June 11th Ride report. Rain, Ferry, and some humor!!

Sometimes you just have to tip your hat to the weather man or woman because today they pretty much nailed it. When I went to bed the skies were mostly clear and it was a very pleasant evening. The forecast by morning, rain. Bingo, this morning it was raining. So I packed and hit the road donning my best weather gear along with my trusted heated suit to keep those tootsies warm.

I had to make the Ferry in Victoria by 3pm today. I also had to be there no later than 1:30pm to start the check in process. So this morning the alarm was set at 5:30 am and I was out of there by 7. The first 150 miles it rained and sometimes fairly hard. Suit was working really well and eventually I had to turn on the toe warmer just a little bit to knock down the chill. Ahhh! By Parksville, I was ready for a stop and a coffee.

Now with half of my required ride complete to get to the Ferry, I could relax a little. The skies were starting to clear but the chill was still in the air. Traffic started building as I approach Victoria and so did the road maintenance. For a bit, I was thinking it was going to be close, but I arrived in time to get my tickets and grab a bite to eat. When I paid the bill for my meal, I gave the waitress my last $5 Canadian bill and paid the rest with American cash. That leaves me with $1.50 in Canadian coin cash. I wanted to keep the loony for reasons unknown to even me.

This whole ferry process burned up a lot of my day. I arrived at the ferry location at 12:30 and once I got my ticket, ate, rode the boat to Port Angeles and disembarked, it was 5:20 to 5:30. I rode the rest of the day to my hotel in Bremerton, Washington and arrived about 6:35. It was a long day. 

So where is the humor? It all started yesterday when I lost Dixie. I got some pretty funny remarks that you may or may not have read. They made me laugh out loud a few times and people around me where likely thinking I lost it or was a little loony. Yes, pretty much true. Then Doug Picard went above and beyond the call of duty. He, like me felt it a shame that Dixie would not complete the journey so Doug stepped up. Doug reported the incident to the Vancouver News Facebook, correct me if I’m wrong Doug, and they contacted him. Doug in turn contacted me. Then I get a call from Chandler Grieve and he wanted to know more about my trip and Dixie. Then he requested pictures and map locations. As I was giggling typing the email, I sent pictures and maps. Doug what have you gotten me into? They also requested that I install Skype so they could do a I-phone interview. I have no idea whether they will actually call me tomorrow for the interview or if I can find the time to do it, but you have to admit that it is a cute and funny story. Would it not be fantastic if someone actually sees the story and turns her in? How great would that be. Why did Doug do it? Who knows, but it might be related to this story. CLICK HERE FOR THE STORY.

So tomorrow I really need to get the oil changed on the motorcycle because she rolled over 10,131 miles for this trip to date. The tires I want to change just to make it ride better but those dirt tires are not quite burned off yet. What to do, what to do? I will start the calculations on what I have left to do and see if that distance is not greater than 6,000 miles. If I’m in range, I will switch the tires. If I’m outside that parameter, I will wait.

When I peeked out my hotel window tonight, look what I saw.

Rumor is the guy that owns this incredible boat, use to own Netscape. It’s yours for a cool 95 million.

 

 

 

 

Pictures of the Day

June 10th, For the motorcyclist in me, it was awesome! But!

I knew going into today that it was going to be an easy day for me mileage wise. I also added this route and the extra day on the island based on information from a local in Vancouver that is a rider. He said if I did anything at all on the island, the run from Campbell River to Gold River was a must. So the route that I deleted because I didn’t have enough of a reason before to ride it, was put back into my itinerary.

The first 65 miles or so of the morning ride was ridden on what I would call and Interstate system but unlike that of the United States, these roads have an occasional Stop light or a side road that is allowed to enter. Fairly strange in my opinion, but it works here. Another thing that is useful but strange is the warning system they use to indicate that a stop light is going to turn red soon. It flashes 2 yellows lights on a sign high overhead traffic some 100 yards from the intersection. This is just on the faster highway speed sections of their roads, not in the cities for the most part. There are exceptions. A picture of it is in the pictures of the day. When I got the Campbell River I turned west on 28 on what was to be the highlight of the day.

The roads were for the most part clear of traffic and those that I did encountered moved over and waved me around. Some would see me coming and before I even got within 100 yards, would start signaling me by. This happens in the States sometimes but the closer you get to the East Coast and the larger cities, your more likely to get the finger than a wave around. Big cities, you can have them. The sweepers on this road were sometimes long and fast meaning you could carry as much speed as your gut allowed. I’m either losing my edge because of my age or these dirt bike tires on the hard surface give me no confidence. Do not get me wrong, they are not terrible but if I have to think about the fact, are they going to stick, then they are no good to me. Plus I’m tired of hearing the whining 4X4 sound humming in my ears while I drive. Please, please give me street tires! When I get off the bike sometimes and I think I hear the ringing from my tires still in my head.

