Wet and cold – riding to Penticton and more

As I looked out of my window in Vancouver I knew it was the morning that I wanted the least. Not because I wanted to remain in Vancouver, where I had a great time and really enjoyed being involved in selling our wines, but because it was raining and Bonnie, now back with me, had new tires on.

New tires and wet weather are a nightmare, with every line in the road becoming a veritable skidpan. This was not going to be an easy day. 290 miles, much of it through the mountains in the wet. The most dangerous piece would be the first section out of Vancouver, for it is here that all the lines are in great shape and there are many.

But Bikerpilots do not flinch from riding in most conditions. Bikers may not ride in the rain but real pilots handle virtually any weather. So I have often flown in atrocious conditions and done many a let down to minima. It is always essential to begin the approach. You set yourself a minima and if the weather deteriorates below that, you overshoot and go on elsewhere. But if you don’t begin the approach you will never land. So it is a bit like hitting the put past the hole. No put hit short ever has a chance of sinking and neither does faint heart with maiden fair.

So with this in mind, Bonnie is packed and readied. I get into my wet weather gear and look like a bright yellow astronaut. It does keep me dry but is as hot has hell. I mount Bonnie, push her button and we are off.

Soon I am in a part of Vancouver that shocks me. Most cities have a poor area and these are normally on the outskirts. This area of the city has food line after food line and hordes of really poor people. It is not what I expect here and certainly not these numbers. I guess the flip side is that most of them do not want a job rather than cannot get one.

Then I am on the highway, which surprisingly for a Sunday morning is very busy. The rain belts down, getting heavier not lighter. It does not hold up. I leave the Canada 1 Highway for the Canada 3 Highway, even though the 1 is the faster route according to the GPS. I do so because Vicky has told me to go on that route as it much better scenery. I am not sure how much I will see.

It soon proves to be an excellent suggestion as the traffic diminishes, as does the rain for a while. I will not bore you with descriptions of the scenery, as every time I think it cannot be more magnificent, I have to eat my words. Trees and water surround me. Majestic. Low clouds everywhere. Reminds me of when Eveanne and I went by helicopter from our floating hotel near Prince Rupert to fish inland for trout some 10 years ago.

I arrive at Princeton and am ravenous. I am still avoiding McDonalds and try a Canadian outfit called A and W, mainly because of the large number of Motorbikes outside. A disastrous choice. This is the worst service, meal and dirtiest store I have eaten in since KFC in Matatiele in 1998.

Penticton Airport

Morning view from my room

and the evening view

Back on the road and into Penticton at about 16h30 after 8 hours of wet roads and hard riding. I am tired but I have big night ahead of me. Cynthia and her husband Dave have invited me for dinner. Cynthia is one of the gorgeous girls from Walla Walla. Two of their friends will pick me up in their “Big white truck”. This happens at 19h00 when John and Rosalie arrive. They have their friends John and Leslie (this is spelt right and is a lady Leslie not Lesley). I will be in trouble because the back seat is cramped. She is next to me and is blonde, in great shape and in a “nothing on red” dress. I have not had a flesh and blood woman this close to me for ages. I concentrate on Bonnie, Jayne and Spot to distract me.

We arrive at the Enn’s. Their winery and farm is named “Laughing Stock Wine Farm” They have a beautiful house overlooking the Lake Okanagan. The winery is yards away. The scene is reminiscent of New Zealand South Island.

We have a great evening. Everyone is into wine. There are also the owners of another winery in the area. And John and Leslie. Dave was an Investment manager and Cynthia has an MBA and was also in the investment business. They now run the Farm and business on their own. Dave makes the wine and Cynthia runs the vineyards, sales and admin. They are both super smart, knowledgeable about wine and food and on top of the game.

More importantly they make great wine. His Chardonnay is almost as good as ours and his Bordeaux Blend briefly touches the Magia stratosphere. We also have some other great wines, which have been brought out for the evening.

I know it is going to be a tough morning. I have hired a car to be picked up at 08h00. I do not want to be visiting wine farms, tasting wine and riding Bonnie. I decline the Port. This is offered as a nightcap at 01h00. I am getting smarter.

