope and Bonnie

      Thatcher, Doug, Arlene (hostess) and Coleman

      Coleman, Thatcher and Grandpa Doug Pringle

         Grandma Bonnie Pringle and Penelope

        Wally Harwood, Sam Kosolowsky (host and chef) Thatcher on  the run and Gayle

The old folks were wondering why all the energy seemed to be with the youngsters. This relaxing get together ended our last night in Hudson's Hope. A great way to finish off our time in British Columbia.

 

Thank you friends for showing us such a good time!

BC Interior on the fly

We enjoyed a relaxing ferry crossing on Sunday morning to Horseshoe Bay and were the 4th bike off the boat and headed up the Sea to Sky hwy.#99 to Whistler. I should have told Gayle to hang on because this is one fun road to ride. Often multilane with many places to pass and we did not see one police vehicle until arriving in Whistler. Anyone who owns a motorcycle in Canada deserves to ride this road at least once. From sport to cruiser to touring we all had a great time this morning! Nobody goes the speed limit on this section of black top! Whoo hoo!

We stopped in Whistler and went to the tourist centre to use the phone to contact Greg Dziedzic, a friend who still works for BC Hydro; but got no answer on several attempts so we decided that he and Diane must be out or away for the weekend. Darn. ( found out on a subsequent e-mail that Greg must have been in the garage and didn't hear the phone when I called) So close.

We stopped in Lillooet for a late lunch at the same place that Nicholas and I ate at on Aug 12th, 2010 as we headed the other way from Marble Canyon Provincial Park to Vancouver. The day was heating up so we ducked into Cache Creek DQ for a Blizzard, before blasting our way over the Trans Canada #1 to Kamloops.

Aug. 12th we rode hwy #5 around Wells Grey Park with the Columbia, Cariboo and Rocky Mountain ranges in sight all day. We followed the Thompson and Fraser river valleys, just another beautiful area of BC.

   Temperature changes means change in clothing strategy! Thompson River in the background.

A gas stop in Valemont gave me an opportunity to chat with this "poplar wood" carver. Roughs out with a chain saw then finishes using a "crooked knife"

                                                                        

                                                                  

    

        

We took a two night lay over in Prince George to allow us to get a better sleep, do laundry and had a quick but enjoyable visit with Rhonda and Jim Loose. Can you believe I didn't pull out my camera for a photo op with them? Nicholas and I stayed at their home in 2010, but we missed seeing Jim at that time. It was a real treat for me to finally have a face to face for the first time since 1985. Jim was instrumental in me getting a job with BC Hydro in HH back in 1978. I hope they come to visit us in NB sometime. It would be fun to be a tour guide in our home province.

The next day was an easy ride from Prince George to Dawson Creek with stops at some old familiar haunts along the much improved John Hart Hwy.# 97.

                                                             

                                                                

        Stellar's Jays always scavaging for goodies.

One of the best views just east of the Pine Pass (933m) on the John Hart hwy. #97. I have thought of hiking these ridgelines for 35 years, so of course had to stop for yet another longing look. We chatted here with a couple from Washington state who were going to Alaska riding a BMW 1200GS and an F650GS. 

Chetwynd seemed hardly changed since 1985, at least on the view from the bike ride through and around the "downtown". Slight overcast skies made for a great finish to the ride to Mile 0 on the Alaska Highway. Dawson Creek.

                      An American lady from a tour bus obliged us with this photo op.

                                                                           

After checking into the motel, several riders on BMW F800GS bikes from Mexico rode up. I took the opportunity to chat with them in the motel laundry room later in the evening. They were from Mexico City and headed to Purdue Bay, Alaska before heading south, then across North America. They were going to Nova Scotia to do the Cabot Trail before going to Florida on the way home. (their plan is to do the "Four Corners". Ernesto Acevedo will then continue on to the circumnavigation of the South American continent. He will be on the road for 8 months! His riding partner on this three month section of the ride is a business partner and they are being "sponsored" by BMW Motorrad Mexico. Now that is truly an adventure ride. They own a motorcycle touring company that has 5 other "pilots" besides Ernesto. Check out their Facebook page at MotoquestMX.

   Sweet way to make a living me thinks! [ If your wife would also agree :) ]

 Tomorrow we ride north and west to Hudson's Hope.

                                

             

Vancouver Island........ a world of it's own

We thought we were the only bike on Texada because we never saw any others while there. So where did all the Harley's come from?......... Turns out it was a club ride out of Victoria returning to the Sunshine Coast for a ride south to Vancouver then home.

We chatted with single Harley rider from Saltspring Island as we boarded the ferry to Comox from Powell River and ended up following him down island on hwy #19A when we landed at Little River ferry terminal.

There were many tourists filling the small towns and villages as the afternoon sun warmed up the day, making the riding a little slower than one wants to be moving out in the heat!

Following our friend Doug's instructions, we rode Herd Road into an area of Duncan to arrive for a stay with Charlotte  and Doug Bemister. We spent the remainder of the day eating and catching up on the many years since we had all spent in Hudson's Hope, in the late 70's and early 80's. They are both retired from BC Hydro now and left the Vancouver area for the slower pace of Duncan and life on another island. (Doug is originally from St.Johns)

Doug has a good looking early 80's Honda Gold Wing that he keeps in great working order and continues to do day trips one and two up. (He tells me it's touring days are over. Hard to believe when you see it!) He accompanied me into Island BMW the next morning, so that Taylor Yakubowich could take a look at a coolant leak I noticed several days before. (Several drops, enough to leave a 

trace on the ground after a days ride.) Taylor told me to come back of Friday Aug. 9th and they would replace the water pump. Doug took the lead on the ride home and we took the coastal secondary roads to enjoy the slower pace through places like Mill Bay and Cowichan Bay.

