MORE ON BC AND OFF TO STURGIS

Foiled by rain and cold, we abandon the idea of going north to Jasper, a real disappointment. So, we start working south, towards the warm weather. First stop is the small town of Quisnel, and home of a great annual rodeo.

Showing Priam a rodeo was tops on my must do list. He enjoyed it all, of course with my commentary!

From there we headed south and to a new adventure, Vancouver Island. Before we cross the water, Priam and Donna do the Sea to Sky Gondola, another first for Priam. We pitch the tent in a nice campground under the Gondola base.

Next day we board the humongous  BC Ferry, riding to the front of the 6 lanes of cars, love that motorcycle priority loading. A calm crossing of Queen Charlet Straights and of to Nanaimo. Campgrounds are very full but we find a nice quant site and settle in.

We meet my old friend Colby from my Furthur Bus adventure, with hislovely Filipina wife and daughter. Colby is an extraordinary photographer, and we do a photo shoot in an old growth cedar forest. He produced some splendid family pictures.

 Next day we rode across the island and up the coast to Tofino.  This is one of the places I have been to by boat but not by land. I have circumnavigated Vancouver island several times, this is my first rode adventure there.

With the end of this wonderful family time looming closer, we found a fantastic campground in Sooke, near the historic city of Victoria. I knew Donna would love this very scenic city including the world famous Buchard Gardens. Rather than tackle the heavy traffic, she quickly mastered the bus system and did 2 days of sightseeing, sans nagging hubby and kid.

Boarding yet another massive BC ferry we cross back to the mainland. At this time we are literally within site of my old home and point out the islands to Priam including Speiden Island once owned by John Wayne. Priam asks “who was John Wayne?” just to get a rise out of me, his smirk was the giveaway.

Back in that wonderful Air BnB where we started, days of sorting, packing and marathon gift shopping for Donna, the sad time where we part getting closer. We dropped the Yamaha off at the dealer, quick easy buy back. This is a great program for anyone wanting to explore Western Canada. The shop also did an oil change and service on the Harley, over 5000 miles already this year.

The day came, I left early for my long ride and Donna and Priam headed for the airport full of incredible “firsts” and life long memories.

For me, with a lighter load, a sad heart and excitement for the next quest, I cross back into Mother America and head across the scenic North Cascade Highway, undoubtedly one of the top motorcycle rides on earth.

A quick stop at friend Chris’s house, more load lightening and planning and off to Sturgis I go!  The first day is a long one albeit splendid, perfect weather, and great rodes across the prairie of Eastern Washington cross Idaho and up yet another brilliant motorcycle ride, Lolo Pass.  Almost 100 miles of curves and twists, following the river puts it in the top MC rides, so I did 2 of the top in 2 days, good start.

A nice hot soak, good dinner and oh so chilly night at Lolo Hot Springs, and off to the next stop. I had not experienced Boseman Hot Springs, and when I inquired and discovered a $115 a night camp site fee, yikes! I was curious enough to spring for the big bucks. Glad I did. The campsite is nice, great staff but the pools themselves are a marvel. Something like fifteen pools inside and out with temperatures ranging from 55f (11c) to over 106 f… please an exquisite steam room, steam formed from hot water pouring down over a heate rock sort of waterfall and a nice big hot sauna. Kind of a Disneyland for a Brian!

I found some back roads to a quaint little town, Lovell, a cheap albeit nice hotel and scrumptious home style country restaurant. I had to have the meat loaf! Heading west in the morning I entered the Big Horn National Park, albeit alone on the road. That ride climbed over the mountains opening a panoramic view of the plains below.  The third world class motorcycle ride in a row, this was becoming an epic ride.  As I got closer and closer to Sturgis the number of roaring motorcycles increased exponentially. As it is mid rally many heading the other way, to the point of following an avalanche of iron… and make it to the infamous 85^th anniversary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, with 700,000 of my closest friends, but as Conan would say, that is another story,