Motorcycle Adventures

Nelson 2009 – Day 4

Today was our day-trip day.

We left around 9am, and rode to the Balfour Ferry, where we took the longest free ferry ride in BC. The crossing is about 35 minutes, and the views are really pleasant.

On the other side of the lake is where the real treasure lies. About 1 minutes from the ferry rests a wonderful and suprising collection of some of the most incredible artists. Glass blowers, broom makers, metal smiths, and weavers.  All have studios here. You can shop for treasures, or talk to the artists themselves. Many of them let you watch while they work. The quality of the work is profound. The weaving in particular was breathtaking.

We spent quite a while enjoying the art, and the carried on down a fun and fabulous twisty highway.

We stopped at a beach. It was the very same one I found last year, for a great lunch and a dip in the water with our toes. It was very relaxing. The water was cool and clear, and the view of the mountains was magnificent.

We continued on the wonderful twisty road. This road is rated as one of the best motorcycle roads in BC. We had a blast riding it down to the end of the lake. Once at the southern end of the lake however, the twists decrease. The road now climbs up into the clouds reaching an elevation of 5800 feet. Although surrounded by incredible views, the road wasn’t as fun to ride as the twists.

All said it was a wonderful and relaxing way to spend the morning.

After returning to Nelson we went to find the shoe store that was closed the previous day and bought Nicole a new pair of Birkenstocks.

We then found a snack on one of the many patios on the main road in town.

After all that hard work we had a relaxing couple of hours back at the hostel before enjoying a nice dinner with Michelle and Eryk at the Red Fish.