DAY 8 FT NELSON TO WATSON LAKE

If I had to pick an almost perfect day of riding in the trips we have taken this would rank right up there.

Great road, bike just purring, shirt sleeves, scenery, wildlife, interesting people where ever we stopped.

I'm out here a thousand miles from my home
Walking a road other men have gone down
I'm seeing a new world of people and things
Hear paupers and peasants and princes and kings

Bob Dylan

The animals were all in place waiting for us to ride by. We saw black bear, one grizzly bear, elk, dozens of mountain goats deer and numerous interesting characters along the way.

Groups of riders were everywhere and every time we stopped it led to great conversations. Always starting with "where ya from?" and followed with "where ya goin?"

The wait staff, clerks, gas station attendants, everyone is a character up here and live here for a reason. Getting gas at a "full service" station went like this.

The pumps were very old and an old cowboy, probably my age, turned on the power handing you the pump handle, he then wrote down the amount on a small sticky for you to take to the cashier. While he was standing there I asked how his day was going and he answered "I've had a shower a doobie and a beer so pretty damn good".

At one point today with the Harley riders push starting the lone Goldwing a group we had just met at lunch asked us to do it again so they could video it.

Just a great day ending with shared rooms in a refurbished WWII Air Force barracks, no shoes indoors, shower down the hall.

A great day.