DONNA AND PRIAM MEET MALIIT PULA

My sole riding comes to an ending today! Donna and Priam arrive at Vancouver Airport. I have missed them so much, longest we have been apart. A quick check in and taxi back to the BnB, they see the new bike for the first time. We take a ride around the neighborhood to let Donna get used to the big bike. She has been riding motorbikes all her life and rides our 400cc Ace often, but never anything like the 950 cc V Ride, but she takes to it like a natural.

The long list of first for Priam start with dining on the waterfront at Stevenson, yum real Sockeye Salmon. He is amazed at seeing daylight at 930 pm, something you never see close to the equator.

The new bike started to show signs of a problem then the morning after they arrived it would not start. Unfortunately this was the weekend, most motorcycle shops are closed on Sunday and Monday here. We found a local mobile mechanic who came and analyzed the electrical problem and it started several times, but again on Tuesday morning, the day we were to depart, it would not start. The shop we bought the bike from went into action and sent a pick up van and instantly went to work. After quite some time the problem was discovered, a small ignition relay switch buried deep in the motor had failed. The skilled, “old school” mechanic found the problem and fixed it.

A bit about how we got this bike.  The question of how to get a second bike for the trip was solved by the good folks at Daytona Motorsports in Vancouver. The specialize in helping bikers do short term exploring of British Columbia. They agreed to buy the bike back when our adventure came to an end. This worked out to be ¼ the cost of renting a Harley for the trip, and Donna gets to try out the bike I think she will eventually own.  Their service as extraordinary, I recommend them to anyone who wants to see beautiful BC and Canada. Talk to Andrew at https://daytonamotorsports.ca

So packed up and back on the road, we take the busy trip out of the city in rush hour traffic, soon hitting a spectacular back road to the famed Harrison Hot Springs. We arrive just in time for dinner where Priam, the adventure eater, orders the Canadian favorite, Poutine. This heart stopping dish is Groome fries smothered in gravy, cheese and other delights.

A couple of days soaking I the hot springs, visiting local waterfalls and dodging the intermittent rain. We are joined by my sister who drove up to see her big nephew, whom she had not seen since our wedding seven years ago. Vickie joined our adventure for the next week to Osooyos, so good to spend time with my baby sis!

We are in the last days of Spring weather, raining and cool in many places, so I scour the weather reports and pick our next destination. We did a cool but spectacular four hour ride through the northern Cascade mountains, and drop down into the valley of Osoyoos.  The rain and cool temps prompt us to delay using the camping gear and get one of the available cabanas, a crude accommodation at best. Waiting out the weather again we opt for a hotel room to extend our stay. 

Temperatures warming and sun shining we pack up and take another scenic, albeit cool ride over the Kootenay  mountain pass and arrive at Ainsworth Hot Springs, the last few miles in the rain. Again prudence prevails and we get a cabin instead of camping.  We are at Woodbury Resort just a few miles from the hot springs. this time the small cabin is a pure delight! Full accommodation, heater, kitchen, bbq and porch.  Me being the obsessive soaker, don rain gear and head back for a soak. I met D n P at the resort restaurant, for a wonderful meal. The sun comes out and all of us go for a soak in the morning and all of us go for a soak.

Ainsworth may well be one of my favorite hot springs, the source water is deep in a cave, 108F at the source. The outer pools range from chilled to a large pool and normal temp hot tub area.  Priam and I spend some time in the cave, hot water and steam make for a great soak.

We take advantage of the provided bbq for a great steak dinner, something we don’t get much of back home. Our nice neighbors give us some firewood, so Priam builds a fire in the fire pit and we sit looking at the spectacular mountain view roasting marsh mellows, life does not get better than this!

Tomorrow is another grand ride and a new place to see!