First stop of the day was likely the prettiest of the day and also where a great tragedy might have taken place. It looked like a favorite spot for the locals to pull off and tent over night or just gather by a fire on the side of the road. The view across the lake was incredible. So what’s the tragedy? Dixie!!! Dixie is missing!! Oh no!! I took a few shots of her swimming in the lake and then posing on the bike. This was the last time I saw her. One of a few things happened. I either left her on that last posed shot and when I pulled off, she fell off into the dirt. Second possible thing is she fell out of my pocket while playing in the corners. I believe the first thing happened, so when I discovered she was missing to take more shots at another lake, I started the search and rescue. I went through my jacket and top case several times and nothing. So I knew I had to go back by the same stop where I think I lost her. When I arrived at the scene of the crime, there was no Dixie, but there were fresh tire tracks in the area. The exact point where I parked the bike had what looked like Jeep tire tracks and I think someone saw her and kidnapped Dixie. So with sadness, Today’s pictures will be the last pictures of Dixie and I will be officially riding solo the rest of the trip. So much for our new tradition. I just hope a kid found her and will take of Dixie.

Once I excited highway 28 on the return track, it was lunch time. After lunch all that was left was to run highway 19 to Port McNeil. That run was pretty much uneventful with the exception of the weather. It was like I went through different tropical zones, like one would go through time zones. One minute it was 70 degrees and partly sunny, then 15 miles later overcast, 52 and raining. Then like magic, it was sunny and 65 degrees again. The mountains and the ocean mixed so close together must be a fun climate to live in fulltime.

So here I sit in Port McNeil and it is suppose to be a great place to see Killer Whales. I saw one but it was on a sign and that is as likely as close I get to seeing one those on this trip. I tried to find out the best time of year from one of the locals but the best answer I got is when the Salmon run. What time of year does that happens? I assume in the spring, but who knows. I guess it is something to research.

Okie Dokie, this is pretty much going to do it for the Canada adventure for this trip. I will say that all of British Columbia is worth seeing. It is very diverse from the northern boundary to the southern boundary. You could spend two weeks exploring this one Provence because my little adventure just barley scratched the surface. Tomorrow I run back across the island, sprinting to make a 3pm ferry that I reserved. The email said to be there 1:30 hours early because it is a border crossing. Ok, it’s a 5 hour drive direct with no traffic issues, so I will be rolling sometime between 6:30 –7am. Worst case, I will have some extra time to walk around an explore.

The rest of my evening here, I will spend trying to find places to change oil and tires. I’m in the window for tires to reach home, so I ‘m ready to switch. I want them before I start to track down the pacific coast highway.

Pictures of the Day

Today another good meet, good weather, and more dirt.

The day started off looking a little gloomy with overcast skies and sprinkles. Forecast was for sunny skies and high’s around 65. The leg of todays journey was to take the BC Ferry to the Vancouver Island. First perk of the day was being told to go the front of the line because you’re driving a motorcycle. Standing at the front of the line were more than just me, but about 5 or 6 bikes. So what do you think, Harley’s or BMW’s? In Alaska, British Columbia and here on the island, I think the BMW out number all other brands. I should have taken pictures from the boat of the views and all that stuff, but I had company.

I want you to meet Jag. I did not catch his last name and unless I wrote it down, I would likely forget it. Jag is the proud owner of a BMW R1200-R and was very interested in my setup and wanted information. So we went topside to the coffee area and Jag bought me a cup of coffee and then he started to pick my brain about the bike. He also wants to take a long range journey to Alaska. Well we chatted about everything motorcycle to family. He introduce me to his young soccer playing son and a few others in his family. The hour and half ride went by so fast, that my camera didn’t leave my pocket until it was time to saddle up and get off the boat. Lot’s of nice people out there people, so reach out and speak to them. You never know who you might meet.

 

Remember the fellow I meet that had been on the road since 2006? Jeffrey Polnaja sent me an email today from Whitehorse with a couple of pictures that he took of me sitting on the side of the road. Remember I pulled over to make sure that he was ok and if he need any tools or whatever. He is resting in Whitehorse a few days and then he is off to Prudhoe Bay. What an incredible journey he is on.

Ride for Peace !

