Day 2 - Cache Creek to Home

After a very refreshing night's rest, we did our t-clocks and added a little air to our tires. We then fueled up at the local Husky station and headed for the first of 3 legs that made up our ride home.

Cache Creek to Logan Lake (71 miles) DH51

Turning off Canada 1 on 97C we headed into Ashcroft where we snagged a photo at the antique fire station



and then got to wait for 2 trans-Canada trains before heading SE on 97C. This was a refreshing twisty ride up to the area of significant copper mining activity at the Highland Valley Copper Mine.




We stopped at a lookout and learned a bit more about the mine and that it's due to be closed by 2019. There were very few vehicles on the road and it was a nice ride on into Logan Lake (with one obligatory TUT).


We took our photos at the mining equipment






and then had a great breakfast at the Logan Lake Lodge. Here's the evidence.





Logan Lake to Merritt (26 miles) DH26

Leaving Logan Lake, it was another twisty ride down 97C to the intersection with BC8. Again there was little traffic and the road surface was wonderful. The vistas were terrific (but aren't they all terrific in BC!)

Lower Nicola to Spences Bridge (34.1 miles) DH 9

This road was a real treat. It had a great twistiness factor and followed near the Nicola River. Once again there was very little traffic. There was elevation gain and loss with a great pavement surface except for several spots that had received water across the road which left gravel and sand on the pavement. (Read that slow down).


At Spences Bridge, I took us across Spences Bridge (a one lane concrete surfaced bridge that's usually just used by the locals). We then recrossed the Thompson River on the new bridge used by Canada 1.

Spences Bridge to Lytton (22 miles) DH 29

This ride down alongside the Thompson River is one of my favorites. There was increased traffic but there were frequent passing lanes. One can really make some time up on this leg which is a 100km road. There is lots of scenery and the river views as well as the mountains are simply very beautiful.







Boston Bar to Yale (25 miles) DH 37

Our last Destination Highway for this trip was the leg on Canada 1 that runs along the Frazier River after it merges with the Thompson River. While the Thompson is relatively clear, but the Frazier is laden with glacial silt. This road is also very twisty and follows right along the river including such places as Hells Gate (we didn't stop), Spuzzum, and 5 tunnels.

I should say that it actually got very warm once again after we left Logan Lake, and we took full advantage of our cooling vests and frequent stops for cooling water.


The rest of the ride down to the Sumas border crossing was pretty much a slab ride with increasing amounts of traffic. Just before the border we took one more opportunity to cool ourselves down in case there was a wait at the border.

There was little wait at the US Border at Sumas, and the border agent was absolutely the friendliest I can recall. He was totally professional but didn't make us feel like criminals for returning to our own country like many of the border agents seem to do.

Back in the US, we decided to forgo the slab and ride down WA9. It was a good choice and a much cooler ride (still in the high 80's and 90's) than I-5. The twisties were nice (but not as nice as BC's) and until we got to Arlington, the traffic was pretty light.

Sisters from Highway 9


At Clearview, we took the opportunity to refill (my low fuel light had been on for a number of miles) and say our goodbyes. This was one of those weekend rides that we didn't want to come to an end. We continued to ride together down WA9 to WA522 and then I-405 south where the Harvey took the Maple Valley exit and we rode it to the end and arrived home around 6:38pm. As we had a meeting concerning our mission trip to Nicaragua, we did a quick unpack, showers, and fresh cool clothing, and we were good to go.

I logged 807 miles over the 2 days and thoroughly enjoyed the time (including the two gully washing drenches). We in Washington have so many great roads, but Canada's roads are a notch better (sort of like the European Alps. But then Alaska takes it many notches even better, but those rides will have to wait for another day.

Tim

Day 1 - Home to Cache Creek

I put out a message to my local Gold Wing riding group that we were interested in doing a ride to Shannon Falls, BC and possibly stay overnight. 4 people answered the call, and we set up the ride. 2 riders (Mike & GaryPaul) would ride with us to Shannon Falls and then head back. Our Chapter Directors, Jeff & Yvonne were game to ride an overnight trip. So, Angela and I met the Harvey's at the Chevron station near RMC, couldn't get fuel there because of a pump reeet that would take 20 minutes, so we fueled at the nearby Shell station. We headed up 405, gathered GP and then rode to Smokey Point where we met Mike Mercier. We were instant tourist magnets with the bikes and trailer. But there was more of that to come.

