Day 257– 22nd August 09
Posted by TravellingStrom on August 22, 2009
Saturday – Cache Creek, British Columbia
Well, more electronic problems plagued me overnight. The TomTom got water in it during the rain storm yesterday arvo. I noticed it when I was going to update it online, the water came out of the lid at the bottom 😦 It would not even turn on, so I had sat the hair dryer in front of it and that seemed to work after an hour or so. There was more water this morning, it is supposed to be waterproof, I think the water got in through the on/off button thing on the side because there is no way water can go upwards through the bottom flap! Anyway after dealing with this and packing all my now nearly dry gear away, I headed south, I did not know where to, just south at this stage, my flue was worse and I felt like crap.
Between traffic delays and another electronic problem it took me ages to get to Quesnel. My Camos Bluetooth transmitter kept switching off and of course my GPS was not looking good at all, it kept losing satellites, so it was next to useless. Not my best day on a bike yet, but I got into Quesnel around lunch time and found a bank that was open and got some Canadian cash for a change, better than using US dollars and getting ripped off 🙂 I stocked up with food at a supermarket and then while looking for a servo found a fish and chip shop, and they served proper fish and chips, not what they call chips in the states, it was real good 🙂
Fuelled up again I went on south with some reasonable scenery, but I have been spoilt by now 🙂 There are a lot of lakes around here and I stopped at Williams Lake to check out some info at the Visitors centre.
Now, I had a choice here, I could go west to Bella Coola and then take the ferry to the north end of Vancouver Island, or head south to Kamloops. Now, after checking out the prices, the decision was made for me. I would have paid the $150 for me, just a chair to sleep in, I mean I had done it to cross the Tasman back home, but no way was I paying another $150 for the bike, that is an extreme rip off , sorry I am not doing it. If it was around $80, then it may have been worth it. I was also in need of an oil change so this diversion would not be a good thing, so, I headed south into the road works and smoke haze, after emptying more water out of the GPS!
I got into Cache Creek and was not really interested in going any further, I needed to have a rest, so I found a cheapish motel and settled in. This is where I found out it is Saturday, and I am too late for any bike shops around, that also means no bike shops open until Tuesday probably, so no oil change. The Mounties were not after me, they were maybe going to buy up the remaining rooms for evacuees from the fires that are burning out of control near here.
So I sorted out the GPS by doing some more drying out, hopefully that will be it with no lasting damage(I doubt it, wet and electronics equals death sooner or later). You may be thinking it is all doom and gloom lately, well there has been a nice ray of sumshine over the course of the past week or so. Remember me saying that PacSafe sent a new tank bag base to Anchorage but it was not there, well after some more emailing back and forth I got a pleasant surprise. I had mentioned to Jen that California is my last chance of a ‘reliable’ mail drop before going into South America. I had also said if I could pay some money I would like to get a new tank bag as the top lid zipper was failing as well, I posted a picture the other day on the 17th when I first mentioned this possiblity. Well, Jen came through with the goods and at no cost to me is having a brand new bag sent to Ziggy in California, how cool is that 🙂 Thanks very much Jen, a great company to deal with and great products too.
After answering all the emails and comments I had some dinner and decided to fix the flue with my old remedy, only they had no rum worth drinking over here! The bar was empty, everyone had gone to the drags up the road about 5kms, I did not feel like seeing the inside of a Canadian court, so I stayed here and had a couple of beers chatting with Chris the bargirl, soon some more people turned up and it turned into a good evening. So, part one of the flue buster was working anyway 🙂 Part two tomorrow 🙂
Day 290 miles and 467 km
Trip – 32,569 miles and 52,415 km
Cheers
TravellingStrom
TravellingStrom 
Duane said
Hey,
Still hoping to hear from you and find out what part of Oregon you are going to see and when. You are totally welcome to free lodging in Portland! Do you know that Portland, Oregon is the micro-brew capital of the world???
Enjoy!
Duane
TravellingStrom said
Hi Duane
I will be down in Oregon soon, in the next few weeks or so, thanks for the offer of a bed, I would need one after micro brew tasting:)
Cheers TS
Donunder said
Mate if you’re having that much fun when you’re crook I’d hate to see you on a good day!
Good news about the Pacsafe, but I’d be ditching the TT before it dies altogether. Time to start putting the feelers out for a Zumo!!!!
My Camos has NEVER worked. Maybe I broke a connection during installation. Might need to go down to see Dale at Swansea to see if he can fix it.
Get better soon.
Don.
TravellingStrom said
Hi Don
It is all part of the plan to beat the flue, stay tuned.
If the TT holds up to get me through Mexico I will be happy. There are no maps for any GPS down through South America, so it is no use buying a $1000 Zumo just for baggage. It may be on the cards when I come back up next year though, I will look into it.
Get onto Dale, I know he tried hard for me when I was over here with a broken connector. I actually thought you broke that before or around Cobar time, that was a while ago now! I still like the product, better than any other wireless system around.
