Heading Home
Having a hard time getting to sleep in the early hours of the evening
due to the heat. However, I did manage to doze off into the night and
dream. My alarm went off promptly at 5:30 am. I was a bit startled and
briefly thought about rolling over and closing my eyes. But I had a long
day ahead of me. Sooo I got up and packed my gear (tent, sleeping bag,
pad, etc...)
I made some breakfast and headed out towards Lillooet. Awe, life was
good this morning. The temperatures were in the 60’s F range and it felt
good to ride in cool air. I was really digging the views down Carpenter
lake in the Early morning sun.
At one point, I came around a turn and almost hit a doe deer and her
babies. They were licking the road (calcite I assume). No pictures or
video as they hurried up the mountainside to get out of harms way.
Further on down the road I came across some sheep doing the same thing.
Again, I didn’t have time to get my camera on ad running before they
scurried up the mountainside into the trees.
Not long after that I came upon Marshall Falls. I made a quick stop here to admire them.
As I traveled down the lake towards Terzaghi Dam, it was hard to resist
stopping and enjoying the immense eye candy. I had to keep my eye on the
road. But I did a few more stops and looked out on the other side of
the lake examining old logging cuts and contemplating if there are any
accessible roads on that side of the lake to explore. Of course that
would have to wait for another time... but still it’s nice to dream.
I was seriously thinking about heading up over Mission Mountain and over
to Seton Portage and through Anderson Lake. I was severely tempted.
As I approached Terzaghi Dam, I made the turn to head up to Porcupine
Bluffs. It meant riding through the tunnel and climbing up the side of
Mission Mountain to a nice pullout.
Porcupine Bluffs is known to me, in my heart as Stairway to Heaven. The
views from there are stupendous to say the least. It’s a place of peace
and quiet and reflection. Although the Bridge River complex is an
example of poor ecological planning and execution, it didn’t detract at
all from the emotions I feel every time I arrive here. Looking at the
pics, I think you’ll agree with me.
I decided to shoot some aerial video here to take home with me as personal memory and I included it in some of my video.
About those thoughts on going over to Seton Portage and Anderson Lake
via the Highline road. I checked my maps, additional mileage and time it
would incur. I decided that if I was to arrive home at a decent hour in
my home state of Washington, I would have to forgo that leg. Bummer! As
I am still a working man, I wanted to be home in time for a nice dinner
with my wife and a hot bath with a good nights sleep to be ready for
work the next day.
Soo I took off and retraced my route back to Lillooet from 2 days
before. It is a great ride as well, but I had already seen this. It is
worth seeing again of course, but missing out on the Highline road was a
tough pill to swallow. Too much too see and too little time. I look
forward to my retirement when time will not be an issue and my only
worries will be fuel range.
So with that in mind, I retraced my steps and made my way to Lillooet,
past Horseshoe Bend and the cliffy roads with the Bridge River flowing
far below me in the canyon.
I took highway 12 back to Lytton and noted the fires on the west side of
the Fraser River still burning out of control. Helicopters were buzzing
around the mountain like mosquitoes. Sadly, when I arrived in Lytton,
the entire town was being razed. The entire hamlet had been a victim of
fires last year. Poor folks. It appears that the re-building process is
happening. I’ll probably be back next year to witness the progress.
I had a non eventful trip down Hwy 1 to Hope. I then made my way to
Abbotsford and crossed the Sumas border in Washington State. I was only
an hour and a half from home now. I called my wife and she stated that
she would have dinner ready, a warm bath waiting and that the gate and
the barn door would be open when I arrived home. I love her so much. She
has always been extremely supportive of my adventures. She can no
longer ride with me on such trips due to her health. I always call her
when I can and tell her she is in my heart and in pocket looking out
upon the world as I see it when I ride. She excitedly looks forward to
my pictures, videos and more importantly the descriptive stories I share
on my adventures. Ever man should be so lucky.
Thanks for riding along with me.
~GrizzLee
No comments:
Post a Comment