Jun 25, 2012 - Rest Day One

Day five – rest day Today was the first of eleven rest days that we would have on this cross Canada ride. After coming over the Coquihalla Summit, this rest day was appreciated. Although, in short order, it would become some what of a panic. On a rest day there is no cooking crew on duty. There is cold cereal, fruit, bread, coffee etc. that is set out by the staff or other riders for breakfast. Leftovers from the previous day are fair game also. Marion had come into the campground the previous evening on her way back to Calgary. Though we...

Jun 24, 2012 - Merritt

Merritt The first two days were flat with kilometer distance below one hundred. The ride to Merritt would be around 111km and include the climb over the Coquihalla Pass. This was serious. I was on kitchen duty for the evening meal so Bob O and I set off early. He was ready way before I was and was hopping from one side of his bike to the other waiting for me. Finally we headed out into a vista of blue sky and clouds. We rode up into the clouds. The climb to the summit started as soon as we left camp and wouldn’t peak until 40km later. It...

Jun 4, 2012 - On to Merritt

OK, I left Kamloops on Saturday, June 2nd after meeting up with some folks on Friday from the Langley HOG club at the Harley dealer's BBQ. They had a band playing and were selling beer but it was outside and the wind was blowing about 50 mph constantly and I guess people got tired of holding on to plates and glasses and so it was sparsely attended and therefore, I left after the first set and headed for Merritt the next day. My friends Pat and John have a house on Monck Lake, just outside of Merritt and so I ended up parking the trailer...

Aug 10, 2011 - On the Caribou Wagon Road

2011-08-10 On The Caribou Wagon Road We pulled out of Big Country RV Park, drove 4 miles and pulled off at the 108 Mile House Heritage Centre. This collection of old buildings, moved here from other sites along this highway, is like a regional museum of life along the Cariboo Hwy in the early 1900s. Roadhouses were located about every 20 miles along this road to accommodate travelers, most of them traveling by horse and wagon. This was one of the overland routes to the Yukon. we spent about an hour or more looking at everything. Right next...

Jun 27, 2011 - Merritt, Rest Day

Rest Day Day 5 After a good night’s sleep rest day was a rather full day with laundry, bike cleaning & doing this, the journal! Well maybe a beer or two or a whiskey to give me legs for tomorrow’s long day of around 150 k! After all one must replace ones electrolytes!

Jun 26, 2011 - Merritt, B.C.

Hope to Merritt Day 4 K’s 114 k’s time 5h/50m Average speed: 19.54/H T to D 300.09k’s We left Hope at 8:45 am for the first long climb of the Rockies, up the Coquihalla. There are three climbs on this route to Merritt with inclines of 6% to 8%. While the percentage is not so tough it’s the fact that there are significant k’s for each climb which causes your muscle to object greatly. We rode them all but were not afraid to stop to catch our breath every now and then. The summit is at 1244 meters. We made this before noon and after a nice...

Aug 27, 2010 - Merritt, B.C.

Up and at em early again this morning. Breakfast with Moss before heading out to Osooyoos, and then up to Merritt BC. It was a rather cool trip (temperature wise) today. We had to wear our jackets and gloves all day. We stopped at Osooyoos at Tim's for a quick coffee. There we met Wayne from Red Deer Alberta, who is enroute to Winthrop today, before heading back home. It's great to meet people on the road, and we always seem to get good riding tips or route suggestions from them. We left Osooyoos on Hwy 5A to Princeton and then on to...

Mar 2, 2010 - ON OUR WAY

Well, we're on our way. Left home about 10:00am this morning and travelled thru the connector to Merritt, BC. Road conditions were great up to Merritt where we stopped for fuel and a quick lunch at the local Husky/Mohawk. Continued along the Coquihalla headed to Hope, BC. WHOA.......... Now this is where we ran into HEAVY SNOW AND DENSE FOG....Oh well, all the fun part of travelling on the outer edge of winter.

Aug 19, 2009 - Quesnel/Merritt

Tues, Aug 18 Sunny and warm Started out for Prince George, ended up going further and dry camping in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada. We are definitely back in the warm weather (85 degrees). When we stopped at a rest area for lunch, we found wild blueberries and picked enough for breakfast in the morning. Wed., Aug. 19 Sunny and warm The scenery has changed from forests to agriculture -- still have mountains but more valleys now. We are staying in Merritt, British Columbia at the Claybanks RV Park for the...

Jun 21, 2009 - Day 37

Crossed the border into Canada about 1030 this morning. Had to do a quick stop at Duty Free. Went in the exit and then could not get out easily. Salesperson had to open gate for us. Took about 20 minutes to cross. Arrived at Merritt, a municipal campground for 30 per night all hookups. Our first steady rain of the trip- has rained since we arrived at 130 pm. Will head out tomorrow in direction of Kelowna.

Sep 7, 2008 - Elkhart Road - Highway 97

Arrived this evening to the property of DoveTail Loading Systems anxious and looking forward to have a self loading kayak rack installed on the coach. Their property was previously a lodge and it's two substantial buildings were constructed from large diameter logs. Behind the lodge buildings the family operated fabrication operation occupies a metal shop and covered outdoor space. Their 2 blue healers were very friendly and provided good company as I prepared dinner on the BBQ and soaked up the mountain vistas from this place. I have to...

Sep 1, 2008 - Merrit,B.C.

AUGUST 1st An early start again we hope to drive to Kamloops and stop of at Rudy and Darlene's. We arrived at Rudy's about 2pm had had a good visit catching up on their lives and that of their family.Sitting on there patio around by the pool was so relaxing we could have stayed there all day but we need to find a place to stay for the night.After a long rest while visiting Norm had decided to drive to Merritt rather than stay in Kamloops for the night so that was our plan.A few miles closer to home. Our stop in Merritt was only an...