The 2020 solo journey

Once on pavement, I can start to make up time, but not before a stop for gas and a check in with Kathy, I have been out of Cell coverage for 48 hours. So west on Highway 1a and then up over highwood. Thinking there is fuel at where the ski hill is, Kananaskis ?? I pass on the fuel at the start. Hmmm I had forgotten that it is 10 k further on. In the mean time I am calculating my range as I know my route is going to use most of my tank up. My range with this rig has me doing this more often than not. Kind of why I have the new GSA as a tug for the new one that is in the works. Any way I get side tracked.


Have to stop here to prove you can do it.

Hmmm can I do it.
Turns out it's a super highway, just gravel and can you say WASHBOARD!!
there is the odd nice view

Once one pavement again I make tracks, Fernie and a nice shower.

Once in Fernie I'm in good shape to complete my route and make the Campout by Friday. The first place I stop at, stayed there when Don and I picked up this bike so I could attach the car to it. Anyways, 324.00 for the suite, ouch, no thank you. Across the street, 109 bucks, perfect. Plus first pub meal of the trip. Clean, fed up, and a good nights sleep I am ready for the day.

but not before I fill the Thermos.

So when Kathy and I had visited here earlier this year I had a yen to take the back road to White swan. Hartley Pass over to Sulphur creek. good thing she nixed that idea. Sidecar yeah OK Truck and camper hauling Side car, not OK.
Lots of fun finding my way through the turns of the un marked old FSRs. But the GPS assures me I am on Sulphur Creek and then I find out why. Boils right out of the mountain and smells. So cool

So much of BC that not many people see.

So Sulphur Creek FSR joins the Bull River FSR. Turns out it is one of the best known Fly fishing rivers around. I can see why. I stop and chat with a young fellow who is checking out every pool he can get too. Catch and release only but he is excited about the big one he is reeling in.

After leaving him to his fishing, I head further up the road, some where around the fifty k mark, I see a lone bicycle coming my way, Some gal with full kit and all by herself, we each wave but I would have loved to get her story. A while later I come around a corner to find the road blocked by a dozen or so Quads. Turns out they are all from Invermere and have a get together here every year, 25 or so and running. Good chat and they were most interested in my rig. Giving out lots of ideas. They suggested I stop at Munroe lake and I am glad I took the time.

The one thing that is also impressive about the upper Bull River and the White River area is that there was a massive forest fire up there. The whole valley has been burnt off for miles and miles. ( didn't seem right to say Kilometers and Kilometers) they are in full salvage mode.

I enter the White river area and get the idea to follow the FSR up to the Kootaney FSR and then out to Canal Flats but alas there is a sign saying "washed out at 48 K" At least there is a sign !!!
So on to White swan lake and out.

As I bounce along the 30 k or so from Whiteswam lake to Canal Flats I start to calculate how much time is left in my day. Oh road to the left where dose it go, quick check of the map and it leads to Premier Lake. Ok I'm in. Gets nasty for a bit but I persist. Turns out I'm on the old bit and I should have turned sooner. Still it takes me where I want. Of course now I am in Southern BC I have to stop and strip off some layers. It's getting warm. I stop in Kimberly for a late Lunch, early supper. Now how do I get to Midway from Kimberly and avoid Highway 3. Hmmm, Gray Creek to Crawford bay, Stay at Toad Rock, Up to Nakusp, Needles, Edgewood, Take the Granby down to Grandforks, hey I might be there before Beer O'clock . sorry not may pictures, just too busy moving

So Gray Creek was rougher than I remember. Beat me and rig up pretty good climbing up to the pass. Lots of bikes going the other way. They fixed the wash out from the spring but just. I was thinking I was doing pretty good at taking this on late in the day to come upon a group of three on bicycles, all with greyer hair than me heading for the pass. That's 2000 meters by the way, and we were still only at 1600. Good on then but what's with all these people out in the middle of nowhere with nothing but pedal power and minimal gear. As I said before give me an ICE any day.



On pavement I rush to hit the ferry, In line I meet Roman, German lad caught here by Covid with a year long work permit but no work, Riding all over and loosing track of days. Must be nice. We camp together at Toad Rock. Been 15 years since I stayed there last. Every thing has changed but stayed the same if you know what I mean. There was a group of Gals having a reunion and such a good time I had to put in ear plugs to get to sleep. They were still at it when I peed at 3. LOL. Roman and I shared info in the morning in case he needed any thing for the last part of his stay in Canada. Good guy.
Breakfast in New Denver and the rest of the trip went by in a flash, other than the two sailing wait at the needles ferry. Ah well lots of folks to chat with.

I think I made Midway about 4 in the after noon. Chris and Virgina were just setting up, the whole RV contingent were already in place and it was nice to see every one. I was so busy visiting after not really seeing any one this year that I forgot to take any pictures. Oh well we all know what my tent looks like and what an RV looks like.
Saturday Chris and I went for a little explore up in the hills, Has a few dead ends but found our way to Green wood. Chris had a flat right at a good time as it was right where the road was going to take us across private property, The owner happened to come along right then and wasn't amused that we were there. The road hadn't;t been marked up until there. Chris fixed his tire while I tried to help and the owner of the property proceeded to target practice below us. I ducked for the first few shots until I remembered that you don't hear the shot that kills you, I relaxed a bit after that. :-0
Once the tire was fixed we high tailed back the way we came.
After a good meal at the old house restaurant, Name?? and a visit around the fire all was well with the world.