Monday, September 15, 2008

So today Reg, my mom and I went out to my dad's accident site.


It is between Houston and Smithers. We try and get out there about once a year. And we like to go in the summer so that we can go on our bikes.


It was a gorgeous ride. Especially for being so late in the year. The above picture doesn't really show it, it was kinda cloudy at the site itself. But it was really hot and sunny most of the day.

We did a few things while we were out there. Reg cleaned up the site quite a bit. He brought out some clippers and cleared away all the weeds around the cross. Mom and I replaced the wind chimes that were out there and I brought out the tribute that I had made for my dad. We also took some pictures.


There is actually a huge ditch between the road and the site, so I had to set up the camera on my bike, hit the timer and RUN through the ditch and get into position for this picture to work. It took two tries, but it turned out pretty well. All in all a really great day with family.

Start: 41,474 km - End: 42,148 km - Total Distance: 674 km

Okanagan Stats

So we'll start with the stats for this trip:

Total Days Traveled: 4 days
Total Distance Traveled: 1643 km
Average Fuel Consumption Rate: 20.27 km/L or 47.37 miles/gallon
Average Price for Gas: $1.44/L

So I've pretty much said everything I want to say about this trip. My mom and I had a blast. I always have a great time with my mom. I find it interesting that I got almost 10 miles/gallon better gas mileage on this trip than when I was by myself or with Dan. (Think maybe I ride more aggressively by myself? The weather was a big factor in that too).

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Today was our last day on the road and it was a long one. It wasn't really that long distance wise, or even time wise, but I think both my mom and I were ready to come home. We did stop for a few pictures though.


It didn't help that we had scattered showers from Kamloops all the way until 100 mile house. It was also pretty cold all day. It did warm up quite a bit at 100 mile, so that was nice.

I pretty much spend all day putting on more clothes every time we stopped. (yes I was that cold) I had my rain gear on my the time we hit 100 mile, and then I was over hot for most of the rest of the trip.

It did try and rain on us again just outside of Prince George, but it wasn't too bad. I'm now home and unloaded. All my stuff is all over the floor again


I'll get to it tomorrow, maybe.

Start: 40,934 km - End: 41,474 km - Total Distance: 540 km

Friday, September 5, 2008

We started our day at about 8:30 am. Well, that's when we woke up. By the time we backed up, checked out and had breakfast, it was about 10:30 am. WE got stuck in a bit of construction between Summerland and Peachland.

We stopped in Kelowna to do a little shopping. We stopped at a golf store and found Ryan a jacket and a couple of shirts. And of course we had to stop at the harley shop. Mom was looking for a new helmet (like she needs another one) and a new vest. She didn't find either but we did run into a friend of my mom's (Bruce).

After Kelowna we headed to Vernon and O'keef Ranch.


(This is a picture of Vernon from a pull out before we entered it from Penticton.) The Ranch was a neat little place to visit. We got to see a victorian home (mansion) that is basically the same as it was 100 years ago.



There was also a few buildings that were musium type buildings giving some information and showing some displays of the era. We really liked this display.



Can you imagine seeing a biker riding down the road in those. :D

We then headed to Kamloops. The weather wasn't nearly as nice as it was yesturday, but it wasn't too bad. It did spit on us a couple of times and we though for sure were were driving into a down pour just outside of Kamloops but we got lucky.

We then checked into another hotel and casino. We went for dinner and then on a hunt for a highlighter and munchies for later. We ended up going across the street to London Durgs, then to Cooper Foods, and then back to London Drugs.

After that little adventure, we headed to the casino. We didn't do nearly as well tonight as we did last night. I dumped $50.00 into the slos and walked away. I plyaed my Keno ticket again and didn't win anything AGAIN.

And now we are back in the hotel room ready for bed.

Start: 40,689 km - End: 40,934 km - Total Distance: 245 km

Thrusday, September 4, 2008

We had a blast today. We got up at about 8:00 am and visited with Auntie Shirley and Uncle Bill until about ten.


