Golden to Merritt June 24th

Words and photos by JK

OK I now confess to HATING HARLEYS!!!! I FINALLY got to sleep and from 7am until 10am the dozen Harley riders sat outside with those loud grumbling engines running whilst their other halves continued to apply makeup and pack enormous bags big enough to move house. Now I love the sound of the internal combustion engine. I admit that the Milwaukee 45degree V-twin is not my favourite sound (best sounding engine bar none to my ears is the Aprilia RSV Mille 60 degree V-twin) so to fill the universe with 12000Db of this ubiquitous American sound (it should be your national anthem...no costume malfunctions at Superbowl) early in the morning for hours is just plain thoughtless. I guess they think it makes them noticeable. It does that. The funny thing is that when we arrived at a motel in Merritt 271.4 miles later, the receptionist said that a couple had arrived and been in the same motel as us last night and complained about the same idiots! These are air-cooled engines. They don't need to sit and idle for hours. Must be truck drivers.

Fulton wanted to moon you all through the Mountie but he thought better of it and just smiled for the camers. We had threatening skies again. The ride over Kicking Horse pass and Roger's Pass was fabulous but a tad chilly to say the least. Our rain gear kept out the worst. We stopped for petrol at Revelstoke BC and my USA card was declined. They are paranoid about fraud. Steal my identity? Please do! Then you get my bank manager, my ex, my job...serves you right. So whilst I wait I chat to the lady and chap behind the counter. I wasn't TRYING to be funny but she was literally crying with laughter and begging me to stop. All I did was describe Vancouver...

The Sushwap was stunning. For some reason we were both photo lazy so the only shots I took were of these weird clouds at the end of the ride in Merritt. Merritt hosts a country and western festival every year. The receptionist at the motel was less than enamoured with it. Country and western music (now just dated rock with a twang in the voice) makes me snigger. Sorry all you pearl button fans.
Over the empty Hwy 5A we saw a lot of dead trees and I spotted a sign about mountain pine beetles so I assume they've had some little nasties visiting. I got carried away with the wide open space and shot past Garrett at some ungodly speed. Good thing it was just a funny five minutes. Some Mountie with a ray-gun was nabbing speeders about 20 miles later.
I slept over 9 hours last night and feel worse for it. I think I am allergic to sleep, slowness and anything healthy. Off to Abbotsford today. I lived there in the 90's.