Day 6

well, today was going to be semi-transit day as we moved from Colville to the western side of the Okanogan valley, somewhere near Omak or elsewhere in the vicinity to allow an early return ride on Monday. But the weather was foreboding, with cold dark skies remaining from heavy squalls the night before. Cary was having more problems with his helmet, yesterday one of the side pods that holds the shield on broke so he had to duct tape it on, today the other side popped off. Less then a mile out of the hotel we had to pull over so Cary could tape the other side pod back on. A few miles later the drops started falling so we pulled over for Jim and Cary to don rain gear (Steve and I put ours on at the hotel).

Cary's problematic helmet

Jim and Cary don rain gear

A few miles later Cary's side pod popped off again, Steve saw it come flying off and stopped to retrieve it while I chased Cary down to get him to stop to re-tape it back on again. At this point Cary was done. He just wanted to go home so we all agreed to stay together and skip the back roads tour and take highway 20 west directly to Tonasket instead. Although it was wet it was still a nice ride across the valley.

Entering Tonasket

Once in Tonasket we stopped at a local gas station to have a snack, and decide what the next move was going be. I had made plans with an old friend who lives in Osoyoos to spend the night with him, so after a cup of coffee and a snack I said goodbye to the team and headed north.

Gas stop in Tonasket

I took a short side trip up Havillah Rd towards Chesaw, then west to Oroville before heading for the border.

The rest of the group headed south and began their trek across the passes to get back home. The weather was very fierce and I'm sure their ride home was not very pleasant. I almost felt guilty for going back to Canada instead west with them, but I'd get my turn in riding in the rain the following day when I headed home.

But, not so guilty as to be so amazed at my friends Ajai and Jackie's home on top of the mountain.

The observatory on the right

the view from the observatory

traditional Indian dinner