majorbedhed
Member
Hello folks - here is my Ride Report for this past Sunday & Monday;
I'm doing my best to squeak out even an overnighter if I can before the rains his us here in the West Coast. It was a last minute thing - got clearance from both bosses to take the Monday holiday, the most important one I married and the far lesser important one that keeps me employed, unless he is reading this in which case it's reversed. I decided to go with the XT on this one since I really wanted to make it to the Nehatlatch Fire Lookout Tower and after having failed at some other lookout towers earlier this year, I just had to pick off at least one!...so it was the baby bike this time around. It didn't help that I've yet to replace my front tire after all the pavement pounding I did with the Africa Twin this year.
So Saturday I had to figure out how to fit my camping gear on the wee 250. I've moto camped before but never on the little bike - what a great time to try out my space saving hammock. It's been super comfy for naps, but I've never overnighted in it - and it took up so little space in my bag I just had to give it a shot. Man, I really hoped that weather forecast was accurate, but I brought along my tarp as well to be safe.
My sleeping bag is another issue, an excellent bag, but so bulky, and just when I thought I was done I would think of another thing I had to try and stuff into the luggage. Anyhow, after a variety of configurations (yes, I collect motorcycle luggage dating back 30 years...), I think I found what works...or should I say worked well enough for this overnighter. Does anyone ever have the perfect setup that never changes? I really don't think so - it's a constant evolution.
Sunday morning I loaded up the XT on the back of the truck and headed out to Harrison Hot Springs. Rustic had warned me that it may be busy out there - and was it ever. But, all the traffic was heading back towards Harrison. Once I got past Cogburn Beach the traffic really lightened up. There was the odd soul up to Clear Creek Hotspring but after that I had the road to myself till I met a kind gent just past Granite Falls. We both stopped to chat - I regret I forgot his name but he say's he's occasionally on this forum - 69 years old, on a KTM990 - quite inspiring for this "later bloomer" to meet such a fellow.
He hadn't seen anyone on Kookipi from Nehatlatch, but sure enough shortly after we parted ways 3 guys in side by sides were ripping along at incredible speed around a corner and I was happy to be on the right side of the road at that moment in time. It tough to judge when things happen so quickly, but I certainly felt very much at risk had I been any other place in the road - they were young and had quick reflexes but I'm not so sure it would have ended well had I been in a Jeep or a truck rounding that bend.
I did come across a lovely old couple in their 1980's vintage F250 and camper. They were heading back to Victoria and wanted to know if they could get through to Harrison. I find it interesting that I over think and over plan so much - and here this retired couple (and their tiny dog) were rambling along a road without a map or apparently a care in the world. I assured them the road was good enough for their vehicle and wished them well on their journey.
I continued down into the Nehatlatch Valley stopping at the campsites along the way. I used to do Forestry work in Boston Bar in the late 1980's and we would service what was then the Forest Service campsites as PR for the company we worked for - I don't recall if the Provincial Park existed or not, but the campsites were definitely part of the MoF. It's pretty clear that population pressure has taken their toll on these sites - but happy to see they still exist and I was able to setup nice little camp after taking a quick rip up to Grizzly Falls. Only 3 of us at a camp on Nehatlatch Lake that has 20 spots. One of the campers there said they had come up in mid August and every site, every pullout, every spur road, had cars and campers everywhere. Such a different situation a month later and on a Sunday evening. I settled in and watched the sunset - tried to read a book but didn't get too far before being drawn to the hammock.
I woke to some overcast but high cloud - the hammock was excellent. My tarp setup was not the best and had it rained, I likely would have struggled, but that bullet was dodged. I enjoyed a relaxing breakfast and coffee and took my time packing up before heading off to the Nehatlatch Fire Lookout Tower.
The road up was pretty good most of the way. There was two steep pitches with looser rock that I would have struggled with on my AT I venture to guess (if not physically at least mentally), but on the little bike it was a breeze. I met a couple of fellows in their well kitted out Toyota 4Runner on their way down. They had spent the night up in the tower and other then the bite of high altitude temperatures they said it was a comfy stay. A couple of switchbacks later I arrived and the views were epic. The 4x4 Association of BC rebuilt the tower in 2012 and did a wonderful job. When I worked in the region, it was a ruin - I believe only the foundation was left so apparently the Association had to rebuild from original plans. It is simply excellent and I hope it always stays that way. The guestbook had a number of notes indicating the road has gotten worse in recent years, but I suppose that is to be expected over time, and I'm also guessing the hardcore 4x4 enthusiasts hope the sooner the better!
Coming down off the mountain was uneventful but given the late hour of the day I decided to take the highway back to Harrison Hot Springs - not the best road for a little 250cc dual sport but she can rip along at 90-110 pretty well subject to no headwinds!
I do have to put a plug in for the "The Old Towne Inne" just south of the gas stops at Boston Bar before you hit the Anderson Creek Bridge. Fantastic coffee and an excellent burger. I will make a point of stopping there again when heading through Boston Bar.