 

 

I’m not going to bore you with all my riding details today but I did see this little sign and it was right. Tight and narrow and no traffic. It was fun until it turned to dirt. This particular dirt road was graded at a very strange angle. It was graded at the same angle that the mountain was slanted and there was a lot of lose gravel. I had to stop and lower pressure again and it didn’t help much. I just took it easy and rode the 70-80 miles of dirt until it turned back to hard surface.

 

 

While riding back in the middle of nowhere I saw this old GMC bus sitting in someone’s front yard. I did a u-turn to get the shot and now I want to know if anyone knows the year? I have no clue.

 

 

 

The day was built for my riding and not much pictures taking but I did get a few good shots. Tomorrow, maybe I will be a better camera boy while tracking further northwest on the island.

Pictures of the Day

A very relaxing day. Now I’m ready to roll.

Plan one of the day was not to set an alarm and if I woke up at 6am as per the normal lately, to go back to bed. I did all that and then some. I didn’t get up to start my day until 8am. Shower, breakfast, and made a little contact with my better half on the East Coast. Did I tell you that I feel so out of the news flick on what’s happening in the world that it alone is relaxing. If this is even a hint of retirement, it is something I will enjoy immensely.

So once I got all situated, I mounted my trusted steed and got moving to the BMW dealer. My main concern was that the locks on my Panniers since riding through all that dirt in Alaska are not working smoothly. My fear is that I get locked out of my own bags. Wouldn't that be something? All I was looking for was just a little advice on whether to use wd-40 or just graphite. They said first wd-40 to get all the crap out and then go get graphite in a day or two and lube it up. The wd-40 has already made a big difference, so I will get the graphite next. Seems to me that wd-40 needs to dry up a bit before I use the graphite.

So after I was helped by a salesman no less, (expecting a mechanic), we chatted about tires, mud, speed, and tire pressure. We agreed on every point but tire pressure. He just didn’t do it because he had no pump with him and didn’t think it necessary as long as you held sufficient speed. To that point we will differ. If pressure wasn’t important in soft stuff, then why is it required on the beaches in 4wd trucks in the Nags Head area. It’s on the signs! I walked inside to start looking at bikes, no R1600GTL. What’s up with that? Maybe I wanted to ride one back home!! That would make the wife happy. I walked upstairs and started looking at gloves and found those KILM Gloves that I have been looking for. $110 bucks. Um, don’t need them right yet. Besides, if I buy a new R1600GTL, I’m selling the current bike. Don’t need both. Left the shop without spending a dime.

Next up was Stanley Park. Park, Saturday, I should have know that it was going to busy. It’s just a park. Well, apparently it is a major tourist attraction and it didn’t disappoint on that fact because peeps where every where. Tour buses, taxi’s, bicycles, and cars zooming every which way. It would have been better done if you were on a bicycle than by any type of motor vehicle. To park for 1 hour was $3 and they didn’t want you to stay long. Just the drive through Vancouver was very entertaining with all the shops, people, and buildings. Sorry no pictures showing this because I didn’t want to get run over. Second reason, my picture taker who normally sits behind me, is missing. Once inside the park, I took pictures of the Totem poles, paddle boat in the harbor as well as a seaplane taking off opposite direction the paddle boat. There is also a Chevron station in the middle of the damn Harbor. I couldn't figure out how to drive to it. Smile, that’s a joke. Then I ran into Marion and Shirley. Let’s see, one was from Australia and the other from Calgary. They were totally fascinated with the bike and my trip. We chatted for the better part of 30 minutes. They took some pictures of the bike, the bike and me to show the husbands when they got home. It was an very enjoyable chat and as I have said so far on my journey, this world is full some very nice people and some incredible people like the fellow I met that has been riding for 6 years now. 

My last stop of the day was the Capilano Suspension Bridge. It’s main purpose is to teach all us about the rain forest and what they do for us. The bridge itself was pretty cool and was the main attraction that brought them all in. Without that bridge, it made me wonder if people would actually come in for a lesson about the environment. Once you cross that bridge the tour really begins because they built more suspension bridges from tree to tree sometimes over 100 feet above the floor. Circle platforms were also built around the trees so you could transition from point to point. I think if I had to do it all over again, I would come during the week when all the little screaming kids were in school. I can see that this place would be a very relaxing place given less noise. Occasionally you would get far enough away from the crowds and it all changed in a manner of moments, chaos versus peace.