I am also being very careful. Leslie has been asking me some very challenging and insightful questions about my trip and the real reason for me doing the ride and why I am blogging about it. I realise that she is no airhead. She tells me that she is a producer for Discovery Channel in Canada. But I have to think and I am worried about my answers and the thoughts she has provoked worry me as well.

This is a great adventure, but I am away from all near and dear for months. I am lonely at night and want to share my experiences firsthand. I actually think about this for the rest of the evening and most of today as well.

Thankfully we are on our way before I make a fool of myself and I collapse into bed at about 02h00 and pass out. I wake up surprisingly easily and feeling not too worse for wear. This is a sign that the wine was excellent.

A quick breakfast and the owner of my B and B drops me at Budget in Penticton. Here I am upgraded at a nominal cost to a Mustang convertible.

Off I go to my first appointment, one of my “Big Things”. Red Rooster Winery. Karen Gillis the winemaker is waiting for me and we have an excellent and very informative two hours. There are no special tricks in the game. This is confirmed. But I always learn from these visits and in particular the little details around the winery. I take pictures and make mental notes for Nikki, Clayton and James.

Red Rooster

Red Rooster Vineyard View over Lake Okanagan

Then back to the B and B. While I have Internet connectivity I decide to try and book some lodging at Whitehorse, Haines Junction and Tok as these do not look to be good camping options. I cannot get a single bed in any one of 12 hotels in Whitehorse. There is some competition in the Yukon over that period and rooms are like hens teeth. I decide to spend a bit of time and sort out rooms the whole way up to Anchorage. I have to be in Whitehorse to visit the Yukon Liquor Board, because Miss Molly is sold there, on the Monday morning just a week from today.

It takes about two hours and between my mobile and the Internet I am now organised all the way to Anchorage on Wednesday next week. I am getting closer all the time.

Then, down to Oliver for lunch and a visit to Covert Farms. Jes Covert is one of Vicky’s suppliers and he runs a completely organic wine and vegetable farm with a small restaurant. Shortly before arriving I call Vicky to tell her that I have once again listened to her. As I arrive, Jes come running to meet me. He has also received instructions from Vicky. We have a great lunch and I learn a lot about organic farming. We cannot do it, of this I am sure.

Then back to Penticton. I am meant to visit Miranda (The other Walla Walla hottie) and her husband at their farm, Elephant Island. I am running too late and excuse myself and go straight to meet with David Enns. He and I tour his winery and talk wine and motorcycles. He has been to South America three years in a row, doing the ride I will be undertaking with Simon next year. He confirms it is an awesome ride. Simon get ready!

His winery is super functional and he and one assistant winemaker handle the production of 5000 cases per year with no other help in the winery. He has some great ideas which I like and the fermentation eggs are on my list for our winery upgrade. Because of their shape the reactions during fermentation continually cause the juice to be strirred. He also has some very interesting 500l barrels for red wine whole bunch fermentation and used compressed air for his punch downs and pump overs.

Laughing Stock winery. Small but super functional

Fermentation Eggs

Cynthia and Dave, once again a huge thank you for your hospitality. I look forward to spoiling you in South Africa.

Before closing up for the evening, I am making dinner for myself at the B and B tonight and finishing the bottle of Red Rooster Chardonnay Reserve that Karen opened for us this morning, I decide to go for a swim at the beach.

This is in front of our B and B and a dinkum beach. Sand, sea gulls but also ducks. It is a fresh water sea and a magnificent temperature. No glacial lake this. I wallow and enjoy the water. Kids everywhere enjoying the summer break.

Tomorrow I ride north. I am really on the way to Alaska. I sleep at Williams Lake near Prince George. The next night I am at the Hudson Lodge near Stewart and then at a lodge named Bell2. The following night sees me at Watson Lake. Then the weekend at a fishing resort at Dawson Peaks. I have booked a fishing guide for the Sunday.

On Monday 23 July I ride to Whitehorse for my meeting and then overnight at Haines Junction.

On Tuesday I cross back into the US (Alaska is  part of the US, Nita please take note of this geographical fact. The 49 states which are on the mainland are known as the lower 49 and also the contiguous US and then there are Alaska and Hawaii ) and then I sleep in Tok.

Then on Wednesday I should arrive in Anchorage. I am into the real meat of the trip. Hot weather until I reach the Yukon. Much rain is then forecast, so I am now well practiced

Good Night and good Luck