June 8th, 2007

Today we got to the Canadian Border north of Coleville.

The border wasn't open! who knew that the border had hours? After a short wait and interrogation by the Canadians we were on our way. The route today is Hwy 395 which becomes Canadian hwy 3 and after a very pretty ride through some heavily forested country we plopped over a ridge to a real gem. Osoyoos sit beside a lake that is as pretty a setting as I have ever seen (see above). We headed north on 97 along a series of lakes and rivers through what must be Canada's bananna belt. Cherries, peaches, grapes and vegetables of all kinds growing right beside the road. You could pick them yourself or buy from roadside vendors. It was quite a site so far north. Up the lake we rode on a very scenic lakeside road to Penticton then Kelowna. It reminded me of pictures of the Medditeranean. The lake was a deep blue and like glass. It was very hard to keep focused on the road with all that stuff to look at.
From Kelowna we headed west on 97c (on the only Canadian freeway of the trip north) to Merritt. After lunch in Merritt we headed west on hwy 8 to Spences Bridge. This was another one of those rides that we lust after. Isolated twisting and no one else around. Very dry in this area though. Hard to figure how it can be so wet in one area, and just a short way off be so dry. Made very good time all the way to Cache Creek on hwy 1. From Cache Creek we went north on hwy 97 all the way to Quesnel. Candidly, I don't remember much of the ride. It was the end of a very long day. 600 miles wears you out and I think exhaustion was setting in. When you are used to our freeways it's hard to imagine taking 12 hours to go 600 miles. The roads up here are in surprisingly good shape considering their winters, but their speed limits are ridiculously slow. Ah well, as that ancient philosopher once said: Es su casa. It is indeed their house.
The people have been exceedingly friendly, especially once they know of our mission. There's just something about two crazy Americans on motorcycles that appeals to people. Or is it our dollars that trade over their dollars by 3-5 % and they don't convert. So on every purchase they get an automatic tip! We just started using our credit cards and let the bank do the work for us.