Then we headed for Vernon. We had lunch in Vernon and made some plans for the rest of our trip. After a quick stop at Vernon Motor Sports (to buy a tinted visor for my helmet) we were off to Kelowna. We've decided that Kelowna is a pain. There is too much traffic and everyone's in a hurry to go no where.

The temperature today was beautiful. I was in full leathers until after kelowna, but when we filled up in West Bank, I took off both my chaps and jacket. I'm glad I did too because just after that we were stopped by construction.

Driving around Okanagan Lake is always a beautiful trip. On the bikes it is even better. We got to Penticton at about 4:00 pm.

Mom decided that we should stay at one of the nicest hotels in Pecticton: "The Pentiction Lakeside Resort" (with a lake side room).


My favourite part of the hotel was that the entire parking lot was pay parking ($5 a day) except of motorbikes. They had their own parking and it was free. Woot for being on the bikes.


We bet up with Mat at Boston Pizza at 5:00 pm. We had a really grood dinner and visit with Matt. After dinner Mom and I went for a swim at the hotel. There was no one in the pool so we had it all to ourselves. It was great.

After our swim we went for a walk along the beach. I did try and take a few pictures, but it was too dark and they came out too blurry. We decided to come back and try our luck at the cassino. (BTW: I only won $6.00 on yesturday's ticket.) We did pretty well actually. I wone enough to play my Keno ticket again (again, we havve to check tomorrow to see if we won anything) and mom walked away about $150.00 ahead.

We're now in our room nearing the end of our night. We ordered pizza and are watching T.V. Well I am, mom is putting silly things on her head. Lack of sleep can do that to a person.


Start: 40,481 km - End: 40,689 km - Total Distance: 208 km

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Today started out very very cold. We did wait until 9:00 am to leave but even then it was only 2^C. It seemed to be getting colder in Quesnel instead of warmer. (That was due to the fact that Quesnel was fogged in.) We stopped in Quesnel for some breakfast and to warm up a bit. By the time we left it was noticeably warmer. And by the time we got to Cache Creek we could take off a few layers of clothes. We stopped in Cach Creek for pie and to play some Keno. We didn't win anything while we were sitting there, but we haven't checked out tickets since. Maybe we'll get lucky.

We stopped at the Harley shop in Kamloops to do some shopping. We stopped there specifically because we knew they carried "purple slice", a new bike cleaner my mom discovered this season. My mom also bough me a seat pad. its called an Airhawk. I think I'll like it a lot once I get the air level right. We'll see what happens throughout the rest of the trip.

We are now at uncle Bill and aunt Shirley's hous in Salmon Arm. We got in at about 6:15 pm (late for dinner but they forgave us). We enjoyed a nece evening with them and now we are off to bed.

Start: 39,831 km - End: 40,481 km - Total Distance: 650 km

Mold - YUCK

So I was packing up all my stuff for my trip tomorrow, and I thought I'd make sure I've got everything I want in my saddle bags before I go. Its a good thing I did. I did not realized when I put every thing in my bag that my gloves were wet. Or if they weren't when they went in, they got wet while they were in there. To make a long story short, my electric gloves and vest were covered in mold. YUCK. I HATE MOLD. So to say "yuck" is being polite when it comes to mold. I did spray them down really well with lycol cleaning solution and washed them really well. They are now hanging to dry. I hope the electrical componants didn't get damaged. I'll be very upset if they are recked. Hopefully they will be dry for me to pack them for the trip tomorrow, but I highly doubt it. I think I'll be going without my heated gear this trip.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

So my mom and I are getting ready to head south tomorrow. One last road trip before we have to put the bikes away. :( So we had to do some shopping. My rain pants needed to be replaced desperately and I needed a decent pair of rain gloves as well. So that was pretty much my day. My mom was supposed to take her road test today, but that didn't happen. (and that's another story in and of itself). So she wanted to go for a ride. Its been raining all day, but my mom convinced me that I needed to try out my new gear. We didn't go very far, just around the outskirts of town. (long enough to get everything wet) But every thing seems to work well. My pants and hands stayed dry and warm enough anyway. So we're off tomorrow. I'll keep journalling on paper and post it when I get back.

Start: 39,801 km - End: 39,831 km - Total Distance: 30 km