Ashcroft - Spences Bridge - Merritt Loop
Riders headed up to Ashcroft hoping to see some colours in the trees. Several stops were made west of Logan Lake to view the Highland Valley Copper mine. Lunch was at the Central Café in Ashcroft and was delicious asper usual. A nice relaxing ride back along Hwy 1 and 8 back to Merritt and then home. Total mileage was over 450 KM.
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Adams River Salmon Run.
Riders headed north to the Adams River where we hoped to view the salmon spawning. Route took us along the Carrs Landing Road to Vernon and then the Falkland Chase Road. Sadly, we were too early for the run as the run's prime is October but we knew the chance undertaken. Regardless. the ride was excellent. We lunched at the Shuswap Pie Company after Cam saw good reviews on the TV show " You Got to Eat Here". If you get the chance we recommend it! For a look at their website click the following link Shuswap Pie Company. Rock Creek - Hwy 33 - Loop.
Sept 3, 2015 Riders headed south to view the devastation of two forest fires, north and south of Oliver and a third at Rock Creek. Breakfast was celebrated at the Frog City Cafe at the Linden Gardens in Kaleden where the group was introduced to an old high school buddy of Scott's, Tim Campbell, from Campbell River. Tim was enroute to Castlegar and met us for breakfast to catch up a bit on old times. After breakfast riders took White Lake Road past St. Andrews by the Lake and the Dominion Radio Telescope along Willowbrook Road then eastwards on Seacrest Hill Road, over to Tuclenuit and the East Bench Roads to Osoyoos. Both Oliver fires are still smouldering with hot spots and smoke flumes here and there up several mountains. The southern fire is the largest and widespread north and south. Both were down to the road as well. The Rock Creek fire was something else. Approaching Rock Creek form the west one can see evidence of the fire on the east side of the high hills. Descending the steep highway one passes through the path of the fire on both sides of the highway all the way down to Rock Creek. At the intersection of Highways 3 and 33 looking west up the mountain is quite a sight and it is evident that the fire started nust a bit north of this point. Proceeding north on Hwy 33 the burn continues on both sides of the highway, past the BC Kettle River Provincial Park to the north side of the next town, Westbridge. This is huge! Both sides of the valley are burnt. It was a devastating fire and apparently caused by a person. Absolutely mind boggling. Riders said goodbye to Tim at Rock Creek as he continued on to Castlegar and the rest of us returned home via Hwy 33 luckily ducking in between rain clouds along the way. Descending the road from the Big White intersection was a pleasant twisty route and finally back to the warmth of the valley and Kelowna. A good ride covering over 330 kilometres and a very nice motorbike route. I was having issue with my camera and half had to be deleted as they were out of focus. Those remaining are posted to the side. Plan your breakfast t home and we will lunch at the Shuswap Pie Company. August 27, 2015 Riders headed to Logan Lake and Ashcroft via the Connector with lunch at the Central Café, Ashcroft then rode to Spenses Bridge and Merritt, returning via the Connector.
Good ride and a very nice motorbike route. August 20, 2015
Riders tackled the roads to Tullameen via Green Mountain Road - Keremeos and returned via the connector. Fires were just about everywhere else so riders breakfasted at the Bears Den, Penticton and then rode to Tullameen via Green Mountain and the Old Hedley Roads, returning via the Connector and by-passing the Aspen Grove corner along the route to Kentucky Lake. Coming into Tullameen we stopped to visit the "shoe tree" where anyone with an unwanted pair of shoes hurls them up into the branches. Great conversation piece but rather ugly to view. Ride continued to Loon Lake Road joining the Connector and finally eastwards back home. July 23, 2015
Riders headed south and breakfasted at the Frog City Café at Linden Gardens, Kaleden. what a beautiful and peaceful setting. To avoid the fire on Willowbrook road we headed to Okanagan Falls taking the Oliver Ranch Road - Hwy 97 - Tucelnuit Drive - Black Sage Road to Osoyoos - Hwy 3 over Richter Pass - Barcello Road - Hwy 97 to Princeton where we had lunch in the renovated Vermillion Fork. The homeward trip took us along Hwy 5A and over the connector totalling over 300 km. Bill and Rose from Vernon also rode along with us and racked up over 500 km. May 28, 2015
