Left Dawson Creek in a steady rain. The day was not looking too good :( But we were all sealed up. It was cool so I had on my electric vest and the heated grips were working great. Imperious to the elements we may have looked like we were from another planet, but we felt invincible and ready for anything. Then all of a sudden, the weather cleared around milepost 20 and Jeff saw a sign to “Old Alaska Highway.” A quick U-turn and we were riding on a piece of history!

Soon the road turned to gravel and we were excited by the possibilities! Maybe we could get some practice before the gravel road to Prudhoe Bay.

Then from around the corner emerged the highlight of the trip so far! The Kiskatinaw Bridge, the last remaining timber bridge on the highway. It was what we had come this far to discover! It spanned a gigantic gorge with a magnificent river below.

Olivia took many photos and we all took turns showboating on the bridge. Jeff also took the opportunity to ride the extremely challenging dirt on the “Kiskatinaw Bridge Trail” and I have the picture to prove it.

After 100 miles or so we stopped for gas at the Blueberry Esso and ate at the café. It was a typical café and I took a photo of Olivia with the bikes in the background. We traveled on to Ft Nelson (through the smoke and forest fires) and arrived around 4. Since we had time, we decided to press on to Toad River. Jeff made reservations and we were off.

This was the best riding so far!!! The scenery in British Columbia is fantastic—unlike anything I’ve ever ridden through … huge and immense. The mountains are huge, the valleys are deep and wide, and the rivers are free flowing. The evergreens are tall and narrow like spires. At one point I felt like I was riding in a Cathedral--definitely a spiritual experience.

The roads were the best part--roads that had to be designed by and for a motorcyclist. Roads that you can see forever--snaking down the mountain, into the valley, and then disappearing over the crest of the next mountain—endless roads, each one better than the previous.

We were riding in the late afternoon—5:30 to 7. The air was perfect—cool, crisp, and so clean it has to add 20 years to your life. There’s very little traffic so we had the road to ourselves. The occasional RV or car could easily be passed and not interrupt the flow of the ride. Set up for the curve, downshift and power out. Jeff set a great pace and we were like 3 specks in a vast universe—hurtling through space.

It reminded me of a video game—almost a fantasy. The scenery is so beautiful and so immense it can’t be real. Every turn in the road brings a new vista and at motorcycle speed the images are too much to comprehend. Finally we arrive at Toad River and check in. What a magnificent day!