Andy and I took off on Saturday through Weigles tank traps to 4th Lake. This is a quicker route, and much more fun than taking the black-top. The tank traps were greasy, but not as bad as I thought, and, despite my well worn rear Conti - TKC80, letting out some air to about 24 psi allowed me to get through without a hitch. In fact I couldn't believe that I could stop halfway up a muddy ridge and start without any spin whatsoever. Great tires on both street and dirt/mud, but the rear does wear quickly.
Still, once we were on the dirt roads a quick left and a right at Cottle and it's plain sailing to the gate that backs onto Nanaimo Lakes Road near First Lake. We passed several hunters on the way, guns drawn but with friendly waves - despite us probably scaring off any "game" in the area (yeah - let's hear it for wildlife survival...apart from fish of course...). That's probably why the gate was open.
From Weigles to the open gate (gold road to red triangle) is 19.34km; from the gate to 4th Lake is 23.87km; I wonder how much shorter this is than via blacktop to the gate...?
Once we got our plates taken and were told that the gates would be locked at 5pm by the two Junior FBI lookalikes at the Nanaimo Lakes Gate, we skiddadled. It wasn't long before Second Lake popped up on our right and we stopped. Andy had seen some fish surfacing last time, just after the bridge, so we pulled over. Andy, overwhelmed by the turning leaves, the isolation and the beauty, headed into the bush for his morning ablutions. I, realizing this would be quite some time, decided to head down a bank to the lake and cast among the rising trout.
Second Lake: no luck
An hour later, without a bite, and with Andy also bite-less (after dropping the kids off at the fern-covered mossy-knoll), we headed off towards 4th lake.
4th Lake: Luck! A beauty; I think Andy had this one on earlier but lost it. It will taste gorgeous tonight, if only for that reason...
At 4:20, After meeting a couple of well-pickled men in a pickup, comparing fish, (mine was bigger), Andy and I high tailed it out of there for the gate. It was a sage reminder to me that most of the vehicle operators out-back should be considered "pissed as charged" and great care should be taken around them. Andy and I hit speeds of 100kmh on the way back, but there was no sign of the pickup which left a minute ahead of us. Either they're dead in a canyon somewhere, or they exceeded our speeds while continuing to drink their Kokanee...
The gate to Weigles was still open, and we got back to the tank traps. All was going well until I heard Andy's horn and looked back to see him walking around his bike. I parked on the most level ground I could find amidst the tank traps and placed my helmet on a grassy knoll and ran back. Some ATV'ers had left a few wet logs on the trail (thanks, guys!) and Andy had caught one with his front. And, just like that, he was viewing the world at 90 degrees to the vertical. I know the feeling; it's so quick their isn't time for even a "Christ"... The bike was great, apart from the brake lever being bent slightly (looks better!), but Andy nailed his hip, and is no doubt feeling it.
But far worse! My helmet had fallen foul of low mu factor, and slipped elegantly off the moss and dropped perfectly into a mud puddle. Did it float? Did it float heck! It filled with water, liberally soaking it into the liner and gloves. It was impossible to drain it, so I slapped it on, tightened it up and let brown rivers stream down my brow, neck and chin onto my tank. Still it's amazing what you can put up with when you're having fun!
Above: The helmet is not rabid: there's no hydrophobia there!
All in all, great fun...even if my new boots don't fit the bike!! Want to buy a pair??
Paul.
