Day 2 - Friday the 17th

Well after an enjoyable nite of catching up, relaxing and beers, we had decided to turn in early as it may be the only nite that we got any sleep. Boy were we right! The only noise really that nite was the group beside us who were having a great time and were a bit noisy. Ah pay backs! We were awake as usual early, and sat around having coffee and waiting for all to awake. It was a restful morning that was for sure. We watched more vendors arrive and of course more Stompers rolling in and we decided it was our turn to be over enthusiastic. Considering we were all getting up by 6 am we were a little noisy as well and got our good neighbours up with our noise. Art and Colleen wandered over with their coffee pot in hand and poor Art looked like some deranged serial killer with his hair every which way! He took enough flack from us all that he finally went and calmed it down.

We waited a while and finally saw life at the RV across the way, so we wandered over to see what the Mountain was planning on doing and if they wanted to join us for the day. They both agreed a ride to beat the heat was a good plan and offered breakfast ala Mountain before leaving. Lens plan for the day was to ride to Nakusp and take in the hot springs. Not sure why we would want hot springs in this weather and not a cold lake but so be it. The ride there would be worth it, or so we thought. We had breakie, loaded the bikes with suits, towels, etc and checked to see if anyone else wanted to tag along. Steve almost came with us but changed his mind at the last moment and decided to stay closer to the event.

Off we went the 3 bikes heading for Nakusp, surprisingly Len seemed to find his way there without much problem. A few stops in Vernon for gas and a few things then we were on our way. Was actually a late start, think it was close to noon in Vernon and damn it was getting hot! We headed out towards Lumby and then onto the Monashee pass. It is a gorgeous ride thru that pass but the heat was getting to some of us. Mountain pulled over at one point wanting to know how far we were going, think he was a little ticked when he realized that this was going to be an all day ride and we wouldnt be back til much later. I was getting a bit uncomfortable as it was so hot my arse was soaked and couldnt find a comfortable spot on my seat! We carried on heading for the Needles ferry towards Nakusp, taking in the breathtaking views along the way.

We arrived at the ferry and some little pencil necked dweeb yelled at Len that the bikes had to go back to the top! WHAT was his response and made the guy come over and speak nicely to us. We were informed for some reason bikes werent getting first loading this weekend and we had to go a half mile back up the hill and wait in line like the rest of the vehicles!!! WHAT A CROCK! Well to say the least, I became slightly unglued as I wasnt waiting in this line in the heat, I thought Mountain was going to climb over his fairing at Len and said dweeb. A brief decision to go back 20 km to some little town and have some lunch and with Len upset that we flipped on him, off he went like a bat out of hell. I uturned and followed him up the hill but shortly lost sight of him. Looking behind and I didnt see Mountain coming, damn hope he isnt beating the tar out of the dweeb! Sure nuf Mountain finally caught up to me at the turn off for the town of Edgewood. No Len in sight anywhere. Hopefully he went the same way. Mountain pulled up beside me and asked where Len went and I just gave him a hand signal that he was gone thataway! We laughed and he said there better be a cold beer waiting on the table when we got there. Our 5 minute ride into Edgewood ended with some big bug nailing me between the eyes hard enuf to bring tears to my eyes, I think it bounced off me, cause Mountain said he got hit with one at the same time and his wife Erika got hit by a bee in the ear. We arrived at the only place in the town and Len was already there with beers on the table and had already finished one. He was a little grumpy still but we all laughed and got over it. The boys still mad at the dweeb.

The locals told us about a great private beach just down the road and after a bite to eat and a few pops we decided to head there and enjoy the lake. Well boy were they right. We had the beach all to ourselves. The water was warm and refreshing after riding in the heat for so long. Everyone lathered up and cleaned off the road dirt from the past 2 days. Mountain washed his hair then spiked it on the top of his head. He looked like one of the Whos from Whoville!!! We must have stayed there for a few hours before we decided it was time to return. We rode back the same way we had come enjoying the ride and thankfully it was cooling off some now, atleast at the summit. Mountain pulled off just outside of Lumby to clean up his Aunts grave side and we stopped at the pub and waited for him. We left Lumby and let Len lead, opps another mistake! As we headed out of Vernon, Len missed the turn off to head back to the stomp. Little did he know but he was taking the long route back to Salmon Arm and then the stomping grounds. After about a 35km detour we got turned around and headed back in the right direction. Mountain was really ticked off at this point and refused to follow Len any more. He went like hell back in the other direction and was a task to keep up with him.

As we approached the stomping grounds we quickly changed glasses as night was setting in and then we came across our first visit with the local cnstabularies. While we were gone they had set up road blocks at both ends of the road. I was checked first and good enuf all was well, not a word about my bling lights. Then she moved back to Len and decided to give him a hard time about his. Maybe cause they are blue. She didnt like the fact that he had blue flashing lights on his bike and proclaimed to him that she is the only one allowed to have them. Well she was giving him a hard time another officer came over to me and asked about mine and told me I couldnt have them on while the bike was moving. So be it switch them off til we are out of sight, then turn them back on! Thankfully Mountain didnt have his on. Hard to believe, we can ride around in the cities without getting a hassle but now in the middle of bum phuk nowhere , we get the gears!!!

We carry on back to the grounds, and lucky for Mountain his spot is right there, but of course while we were gone the place packed up and it was an obstacle course for us to get thru to our spot. Weaving thru people and bikes, but we managed to get there. Must remember to be back early tomorrow so that we dont have a problem.

We sat down with everyone and with our friends from the geriatric zone that had come up to visit. Definately good place for Ed in the shape he was in. We filled everyone in on our day and had a few beers then went for a wander around to check out some more vendors. Everyone was in fine spirits and having a blast. Mir, well to say the least she had a permagrin on her face and I dont think there was any way of wiping it off. She was just loving the whole thing!!! We sat around, drank, enjoyed the company, danced and just had a great evening before turning in for what we knew would be a not so restful nite, with the band playing til dawn.