Pic Heavy Ride Report - MS to Bella Coola & Back 11,000 Miles Heat, Hail & Bears

[Gorilla]

Very nice, I bet your glad to have seen the bear. A memory you will never forget.

[DK Custom Products]

Very nice, I bet your glad to have seen the bear. A memory you will never forget.

You are correct on both points!


Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

Out on Nimpo Lake-


I apologize for the delay in posting.


After we got checked back into the cabin, we rented one of the little boats at the dock below the cabin.


Leaving the dock-






Heading out, Mary is pretty happy...She likes riding, but I think getting out on a boat is a close second.






Sorta different than a bike, but this one is still a matter of twisting the grip to get to full throttle. lol







This next link, you can click on it to watch a 13 second video of how speedy this was.


http://vid1088.photobucket.com/album...pswx7d6owm.mp4







We got to the other side and drifted a bit. Mary was clicking away!







A beavers "bank lodge". Yeah I had to look it up on google to see what a beaver's house is called.






Not far from there we tied up to a tree that was overhanging the lakes edge. Had some lunch...







...and enjoyed the view. This next pic is a panoramic, might look better if you click on it.










While there are some houses along the shoreline, it is only in a few spots. There are miles and miles of shoreline like this.





More in next post.

[DK Custom Products]

Nimpo Lake continued.


Mary taking a pic....







...of me taking a pic of her.







She is really happy out on the water.







This is a large lake, we followed less than half the shoreline. Here we are cutting across, heading back to the cabin. This panoramic is not capturing 1/10th of the lake.







Putting along. Those snow/glacier covered mountains in the background probably have something to do with the water being so cold.






Almost back at the cabin.







Back at the dock.





Today was a "red-letter" day. Fantastic, crazy, fun road, grizzly bear, and on a boat out on the lake....an early birthday present for Mary.

Tomorrow is her birthday, and we'll be on the road to Cache Creek.


Kevin

[DblTrbl]

Happy Birthday Mary!!! Couldn't ask for a better birthday gift!!

[Ed Hobgood]

Happy birthday Mary, I've enjoyed the post you guys are doing and the bear on the road was great. I thought it was great seeing black bear in Yellowstone but a big grizzly, well I might of had to change my pants. Have a safe trip and enjoy your day.

[Mikem@occally]

Very nice enjoyed the Video and all the pic and stories Thank you stay well and please keep posting..

[Gorilla]

Happy Birthday Mary

[DK Custom Products]

Happy Birthday Mary!!! Couldn't ask for a better birthday gift!!

Happy birthday Mary, I've enjoyed the post you guys are doing and the bear on the road was great. I thought it was great seeing black bear in Yellowstone but a big grizzly, well I might of had to change my pants. Have a safe trip and enjoy your day.

Very nice enjoyed the Video and all the pic and stories Thank you stay well and please keep posting..

Happy Birthday Mary

Mary's not a forum person...but I passed on your wishes, she says thank you!!!

It was definitely a great day of making memories!

[DK Custom Products]

Day 26


Today we re-traced our route from Nimpo, thru "no-mans land", back to Williams Lake and then on past 100 Mile House and down into Cache Creek.


Leaving out of Nimpo Lake. BC is just filled with amazing countryside...and today was a great cloud picture taking day for Mary also.






Back on the road where there is no center line...not really wide enough for one, but it is a fun road for sure!






From our ride out here, there is very little traffic, and we did not see in LEO's, so I'm wanting to get to Cache Creek early for a nice Bday dinner for Mary.

Mary in the mirror.







The road is a bit wider, but still a ton of fun!







I had been hitting it pretty hard all the way up to Lee's Corner...but I always slow down before topping a hill, never know if there is something in the road on the other side.

Well, this wasn't right on the other side of the hilltop, but I did see the first Police Checkpoint in all our travels in Canada...right about 1/2 mile down the road. Right at Lee's Corner.

They were stopping everybody, checking license, registration, insurance. We got to talking with the Officer that stopped us. He rides, and hopes some day to tour the USA.






Long Sweeping Switchback=More Fun!






Great pic Mary took of the sky, mountains, river, bridge....we are getting close to Williams Lake.






Passed this Log Cabin Building Plant in Williams Lake.




More in next post.

[DK Custom Products]

Day 26 continued.



We stopped for lunch at a rest area in 108 Mile Ranch. The picnic area was right at the Historical Heritage Site.





