Spring 2007 Trip

[scotty905]

Myself and three other riders I work withleft on April 29 for a four day trip around Southern British Columbia. The bikes we rode were two DR650, KLR650, and my first trip on my XR650R.

Day one

We caught the first ferry from Departure Bay at 6:30am We hit highway #1 a little after 8:00 under sunny skies then on to the #7. We filled up our tanks at Lake Errock then turned off to go up the west side of Harrison Lake. The road was good but being a Sunday and good weather there was other vehicles to look out for. There is alot of great scenery to take in. Anyone know the name of this Mountain?

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_1-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6845&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

We had a lone KLR650 rider join up with us for a short time towards the north end of the lake (didn't get his name but told him about this site). Just past the log sort we met FROG950S and another rider returning from the Hot Springs run and had a brief chat (thanks for letting us know that the bridge was repaired):hb:.

Picture is taken from bridge across Little Lillooet Lake.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_2-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6844&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

We eventually came out on Highway #99 after about three and a half hours of riding so we went into Pemberton for some lunch and some fuel. After a nutritious meal at McDonalds we took the great twisty Duffey lake road to Lillooet. I never get tired of the scenery this road has to offer.

A couple pics of Duffey Lake.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_3-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6843&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_4-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6842&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

Once in Lillooet we stocked up on some supplies for the night (booze and snacks) and top up the fuel tanks. We left Lillooet and headed south down the #12 and turned off on the Laluwissin FSR and followd it up to where it joins Murray Cr FSR. We ran into some snow at the Higher elevations but not enough to stop us.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_5-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6841&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_6-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6840&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_7-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6839&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

After riding through this area I sure am pumped for the Dead Zone:dr:. We stayed on the Murray cr. road and came out at Spences bridge. It was getting late by this time so we needed to find a place to camp. We asked a local first nations person how to access the N K & S Railbed, he pointed through a gate littered with car parts and other assorted junk and said it was OK to go through. So we followed the old rail line down the Nicola River and went through a tunnel that came to a dead end due to a rock slide. It made for a great place to camp.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_8-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6838&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_9-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6837&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

It was a long day at about 500 km so after a couple of drinks it was easy to fall asleep.



Day Two





Woke up to antoher great day so we packed up our tents and gear and took off down the #8. We turned of on the Skuhun Pimainus FSR. This is a great twisty high speed type road and we didn't see another person on it.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_10-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6836&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

We followed it all the way through to Craigmont mine where we saw some hill climbs that we had to try out.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_11-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6835&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_12-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6834&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

We continued on Aberdeen rd to #8 and on to Merrit for breakfast and fuel. We left Merrit on the 5a for Nicola Lake.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_13-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6833&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

We turned of on Douglas Lake Rd and the scenery is outstanding.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_14-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6832&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_15-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6831&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_16-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6830&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

When we got past Salmon Lake there is a great old house we had to check out.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_17-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6829&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_18-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6828&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

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Just past here we had hoped to go on the Salmon River FSR to get to Whiteman FSR and on to Okanogan lake. But we were stopped by snow by Little Bouleau Lake. We had fought through snow for quite some distance but by the time we got to the lake it was too deep to continue.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_20.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6826&sort=1&cat=687)

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_21-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6825&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

So we turned around and went back to Douglas Lake rd and followed it out but when it turned to pavement the bike was not handling as it should so i stopped t find my front tire was flat. This should have been a simple procedure but it turned in to a real pain in the a** for me. I changed the tube and inflated the tire and I must have pinched the tube because it would not hold air. So I patched the tube and put it back in, got the tire on to find that the valve stem was sticking out of the hole at a horrible angle. So by this time I was plenty pissed, and you can always tell who your real friends are at times like these because as I changed the tire I was surrounded by three guys that thought they were comedians telling me how stupid I really was.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_22-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6824&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

