6/24/22
One night at Jasper was all I could afford so I had to keep moving north. I got connected with Guy, another Bunk-a-Biker host in Prince George. Guy and his wife are both ADV riders and while his wife was away that weekend, Guy was able to host me. So now I just have to get there.
It's a 233 mile ride from Jasper to Prince George. By taking the Yellowhead northwest, I crossed into British Columbia from Alberta.
https://goo.gl/maps/Xngc45TstvHj6uEU7
I have no idea what northern British Columbia was like. All I know is that I am riding further and further north. Once I left Jasper, I could tell that I was getting more remote. Fewer cars, fewer towns, fewer structures. Lush greenery everywhere. About 50 miles northeast of Jasper, I encounter Mount Robson Provincial Park.
One thing that I've learned about Canada is that it has gorgeous mountains, lakes, and sceneries. This pond is right by the Mount Robson sign.
Another twenty miles down the road is Moose Lake. Moose lake is impressively large with a 180 degree view of the side of the Yellowhead highway:
I personally think Moose Lake rivals Lake Louise and Moraine Lake but what do I know. And other people must think Moose Lake is pretty great because there were a half dozen here parked here taking photos as well. As I continued on, the road is two lanes, pretty straight and not a whole lot on the road. This is one of those travel days when I'm just getting from one place to another without much plan to stop and without any planned points of interest. So seeing Moose lake was a bonus and I did see a single black bear far off from the road.
Three hours and 180 miles later, I arrive at Prince George. I was pretty surprised that Prince George is a small city. I honestly had no idea that it was this big. I had thought that PG (as the locals call it) was just a small town but instead it was a bustling little city. I navigate towards Guy's house and saw a gas station at the corner when I'm supposed to turn right. I turn into the gas station to fill up so I won't have to do it the next morning. As I'm messing with the fuel pump I hear, "Chi-Ho?" I look up and see a stocky bald guy approach me. "Guy?" He smiles and we shake hands. He was here to pick up some pizza for the evening. He knew me because I sent him a photo of myself when I first asked him via text if he was able to host. He told me to go to the house and he should be there in ten minutes with the pizza.
I turn into this drive way and find another red GS in the driveway - a F700GS.
Turns out both Guy and his wife have red F700GSs. Guy shows up in a bit and tells me he invite another couple over for dinner. Turns out this other couple just lives down the road and they also both ride and that they all have vacationed and ridden together many times. We spend the night on the back deck eating pizza, drinking beer and talking about all things motorcycles, Canadian politics, and culture.
It was a great evening and an example of a great Bunk-a-Biker experience where strangers meet and bond over motorcycles and learn about each other over conversation, something that's pretty rare these days. The next morning, I follow Guy to a local joint for a hearty breakfast and after that he rides with me to Salmon Valley where we shake hands and he returns home and I continue north to Dawson Creek, moving miles and miles north towards the top of the world.