Soon after getting past 100 Mile House we saw the fastest speed limit sign yet in Canada. 110 km...66 mph.






It did not last long, reckon it was there just because there was a long 4 lane, straight stretch for a while.






I know I've said it a bunch of times....






...British Columbia is an amazing place...big country!






Up until now, we've been in areas that are a bit cooler, and lots of trees and water...






...but now, as we drop down toward Cache Creek, there is a pretty radical change in a short period of time....






...It gets significantly warmer, much drier, less vegetation, and very dusty.






The camera battery wore out 10 minutes before getting into Cache Creek, but we have been this way before (a couple of years ago), it is where you can take a turn off and get to the "Sea to Sky Highway".


This is where we stayed in Cache Creek. Bear Claw Lodge. Air Conditioned room and a nice restaurant for Mary's bday dinner.





Tomorrow we're headed to the border town of Grand Forks, CN!

[DK Custom Products]

Day 27-

Another fantastic day of riding in Beautiful British Columbia, Canada!!!


Today Mary took a bit over 600 pics, I have the first 20 picked out and will conclude with another 20 tomorrow.


Leaving out of Cache Creek. This is the second time we've stayed in this town, first time at Bear Claw Lodge. I think next time we are in CC we will stay here again.






A bit outside of Cache Creek, reminds me of high desert. We have only been in a bit of Alberta, but we've seen a good deal of BC, and this area is quite different than the rest of BC.






But soon we are back where there is an abundance of water and trees. Fun road along Kamloops Lake.






We're taking the 97 toward Vernon, after that the 33 thru Beaverdell, all the way to Kettle Valley, then the 3 to Grand Forks. Not the fastest way, but definitely includes a lot of Canadian 2 lane country riding!






Looking back toward Kamloops.






Lots of logging in these parts. I don't ride behind, or beside, 18 wheelers any longer than absolutely necessary, these 30 wheelers are even more avoided!





Beautiful Countryside with....






...lots of trees and water...






...topped off by fun winding roads!







Too soon we are in Vernon, used the GPS to get us to a Subway. Passed this very cool Rat Rust Salvage truck on the way.








More in next post.

[DK Custom Products]

Day 27 continued-


Last night we ate out for Mary's Bday dinner, so we did no shopping. So today is lunch at Subway in Vernon!






Leaving out of Vernon we rode beside the Emerald Green Kalamalka Lake for a while.






Almost right away we are in Kelowna. We stopped at the HD Dealership for...






...Gloves!






Mary discovered these 6 or 7 years ago. They are perfect for her in warm weather, and for her picture taking. Even in cold weather she wears a gauntlet glove on her left hand and one of these along with a wool glove on her right hand for picture taking.

She's tried others, but always goes back to these. I think this is her 3rd pair.






Out of Kelowna...






...we start getting into some seriously fun roads!






There is little to no traffic...






...and curve after curve.






The TG just eats it up!





Day 27 to be continued.

Kevin

[Trent]

You look like you are in a mouth breathing stupor at the Subway..!! Too many choices? Lights too bright? Jared was there and winked at you? Mary slipped some Vodka into that water bottle? Hope you were ok..!

[DK Custom Products]

You look like you are in a mouth breathing stupor at the Subway..!! Too many choices? Lights too bright? Jared was there and winked at you? Mary slipped some Vodka into that water bottle? Hope you were ok..!

ROFL

I have no idea what I was thinking/doing. Maybe I was in shock...we saw more people/cars/signal lights in Vernon that we had in all the previous days in Canada combined. lol

Kevin

[Papa Zook]

You look like you are in a mouth breathing stupor at the Subway..!! Too many choices? Lights too bright? Jared was there and winked at you? Mary slipped some Vodka into that water bottle? Hope you were ok..!

It's no wonder....He's exhausted from toting that 3 gallon container of water. Look at the size of that sucker!!!

[Trent]

Hmmm... Must be a water bottle from Costco!!! Maybe he is zoned out from having to stop and pee every 10 minutes after emptying out that sucker!!! Better start a new thread on the best place to mount a 3 gallon water jug. !!

[Papa Zook]

Glad we can have a little fun with Kevin, he's one of the best.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Glad we can have a little fun with Kevin, he's one of the best.

+1 Both him and Mary, Lots of fun to be with and lots of knowledge to share

[jaxbobg]

Glad we can have a little fun with Kevin, he's one of the best.

+5