Crash, Boom, Bang!

The route changed for the first time today. Jeff was a little tired of the 400+ mile days we rode over the last two. With another slated for the day, we trimmed about 100 route and will make it up later...

We started out the day by grabbing a bite to eat at the same place we had dinner the night before. I highly recommmend the daily special because it is the cheapest thing on the menu. Just realize that the hash browns are suppose to be a garnish.

We then proceeded over across the street to hang our signs at the Signpost Forest. This place is unbelievable, and it would take the better part of the day to read every sign, as there are over 69,000 of them at last count (in 2009). Jeff hung the license plate holder for Hidden Valley Lake, while I had the honor of hanging the Hidden Valley Riders patch. We pick a spot that, for the moment, can be seen from the Alaska Highway. Soon, other posts will be placed in the dirt in front of the post we used and someone else will have a spot to hang their sign to be seen from the road.

Jeff hanging the Hidden Valley Lake license plate (left) and with the completed sign

Before I continue, let me say that I am OK. No broken bones, bumps, or bruises. No cuts, scraps, or abrasions. The bike, not so good.

We saddled back up to head for the Liard Hotsprings and beyond. First we stopped for gas off of the access road in town and then departed on the same road. After about a mile, I looked over my left shoulder to see if were clear to merge onto the highway. When I turned back around, a lady had pulled her Toyota Camry in front of my path. I had about 20-25 feet to react. I hit the back brake and try to steer to mt right to avoid her. As I fishtailed towards her, my left saddlebag made contact with her left door. Just over two thousand miles on the bike, which now has a misaligned rear light bracket, a bent saddlebag guard, a broken saddlebag lid, and a scuffed up saddlebag. I was nauseous. I'm not sure if that is because of the damage or because of the thoughts I had of beating the crap out of an old lady... One police report later and we were on our way again.

About three hours later, we arrived at the Liard Hotspings. The park has an upper and a lower pool where, after walking the half-mile to get there, you can don your swimsuit and relax in 108 degree (lower pool) or 128 degree (upper pool) water. I tried to walk up towards the source of the hot water, but elected to stop when I approached the halfway point. The lower pool was good enough for me for the next ten minutes before we decided to leave.

On this part of the trip, we were treated to more riding immediately on the coast line of Muncho Lake. The views were spectacular! There was, however, a wildfire to our southwest and the valley between the two mountain ranges we were riding through was full of smoke. We came across a herd of Bison, which was 40+ strong, a mountain goat, and what I believed was a female elk (Jeff thought it was a mule deer).

We ended the day's ride at Fort Nelson in British Columbia and set up camp at the campground on the west side of town.