As we got off the phone with Alan Buck of Rocky Mountain Adventure Bike
Touring Company, our thoughts lingered on the adventure to come. Alan
offers a Backroads of British Columbia tour, which we’d be joining just
outside of Nakusp. And just a few days later, after a gorgeous sunset ferry
ride across Shelter Bay, we pulled into the campsite where Alan showed
us to our tent, or should I say portable bedroom.
It had been a hard, 595-kilometer ride that day to the Riders Retreat, a
fabulous “glamping” site for all kinds of riders. Tents with double mat-
tresses, fitted sheets, warm showers, a large common kitchen, and a
separate dining area made communal living easy. Laughter rang out
from every corner and conversations flowed; stories were swapped and
advice exchanged, a familiar camaraderie among those who share a love
of two wheels and the open road.
The next day we ventured up to Idaho Peak, south on Highway
6 and just east of New Denver. Accelerated heart rate, perspira-
tion, ragged breathing, pounding in the ears, and butterflies in
the stomach—all recognizable signs of an adrenaline rush as we
pounded up the rough, steep incline of that mountain. The goal was
to reach its 2,280-meter (9,186-ft.) summit and this grueling task
had us on our toes, literally. Up on the pegs for 12km (7 miles), we
bounded up the single-lane dirt road avoiding potholes, loose rock,
tree roots, and a sheer cliff face. And, notwithstanding some close
calls, we ultimately conquered the summit and were rewarded with
the first magnificent vista of the expedition.
There’s a stunning secondary road that crosses Upper Arrow Lake at
Fauquier, Creighton Valley Road. Asphalt at the beginning, it morphs
into hard-pack. The off-road section that follows along the north
edge of Echo Lake was also nothing short of spectacular and another
highlight of our route.
From the complexities of off-road riding to the joy in the many
paved curvy stretches to Kelowna, the group had a fun time of it.W
hat is it about motorcycle travel that draws us in?
The need for adventure? The desire for exciting or
remarkable experiences? It’s hard to believe that we’d find
exactly those things in our own backyard. After a lifetime of
living and traveling throughout British Columbia, we’d never
seen it like we did on this trip.66 July/August 2019