One Of My Favorite Rides

When my brother phoned me up one day and said he was coming for a visit I started thinking PERFECT opportunity to go for a ride. He arrived at my place in Abbotsford B.C. Canada with his freind Larry, and we had a great time rehashing old times.They  were staying for one night and heading to Larry's cabin in Kelowna B.C.Canada the next day. I did'nt have to drop any subtle hints,I was coming along! After all,it was a May long weekend,time to enjoy life and good freinds!

Day 1

   We started from Abbotsford B.C. Saturday morning at 9 oclock.Chris and Larry were driving Larry's suburban and I followed on my loaded  1999 Kawasaki KLR650.So it was about 18` c when we left.A beutiful morning .We started down Highway 1 heading east for the mountains!East of Hope B.C. we headed off down the Kokahala highway .A wonderful,scenic highway with a speed limit of 110kmph  Now .I was familiar with this stretch of road and I knew that in May it would still be cold at the summitt.Glad to have all those extra clothes on,the temp.quickly dropped to -2`c at the toll booth.After stopping to let Andy put on an extra pair of gloves we continued on to Merritt and headed south on the connecter to Kelowna B.C.  Another awesome,scenic highway,we were well on our way to a fantastic weekend!                                                                                                       

Kelowna B.C. is a wonderful place to visit any time of year.Winter time ,the skiing is fantastic,summers are hot and waterskiing on Okanogan.Lake is the thing to do! On the may long weekend,however,Kelowna is inunduated with bikers of all types.I caught up to and passed one hearty soul on an old hardtail Harley about 100 km from Kelowna.The elevation in those mountains is still way up there and it was about 1`c.This fella,keepin to the norm, wore a leather jacket(billowing out like a balloon)a little tiny shell helmet,sunglasses,jeans and leather bike boots.His girlfreind,looking mighty cold and uncomfortable(wearing about the same as the pilot) was vainly trying to keep her hands warm inside said pilots billowing jacket.These two were doing about 80kmph(old bike couldnt go much faster, I think)and when I caught up I had to slow down to check them out.As I passed I couldnt help but notice the glint of sunlight off the ice frozen to the poor guys eyebrows!Needless to say they both looked straight ahead,bravely scoot'in to the undoubtably warmer climate in Kelowna.

About 10 km out of Kelowna we started seeing alot more bikers on the highway.They more than likely had taken the longer(but warmer) route to Kelowna.By the time we were in to town there were literaly 100's of bikers on the road.We manuevered are way through the city and headed east out of town to Larrys cabin which is just off the shore of Kelowna lake.Six &1/2 hrs. later we were cookin on the barbecue and relaxin'with brewski's.

The bro!

Bro and Larry at the cabin!!

Day 2

Waking up on day two,we were greeted to sunshine and 18`weather.Larry promptly declared a "suntan and brewski"day and settled in on the porch on a recliner with beer cooler within easy reach.I couldnt help going for a ride,so I unloaded the bike and set off up the mountain for 2 hrs on fantastic trails.There are old service roads that go for ever and a day up there and I was in heaven.Coming back down from my natural high,I met up with bro and Larry and learned we were all heading for the Falkland stampede.We spent the day there and had a great time,me and bro mostly in the local pub and the beer gardens.Later we headed back to the cabin for more good eats and a good nights sleep.

Bro outside local pub!

Larry and barbeque

Day 3

Starting off the day with a good breakfast is the thing to do!It was another hot summers day with the forecast climbing to 22*c.Around 10:00 I thanked Larry for his great hospitality and loaded up the KLR to head off on my own.Bidding my farewells,I made my way back through Kelowna and headed south an highway #     .The scenery was fantastic and when I got to a little town called Needles B.C.,I had to stop for lunch.The little restaurant was fantastic,boasting the best tasting water I have ever tried!I checked out my map and asked for directions to the forest service road I picked to take me across the mountains.The road I had found turned out to be one of the best rides I have ever expeirienced.After going about 40 miles into the bush,I knew I had to watch out for the road to the right that would take me down the other side.An unusually heavy snowbelt had completely coverd the road(and the sign)and I sailed right past the road without even knowing!Another 20 miles and I knew that I had missed the road.I decided to push on hoping to find an alternate rout.I could see Arrow lake from the top of the mountain and decided to see if I could make it down there and find a campsite.I had been seeing lots of bear scat on the trail,and it was just a matter of time until I had my first encounter with a bear!

I just love signs like these!!!