Biker Bodie is too old to cross Canada

Biker Bodie is too old to cross Canada
Question is, are we?

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Chicken In Nelson

Hooray for sunshine. Jill and I both woke fairly early Monday morning in Revelstoke, so had lots of time to shower and wipe down the bikes before having our free continental breakfast. We fueled up and got under way on hwy. 23 to Shelter Bay to catch the ferry to Gelena and on to Nakusp were we went to a rustic little cafe in an old church that we had discovered several years ago. The coffee and cinnamon bun was as good as last time. The road down to there was very beautiful and Arrow lake is a great compliment to the scenery. No wildlife encounters like the one experienced by last year when James, Dan, Gary and I had driven that route. The roads in this part of BC are fabulous biking roads and are very popular. This time there were still lots of bikes to wave at as there usually is.
When we arrived in New Denver we took 31A via Kaslo. We did the other way on #6 earlier in our trip. Under sunny skies the ride to Kaslo was a true pleasure winding our way through heavy forested areas and along rivers. We stopped in Kaslo for lunch at the Blue Belle Cafe. It is a very hippyish (what isn't in Kaslo) restaurant with sensational sunscreen structure over the outside deck. The posts are arced wooden logs that have been ripped in half to make matching sides with similar roof frame and a screen mesh that cut the glare of the sun just right. The meal was a healthy spread with edible flowers decorating the plate.
We arrived in Nelson around 2:00 and headed to Kokanee Creek Provincial Park hoping to find a nice spot like the one we had our wet time here back in June. Although it was a Monday and early we still wound up in the overflow area. Luckily we still managed to get a corner spot that had a nice tree for shade. We got ourselves set up and called Donna and Norm to let them know we were there. Shortly we were in the loving embrace of very warm friends. Jill had been aching to hear how Donna and daughter Jodie's motorcycle lessons were going and to get a look at the bikes they had purchased since our last visit. Jodie had a lovely 750 Vulcan and Donna had a 600 Honda VLX just like the one Jill had before. Both were in lovely shape and both girls were sincerely endeared to them. Our arrival timed nicely with Norm's desire to call an end to his work day, so we sat out on the patio with a drink each. We were treated to an outstanding dinner that came largely from Donna's garden. Fresh garden salad and an absolutely wonderful eggplant lasagna that could have changed the heart of the most staunch eggplant hater. We enjoyed a wonderful evening visiting and headed back to the campground, which is only minutes away, before dark.
The next morning Jill got up to start coffee and discovered that we had a guest at the campsite. A lone wondering chicken had come around begging for food. She was the friendliest little thing, not the least bit shy of people. Rather surprising to find in a Provincial Park. After the three of us had breakfast I headed to the shower and Jill went for dip in the lake. Not my cup of tea in the morning so I took the walk over the proper camping area showers for some hot water. Afterwards Jill took a ride over to Donna's and called me to say that she, Donna and Jodie were going for a ride together to Harrop and Proctor. So I relaxed with my book under the tree.
Back in Revelstoke I had received a text message from Dan and Margaret, friends from Port Alberni to say that they were on a ride through the Kootenays and would be in Ainsworth Hot Springs on Tuesday and maybe we could meet for lunch or something. So we had arranged that they would call us when they arrived in Nelson. Well they surprised me by showing up at our campsite. The two smiling ecstatically got off their bikes and we soon were embroiled in tales of our respective trips. Shortly there after Jill, Donna and Jodie rolled in and we all sat around talking about bikes and life.
Jill escorted Donna and Jodie home as they are still required to have a supervisor ride with them till they have done their road tests. Then she, I, Dan and Margaret went to the Dock and Duck Pub at the Balfour Ferry terminal for lunch. Over looking the ferry terminal and Kokanee lake we enjoyed a very satisfying lunch. We wandered around the shops there and then went back to the campsite for a sit and a rest.
Donna had graciously invited all of us for a homemade ravioli dinner and said that preps would begin around three. So we then all drove over to Donna and Norm's. The women all participated in the making of the ravioli. With bbq-ed sausage and another great fresh salad we were treated to a dinner that was out of this world. Dan and Norm, both working in the forestry business found lots of common ground. The evening was splashed with stories from Jodie's job in a lingerie boutique and others of quirky little stories of life. It was a fantastic evening and I give my thanks to all who were a part of it. Dan and Margaret left for their reservations at Ainsworth and shortly after Jill and I retired to our familiar tent trailer.
Surprises just never end. When we got to the campsite we found messages on our cells that James and Bonnie, also from Port Alberni had checked in at Ainsworth Hot Springs and wondered if we could meet for coffee in the morning. Needless to say they met up with Dan and Margaret at Ainsworth.
This morning came with a cock-a-doodle-doo. It seems our little chicken has a suitor out in the bush and he made sure everyone was awake at dawn. And when we got out of the tent the chicken was back for more food. She would even walk right under your chair and pick crumbs at your feet.
I called James early, cause he said 'call me when you get up' and we arranged to meet at the campsite at 9:00. He and Bonnie showed up and had the same wild excited look that Dan and Margaret had had. We drove into Nelson and had coffee at a market along the main drag and talked about everything that we could think of. Their trip had been a spur of the moment thing on Sunday when James called Bonnie to say that he was heading to the house to pack their stuff and he would meet her go to the ferry. Good on them for seizing the moment.
Their destination was Osoyoos and ours was Princeton so we made the best of the co-incidence and rode together as far as Osoyoos. In Grand Forks we stopped at the Grand Forks Hotel to check out a russian restaurant that Dan had raved about the other day. We were not let down in the least. The perogies and cabbage rolls were like not I had ever had before. While in the restaurant two fellows walked in and low and behold they were from Port Alberni. Al Webb and his friend Wayne were on their way on their bikes to visit their sons in Pincher Creek. Wow what a small world.
In Osoyoos we waved good bye to James and Bonnie as they headed for accommodations and we rode on in the heat of the day for Princeton. It was only about another 120 kms. but it could not be managed without a stop in Keremeos for ice cream. By the time we made Princeton we were pretty much done by the heat, not that we will complain about having heat and sun. So we grabbed a motel we were familiar with that has an outdoor pool. Not long after arriving we had our core temperature drastically lowered in the cool pool. Refreshed and revitalized we strolled to the Brown Bridge Pub next door and had a very nice dinner. It has been a remarkable last couple of days. Filled with surprises, co-incidents and warm valuable friendships. Jill and I are feeling truly blessed.

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