Before I give you the picture link I just want you to know that week 4 has been totally re-done. I spent the rest of my afternoon washing cloths and making reservations on Vancouver Island. If I’m going to ferry over, I want to make sure that I have I have a resting spot. So, June 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 have all been changed. You should know by now how to get to that information, but just in case someone new is following, www.cmarkdixon.com, put mouse over Alaska2013, then click the date you want to see.  It still gives me 2 free days for tires and or whatever. June 11th will officially put me back in the United States for the rest of my trip.

Pictures of the day

Today’s plan, 6/8/13

Besides the fact that I must wash cloth’s, I want to do a little something in Vancouver, So I will ride by the BMW shop just to ask a question about my bag locks and of course chat a bit. Then swing by Stanley Park and then Capilano Suspension Bridge. Once my playing is done, I will come home and do the wash. Anyone want to Fly to Vancouver today and take care of that for me?

Shortest leg on my trip. 68 miles !!

 

Hard to believe 3 weeks have gone by.

Today completes 3 weeks of my 6 week journey. I had one day down day without moving to a new location to change oil and tires. My original plan was to change oil and maybe tires again in Vancouver or Seattle, but my tires still have life, specially the front, so I will ride at least 4 or 5 more legs with the tires. Oil? I think I have just under a 1,000 miles to go before it is required. I will take a day of rest tomorrow to wash cloths, visit Capilano Suspension Bridge, and tweak a few things on the bike. I originally planned 16,500 miles and today I crested 9,130 miles, so I think I’m over half way.

I told you yesterday that I plan to spend at least two days on Vancouver Island and that is concrete. So for now, I’m almost back in the United States, but not quite. As the crow flies from my current motel, 7.3 miles south is the border. So close!

This morning when I left Prince George, BC, it was sprinkling just a little bit but the clouds looked ominous. So for the first 90 miles I was in and out of rain and then it broke and the temperatures soared to 70 degrees. I had to stop and shed a layer at Williams Lake. I thought based on the weather report that I was home free. Another 50 miles down the road and the skies collapsed in buckets. Apparently I just barely missed a hail shower because when I stopped for lunch in a town called, 100 mile house, people were talking about the hail. A few wanted to know if I drove through it, but I told them I must have just missed it for which I was thankful. That was the last of the rain for the day.

My entire route today was basically made up of two roads, 97 and 99. When I turned onto 99 the show started almost immediately. This is a bucket list road for all motorcyclist from this day forward. Not sure how many miles of twists that lay there, but it was a lot. Let’s just say a good 5 hours worth for the best driver. The views were just incredible and my pictures just do them no justice whatsoever. The people who live here and drive that road regular have a lot of confidence. Me running dirt tires and being so far from home, I was just not interested driving outside my comfort zone. I actually waved a sports car around me today but stayed with him after the fact. He just had more confidence than me in blind corners plus he was crossing the double yellow a lot. Not me, not this trip, so far from home.

The dirt bike tires that I’m running are new to me and made by Heidenau. On the dirt, they are pretty awesome. The sidewalls are incredibly stiff. But here is something new for my motorcycle riding friends. Have you ever had your front tire follow a grove in the road and on a bridge? Well at first that is what I thought was happening, but after today’s play day in the mountains, it is not. The front tire is giving feedback that it is following a groove and there is no groove in the road. Happens the most when I’m accelerating out of a corner swinging from one lean angle to another to enter the opposite corner. It’s a flex or it’s riding on rows of treads is the best description I can give you. At first it bothered me, now it seems normal. I’m ready for my street tires back and will likely give these tires another 2000 miles and the switch is on.

Let me just say this once in a single line. Vancouver is to damn big for me. Traffic everywhere! Ugh!

The ride in on 99 was warm at 80 degrees and sun was out. What more can you ask for? The scenery on the out skirts of Vancouver was incredible. My favorite part was a little busy with traffic but it was from Whistler Ski area through Howe Sound and Horseshoe Bay. The way the roads were built hanging onto the side of mountains and the water was a view I will never forget.

 

 

Pictures of the Day

Making changes on the Fly.

I know I have my entire planned itinerary online, but it is a guide not concrete. Factors have always come up in the past and it is so now. June 8th, staying in Vancouver, washing cloths and touring the area. The link for June 8th is updated.

June 9th link updated, taking ferry to Vancouver Island and spending the night there.

June 10th, link NOT updated yet but route built, touring Vancouver Island and returning by ferry to Vancouver.

Oil change and tire will have to be taken care of very soon. Oil will be 1st looking at the wear on the tires. Holding up pretty well considering they are dirt tires running on hard surface now. I will update more links while washing cloths.

Road life! Beats working