Video;
I'm doing my best to squeak out even an overnighter if I can before the rains his us here in the West Coast. It was a last minute thing - got clearance from both bosses to take the Monday holiday, the most important one I married and the far lesser important one that keeps me employed, unless he is reading this in which case it's reversed. I decided to go with the XT on this one since I really wanted to make it to the Nehatlatch Fire Lookout Tower and after having failed at some other lookout towers earlier this year, I just had to pick off at least one!...so it was the baby bike this time around. It didn't help that I've yet to replace my front tire after all the pavement pounding I did with the Africa Twin this year.
So Saturday I had to figure out how to fit my camping gear on the wee 250. I've moto camped before but never on the little bike - what a great time to try out my space saving hammock. It's been super comfy for naps, but I've never overnighted in it - and it took up so little space in my bag I just had to give it a shot. Man, I really hoped that weather forecast was accurate, but I brought along my tarp as well to be safe.
My sleeping bag is another issue, an excellent bag, but so bulky, and just when I thought I was done I would think of another thing I had to try and stuff into the luggage. Anyhow, after a variety of configurations (yes, I collect motorcycle luggage dating back 30 years...), I think I found what works...or should I say worked well enough for this overnighter. Does anyone ever have the perfect setup that never changes? I really don't think so - it's a constant evolution.
Sunday morning I loaded up the XT on the back of the truck and headed out to Harrison Hot Springs. Rustic had warned me that it may be busy out there - and was it ever. But, all the traffic was heading back towards Harrison. Once I got past Cogburn Beach the traffic really lightened up. There was the odd soul up to Clear Creek Hotspring but after that I had the road to myself till I met a kind gent just past Granite Falls. We both stopped to chat - I regret I forgot his name but he say's he's occasionally on this forum - 69 years old, on a KTM990 - quite inspiring for this "later bloomer" to meet such a fellow.
He hadn't seen anyone on Kookipi from Nehatlatch, but sure enough shortly after we parted ways 3 guys in side by sides were ripping along at incredible speed around a corner and I was happy to be on the right side of the road at that moment in time. It tough to judge when things happen so quickly, but I certainly felt very much at risk had I been any other place in the road - they were young and had quick reflexes but I'm not so sure it would have ended well had I been in a Jeep or a truck rounding that bend.
I did come across a lovely old couple in their 1980's vintage F250 and camper. They were heading back to Victoria and wanted to know if they could get through to Harrison. I find it interesting that I over think and over plan so much - and here this retired couple (and their tiny dog) were rambling along a road without a map or apparently a care in the world. I assured them the road was good enough for their vehicle and wished them well on their journey.
I continued down into the Nehatlatch Valley stopping at the campsites along the way. I used to do Forestry work in Boston Bar in the late 1980's and we would service what was then the Forest Service campsites as PR for the company we worked for - I don't recall if the Provincial Park existed or not, but the campsites were definitely part of the MoF. It's pretty clear that population pressure has taken their toll on these sites - but happy to see they still exist and I was able to setup nice little camp after taking a quick rip up to Grizzly Falls. Only 3 of us at a camp on Nehatlatch Lake that has 20 spots. One of the campers there said they had come up in mid August and every site, every pullout, every spur road, had cars and campers everywhere. Such a different situation a month later and on a Sunday evening. I settled in and watched the sunset - tried to read a book but didn't get too far before being drawn to the hammock.
I woke to some overcast but high cloud - the hammock was excellent. My tarp setup was not the best and had it rained, I likely would have struggled, but that bullet was dodged. I enjoyed a relaxing breakfast and coffee and took my time packing up before heading off to the Nehatlatch Fire Lookout Tower.
The road up was pretty good most of the way. There was two steep pitches with looser rock that I would have struggled with on my AT I venture to guess (if not physically at least mentally), but on the little bike it was a breeze. I met a couple of fellows in their well kitted out Toyota 4Runner on their way down. They had spent the night up in the tower and other then the bite of high altitude temperatures they said it was a comfy stay. A couple of switchbacks later I arrived and the views were epic. The 4x4 Association of BC rebuilt the tower in 2012 and did a wonderful job. When I worked in the region, it was a ruin - I believe only the foundation was left so apparently the Association had to rebuild from original plans. It is simply excellent and I hope it always stays that way. The guestbook had a number of notes indicating the road has gotten worse in recent years, but I suppose that is to be expected over time, and I'm also guessing the hardcore 4x4 enthusiasts hope the sooner the better!
Coming down off the mountain was uneventful but given the late hour of the day I decided to take the highway back to Harrison Hot Springs - not the best road for a little 250cc dual sport but she can rip along at 90-110 pretty well subject to no headwinds!
I do have to put a plug in for the "The Old Towne Inne" just south of the gas stops at Boston Bar before you hit the Anderson Creek Bridge. Fantastic coffee and an excellent burger. I will make a point of stopping there again when heading through Boston Bar.
Video;
