A new neighbor
 

'Oly smokes, you're in Bellingham? I live there (well, it's "here" for now), and am new to both HU and motorcycle riding. After signing up for news from the Lummi Island Group, and deciding that rumors of their existence have been greatly exaggerated, I figured I'd meet people from anywhere but here.

Will be posting questions about the Naskup meeting and such. And, being new, planning to come by 15-year-old, 4-cylinder, manual shift pickup truck (does 60 on hills, but only on the downhill side), since being already fully outfitted isn't a requirement for coming and getting an introduction to this life.

I'm heading to Tok tomorrow, then into Canada and down to Nakusp. Am planning on going the Route 37 and 16 way, rather than the traditions Alaska highway. The Lonely Planet (and a rider I met) suggest it's "better". Anyone got any thoughts?

Personally, I do find the Cassiar Highway (Hwy 37) more interesting. A side trip to Telegraph Creek (250km's return) is quite nice. Another interesting little side trip is from Meziadin Junction to Stewart, BC and Hyder, Alaska. When in Hyder you can get Hyderized if you wish :-)
A little further south, at Cranberry Junction, you can turn off southwest to New Aiyansh for a bit of gravel road and go through a geologically recent lava field. This spits you out into Terrace.


...Michelle
www.scrabblebiker.com

From Hyder go north on the only road out of town--up and over, down the other side, explore at will. Wonderful gravel and dirt roads through amazing terrain and scenery. To miss this part is to waste a trip to Stewart/Hyder.

And yes, Bellingham. Glad to meet. Most of my friends stayed at home watching TV and tending their lawns while clamoring for photos and written descriptions. If you're coming by truck, any chance of bringing a set of half inch sockets, breaker bar and short length of pipe for my countershaft sprocket?

Mark

(from some little town in an unexplored corner of Nevada)

I'm sure someone will have an assortment of tools that might do the trick.

Ah, an optimist. My countershaft sprocket was installed about 20,000 miles ago....with a crescent wrench and a long section of steel pipe. Normally, these items are not part of a motorcyclist's toolkit. I'm trying to ensure that I'll be able to downsize my sprocket--else there'll be no dirt riding for me.

And about Bellingham: it seems to me I've heard of at least five (5) Bellinghamsters planning long Latin American trips--a group of three and two singles. Odd that I'm the only one I know of who's actually already made the journey.

Looking forward to catching up with various folks in a week and a half.

Mark

Well, I just got back from 27,000KM's to Panama and back, whats another couple thousand? I'll be there! Heading off the Island Wednesday afternoon sometime, will camp near Ossoyos or midway perhaps and carry on to Nakusp via logging road north of grand forks Thursday morning. Looking forward to talking bikes and exotic places with everyone soon!

Patrick
'04 black KLR

Hi Mark,

if you are in Bellingham on your way up to Nakusp, call and stop in Chilliwack and I can change your sprocket here. We are planning on leaving Wednesday afternoon and stopping in Kelowna at a friends for the night and coming over Highway 6 Thursday morn.

Mark

Tools
 

hi
what size socket do you need I try to bring it along.


cheers nobby

Thanks to those offering help with my countershaft sprocket. The nut is a 27mm (also known as 1 1/16 inch), and it really takes a breaker bar to remove along with the socket. I did not mount it myself, but I watched it being done (in Mendoza, Argentina approximately 25,000 miles ago).

The reason for changing it on site is that my engine is nearing its death agony and needs some advantage off the pavement these days. The sprocket currently on there will do for highway, but not off-highway use.

I'm coming up from Montana, not from Bellingham. I didn't mean to monopolize the thread with my tale of woe, but if one of you can bring a 27mm socket and breaker bar that would be wonderful. Please indicate here if you'll do so. You can't all be riding giant shaft-drive machines, can you?

Thanks much.

Mark

(from Missoula, ex-Ushuaia)

Hi all,

I'm heading to the Nakusp meeting next weekend.

I'm leaving Victoria Wednesday afternoon and staying with my partner in a hotel in Penticton since she'll be there on business. From there I'm hoping to take the forestry/gravel/dirt roads to the Fauquier ferry terminal and on to Nakusp. Last year I stayed on the highway but I would love to have some company so I can go play in the woods this time around.

I know there are others going from the Island and Vancouver. Anyone care to join me for the off pavement part between Penticton and Fauquier?

I ride a BMW F650GS with knobby front and dual sport rear tire. So nothing seriously technical for me but regular gravel/dirt is OK. I'll be checking into the status of some of these roads for closures/conditions due to slides, forest fires, etc.


...Michelle
www.scrabblebiker.com

Is anyone heading out there from the Hamilton/Toronto area? A riding partner would be good.

Hi Mark,
I'll pack the wrenches and socket to replace your sprocket.
See you there.
Mark

Followed your RR closely; looking forward to meeting you.:scooter:

Thanks! Hope to see you there, make sure you find me to say hello, I'll have some beers on ice waiting...