BC, Ooh Fook Aye?

As per usual we planned on leaving the earlier then we did. We met up with Luis, a friend of Joes for dinner. Joe met Luis down in Columbia where Luis, his friend Robin and brother Evan were staying at the same hostel and paragliding. Luis had a tough accident and broke his back. 1st lumbar. Despite doctors telling him he'd never walk he's made an an amazing recovery and watching him walk you wouldn't even know.

We went out with Robin and his girlfriend and a couple of their friends to see a relatively local band called the Boom Booms. It started off slow but the second half got real and it turned out being quite fun. I ended up linkin up with this kid Dan from Switzerland. A pretty sick biker turns out he knows a kid that works at highlands. Small world.

Here is the bike I should be riding:

Soooo sexy.

Saturday 7/20/13

Robin had encouraged us to stay telling us about a music festival that was going on and his birthday party the next day. Joe was on the fence so I made the called. We stayed. We packed up our stuff and moved to Robins front yard. From there Robin drove us to the store to get some supplies then we headed to the Festival, Starbellyy. We had an issue, tickets where 60 bucks and we only wanted to see the last two shows. Aesop Rock and this heavy drum and bass, guitar and harmonica dou. We forged some wristbands out of a bits and bites package, hung out with some of robins hippy friends and stabilized a very swollen and potentially broken ankle. Finally it was time to see the show and we made it in without incident.  

I'm go out and say it. Aesop rock sucked. It was really depressing. 

The next band had some pretty sick beats but the highlight of the night was definitely this:

 Straight out of national geographic.Literally. Mary Jayne, she was raised Mormon. We had some really good conversation. The show ended and a whole group of us went back to the camp ground where we were staying. Joe, Robin and I pulled some Jesus shit and whipped up a super dank 3am spicy tomato, sausage and tortellini meal for 7 or 8 people. It was dank. 

Sunday 7/21/13

Robin was celebrating his birthday with a big dinner and a float down the local river. Finally I got to float a river. It was awesome. There were log jams to avoid, some  beautiful women and great weather. There was a group of maybe 12 of us. A total blast. Then we did the S bends, a more gnarly section where a kid got impaled on a piece of rebar and drowned. I was a little nervous and it was kind of rowdy but totally worth it.

Floating and shit:

We went back to Robin's and had an awesome dinner. His mother made this crazy good desert. A great night.

Monday 7/22/13

Joe and I took off on the highway and it totally sucked. Then ridewithgps pulled through and turned us onto a logging road.  There was a sign up on the road saying it was closed from kilometer 25 to 45 due to three bridges being out. We considered our options then went for it. The highway was that bad. It was sweet dirt road riding. We came to the first bridge, it had been rebuilt. The second one was still washed out but easily passable. Then we came to a spot where a massive mudslide had washed out the road. There was a navigable track. Finally we came to kilometer 45 and realized why the road was closed. There was a thin river maybe 12 feet across that was very swift moving and probably 2-4 feet deep. Joe was up in the air but again I made the call to go for it. I walked across with my dry bag and he tossed me his. The tough thing about the river was that it had a very steep entrance and exit. He stood halfway through the river and I gunned it. Made it most of the way then dropped it. We pushed it out and avoided the hydrolock. It was his turn but I convinced him to let me ride his bike. He was against it but i argued from the point of him already having a broken ankle. Finally he agreed and I got it two thirds of the way through and he road it from there. 

Then we got kind of lost on logging roads. 

Then my muffler fell.

I wired it back on.

Finally around 9 30 we made it out of the woods. We pulled into a tiny closed gas station and two big white tractor trailer trucks pulled in. Just the trucks. They hailed us and invited us to follow them to the next town to grab a drink.

We follow these massive white angels to the next town and found a bar. The bar was open but not serving food. We were eating chips and talking about cooking rice. An old guy at the bar named Mark kept trying to get us to come over his place and cook chicken wings. We were unsure. Then this dude at the bar. Finnigan said "ok i've had enough of this, i've got a restaurant down the road. If one of you comes with me I'll go make you some food". One of the truck drivers volunteered and he was gone no more then 15 minutes when he arrived back with a massive platter of fried food. It was amazing. We were all stuff and he offered it up free. Joe and I were still trying to figure out where to sleep and Mark again offered up his spot. A little worried we took him up on it anyway. We went back, had a beer. Smoked some surprisingly good doobage and listened to his stories about the married wives club he had going on. Clearwater is quite the place, the hospitality we received was as usual. Extraordinary, oxy-moron I know but it is what it is.

