Our first morning in Toad Rock we were greeted with the same weather. The rides for the day had cancelled and most of the people at the Horizons Unlimited event were sorting themselves out ready to leave. We chatted with the remaining few and caught up with Rene, Deb & David (who are also travelling at the moment). Rene gave us lots of information and help on South America.
Come lunch time, the weather had dried-up and most had left we decided to go to lunch with Daren and Beth. We were recommended to go to Keslow, a small town a few miles away. I nursed the chain the few miles to have a good lunch then spent the afternoon wandering around a restored paddle steamer. Doesn't sound that interesting but the work performed restoring it was excellent and it had been filled with artefacts and models from the time so you had a good feeling of what it would have been like travelling on the boat.
The evening was spent around the campfire with Beth, Daren, Kindiki & Robert (we think! Sorry)
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/8448420/119421647.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
Kindiki show us how to pack a bike!
Beth, Daren and Kindiki left the next day.
Our bike suits were still soaked pretty well through , our bikes required their 6,000 mile service and we needed a rest for the continual days of driving we’d undertaken.
We had eyed up a wooden shelter on the campsite as a suitable base to help in during out our tents and when everyone left on Monday we moved in.
When we moved in, and given the weather we have experienced, we made sure we were dry under the shelter and the tarps came into full use again to ensure we could move about and a place to eat in the dry. The fire pit was moved to our “eating area” so we could have a big fire (are there any other type with Mike around!) to keep us warm and to help dry out the ‘waterproof’ BMW gear.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/8448420/119421465.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
Re camped!
The first priority was to fix my chain and sprocket set because driving around was getting dodgy, so once we had re-camped, this was started. As usual with these things, even if they go well, they take longer than you think and it was dark by the time I had finished, but the bike was a thousand times better.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/8448420/119421533.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
There's another 6k in that!
The next couple of days were spent updating the Website, washing, designing “exploringrtw” logos for the panniers and trying to dry out the bike gear. This would have been much quicker but for the constant requirement to play with the three dogs (Des, Ricky & Lucy) and the stroking and feeding of the cats (Mo & Jo). The dogs weren’t fed! Lucy is a black Labrador who’s nose is permanently fixed to the ground or any container in sight and single handily removes any risk of bears looking for food. The only food he doesn’t like is Banana’s. But coffee creamers, corn oil, butter by the pound, are all in the range of his discerning taste bud’s. Ricky who is only 8 months old is his partner in crime and through Lucy’s mentoring have developed a similar palate. The evening were spent in the local restaurant / bar the BBI. The food was good and there was live music on Saturday nights which made a change from the 80’s rock that everyone up here seems to listen to!
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/8448420/119421344.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
And they look so innocent!!!
With all the admin we were getting through, we also had a number of shopping items to get for the service so we headed into Nelson for a day. Nelson has an historic downtown as it is over 100 years old. Coming from the UK these seems bizarre as most of the properties of this age are being knocked down as there are so many of them.
Nelson during the 70’s became the hippie centre of Canada and still has that laid back feel (Plenty of veggie, health food shops) and it was a enjoyable day in town and for the first time in a long while we had been able to get a number of backlog purchases completed. The only thing we struggled with was getting the right engine oil for the bikes. But in Wal-Mart, of all places, we were able to get some that we though was the right grade for the bikes.
The next three days we spent servicing the bikes and giving them a good clean (the first since leaving the UK). It may sound a long time but there was a lot to do.
Firstly when I had my bike serviced in the UK by BMW Park Lane they had cross threaded three of the bolts holding the faux fuel tank. The bolts were recessed so it took a while to get out (I just love it when you spend that much money and you get that sort of service!!!).
With all the protective bash plates we put on the bikes it takes a while to remove them to get at the sump nut. We had a full nut and bolt tightening to do as the bikes had been off road for a good couple of thousand miles. Good job we did this I had a frame bolt missing and the rear engine mount was loose, Mike had a frame bolt loose. (I think we’ll do these checks more often now!).
Also we had installed extra fog and spot lamps to the bikes before leaving the UK. We found that when driving on unlit roads at night both the spot and fog lights needed to be on to see the road clearly. In the UK we had wired these so one or the other could be on. So some re wiring was performed and all the lights will come on with full beam but the fog can be turned off if required. We now have a flog lamp that will only work with full beam but that can be sorted out in the future.
The final night we went into Keslow again. We arrived in the town around 8pm to find all the restaurants closing for the night (Arghhh). Finally we stumbled on the Crooked Café which was still open and a band was due to start playing as well. The food was good and the band was good as well. They were called Nathan and there music was a cross between country and rock. Not my personal favourite music but it was a fun evening.
Before I sign off a bit about the campsite
The campsite is run by Steven and Mary. During our stay Steven was away on business so we were looked after by Mary. They runs the campsite on a trust basis. There are no slot washers / dryer, there is beer, milk available in the fridge in the covered picnic table area on a replace or donate basis. As Mary calls it it’s her “social experiment” that the honesty and trust will prevail. I find it hard to put into words how Mary looks after you but you do honestly feel welcome, looked after and at home here. Anyone travelling in this area I would recommend staying here.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/8448420/119421098.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
The "Picnic shelter"
With the bikes serviced and clean we are ready to move on and I’m going to sign off here as I got up at 7:15 this morning to write this so we would be up to date with our entries (for the first time) and we can pack and leave today, as like Haines junction, the snow is getting closer and we’re getting colder.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/8448420/119421220.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
Mary and her "Hog(s)!"