We picked up the ladies who had zipped around Duncan in the Bemister "quad" a Mazda MX-5 with the top down, checking out the downtown area, and took an air conditioned Dodge van for a farther afield tour of this island paradise. A stop for" Island Farms" ice cream was enjoyed by all before returning home and yet another great supper!

The next morning (Aug. 7th) Gayle and I rode into downtown Duncan so that she could get a hair cut\colour and the bike got a thorough pressure wash cleaning not simply a wet wipe down! I took the remainder of my wait time to relax in the park of the "City of Totems" near the downtown museum.

The remainder of this day was spent talking about everything under the sun. Relaxing in the company of friends before and after the supper which we drove to, to enjoy the waterfront deck of a pub in Maple Bay.

Aug. 8th saw us pack up the bikes for the "long way round" into Victoria. Doug and Charlotte agreed to ride the day with us which pleased us to no end!

      Mounting up in the sunshine and leaving Tamara the cat behind.

This would be the first time on the trip that we spent the day riding with someone else! We enjoyed it immensely. We took hwy. #18  past Lake Cowichan heading to the Pacific coast near Port Renfrew. I noticed a tourist sign indicating the Harris Spruce was nearby so I pulled off to take a look. We were all amazed with the girth of the GIANT tree. It is reported to have a diameter of 13' and be over 80 metres tall.

   The fence was installed to protect the tree's root system.

The frame behind Doug was empty.....I was hoping to find some "tree facts" there! The Harris Creek Sitka Spruce is inside the fence, not the one behind "the tourists".

On we rode on this "seal coat" or "chip sealed" highway until we once again found pavement as we passed Port Refrew. The highway turns into #14 and runs to the capital city of BC.

      A stop to check out the Pacific breeze near Sooke. Check out that classic Honda Gold Wing!

      Very good colour choice if I do say so. I was with Doug the day he saw this bike in the Dawson       Creek shop window, many moons ago. Doug was riding a Honda CB450 back then and I was riding my 1974 Honda CB550K.

Doug and I switched passengers, so I could try and "spoil" Charlotte by riding a ways on a newer touring machine. Doug was reluctant to swap bikes outright for part of the ride. [ I think he was afraid of liking the experience too much:) :) ]

After a cove side deck lunch break at a place that Char remembered near Sooke we were off again. When we got closer to Victoria Doug took the lead and acted as tour guide. He took us through downtown and the inner harbour jammed packed with tourists and we stopped to check out Fisherman's Wharf and decide where to ride next. We decided on following the coast line around Victoria and out to Saanich. Wow are there ever some nice homes in this area! Lotto tickets anyone??

There is a lot of traffic in Juan De Fuca Strait. That is Washington state in the distance. It will have to wait till next time!

We continted to ride the coast to Cordova Bay till Doug pulled over to ask us wether we were going to call an end to the tour and find a room for the night. I pulled over on the left side of his bike and discovered I was too close when my right rear pannier protection bar clipped the rear of the Honda's left pannier rear. This is no way to end a wonderful day with friends! (When he checked for damage when he got home Doug advised me that he was shipping the bike back to Japan for a factory paint job and will send me the bill for my share!) Please accept my apologies again for my clumsiness.

We said our goodbyes so that they could get home and we found a motel close to Island BMW.

The next morning I took the bike into the dealer to have a new water pump installed and 2.5 hours later we were ready to roll. I was pleased with the service and the conversations with the staff and fellow riders. We went back down to Trans Canada Mile 0 for a photo op then crawled out of town in bumper to bumper traffic. Yawn, yawn.

      There is that Biker Chick again.......she keeps getting on this machine day after day!

     How would you like to cross Canada?

    Still amazed by what Terry did all these years later!

We made it to Port Alberni for the night and were lucky to find a room because my attempt at booking a room on-line mis-qued, confirming a room for a week away! Not so good! But it all turned out for the best. August 10 saw us ride out to Tofino, Long Beach and Ucluelet for the day and back to Nanaimo to finish off our Island tour. A fun week it was.

Just as I got off the bike to take this picture a black bear came out of the bushes (just to the right of Gayle's right shoulder) Her shout or was it scream of surprise scared it off! I didn't scream, I calmly and quietly said "oh, bear, bear, bear, bear, bear." Yes, I scared him, but not as much as he scared me! That's why I'm still on the bike.  :)

     Parking on the the dock with the "No Parking" sign posted..... for a photo op in Tofino.

                                                        "REBELS-R-US"

       Surfers playing at Long Beach, Vancouver Island.

      Did I mention that it is always windy here? (we were here last in the summer of 1973)

        I claim this log as mine!

We took the second ferry of the day (6:30am is just too early) from Departure Bay (Nanaimo) to Horseshoe Bay (West Vancouver) on Sunday morning. Again bikers loaded first after we had a chance to chat with fellow bikers as we waited to load.

Doug a retired father on a 79 Honda Gold Wing and his son Brad, a school teacher, on a 2013 Yamaha Stryker came up behind us and were travelling home to Edmonton. And behind them came a couple from San Diego. He was on a Harley Road King towing a Bushtec trailer and she was on a Harley Sturgis. They were on the way across Canada to Maine before returning home. Then came three younger guys from Oregon. One had a Triumph Tiger 955i duo-sport, one had a BMW R1200RT and the other on a Kawasaki Concours 14.

In this first shot you will notice a variety of Harley's who loaded in front of us. They were all from the island and were off for several days each.

If you look closely, you can see the last bike to load was a Kawasaki KLR650

There are two sets of golf clubs in here! Tough way to vacation. Everything was  protected in a trailer with air assist suspension!

This should be our last ferry ride for awhile. Goodbye Vancouver Island.