Truck drivers, I'm sorry I spaced your names and I also want to apologize, I forgot to say thanks and good bye. 

Tuesday 7/23/13

Mark made coffee, we packed up and hit the road. 

The day was over all unevenful.

Then my chain broke. On the highway.

I pulled over and started to fix it. Then my chain tool broke. 

Finally we piece mealed it together and got to town. 

We found a camp site, cooked up some dinner, showered and hit the hay.

Wednesday 7/24/13

I headed into town early and picked up chain, and a washer for my front sprocket bolt. The spring washer had lost its spring and the sprocket was floating on the spline. The guy at the shop was super helpful ( notice a trend here?) and we got it all fixed up and ready to rock in an hour. Joe pulled up and again we hit the road.

We road to Smithers where we stopped for gas and then Lunch. I noticed the bolt holding my front sprocket was gone completely and the sprocket was floating on the spline. We stopped at a Honda dealership and the kid hooked us up with a bolt and washer free of charge. Then I noticed my tire was flat. One of the lugs had actually ripped off and it time to replace the tire.

We pulled into Eyecandy customs right next to the honda dealership. They had some k60 scout tires but none in my size. I settled for a wierd tire from korea. The owner Sam was super friendly and cut joe and I a deal on the tires. We installed them and by this time it was five thirty. Sam gracouisly invited us back to his place for a barbecue and camping. We accepted. He and his wife live right along this gorgeous river. We cooked up some food, drank some beer, shot some targets with pellet guns and told stories. There was another adventure rider there from Lowell Mass. He was on a BMW 650.

Thursday 7/25/13

We went out for an early morning spin with Sam. He was on a old honda 600 and was rippin wheels and spinning his back tire all over the place. We were doing some fun muddy trail riding and came to a river. The descion was made to turn back and go up the ski hill. We cruised up the ski hill. Sam talked to some maintence guys and they let us ride the lift line to the top. It was a super fun little hill climb. The clouds obstructed the view but it was fun nonetheless. We went back to sams, packed up out shit and were again on the road.

Busted out a couple hundred highway miles and filled up right before the cassiar. Got on the Cassiar and i crashed into a beaver pond and busted my motor. Joe towed me 60 miles to the KTM dealer in terrace at 60 miles an hour on the highway. It was super dangerous but tons of fun. Actually it wasnt fun at all but its a good story.

We stopped at the KTM dealer and slept outside over night. Watched Goodbye Pork Pie. A kiwi classic. A beautiful night and a great adventure.

Friday 7/26/13

We went out and grabbed breakfast. When we got back the Mechanic Mike took a look at the bike, we cleaned the carb, checked the valves and did some general troubleshooting. Still no start. Finally the owner came out and looked down the spark plug hole with a fiberobtic camera. There it was, sure as shit. Cracked piston. Fuuuuuck.

Joe and I went out for lunch and considered my options.

A guy at the shop had offered me a ride to the ferry on sunday. I looked into renting uhual, a truck and the ferry seemed the way to go. I talked to progressive. They might warranty the motor.

Returned to Kickstart in terrace and pulled the motor with joe. It took us about two hours.

Called Brian, the good Samaritan who had offered us the ride. We went back to his place then ordered some pizza. Drank some Canadian clam ( Canadian beer and clamato) and watched some tv.

Satuday 7/27/13

Joe hit the road for Whitehorse.

Brian and I kicked it for the next two days.

Sunday 7/28/13

Brian gave me a ride out to Prince George and I caught the ferry.

Monday 7/29/13

The ride on the ferry is slow. Did some good listening and reading. Met Victor, a Danish traveler. Put in some work on Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Its a slow read but I like it. I have to read half of it twice but it makes sense.

Tuesday 7/30/13

I'm writing this from The grind in Juneau. A small coffee shop. They made me an Ice coffee with 6 shots of expresso. Holy shit.

Sorry for the lack of pictures. My camera cracked and the lense is all foggy. So this is all ive got.