Cheers TS
don hayward[windinhair] said
TS, when on the dirt you lower the tyre pressures,to what pressure mate,or is it just a feel thing?,I am doing the west coast of Tassie in October and will encounter some hard packed surface.
TravellingStrom said
Hi Don
I lower the front to 18-20psi and this is the most important one. The rear, depending on load, I drop by 10psi from what it is, mine is usually at max 42psi, so I drop it to 30psi or so, it is not that important.
The front needs to roll over rocks and ruts, not bounce off them.
Have a good time on Tassie, I loved it down there. Go ride some straight roads before you go, they have none 🙂 The west coast white sand roads are quite hard packed and should not be a major problem, I did them with no worries with not much skill level either 🙂
Cheers TS
don hayward[windinhair] said
Cheers TS just what I wanted to know,will go out on some local tracks and have a run for sure,you must carry a small compressor mate,what brand/type I have installed a socket on the strom for just that,the ones at supercheap etc look like toys!
TravellingStrom said
Hi
Well, I bought a large one as I did originally intend to do my own tyres on the road, so I needed the power to get the bead onto the rim. In hindsight it is a bit big and bulky. As long as it can pump up to 50psi within 3 minutes, it should be fine.
Cheers TS
pirate63 said
g’day ts,bronc’s beat the dragons!,looks like you are heading south at the right time!
TravellingStrom said
Hi there
Thanks for the update, good on em, Ivan beats Wayne eh 🙂
Yes, I am heading south out of the cold, I have just beaten the flue(not swine nor avian)and it is getting warmer
Cheers TS
Bruce in WA said
Jeezus … those things are gonna suffocate ya!! 🙂
Flu. I swear by: lemon juice, whisky (NOT bourbon), heated, and sipped with two Panadol tablets. Repeat if necessary. Then sleep. (If you can get Lemsip powders, two of those, hot water, add real scotch and head for bed …)
TravellingStrom said
Hi yes, it could be a fun way to go eh!
My flue remedy worked, I am good to go this morning 🙂
Cheers TS
Jim Jones said
Looks like you are about 4 hours out from Langley.
Let me know if you are ready for that oil change.
Also, I will have a set for ya warmed up at the pub.
What doesnt kill you makes you stronger… Personally, I think thats crap… Sometimes what doesnt kill you, makes you wish it did.
Kick that flu and eat up some more road. 😉
Jim
TravellingStrom said
Ahh, it was you that lives near Vancouver, is that right? I could not find the info anywhere when I looked. Yes, I am desperate for an oil change, the shops were all closed today 😦
Could you resend some contact details, I seem to have misplaced the stuff you sent earlier?
Cheers TS
Wayne Tickner said
G’day Richard, you don’t know me but you have met my wife (Maggie from Echidna Embroidery in Rockhampton) and we’ve been receiving your welcome updates in the in-box ever since… It’s a wonderful distraction from work, if you remember what that is ya lucky bastard, seeing what you’re up to and where you’ve been… Thanks a million and keep’m coming… Regards, Wayne and Maggie…
TravellingStrom said
Hi Wayne, I think I do know you, from the Frenchville vaguely, but not as well as Maggie of course.
Thanks for the comment, it is always refreshing to get a note from home.
Despite the dramas, I would rather be here than there 🙂
Cheers Richard
Jim Jones said
The suzuki place is Holeshot Motorsports in Langley BC. http://www.holeshotracing.ca/
My contact info is jim at turbopinto dot com.
Send me an email and I will get you more info.
Jim
TravellingStrom said
Thanks Jim, email sent
Cheers TS
TravellingStrom said
Yo!
Look at that amazing stuff! It is really worth your attention, check this out http://rejects.hydrojedi.com
My Best, TravellingStrom
stephen said
Hi TS,
Just following and enjoying your travels, bumped into you at Horizons meet in Snowies this year,
Anyway the fish and chips must have been a scottish chippie from the signage, should have tried a black puddin supper,
You could try putting damp electronic gear in a container of dry rice, leave in a warm place and sealed/covered, heard this from the gaget guy, supposed to work with mobiles, cameras etc, (disassemble if possible/separate) and imerse in the rise for a few hours,
good luck
i’ll keep reading and enjoying (no need for reply your plenty busy enough) Pitty about the dragons as i’m from the gong.
cheers
scoop
TravellingStrom said
Hi Stephen, what bike LoL
With the sun out and a few days of drying it seems fine, but I am unsure how long water has been getting in. It is all surface mount stuff and I do not have tools nor the skill for that on the road. The rise idea sounds good, it works for slat shakers 🙂
Go the Broncos 🙂
Cheers TS
DS said
AH, All those lovely ladies, kiss them once for me… 😉
TravellingStrom said
lol, maybe I did, maybe I didnt 🙂