trying to see if this will work


https://sites.google.com/site/gsrsoftheworld/home/google-earth-project/GSgooglemap.kmz?attredirects=0&d=1

June 1

Woke up to grey over cast sky's, but no rain. Packed up the bike and headed down the #9 towards home. Hit the I5 for a bit, rough highway. Was nice to get across the border instantly the road condition improved. Back on the good old BC Ferry, a real comfort in its familiarity.


So there she sits in her regular spot. A bit dirtier than when we left, 5'000 more KM's and none worse for wear. Another great adventure. Now where to next!

May 31

Woke up to grey sky's and drizzle, felt right at home. Slow getting started, hit the road around 9am and headed off towards Osoyoss. On the way saw a sign showing Riverbank Rd. border crossing, the road has grass growing up through the cracks, "perfect". After a full search at the crossing I headed down a fantastic road, full of tight curves and scenery the was unserpassed, a real jem of a find. Countless lakes with a fisherman on every corner (must be stocked).

Carried through meandering down the back roads , mostly on #20, staying away from anything that looked remotely like a freeway. Decided the weather was as good as it could get so I would try my hand at the crossing over the Rockies on the #20. Stopped for lunch on the river in and carried through. Again great bike road as you start your climb through dry,pine country twisting and bending. The weather had turned sunny since crossing the border until then. Dawned my rain gear and off I went. Was stuck behind two Harleys, who didn't have rain gear and didn't like the corners so much. Soon found a straight stretch and left them behind. The road platued and then followed through green farm land and brought you into Winthrop a unique old fashioned town, my co-pilot would have loved it. At that point the rain was really falling so parked it and player tourist for a couple of hours. Very scenic little town.

Headed off at 3pm rain gear on. The rain was a light drizzle at it's worst the whole road over. Beautiful mountian views but very short, a couple of hours and you are over and in grass lands once again, if that. Was surrounded by snow on top but it only lasted a few miles and the road was bare.

Remember all those black clouds I missed the other day well they all found me around 6pm....it rain hard. The gear stood up good, my side bags got a little wet only on the bottom, very impressed with everthing. Unfortunately I dropped the bike when I was getting on it at the side of the road, I fell right in the mud. By this time it was 7pm. Amazingly I was able to get her back up on my own, really didn't think I would be able to. I've read how to get a bike back up on your own but I figured mine was over the accesable weight, even after I unloaded it. She started up easily enough but died 10 miles down the road. She was not firing on 1 and 4. Again I was at the end of someone's driveway in a pradicament. I unmounted and stared with intention at her, real mean like, and low and behold she started running on all four again. I did an about face and pulled into a gas station I passed 5 miles back and found out where the heck I was and where the closest Hotel was. 15miles later I was in Sedro-Wolley and drying myself out. Had a hot meal and a couple of beers and called it a night.

May 30

Woke up to frost on the bike but more so my tent fly was soaked, have to dry it out later in the day. The lake looked inviting at 6:30 AM but not that inviting.

Headed down the road early. It's the nicest time to ride early in the morning, hardly anyone on the road, the light is perfect, a bit cold but nothing extra clothes can't cure. Found the most layed back place to have breakfast, in the middle of ranch country.

Even the horse are layed back.

The scenery again in beautiful, it's one thing on the bike you don't get to look as much but I find myself pulling over alot, good thing my co-pilot isn't with me that would have drove her nuts. Stopped in Williams lake for a huge car show, everything from 1914 to brand new vipers. Very hot in town, my first sun burn.

As I head out of town I was again reminded how proud I am to be Canadian.
Headed down to Cache Creek and turned left across the #97 to Kamloops and the #5a a fantastic road to ride, full of curves, hills and scenery

Today has been the first day of rain. I geared up once but didn't get wet much, actually I was very lucky, I kept looking at these black looming clouded and drove over asphalt that was wet but never got down poured myself, it's as if the clouded parted as I came, ha,ha.

Continued down the 5a once I left Merrit.
Oh and as a note to others, the #5 is not the #5a, realized that 1/2 hour down the Coquihalla. The 5a from Merrit to Princeton was prettier than the other. The corners became tighter and the scenery became more majestic, truly a bikers highway.


Pulled into Princeton around 6pm and exhausted. My whole body is buzzing. Grabbed a hotel for $50 and showered up (and remembered about my went tenting gear). Not sure what tomorrows going to bring, will find out at the end of the day.

May 29

The ride into Dawson Creek was bright sunshine and grain towers. I had to laugh though, as soon as you crossed into BC again the highway narrowed a bit and started to have curve. Decided to detour into Tumbler Ridge, real nice road in full of valleys and green space. Unfortunately the town is a sad reality of the declining mining industry. Once back on track and down the 97 I saw some of the nicest roads and views I've seen yet. It's a beautiful highway and would recomend the trip if you ever get the chance. Lots of wild life, a mother black bear and her cub (didn't turn back to photo that one) and then a very large male which I felt safe enough taking a photo as the foreign tourist who stopped in front of me felt brave enough to cross the road (would eat him first giving me time to get away). Prince George hasn`t seemed to change much, a few more box stores but basically still a bit of a dust bowl. Headed south and camped just North of Quesnel.

Isn't it though?

May 29

Slept like a log last night. It's amazing how tiring riding can be considering you're only sitting the whole time. Watched a movie on my son's Blue Ray with, surround sound, 8 speakers I think. Took a ride around for a couple of hours, in what I think was a perfect square.

Not much to see around town, lots of box stores and industrial equipment. Stopped at the local Suzuki shop. They didn't seem to have any parts for my 79' and the fact that it wasn't a quad made it again not seem to fit in. Had to laugh, the Suzuki and Yamaha shops were small and old but the Harley shop, it looked like another box store. Went out the the "rig", very impressive and now I'm even more nervous about where he works.



It's about 110 ft high and he spends most of his time on the platform halfway up connecting pipe. It's one heck of a tough job and I give him a world of respect for doing it.

On the way home it was a beautiful sight.
Tomorrow I was planning on heading back down the Rockies to Banff but due to temperatures of 6 Celsius as a high and snow in the forecast I'm heading north, up and around to Prince George via Dawson Creek on the #43 and #97. Should be fun.