Picto Diary - 18 June 2017 - Reroute Decision

Smithers, BC to Quesnel, BC. 270 miles. 18 June 2017

Animal sightings an route: Mama black bear and two cubs, my side of the road, one deer.

It had been my intent to not retrace my steps down the Gold Rush Highway (BC 97) that I had used to ride north to Prince George from Kamloops back on 05 June 2017. I would ride southeast on the Yellowhead (BC 16) past Jasper, BC trying to make Lake Louise, BC for the evening.

Ten years ago, riding with Elk and Joe, I had come on that route from the other direction. We had ridden past Smithers to our ultimate destination on that ride, Hyder, AK.

On an earlier ride, with Mr. Z3, I had stayed at the Post Hotel in Lake Louise. The Post Hotel is a great hotel and I wanted to see if it had held its standard since I had last visited.

I thought I had lost my wedding ring at the Post Hotel. I left it on a dresser (shouldn't have done this) before going out to dinner with Mr. Z3. I forgot about it until the next morning shortly before our departure. The ring wasn't where I had placed it. I couldn't find it after a more thorough search of the room. I gave the Hotel manager my contact information and asked him to notify me if my ring turned up. I didn't make any accusations. Three days later, as we were riding into John Day, OR, I heard my cell phone ring. It was the manager of the Post Hotel in Lake Louise, BC telling me that my ring had been found.

Earp wanted to get back to Walla Walla ASAP and the fastest way would be to get back would be to take the Gold Rush Highway, BC 97. So, we decided to split up. Earp was up and dressed at 6:00 AM. It was one thousand miles to Walla Walla. Considering his eagerness to depart, I excused him from breakfast and off he went. I wouldn't put it past him to do the thousand miles in one day.

My longest day ride was ten years ago. I rode from Monterey, CA to Park City, UT. 900 miles. I left Monterey at 5:00 AM and arrived in Park City at 9:30 PM. I was liberal with breaks. I stopped for a look at El Capitan at Yosemite and took a half hour lunch break at Tonapah, NV (US 6).

A talk at breakfast (Prestige Hudson Bay Hotel) with a Montana couple riding a BMW R1200 GS caused me to rethink my riding plans for the day. "Are you sure you want to ride down Lake Louise/Banff way? they said. "Its terribly crowded down there. That's the way we rode up."

Their suggestion made sense. Banff/Lake Louise is one of Canada's top vacation spots. It stood to reason that it would be crowded. I didn't want the hassle after over two weeks of almost daily motorcycle riding. I had horse-to-the-barn urge to get home anyway.

So, I decided to retrace my steps. I'd take BC 97 to... where? Williams Lake would be about 400 miles. Kamloops would be over 500 miles. Either one doable.

But, then I remembered.... Barkerville.

On 05 June 2017, on the way north, I was standing on the banks of the near overflowing Thompson River in Kamloops. I started up a conversation with another onlooker. He was a fifty something tourist from Vancouver, also fascinated by the high water.

After hearing about my itinerary going north, he said, "you should go to Barkerville. Its the center of the 1868 Fraser River gold rush. Its one of Canada's top tourist attractions.

I wouldn't have time to stop at Barkerville that day on my way north to Prince George. Getting to Barkerville required a fifty mile ride east from BC 97 at Quesnel... and back. A trip to Barkerville would require a four or five our deviation, minimum.

That's it. I would go to Quesnel (a timber town, 270 miles distant) for the evening, see Barkerville the next day, and then, ride on to spend the next evening at Kamloops. I could already taste the paneer curry that I would get at Nandi's in Kamloops.

But, first Quesnel and Barkerville... What was Barkerville, anyway, I wondered, not taking the time to look it up.

Above: My stuff at Quesnel Best Western Motel.

Which would be worse to lose?

I get a panic attack every time I reach into my pocket to retrieve one of this items. Is it there? Did I leave it someplace?

Had a chicken stir fry at Ulysses Restaurant in Quesnel.

Addendum:


Steve,

I love your blog and I have never been to that part of the world. Very interesting! Thank you!

ZIB,
New York City, NY


KOOL.

Mr. Z3, Ojai, CA


You know, Steve, your BMW is more photographed than any of the people in your life, even TIMDT.

Steel,
Atlanta, GA


Reminds me of the time while on a solo motorcycle ride fifteen years ago. I had stopped at a viewpoint on UT SR 72 to look at the Waterpocket Fold of Capital Reef National Park. A 30 something guy rides up on a BMW R1200RS, which happened to be the same kind of bike that I was riding. We got to talking. He said, "I'm from Grand Junction, Colorado. Last night my girl friend told me, 'You're not going on that ride tomorrow. Its either that bike or me.'"


Steve you are truly something else!!! Do you ever stop?? Margaret I wear the lovely shawl you gave me and think of our days together. The photographs look beautiful.

Love Saker
Mumbai, India


AMAZING Ride and scenery!!!

Is the ski area still open?

Ride safe

Montage, Marina del Rey, CA

No. Closed for the season. Most of the snow was gone. Surrounding dirt roads were dry. It was definitely a Spartan operation compared to what we're used to here. Hats off to the locals for making it work.