We crossed the border at the Blaine truck crossing with just a little wait. It was then a nice ride on Canada 1 to BC99 and a stop at Cypress Provincial Park overlook. We had no more than pulled in than Asian tourists were positioning themselves to be photographed in front of the bike, on the bike and we got a real hoot out of our new found notarity. Here's a picture of one family that were especially enamoured.


It was then a short additional ride up to Shannon Falls where we enjoyed a leisurely lunch. Here's a shot from along the water. Note the water color.



Shannon Falls



There was much less water than when I was there on 6/3. Here's a shot from that day:




As to lunch, here's the documentation.







The meals were as good as the last time I ate there on my Hyder trip (http://tbhyder2009.blogspot.com). I had the bangers and mashed potatoes. You can guess what the others ate.



After lunch GP & Mike headed home while the Harvey's and us joined a very long traffic jam headed north. It seems that this weekend is Canada Day and folks are headed north. It took at least 1/2 hour to break the jam. But soon we were cruising along BC99. If you've not ridden this road, you owe it to yourself to do so.

I have a book which documents all the great rides in southern BC (Destination Highways - BC) and it indicated several side roads that I thought would be good to do.

So at Mt. Currie we headed straight instead of turning right to Lilloet (hold that thought). It was a nice 18/23.2 mile ride. What happened in the other 5 miles you ask? We got got in the heaviest torrential rainstorm and got thoroughly drenched. Keep in mind we are wearing vented clothing after riding the day so far in temperatures hitting 95 degrees. That little cloudburst dropped the temperature 30 degrees!

Of course, what good Tim Bowman ride would be complete without herding some cattle?





Arriving at D'Arcy, we pulled into the convenience store/gas station and assessed our situation. My camera was soaked and became pretty inoperable. But here are its last two pictures (RIP, I purchased a Canon SD970 to replace it):



We bantered with some local folks (one fellow could not speak English - only an Indian dialect) and up rides a fellow on a HD cruiser. "Where's the turnoff for Lilloet?" he asks. "23.2 miles back down the road through the rainstorm you just rode through" was my answer. He fired up his bike and headed off.

On the great Alaska trip, we missed that same turn, but we realized it well before 23.2 miles.

Here's a few photos from Angela's camera:





So, we mounted our trusty steeds and headed back for Mt. Currie where we would refuel before heading for Lilloet.


Along the way we re-herded the cattle and took some pictures of a couple cool old structures.





As we finished refueling, we started seeing rain drops and lightning and hearing thunder. Hmmm. Should we proceed? Since we were in rain gear, we discussed the options and decided to go for it, and headed off on BC00 for Lilloet. We didn't get but a few miles when we saw all sorts of limbs on the road, wind gusts and then another blast of torrential downpour. Oh, and did I mention, we're riding through all this on extreme tar snakes and lightning and thunder that's really, really close. Soon the tar snakes give way to the most beautiful pavement (mind you, the rain is still in torrential downpour mode) as we proceed to climb up above 4,000 feet on a very twisty mountain pass road. Oh, and did I mention the number of wooden bridges that had to be crossed? They are all slick when damp!!

The sky starts lightening up (pun entended), but the sun is still obscured by forest fire smoke.






We are riding down this most beautiful canyon and we arrive in Lilloet (which is under siege from forest fire activity). We determine that there is no lodging there, take a break at the city park, and watch the helicopters make pass after pass with their water buckets in order to fight the forest fire.





Leaving Lilloet, we make a wrong turn away from the direct route to Cache Creek, got stopped while an electrical line is installed.




The line gets installed and we do a challenging uturn and soon we're on our way to Cache Creek on a wonderful paved road with little traffic. The temperatures warm up into the 80's and we are once again drying out (except for certain parts that we sit on).





Arriving in Cache Creek, we see that many motels are full, but we score a couple nice rooms at the Knight's Inn at the south end of town after a bad experience at another in the middle of town (very moldy). Across the street is a Chinese buffet. However, there's one problem. They closed at 9pm and we're there at 9:05. Jeff uses his smooth persuasive voice and soon we are seated and eating a sumptuous Chinese feast. Tips were generous tonight.






Tomorrow we'll head home using some back roads that are well regarded in the DH book (I've ridden them before). By the end of this trip we will have ridden on DH3, 4, 13, 9, 29, & 37. Stay tuned for that part of the ride's description. I'll also upload pictures once we get home. So check back.