I wanted to see my sister Carla and her family who are holidaying in Indio so I took the east side of the SAlten Sea to go north.  Before the sea I rode through a huge expanse of desert.  Along the way there were signs saying not to stop for any reason, but I just could not resist a photo or two. In one place there were every shape and form of dune buggies being driven by every age across the dunes, faces covered. 

Then I met George.  He pulled up beside me when I was parked and asked me if I had ever been to Slab City. I had dears of it before and since it was only 3 miles off the main road I followed him there.  It was a very interesting place and the people are more than interesting. These are folks who are getting away from society and all the rules that come with it.  I will post some more photos the next time I go online.  

Mike and I had some great rides around the yuma area.  Since he has been riding those roads for years he introduced me to some of the fun rides.  One road was paved moguls. By the time I got to the end of it a huge smile was permanently pasted on my face for the rest of the day.  A camcorder would have been great!  Ahead of me I could see Mike popping up on the tops of the hills and disappearing in the dips, like little rabbit FooFoo hoppin' through the forest.   

I wasn't home very long before my little neighbour told me that it was only for cats to sit at home and purr.  HE told me that if he had a motorcycle like mine he would not be hanging about watching me catch up on yard work.  So I called up my new friend who rides a KLR 650 and asked her if she wanted to accompany me on an island exploration.  She was like a fly on a screen wanting in.  She called her friend and we all took off for the north end of Vancouver island, which I had never seen before.  

Ok, now let's talk about sailing and sailboats.  :-)
I was hoping you wouldn't notice that I changed the subject.  I had to because you see, to my dismay I have lost all the beautiful photos I took on my trip with Cindy and the REd Mango to Port Hardy and Gold River!!!  Aaargh!  I am very chagrined.  (I've always wanted to use that word)  So now I will have to skip ahead to the adventure to the Peace country this past summer.  BUT....the photo above was taken from Pender Island during a bicycle ride I did with my brother-in-law.  It will have to do. 

I highly recommend Highway 20 from Oroville to Winthrop WA.  The scenery is breathtaking and so was my near accident. When i came around a corner there were complications with some oncoming traffic and the gravel on the corner. The road and the cement barrier were talking pretty loud to my face.  My left peg dug a deep groove into the road when I just about laid it all down on the line.  At the last minute my bike just popped back up on the road and came to a ladylike stop.  I can't say it was my riding skills.  Felt more like Someone lifted me back onto the road.  Anyway, I was thankful to ride on to see Winthrop, one of my favourite little western towns.  

This town is a must see.  The buildings and the shops are unique.  We went for dinner and were entertained beside the river by a local folk band.  People were friendly and the music was some of the best I have enjoyed.

Then suddenly we were back on the ferry to Vancouver Island only to dream about the next adventure on my two new wheels.

SO MUCH HAPPENED ON THE WAY SOUTH OF WHICH I DIDN'T TAKE PICTURES OF, BUT THE MAIN EVENT WAS THAT I BECAME A TRAITOR TO SYLVIE.  I LEFT HER ON A LOT IN KELOWNA AND DROVE AWAY WITH THIS 1300 YAMAHA V-STAR. YOU KNOW ME....POWER HUNGRY.  NEXT YEAR...?

Sylvie's  full stomach and sparkling chrome was luring me to the road again.  It was June and I knew there would be snow, but I pointed her nose to the north and set my destination  to Jasper....where I found.......  

That I was not the only one off my rocker and onto a motorcycle in the snow.  I met up with friends in Jasper who, like me wanted to ride back down to a lower elevation.  We were high and were loving it but you have to come down at some point.

Follow me
and the sun will brighten your mind
All your twisted thoughts will unwind.
Glide with me
and the wind will whisk all wrong, 
will compose a brand new song.
Ride with me
watch the colours all unfold
change to warmth all that is cold.
Hum with me
the song that plays a tune
Of rubber on road in June.
 

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THAT??

In a field of sage and grass she sat, fat and sassy.  We were camped overlooking the Thomson River just east of Kamloops. I drove the five hours, plus a two hour ferry ride, to see what it felt like to be on a motorcycle for more than ninety minutes.  It was better than I expected.  I was preparing myself for some longer road trips.    

I pitched my little tent under a lone pine tree and because I no longer had a dog to watch over me, Sylvie was my sentinel on the ridge. 

I had a feeling that I had just ridden through a gate into the rest of my life on a road that was leading me to pure adventure.