Yesterday a group of very talented riders started our first big BC ride for the season. Sorry no pics, but a simple report:
Hope to Princeton on Hwy 3:
The road has a few slight rough spots, however, the pavement from last year is still in extremely good condition following this winter. Roads were clean of silt and debris. There was some laser enforcement just past the hope slide area, but after that, it was cold to Allison Pass. From there it warmed up a bit and from Sunday Pass to Princeton was almost perfect! No traffic, just glorious warm nice roads.
Princeton to Merrit on HWY 5a:
Again, the roads were in great condition with only a few small bumps in corners that have been there for years. very little rocks and debris on the road surface. Flooding in the area seems to have no affected the highway at all, except that there was little traffic at all. The lakes seemed a bit high, but otherwise, just a great little road with great curves on the way to Merritt. It's a short route, but always surprising at how much fun and pretty this stretch of road can be. As you get near the Aspen Grove junction of 5a to 97c, there is a LOT of loose gravel from the efforts of the highway crews to keep the ice down over the winter. Approach the junction with caution, and you'll be okay. It's always a bit dicey to cross here on the way south to Merritt.
Merritt to Spences Bridge on HWY 8:
As we left Merritt to spences bridge on HWY 8, we were diverted with detours through Merritt due to flooding. The amount of devastation through the lower Nicola valley from the river is pretty apparent. It was strange to see this river so damn high. Luckily there was only a small section of almost washed out road near the reservation that did stop traffic for a bit. About 12km from Spences bridge, there was a few mountain goats on the road and the river was just a foot or two from actually hitting the highway as well! This is a beautiful curvy road through desert like conditions. Very warm, and the road surface is good, albeit a little rough in some spots, but nothing terrible. You can still maintain good corner speed though the twisties if you pick the right line.
Spences Bridge back to Hope on HWY 1:
This is a fairly large highway with a few nice high speed sweepers. Traffic was very light and while there was some enforcement in action, mostly with rolling radar in cars, the lack of traffic made this part quite enjoyable. There were a few areas of the Thompson river that got more than a few looks as it's running extremely high.
HWY 1 from hope back to Van:
Damn abby tulip festival! Traffic and more traffic made this last leg a little less enjoyable, but overall a great day! 650KM of some of the best local roads that we often ignore.
On this ride, my group has gotten rid of our old Sena communicators in favor of Cardo Packtalks. The Sena comms cannot even hold a candle to the Cardo units! We got great range, great clarity of communications, no popcorn sounds, and a self-healing mesh of riders. The cardo is a great upgrade over the Sena units!
Hope to Princeton on Hwy 3:
The road has a few slight rough spots, however, the pavement from last year is still in extremely good condition following this winter. Roads were clean of silt and debris. There was some laser enforcement just past the hope slide area, but after that, it was cold to Allison Pass. From there it warmed up a bit and from Sunday Pass to Princeton was almost perfect! No traffic, just glorious warm nice roads.
Princeton to Merrit on HWY 5a:
Again, the roads were in great condition with only a few small bumps in corners that have been there for years. very little rocks and debris on the road surface. Flooding in the area seems to have no affected the highway at all, except that there was little traffic at all. The lakes seemed a bit high, but otherwise, just a great little road with great curves on the way to Merritt. It's a short route, but always surprising at how much fun and pretty this stretch of road can be. As you get near the Aspen Grove junction of 5a to 97c, there is a LOT of loose gravel from the efforts of the highway crews to keep the ice down over the winter. Approach the junction with caution, and you'll be okay. It's always a bit dicey to cross here on the way south to Merritt.
Merritt to Spences Bridge on HWY 8:
As we left Merritt to spences bridge on HWY 8, we were diverted with detours through Merritt due to flooding. The amount of devastation through the lower Nicola valley from the river is pretty apparent. It was strange to see this river so damn high. Luckily there was only a small section of almost washed out road near the reservation that did stop traffic for a bit. About 12km from Spences bridge, there was a few mountain goats on the road and the river was just a foot or two from actually hitting the highway as well! This is a beautiful curvy road through desert like conditions. Very warm, and the road surface is good, albeit a little rough in some spots, but nothing terrible. You can still maintain good corner speed though the twisties if you pick the right line.
Spences Bridge back to Hope on HWY 1:
This is a fairly large highway with a few nice high speed sweepers. Traffic was very light and while there was some enforcement in action, mostly with rolling radar in cars, the lack of traffic made this part quite enjoyable. There were a few areas of the Thompson river that got more than a few looks as it's running extremely high.
HWY 1 from hope back to Van:
Damn abby tulip festival! Traffic and more traffic made this last leg a little less enjoyable, but overall a great day! 650KM of some of the best local roads that we often ignore.
On this ride, my group has gotten rid of our old Sena communicators in favor of Cardo Packtalks. The Sena comms cannot even hold a candle to the Cardo units! We got great range, great clarity of communications, no popcorn sounds, and a self-healing mesh of riders. The cardo is a great upgrade over the Sena units!