07 Apr 08 - Newbie Ride to Princeton

[Ryoshi]

Route: Burnaby to Princeton via Highway 1 & 3 (~550km)
Google Map: http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=3180213903455888217,49.065650,-120.788770%3B2030312355679534881,49.057260,-120.737390&saddr=Burnaby,+BC&daddr=hope,+bc+to:Crowsnest+Hwy%2FHope-Princeton+Hwy%2FHWY-3+%4049.065650,+-120.788770+to:princeton,+bc+to:Crowsnest+Hwy%2FHop e-Princeton+Hwy%2FHWY-3+%4049.057260,+-120.737390+to:hope,+bc+to:burnaby,+bc&mra=pi&mrcr=3&via=2,4&sll=49.346599,-121.739502&sspn=2.032737,4.498901&ie=UTF8&ll=49.246293,-121.739502&spn=2.036877,4.498901&z=8

This, beyond being probably the longest ride I've done to date, is also my first attempt at a ride report. Looking back at what I've typed, it seems incredibly long winded for a day ride, but I'll leave it for now. I can delete it later, if requested. Comments and feedback are very much appreciated, and hopefully this doesn't bore everyone to tears.

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The weather wasn't exactly great, but that was, strangely, part of the purpose of this ride. As a relatively new rider only starting my second season of riding, I wanted to try and stretch the range a bit. The rainy weather was acceptable today in part to test my ghetto rain gear and in part to test myself. I wanted to see what I could handle, how a longer ride like this would feel and how my body would react to it. Better to find out now and build up to a longer two or three day ride, than enter a weekend trip like that without any clue. So, with that in mind, DeosilMau and I (both about equal in experience) met up to head East.

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Of course, before we went anywhere, we hit up for gas. Apparently my bike knew the weather better than I did, and after fuelling up, decided not to start. There wasn't enough juice in the battery, probably a combination of city riding and having it sit for a few days. I knew I was needing a new one, and would be getting a new one on Wednesday, but I didn't want to scrub the day. So, with my newly acquired skill of bump starting, I carried on. An ominous warning, perhaps, but hey, I wanted to go riding.

The rain was patchy on the way out. Some parts were light and misty, while other stretches hit like small sharp stings. By the time we hit the tail end of Abbotsford, it was already time for a warm up break. We pulled into a Timmies and, while I didn't feel too bad, I wondered if this was just another sign to turn around and go home. Even roll up the rim wasn't cooperating.

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(Continued in next post)

[Ryoshi]

We decided that the rain was letting up the further we got from the city, and if we really felt bad, we could always turn around. So, it was onwards to Hope before another gas/rest stop and deciding if we wanted to head up towards Cache Creek or out to Manning Park.

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The weather did improve somewhat, with the rain tapering off. We stopped in Hope for lunch and gas and decided to keep heading East through Manning Park and possibly Princeton. Not too far into Manning Park, we paused for a bit of hand-warming on exhausts and spotted this grossly incorrect sign. There wasn't any sunshine to be seen, just overcast clouds and rain.

http://img226.imagevenue.com/loc38/th_56272_08_122_38lo.jpg (http://img226.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=56272_08_122_38lo.jpg)

But wait! The sign saw the future, and delivered glorious sunshine for us. It had been out long enough to dry some of the twisties ahead, and we had great fun riding through Manning Park for the first time. I was having far too much fun to stop and take photos, at least until we got to a straight stretch which promptly became another pause for hand warming.

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It was also the moment when I took the only photo of myself the entire ride. I had intended on getting a shot of my ghetto rain gear trial, but alas, that was not to be. You can see a peek of my cheapness in this out of focus shot.

http://img213.imagevenue.com/loc513/th_56295_11_122_513lo.jpg (http://img213.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=56295_11_122_513lo.jpg)

From here to Princeton we didn't really stop again. While I knew of the elevation change, I had forgotten that the freezing levels lately were fairly low. Soon the sunshine disappeared behind cloud again and the rain reminded us this wasn't summer. As we climbed higher, rain became snow. At first, it was a wonderful effect. There were spurts of sun still, and at times, it was bright with specks of blowing snow. It was cool. It was much less cool when it started accumulating on our visors. For the first time ever, I wished several times for longer straights so I could give my visor a better wipe. The speeds came right down as we continued to be snowed on. Thankfully, the snow wasn't sticking to the roads, but it was certainly an experience for this newbie.

Coming out of the snow, the weather rapidly improved again. Princeton was sunny, blue sky, and wonderful. There was on turn in particular that took my breath away. Great views, but more importantly, the first and most dramatic change from snowy winter to blue sky summer. Maybe it was just relief that the snow and rain was behind us. I seriously regret not pulling over to take a photo. I nearly forgot to look through the turn as it was.

(Continued in next post)

[Ryoshi]

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We were only in Princeton for twenty, maybe thirty minutes, but the weather had caught up to us by the time we left. Princeton was smaller than I thought (not that I knew what to expect), but the road out was fun. The weather could be better, but the dry bits were great. A few of the tighter turns had potholes and the like in inopportune places, but that was perhaps to be expected after the winter.

I did pull over to take a photo of the turn I gasped at on the way in, but it just wasn't the same. The weather had rolled in, the angle was wrong, and it didn't have any impact at all. Ah well, at least I'll remember it.