Riders met at Tim Horton's off Elk Road, Westbank at 8:30 AM and picked up Kelownian's at Costco Chevron at 9 AM. First muster was at Tim Horton's in Winfield around 9:20 AM. Riders continued north to Vernon via Carrs Landing and Commonage Roads then to Falkland then took the Falkland-Chase Road in a south to north direction based on a recommendation by Bill Gross. About 15 km along this road we stopped and hiked into a geological glacial remant in the middle of the forest. It resembles an ancient chimney in the shape of a pillar about 50 feet high. Why it is still standing is a mystery but quite beautiful to see. We met a German couple, Birgit and Thomas, touring the valley who were also motorcyclists but we not on their bikes today. See the slide show below. From Chase we took Hwy 97 back to Sorrento and Sprokets Café for lunch. Return trip home was via Hwy 97, Okanagan Avenue, and Deep Bench -Westside Roads to West Kelowna. A perfect riding day covering over 350 km. May 21, 2015 Riders met at MacDonald's, Westbank at 9 AM. Bill and Rose joined us from Vernon and we picked up Cam in Peachland then headed south to Osoyoos via East Skaha and McLean Roads to Okanagan Falls where we met Vic. The ride to Osoyoos was via Tucelnuit Drive and Black Sage Road. Riders then took Hwy 3 to Rock Creek and then Midway for lunch at the Mile Zero diner. Return ride was via Hwy 33. A good ride covering over 360 km. May 14, 2015 Southern riders met at Tim Horton's off Elk road, Westbank at 8:30 AM. We mustered at Tim Horton's , Winfield around 9:20 AM welcoming a new rider Michael Herald. Glad to have you with us, Michael! We then headed north along Oceola, Carrs Landing Roads to Predator Ridge. Jim Wilson took us along two new roads, Bench Row and Okanagan into Vernon, Old Kamloops Road skirting Swan Lake and then to Salmon Arm Road. All enjoyed the Jade Restaurant for lunch. Return ride was via Okanagan - Deep Creek-Otter Lake Roads where northern riders split off for Winfield and southern riders took Westside Road back home. A good ride covering over 275 km. May 7, 2015 Riders collected at McDonalds Westbank and headed south on Hwy 97 - Renfrew Road south of Peachland and back on 97 to Penticton, Eastside Road along Skaha Lake the McLean Road to Okanagan Falls Hotel Pub for Lunch. In the afternoon we continued westwards on Green Lake, Willowbrook, Twin Lake Roads returning via Green Mountain Road with a stop at Summerland Sweets in Summerland for a well deserved treat. April 23, 2015 Members headed north. Southern riders met at Tim Horton's in Westbank at 9:30 AM and picked up Kelownian's at the Chevron station beside Costco on Hwy 97 then continued to Tim Horton's in Winfield for 10:15 AM. We the rode along Oceola and Carrs Roads to Vernon then Old Kamploops Road-97 to the Whispering Pines for lunch. After lunch Bill and Rose Gross led us on Salmon Arm and Heywood Armstrong Roads, Knob Hill Schubert Roads then Otter Lake and Grandview Flats Roads and back along St. Anne Rod to Hwy 97. Here we split up as Kelownians headed back via Hwy 97 and the rest of us followed Westside Road to home. A great ride coverin 275 km. April 16, 2015 Riders got back in the saddle again for the first time and gorgeous weather accompanied us the entire route. Temperatures peaked around 20 degrees Celsius. Riders met at MacDonald's in Westbank at 10 AM, SE parking lot (corner of Carrington and Gellatly). Peachlanders joined us enroute shortly after as we travelled south. Route taken was south on Hwy 97 to Penticton, east side of Skaha Lake around the back of Big Horn on Maclean Creek Road, Oliver Ranch Road, Tucelnuit Drive, Black Sage Road to Osoyoos for lunch at the Sage & Sand Neighbourhood Pub (see below for details). After lunch riders continued towards Keremeos where we witnessed an early forest fire on the eastern slopes of Snowy Mtn. Barcello Rd. which follows the escarpments east of Keremeos were a gorgeous with the shadows across exposed rocks as was the ride home to Kelowna via Hwy 97. Sage & Sand Neighbourhood Pub 6403 Cottonwood Dr., Osoyoos. For a location click here. |
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