John
Come lunch time, the weather had dried-up and most had left we decided to go to lunch with Daren and Beth. We were recommended to go to Keslow, a small town a few miles away. I nursed the chain the few miles to have a good lunch then spent the afternoon wandering around a restored paddle steamer. Doesn't sound that interesting but the work performed restoring it was excellent and it had been filled with artefacts and models from the time so you had a good feeling of what it would have been like travelling on the boat.
The evening was spent around the campfire with Beth, Daren, Kindiki & Robert (we think! Sorry)
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/8448420/119421647.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
Kindiki show us how to pack a bike!
Beth, Daren and Kindiki left the next day.
Our bike suits were still soaked pretty well through , our bikes required their 6,000 mile service and we needed a rest for the continual days of driving we’d undertaken.
We had eyed up a wooden shelter on the campsite as a suitable base to help in during out our tents and when everyone left on Monday we moved in.
When we moved in, and given the weather we have experienced, we made sure we were dry under the shelter and the tarps came into full use again to ensure we could move about and a place to eat in the dry. The fire pit was moved to our “eating area” so we could have a big fire (are there any other type with Mike around!) to keep us warm and to help dry out the ‘waterproof’ BMW gear.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/8448420/119421465.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
Re camped!
The first priority was to fix my chain and sprocket set because driving around was getting dodgy, so once we had re-camped, this was started. As usual with these things, even if they go well, they take longer than you think and it was dark by the time I had finished, but the bike was a thousand times better.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/8448420/119421533.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
There's another 6k in that!
The next couple of days were spent updating the Website, washing, designing “exploringrtw” logos for the panniers and trying to dry out the bike gear. This would have been much quicker but for the constant requirement to play with the three dogs (Des, Ricky & Lucy) and the stroking and feeding of the cats (Mo & Jo). The dogs weren’t fed! Lucy is a black Labrador who’s nose is permanently fixed to the ground or any container in sight and single handily removes any risk of bears looking for food. The only food he doesn’t like is Banana’s. But coffee creamers, corn oil, butter by the pound, are all in the range of his discerning taste bud’s. Ricky who is only 8 months old is his partner in crime and through Lucy’s mentoring have developed a similar palate. The evening were spent in the local restaurant / bar the BBI. The food was good and there was live music on Saturday nights which made a change from the 80’s rock that everyone up here seems to listen to!
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/8448420/119421344.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
And they look so innocent!!!
With all the admin we were getting through, we also had a number of shopping items to get for the service so we headed into Nelson for a day. Nelson has an historic downtown as it is over 100 years old. Coming from the UK these seems bizarre as most of the properties of this age are being knocked down as there are so many of them.
Nelson during the 70’s became the hippie centre of Canada and still has that laid back feel (Plenty of veggie, health food shops) and it was a enjoyable day in town and for the first time in a long while we had been able to get a number of backlog purchases completed. The only thing we struggled with was getting the right engine oil for the bikes. But in Wal-Mart, of all places, we were able to get some that we though was the right grade for the bikes.
The next three days we spent servicing the bikes and giving them a good clean (the first since leaving the UK). It may sound a long time but there was a lot to do.
Firstly when I had my bike serviced in the UK by BMW Park Lane they had cross threaded three of the bolts holding the faux fuel tank. The bolts were recessed so it took a while to get out (I just love it when you spend that much money and you get that sort of service!!!).
With all the protective bash plates we put on the bikes it takes a while to remove them to get at the sump nut. We had a full nut and bolt tightening to do as the bikes had been off road for a good couple of thousand miles. Good job we did this I had a frame bolt missing and the rear engine mount was loose, Mike had a frame bolt loose. (I think we’ll do these checks more often now!).
Also we had installed extra fog and spot lamps to the bikes before leaving the UK. We found that when driving on unlit roads at night both the spot and fog lights needed to be on to see the road clearly. In the UK we had wired these so one or the other could be on. So some re wiring was performed and all the lights will come on with full beam but the fog can be turned off if required. We now have a flog lamp that will only work with full beam but that can be sorted out in the future.
The final night we went into Keslow again. We arrived in the town around 8pm to find all the restaurants closing for the night (Arghhh). Finally we stumbled on the Crooked Café which was still open and a band was due to start playing as well. The food was good and the band was good as well. They were called Nathan and there music was a cross between country and rock. Not my personal favourite music but it was a fun evening.
Before I sign off a bit about the campsite
The campsite is run by Steven and Mary. During our stay Steven was away on business so we were looked after by Mary. They runs the campsite on a trust basis. There are no slot washers / dryer, there is beer, milk available in the fridge in the covered picnic table area on a replace or donate basis. As Mary calls it it’s her “social experiment” that the honesty and trust will prevail. I find it hard to put into words how Mary looks after you but you do honestly feel welcome, looked after and at home here. Anyone travelling in this area I would recommend staying here.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/8448420/119421098.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
The "Picnic shelter"
With the bikes serviced and clean we are ready to move on and I’m going to sign off here as I got up at 7:15 this morning to write this so we would be up to date with our entries (for the first time) and we can pack and leave today, as like Haines junction, the snow is getting closer and we’re getting colder.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/8448420/119421220.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
Mary and her "Hog(s)!"
John