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This time through the snow, I had to stop once or twice to attempt to clear my visor. Since I was stopped anyway, I figured I'd take a quick snapshot. It felt worse than it looked. Then again, DeosilMau got a good sprinkling of snow, and I might have been the same.

http://img24.imagevenue.com/loc912/th_56392_16_122_912lo.jpg (http://img24.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=56392_16_122_912lo.jpg)

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Just as before, as we descended in elevation, the weather improved. It was a bit touch and go at points for me. I really hated the degraded visibility between the snow and rain, but I kept it slow and made it through. A bit tight and tense through the turns (even for my inexperience), but I kept it slow and reminded myself of the basics again (Thanks once again PRS!).

I made a bit more of an attempt to take a few photos of better twists, but that only lasted the first ten or so minutes. After that, I just rode. I was starting to get cold toes (far worse than cold hands, apparently) and was feeling a touch of get-home-itis. Besides, it's hard to stop for a photo when there are dry twisties.

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(Continued, again.)

[Ryoshi]

Eventually, the sun peeked out again and proved the earlier sign correct. We stopped at the Manning Park sign for an obligatory shot, even though the mud was a bit annoying on the boots/pegs later.

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A brief stop in Hope again for gas before plugging onto Highway 1 again. We were making good time and enjoying the dry road. I'd ditched the annoying el-cheapo rain jacket (and it's tendency to buffet and be annoying at higher speeds) and, despite cold feet, was having fun. Traffic wasn't too bad with the gradual introduction of cars again as we approached the city.

http://img220.imagevenue.com/loc376/th_56469_24_122_376lo.jpg (http://img220.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=56469_24_122_376lo.jpg)

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Before long we were back at home, a little sore and a little tired, but all in all a decent ride. Certainly did the job for learning and ranging. My black F4i looked pretty grubby, but somehow DeosilMau's FZ6 came out looking pretty clean. Maybe it was the silver.

http://img136.imagevenue.com/loc887/th_56475_26_122_887lo.jpg (http://img136.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=56475_26_122_887lo.jpg)

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Lessons learnt? My ghetto solution for rain gear did the job in a pinch, but is certainly no substitute for motorcycle specific kit. Cold feet and hands suck, and wear on you more than you think. Personally, it was an invaluable experience to help determine what I'm capable of and how my body feels and reacts to longer rides. It wasn't exactly an Iron Butt ride or a week long adventure, but a good place to start from.

Again, comments and feedback are most definitely appreciated, and hopefully this didn't bore you to death.

[deosilmau]

le woot.

[CHIA]

Good report out. That's a great ride, but I must say, I'll reserve it for the warmer weather, good job guys, nice mini adventure.

[hijinxxx]

Good report out. That's a great ride, but I must say, I'll reserve it for the warmer weather, good job guys, nice mini adventure.

Great report...cool pics..nice write for a first adventure. I can't wait to try my first long ride :rockon

[smokinjoe]

Good report. I can't wait for the warm weather to come and ride that highway!

[Quicker6]

good on ya for goin on a nice trip wiht this weather were having of late(btw its hailing as im typing this)...how were the roads? lots of gravel or salt residue and other crap?

[elevation]

Great report! You two are very brave for doing the Hope Princeton run at this time of year. Just from reading this report it really seems like you learning riding the right way. Taking it easy and keeping an eye on each other.

Mid-may would be the earliest to really enjoy the hope-princeton run.

Just so you know it is possible to do a princeton ride in the evening right around the summer solstice. It's a full evening but totally worth it.

So when is a full on weekend trip planned? If you can survive the riding conditions you just went through a weekend would be no problem at all!

[mooove_over]

good job! If you can handle conditions like that...you should have little trouble doing any sort of distance trip in the summer...the thing is with the climate we live in....you just cant always wait for perfect weather but if you ride long enough you will find some!

[denham]

I rode from Maple Ridge to Vernon in early March, going via the Hope Princeton. Fortunately there was no snow on the roads while I did it, although temperatures were just above freezing and I didn't see another bike on the Hope Princeton...

Thanks for the report!

[beemerandy]

Get your self a good electric vest! I have had a Weider since 1978 and use it daily. I purchased a black Jack last year and it doesn't have enough heat. 3 WATS as apposed to 5 WATS. I have had the misfortune of riding up to Fort saint John in early March. Sub zero and snowing from P.G. up. Good heavy mitts are a must!

[Kamloopsfz6]

I rode from right from the Honda Dealer that was on Robson Street in 1980 with my brand new cb740f to Kamloops via Fraser Canyon in January! No Coke hwy then. All I had was a jean jacket, pair of leather gloves, jeans and a full face helmet. Took me forever to get home. Had to stop at every place I could to warm up. Should have seen the looks I got. There were places I had to walk my bike the roads were so bad. When I got home I swear I was almost hypothermic, buddies had to help me into the apt.

Next day cleaned up the bike and put it in the apt as well.

One of the stupidest things I have done I am sure of that, but heh I was 19 then! Invincible!

Here is a shot of it in my Apt, and yes that is a Pong game console on top of the TV! LOL

http://www.kyra.ca/mazda/1981cb750.jpg

[greenboy]

Snow pictures cool. :rockon

But you fugged up the one of the Manning Park bear sign. You're supposed to climb up and stand behind it with your thighs touching its anterior hindquarters. Place your hands on its butt. You get the picture, yes?