Motorcycle Adventures

Oh today was fun!

A reasonable rise @ 6:45am, quick shower, and a weather report from my sweetie via crackberry started the day.

The weather was sunny with a bit of cloud. Nothing concerning.

I had some breakfast out my squishy bowls, and a cookie (breakfast of champs), and off I went.

The ride to Balfour was wonderful. We had ridden this road in our previous trips, but it was always cold and rainy. Today it was great.

I got to the ferry terminal almost 50 minutes early. The terminal has several shops to while away the time. It felt like ten minutes and it was time to board.

The Balfour ferry is the longest free ferry ride in the world, serving 9 small towns on east Kootney Lake (Riondel, Kooteney Bay, Crawford Bay, Grey Creek, Boswell, Sanca, Twin Bays, and Wynndel). The towns are connected via a highway on the east side, but the highway is often impassable due to snow, and so the ferries are deemed an essential service.

The ferry is small, with enough room for perhaps 50 cars, and a very small space for passengers, both inside and out. The time between terminals is about 45 minutes.

I enjoyed the ride on deck. Passing the time taking photos for a family with thief malfunctioning camera and keeping the wind from stealing my hat.

The clouds were starting to get a little blumper above, but nothing concerning yet.

I had expected, due to some misleading marketing, that I would encounter community after community of interesting trinket shopping that would compel me not only to stop and drool, but also to involuntarily empty my wallet. Sadly aside from two small places, the first and the last, nothing could have been further from the truth.

These small “towns” were nothing more than a small Ma and Pa corner store, and an adjoining house or two. Maybe they kept the real town hidden somewhere away from those pesky motorcyclists.

Thankfully the drive was well worth the trip alone. Wonderful and curvey, and so perfectly empty! Since almost all the traffic in the area comes via the ferry, and much of that is local, it doesn’t take long for the streets to empty.

The round trip back to Nelson is about 250km, so if you happen to be reading this and plan on the drive, make sure you fill up before you hit the ferry, as gas stations are very few, and often more than 80km apart.

About half way, and before ascending up into the clouds (called The Kooteney SkyWay), there is the wonderful beach. Lockhart Beach Provincial Park. I stopped for a cliff bar (mint chocolate) and a pee, and found myself wandering down a little path to the most wonderful beach. Wonderfully warm sand disappearing into a beautifully clear mountain lake. It was gorgeous.

Now for those that know me, you know that I hate shoes, and any opportunity to be barefoot is rarely missed! So off with the shoes. I had a great relax sitting on the beach, listening to the gentle waves cresting on the sand. I was the only one on the beach! I almost went skinny dipping, but the chances were too high someone would walk by and be offended. Instead I went for a nice walk.

As I carried on I felt energized and peaceful at the same time. The beach does that to me.

The road now quickly climbed to an elevation of almost 6,000 feet. The temp dropped from a warm 26 degrees, to a nippley 14.5.

The views were incredible and if it hadn’t of been so cloudy, they would have been even better. As I went higher the weather continued to get worse. I knew it was only matter of time before I would get wet.

The wildlife warnings amused me. They have signs for every possible animal. Deer crossing, big horn sheep, rhino etc. As though the animals would pay attention to where they were supposed to cross!

It rained on me three times on my way back to Nelson. Though none of these lasted too long.

The mountain eventually wound it’s way back down, and into the town of Creston. This seemed to be a larger town – not as large as Nelson maybe, and lacking any of it’s charm. Large boring buildings, like some typical burb around Vancouver. Disappointing that so few places have the forethought to build a town with character like Nelson.

The ride back from Creston, through Salmo, and back to Nelson was pleasant, though the roads weren’t as curvey as the rest of the route.

I arrived back in Nelson just in time before yet another shower hit. I enjoyed a little relax in my room, and then, to my Red Fish restaurant .

I spent the afternoon barefoot in town, enjoying the contact with the ground. I love how accepting Nelson is. In a town with so many hippies, both original and fresh, walking barefoot in town is hardly unusual. I was great. After it rained the pavement was wet yet wonderfully warm. It felt great on the feet.

After lunch I found a bead store and bought some supplies to make an anklet from white and brown bone and wood beads.

After, I went back to my room for a relax before going out for dinner.

It’s now 8:15pm and I’ve had a wonderful full day.

Tomorrow promises rain, so I’ll find a way to relax somehow I’m sure.