Once the tire was repaired we got on to the #97 and headed for Vernon and got fuel andate at a Pub on Kalamalka Lake. After eating and getting our gear back on Blair says "You might not want to look at your front tire" I looked down and it was flat again:wi:. I was mad enough I just about smashed my helmet on the parking lot. Calmer heads prevailed and it turned out that the valvewas not tightened all the way. So off we went on the #6 and the turned off on Creighton Valley rd. This is a great rd. We followed it to it's end and back tracked on the #6 to turn off on Sugar Lake rd. Once we hit the lake we went up the east side and the race was on to get to camp, this is also a fun fast road. It was a great evening and the view from our camp was awsome.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_23-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6823&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

Another great day with about 400 km of riding

[Yak_KLR650]

Great report and pics! Thanks for sharing.:tup:

[scotty905]

Day three

Some time around one in the morning the rain started, but when we woke it was just a light mist/rain.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_24-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6822&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_25-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6821&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_26-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6820&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

So we packed up camp, donned our rain gear, and hit the road. Not far from camp a young moosewas in the middle of the road and didn't wanttoget off. We chased it down the road for about a kmand it decided to try and go in the bush which gave Mark a chance to get past it but got back on the road beforeIcould get by. So we chased it for a while longerwhen it went to the outside of the road which gave enough room to get by. As I went by at about 12 feet away it's eyeswere bugging out of it's head and it proceed to piss itself in fright.I wish my camera wasn't burried in my pack to keep it dry. We thenstopped in Cherryville for some gas and a coffee and then headed south on the #6 towards Whatshan lk rd. My plan was to take the Whatahan Lake rd to Stevens FSR and take the Arrow Park ferry. So after a couple of wrong turns and some very slick roads we hit snow not far up Stevens FSR at about 2700 ft. We retraced our tracks back to the Highway and on to Needles to catch the ferry.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_27-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6819&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_28-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6818&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

I took a bit of ribbing from the others as to why we didn't just do this in the first place. We finnaly got to Nakusp at about 1:30 and had our first meal of the day at a great little deli. We fueled up and headed south on the #6. I had a couple of side trips planned for the trip down to Castlegar but decided to drive straight through to make up for some lost time. Just before Castlegar we turned of on Pass Creek Rd, this is a great little twisty road:dr:. In Castlegar we inquired about the railbed (KVR) that we intended on using for our return route home, but couldn't get a definite answer if it was clear of snow or not. Not wanting to waste more time on the unknown we filled our tanks and headed for Christina Lake for some food. After dinnerit was about 7:30 so we rode a small section of the railbed out of town and got on the highway to Grand Forks to get back on the railbed where it heads north. It was getting dark by this time and needed a place to camp. We found a perfect place just before a tunnel and we didn't even need our tents:clap: (which were very wet from the night before).

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_29-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6817&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_30-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6816&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

It is an old buliding of some sort with bunks in it and it was very clean and dry.

Another great day but could have done more dirt riding. About 400 km.

Day Four

We woke up early to get a good days ride inand it wasn't raining but very foggy/cloudy.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_31-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6815&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_32-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6814&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

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We followed the railbed to Eholt where we got on to the #3 and headed for Greenwood where we had breakfast at this great little bakery.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_34-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6812&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

Greenwood is a neat old mining town with lots of old buildings that are very well kept up. We continued down the #3 and just before Midway I pulled out to pass a loaded logging truck and once again the bike was not handling as it should. So I finished passing the truck and pulled into a gas station to find that now my rear tire was flat:wi::shoot:. I'm now getting good at this tire thing so it didn't take long this time.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_35-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6811&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

Back on the road the the weather is getting very wet and very ugly. So due to all the set backs and the now crappy weather we dicided to head for home. When we got to Osoyoos where it's not supposed to rain, it was down right nasty. but even though the weather sucked we were riding and having a good time.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_36-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6810&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_37-med.JPG (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6809&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

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We went straight through to Hope where we had to stop to warm up and get some food and fuel. The rest of the ride was nice with only a couple of down pours and riding in rush hour traffic through Vancouver on a bike is much more fun than being stuck in a car. We got to Horseshoe Bay in time for the 5:00 sailing and home by7:00.

