This morning, after yesterday's ride in the rain, my socks, gloves, boots and jacket were still wet or damp. However, the sun was playing hide and seek with the clouds, so Garry and made the decision to do a ride on our day in Nelson. The plan was to ride to Kaslo, take Highway 31 to New Denver, visit the Nuru Cafe and its owner Tamara, then return the same way.
We left Nelson heading north toward Balfour. I had forgotten how long the 60 kph zone was. It seemed to take forever to make the first 30 kilometres but when the speed limit increased the ride became interesting. The highway snakes along the slopes on the west side of Kootenay Lake so there are a large number of twists, turns, hills, and sharp curves. The beauty of this road is that any rider can choose to enjoy the road and take it at a relaxed pace, or, if more confident and risk taking, they can ride at a speed that challenges their abilities.
The highway crosses a large number of mountain streams that are flowing quickly at this time of year, especially after yesterday's rain and the cool temperatures of this spring. We stopped at one of the larger ones that was in the spring freshet. I am always amazed at the power of rushing water and this stream was a good example. An added bonus was a well done piece of art, not graffiti, that was under the bridge which did not deface anything.
River views on the way to Kaslo
Rushing river between Nelson & Kaslo
Graffiti art under a bridge on the way to Kaslo
I took the lead as we left and Garry dropped behind. I reduced speed and I soon saw his lights in my rear view mirror, so I carried on into Kaslo. I saw Garry ride in to the Husky station so I caried on the the Kaslo Museum which has a CPR caboose and the stern wheeler Moyie, which worked on Kootenay Lake from 1898 until it was retired in 1957 after the Kaslo & Slocan Railway ceased operation the the early 1950s. The boat is undergoing repairs at present. Old wooden boats take a tremendous amount of upkeep to keep them from deteriorating and this boat is almost 125 years old.
SS Moyie and CPR caboose at the Kaslo Museum.
Kootenay Lake fron Kaslo, BC
Garry didn't show up at the museum so I backtracked to the Husky station where he had the bike seat on the ground and his battery uncovered. We received advice on who to talk to to get help, but by the time he answered his voice mail, Garry had figured out the problem and fixed it. Apparently he had connected so many devices to his battery that the connection to one the terminals was rather tenuous. He removed all of the banjo connectors, put new bolts in the battery terminals, and voila, problem solved.
During our sojourn at the Husky station I met two riders from Kingston, ON, Dominic and Robert. There were on adventure bikes, and were heading to Tuktoyuktuk to dip their toes in the Arctic Ocean then head back to Kingston. They plan on riding for more than six weeks. I suggested that they make it a real polar bear thing by dropping their gear and diving in. Dominic worried that he might freeze his gonads off. I wished them luck on their ride and we headed west to New Denver.
Domic (l.) and Robert (r.) heading to the Arctic Ocean.
We did this ride several years ago and I had forgotten what a fun ride it was. It still is. The park at the summit is a great place to stop. It has a great view of snow capped mountains, probably the Valhalla Range, and very close by is another lake that provides a different view although just as majestic. The run into New Denver is a series of curves that are just a fun ride, even on a fat Harley. It would be amazing on one of my Commandos.
Lake at the summit of the Kaslo-New Denver Highway 31
Lake near the summit of Highway 31 between Kaslo & New Denver
Garry was waiting at the Nuru Cafe with a very large coffee. I waited for a couple to order then had the chance to chat with Tamara. I haven't been to the Nuru Cafe for five years and it has changes, Because of Covid, the seating area has been walled off and made into a shop where Tamara's friend who works in a Ducati shop in Calgary works on repairing Ducatis while he is in New Denver.
Tamara in the Nuru Cafe
Entrance to the Nuru Cafe, New Denver, BC.
Tamara now has two Ducatis, the original blue and white 2004 S4R 695 Monster and as Tamara describes it, 'a banana yellow' 2000 996 Monster. My friend Jim fell in love with the lovely Tamara when she told him that she was disappointed that she hadn't worn the knees out of her leather while riding the Ducati. Now that she has two Ducatis, I told her that she was lucky that he wasn't on this trip because he would have asked her to marry him on the spot. (This is a slight burn on Jim if the reader doesn't get it.)
Tamara's 2000 996 Ducati Monster
The workshop in the former seating area in the Nuru Cafe.
Tamara and her 2000 996 Ducati Monster
Plans changed and instead of returning to Kaslo, we took the highway toward Castlegar passing through legendary towns like Silverton, and Slocan, and Winlaw. One hundred and twenty years ago this area was called the 'Silvery Slocan'. For some of the distance the highway hugs the slope above Slocan Lake with the Valhalla Range in the background. Again, a stunning vista. We live in an incredible part of the world and I wouldn't change it for anything.
Two views of Slocan Lake and the Valhalla Range
After a short stop at the Esso in Crescent Valley we returned to Nelson. While Garry went back to the hotel, I topped off my tank and rode to the foot of Baker Street. (I still haven't had the opportunity to look for 221B) where the Railway Museum is located. They are fortunate to have two locomotives on display in old CPR colours. Unfortunately a graffiti vandal disfigured on of the locomotives with his pitiful attempt at 'art'. A worthwhile stop before returning to our hotel to end the day's ride of 239 kilometres.
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