Continued on towards Lions Bay. Traffic was slowing right down when they saw the taillight strobing, and 99% of them moved into the passing lane. A passing triple axle tractor trailer truck gave me lots of room and the driver tooted "shave & a haircut, 2 bits" on the truck airhorn. I think he was happy he could see me.
On and on and on and on I rode, walked, pushed, cursed, sweated, cursed, sweated, on the downhills the bike would accelerate to the speed of passing traffic, 80 - 90 KMs on the steeper hills. I would swoosh down the hill, the Continental real rubber semi slicks gripping like glue in the corners. The wind in my face, faster and faster and faster, then slower and slower and slower as the road leveled out and started climbing again. Push, walk, push, walk, CURSE CURSE CURSE! oh hey another downhill! WHEEEEEEEEEE!
Pulled past Lions Bay and found a creek, i was out of water. Pulled out the MSR Reactor stove and in several minutes sterilized the creek water. Poured it into my 40OZ SS bottle, plunked it into the creek to chill and drank it all. Boiled more and refilled the SS bottle.
Rode a bit more and then found a good spot, just off the hiway.
set up my dinner stuff, fresh mini loaf of sourdough, farmers sausage, Keenes hot mustard, cheese, smoked mussels, pesto pasta. Boiled water for the pasta:
the MSR Reactor radiant burner with the pot off (perfect for grilling sausage with a stick):
grilling time!
OH YEA, thats what i'm talking about!
pasta about to be set aside to soak up the herbs and sauce:
I sat down to a great feast, cleaned up the pot by using scrub brush to scour it out, then i boiled more water to sterilize the pot and spoon. Packed up the kitchen and set out my bedroll. OOPS...no Thermarest...damn.... No worries... I folded up my wool blanket, set my heavy duty reflective tarp on the ground then out the wool blanket down. Layed down on it and used my pack for a pillow. Covered myself with the rest of the heat tarp. Traffic roared by once in awhile, but i had a clear view of the night sky. Lots of stars. Saw a shooting star or two. This is where my pics end, i bumped the bike and my camera fell from the seat and went SMACK. No worky too well now....
slept for a bit, even the traffic did'nt wake me, i was bagged!
About 0130 hours i suddenly woke up, the senses in overdrive, something int he woods had woken me up. I grabbed my Handley Bladesmith TAC-EDC and my Jetbeam M1X and looked around. A black bear was ambling up the 99 (hiway) towards my little camp. Not good. They have been starving all year , the berry crops are LOUSY this year. I flashed the light at it and made noise. That made it come into the area a little quicker.....no fear.
I snapped a big stick in two and made more noise, throwing rocks into the bushes and yelling. It finally ran across the hiway and went to the other side. My heart was pounding. No sleep for a while after that. Sat for a while then drifted off to sleep.
That was just the first visitor. I woke up again to water the bushes. Looked around with the light and spotted those green/yellow eyes of a cougar. Lit him up on high setting and saw a scrawny cougar crouched down about 100 yards from me. With all the attacks we had here my adrenaline was flowing. The cougar would look away from the light and sometimes walk along the little bluff. Closer, not away.
Thats it. I packed up the bedroll, jumped on the bike, rode close to the bluff and threw rocks and made noise. Kitty bolted into the deep woods. I took off back towards town. Along the way about 45 minutes later a black bear waddled across the road in front of me. A blast of the fox40 whistle sent him running.
Got home eventually, dog tired from the heavy old bike... but had a great time. Just wish i had my bear banger launcher and shells with me wheni was camping out...