I had a great time and I hope the others had a good time as well.

We rode about 600 km on this last day which gave us a total of 2000 km.

The XR performed well except for the flat tires and I was continually laughed at every time I had to kick start the bike.

[vindego]

Nice! looks like you had a great ride! lots of good pics, thanks for sharing :hb:

Vince

[Kuzzy]

Good report Scott.:tup:Pictures are awsome.

[FROG950S]

Good day Scott;

Nice Pics

Nice meeting you on the trail !!!

Hope to ride with you one of those days :tup:

Drop me a line next time that you are in town :talk:

Claude /FROG950S

[tomcycle]

Outsatanding Trip, Trip Report and Pictures:ted:

Looks like an adventure you guys will remember for a long time:tup:

Thanks for sharing it with us

Tom Timmerman

[scotty905]

Thanks Claude

I hope to join you guys on one of your rides sometime, they sound great

[joker650]

Nice report buddy:tup:





Man.....I gotta get out riding:mad3:





Can u show this on a map please:hf:

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_8-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6838&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

[Morty]

Cool great trip! who owns the "green" gear bag? I have one just like it....you guys ever use a Bivvy bag instead of a tent? keep the gear down more room for beer.

[scotty905]

Here's the coordinates N 50 20'08.7 W 121 13'49.3

I'm pretty sure this should be right but I'm going by memory from my GPS map.



joker650 wrote:


Nice report buddy:tup:





Man.....I gotta get out riding:mad3:





Can u show this on a map please:hf:

http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/data/687/91Spring_2007_Trip_8-med.jpg (http://www.dualsportbc.com/photogallery/showphoto.php?photo=6838&size=big&sort=1&cat=687)

[scotty905]

Green bag = Ex BCFS fire fighter.

I have used bivy bags while mountaineering and climbing but they are not the best for bike travel when it's raining for changing and keeping gear dry because of the lack of room. Besides one tent between two riders does not take up much room.

Morty wrote:

Cool great trip! who owns the "green" gear bag? I have one just like it....you guys ever use a Bivvy bag instead of a tent? keep the gear down more room for beer.

[Morty]

Cool, pretty neat trip, thanks for sharing the pics! ya your right a tent makes better sense alright!

[koots_roots]

looked and sounded like an epic for sure! good on ya's for giving er in the 'moist' season.

can you tell me the coordinates or where abouts this is at? it must be up the north fork (north of GF) between there and eholt.

[scotty905]

These Coordinates are very rough N 49 07'56" W 118 28'15" . You are correct with it being just north of Grand Forks.

[slantwagon]

Inspiring words and pictures:clap:. What a great province we live in!!

[Jade East]

Good story Scotty. I'm glad you did the Pass Creek Road. It extends back up to another area called the Crescent Valley and there is more of the same kind of road. Good pics. I enjoyed reading it...brought back memories of some of those areas.

John

[XRFisher]

Great photos.

Was wondering where you guys found those windshields? I have a xr650l and would like to put a windshied on it for longer rides. Who makes them? Are they expensive? etc. etc.

Thanks.

[scotty905]

The windshield on my bike (XR650R)is aSpitfire made by Slip Streamer and and was around $70.00 can. It works awsome and you can take it off and on in seconds.

I'm not sure what the other windshields are.

[nvdrzboy]

cee baileys makes one ~ $92US, my riding buddy has one and loves it, he's about 6'1" and this makes longer highway treks much more bearable.

http://www.ceebaileys.com/honda/xr650lws.html

[XRFisher]

just wanted to say thanks for the info, I appreciate the quick response.

Kevin.

[dualsportbiker]

awesome pictures!! looks like u guys had a lot of fun, except for the punctures maybe...