Shipping the Geezer Glide from TO was seamless, in corporate speak, but delivery, on the other hand, was, well, it was letter worthy. Called the dealer - no bike. Called the shipper - in transit in Alberta. Did some stressing, waited patiently for the phone call from either the dealer or the shipper for another week.
Recalled the dealer:
" Your bike is in the same place as last time you called."
" What, still on the truck ? Geez, I could walk from TO faster. I'll call the shipper right away."
"No, it's here like I told you last time you phoned. "
"Huh ?????"
By the time I picked up the bike, the dealer had been in possession for 2 weeks.
The rant is now over...................and belated hats off to the dealer - no charge at his end !! ( and one of the machanic's personal ride was not a Harley, but a '74 Commando. Some people know the score. Nirvana................)
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......flew into Kelowna on the 7th, and, as alighting from the taxi at Kane's , saw Al Steenbergen drive in on his 2012 orange (very orange) Fatboy. Al had left Sooke on the 6th, staying overnight in Hope.
Perfect timing. The boys at Kane's were aces in that no charge for storing the bike. I had a small over night bag thing with me, but had to unload the FL to find out what I had shiped in the bike ( couldn't remember after 3 weeks). In other words, it took an hour to unpack-repack. No extra room. When I then saw the size of Steenbergen's bag bungeed to the seat of his bike....well....it was a mite embarrassing.... awkward even.
Al and I drove south down #33 to Rock Creek, then #3 to Osoyoos (how's that spelt (spelled?) again ?)
Very hot, uncomfortably so. But after the spring, or lack of it, we had in Victoria, no complaints.
Keremeos, Headley, Bromley Rock, and into Princeton - calling it a day. Failed to take a picture of the truck junk yard somewhere along that route. All trucks, all different types - old trucks - wrecked & worn trucks -no cars ! What a tourist attraction. Also failed to take a pic of the pink house in Princeton.
Hotel check-in put me in the same room I stayed in when Don & I stayed there going the other way.
Since I had all the Toronto gear with me, dug out the bathing suit and went for a swim in the pool.
Instant heat relief.
Rode up to Kamloops via 5a - awesome road - rolled into the HD dealer. Met 2 women on a tour - and I couldn't resist suggesting to one rider that she never sell her awesome ride, an '03 Heritage. Turns out she bought it used at Drane's in Victoria.
What ?? An '03 Heritage at Drane's ??
Thank goodness for distractions though........................... across the parking lot was a non-Harley. Most non-Harleys warrant no interest from the Harleys boys. But not this one ! A 1948 HRD. As in Vincent.
That's as in the legendary VINCENT !
Side-tripped up to Berriere (sp) to visit a friend of Al's - Scotty, who lived 20 km up a side road in what can only be called an enchanted cottage lake side log home. Scotty built it himself, although Al also said something about building it. (As Al lives in Sooke (Victoria)... not too sure how that works...) The area around Berriere, though, is desolate due to the '03 fire that went out of control.. And, again, failed to capture Eden in film....
Continued on Hwy 1 to Sovana (sp?) where we hung a left on a road which, while indicated on the map, had no signage, no centre line, no markings, no "to _____". Felt like adventure bikes (ers) .. Ok Ok .....
Took us past Logan Lake, which we didn't actually see, and then down to Hwy 8 at Merritt. The pine beetle devastation was sobering, to say the least, but there were a lot of 1-4 foot pine trees growing. Renewal, I hope. Stayed at Merritt:
Left Merritt for the Trans. Cda. via #8 to Spence's Bridge: in my opinion the best bike route in BC, especially considering the lack of traffic. Too bad it's so short. Spectacular ride down the canyon to Hope & then Van.
I won't dwell on the fiasco that existed on the Van. approaches (both a rant; nay, a RANT and a LETTER) other than to say Al & I made it home by 9 pm.
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That's pretty well it for the blog for this year. If there's some blogging for next year, we'll (whoever we is) be having pledge & membership drives before hand, and maybe a fundraiser ?? You know, support from viewers like you, that sort of thing.......................
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