Valhalla-2...Ride Report

[msb]

Warning... a little lengthy, but there was a lot crammed into a late Summer weekend

Well, it's in the books...a GREAT time was had and everyone made it home safe (in one respect or another...more about that later).
Our annual June Valhalla rally has become a must attend event over the past 8 years or so for folks in the PNW, BC, and AB, and such great friends have been made that it just made sense to plan another meetup later in the year so we could get together more than only once a year, or twice if we travelled to Inzane together as was the case this Summer. So...Valhalla-2 (Valhalla Light?) was born...taking place this past weekend at Johnny's Motel in Grand Forks BC. At total of 10 bikes (oh...and 1 BMW convertible from our BC VRCC rep of all people...who apparently was worried about the remote possibility of a few drops of rain  ), and 16 folks in all made the trip. Maybe not a big event by Southern or Eastern US standards, but for us up here where Valks are a rarer breed...not too bad for a 2 Province and 1 State meetup...


Friday AM, Buffalo Bob from Everette WA along with my bride Lisa & I meeting up in Hope BC with Dusty from Vancouver Island for the ride out to Grand Forks
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Following a very long and very hot Summer in BC, temperatures have cooled considerably just this past week, although the forcast was for mostly sunny skies for the weekend. Great morning for a ride through the #3 Crowsnet Highway going East. Nothing quite like riding on new pavement through the mountains...

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After a bit of a chilly few hours through the mountains, a welcomed stop at Deadwood Junction in Greenwood for a hot coffee. Greenwood is the smallest incorporated "City" in Canada with a population of about 600 permanent residents, but was once a hub of the copper mining industry that was instrumental along with the silver mining and lumber industries that built the province of BC. A neat little "city" with lots of history and places to explore the relics of mines, smelters, etc.
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Buffalo Bob looking for a cheap room???
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After letting the beard grow earlier this year, I've become hesitant to trim it...it's the only real hair I have left now as I'm well passed the magnificent "Serk" level of flowing mane that I sported in my younger years, and it feels good blowing in the breeze. Although not quite the same, it does bring back a bit of nostalgia to the times of feeling the "freedom" of riding helmet-less with a full beard and head of hair (one of my several "thank Heavens I survived" periods..now thankfully decades in the past). Our youngest daughter is a bit nervous however, as she gets married this December and I've informed her that I'll be renting a Red suit for the occasion...her Mother ensures her that I'm joking  
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Arriving at Johnny's Motel in Grand Forks on Friday afternoon...bikes coming in from the North, West, East and South.... a perfect location for such gatherings. Very accommodating for groups of bikes, car clubs etc, with nice clean rooms, carports, bbqs, and a nice backyard along the Granby River to relax and hang out. Will also be the site of Valhalla 2018  
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Good friends Steve & Margaret from Kelowna BC, and newcomer Murray from Salmon Arm BC
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"Cousin" Dave from Spokane Valley WA and wife Linda making their grand entrance, fresh off a ride  to Alaska. Linda's first public showing of her new F6B, moving on up from her VTX  



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Gordonv and wife Tess arrive from Richmond BC in the aforementioned BMW convertible...really Gord, it's only a 5 hour ride to Grand Forks...
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Those Albertans are sure camera-shy ... Mike & Christina also joined us it all the way from Lethbridge AB

Saturday AM we head out early for the day...up through the Crowsnest Pass East to the Kootenays. Somehow, I find myself in the lead...WTH!!! I guess because our route takes us through my hometown of Nelson and I know my way around, everyone suggests I should lead. I never lead groups...I hate leading groups...I find myself looking in the rearview constantly instead of keeping my eyes on the road.

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A bit of residual smoke from fires in Galcier MT and surrounding areas in BC. It's been a terrible year for fires...sadly most have been human-caused by either careless smokers or campers. All back-country ATV-ing and motorcross, and a lot of camping has been banned in BC this past month.
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"45 minute Cal" (inside joke ) from Spokane Wa
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Ol' Dusty having a siesta in Nelson. Nelson BC is my home town...the quintessential "small town" located on majestic Kootenay Lake, it was a great place to grow up
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A stop at the vintage DQ in Nelson...this was built in 1957 and has remained open in its original form since. I grew up several miles across the lake from town, and have great memories as a kid of our once a month (treats were not so easy to come by back then) family outings to the DQ
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Grocery stop...what's for dinner?
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The "official" beverage of Valhalla gatherings...it's so bad it's good. As with most things like this, there's a story behind the Legend of Fireball...but one has to attend a Valhalla Rally to hear it
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A perfect ending to a great day of riding through the Kootenays. Food, drink, great friends new & old, more stories to tell (and embellish), and more memories to add
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The lovely Ingrid, master chef from Spokane WA, ensuring everything is "food safe"
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Redline, the Vermin club of Western Wa President..making it back just in time for Happy Hour after taking the long way around on the day's ride
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Steve, apparently dazed and confused after listening to that new bionic deer whistle of his all day, having a hard time deciding which beverage to down first
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Brothers in arms...

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Sunday AM finds the group splitting up to go their separate ways home. Buffalo Bob heads West on #3 with the Mrs and I at a brisk pace, hoping to beat out the forcasted oncoming rain (a VERY welcome forcast for most BC'ers btw). After splitting up with Bob as he heads to the border crossing and with the raindrops starting to hit the windshield, I crank her up to 165 kmph (100 MPH) on the long straightaways on the last leg of my trip home. About 10 minutes from home I ease up to 115 as we approach the hills, when one of Canada's finest gets me squarely in his sights and pulls me over. Luckily AFTER I slowed down, so only 41 over instead of 85 over. Nice guy, said he was a rider himself and commented that my Valkyrie was a beauty, but he just couldn't let me go for going that fast. After checking me out on his computer and acknowledging that I had a good record (last  ticket over 12 years ago) he gave me a bit of a break.... reduced the fine to 75.00 if paid within 30 days for only 20 over (from what otherwise could  have been a whopping 240.00 fine and a much larger blemish on my record) and said to "take it easy on that fine machine". Told him he was being extremely fair, and that I was going to do a Ride Report of our trip and asked a favor. He was happy to pose for this pic...said he'd try his best not to smile   Almost worth the 75.00
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Glad that the Mrs and I along with everyone else made it home safe, dodging the weather, critters, and...except for me...speed traps. I'll chalk this one up to a unique punctuation mark on a great weekend, with a lesson learned that just because you can go fast, you shouldn't necessarily do so....especially only 10 minutes from home!!!

[DDT (12)]

Another great report, Mike! Y'all do live in one of the most beautiful areas of our planet, and most of us envy you that... Of course, nobody down my way envies your winters!!! Still, I've found it to be absolutely breathtaking to wander around in your neck of the woods, and, good Lord willing, I do plan to do that many more times... Thanks for the good write-up and all of the pictures... You do compose a nice story...

DDT

[Beardo]

DDT...don't confuse Southern BC'ers with Canadians who have REAL winters.  . They're pretty soft over there.

Great report Mike, wished I could have joined you. Looking even more forward to next summer now, if that was possible. Great to ride along with you all again, if only in pictures. 

[sherman]

We shy Albertains certainly enjoyed ourselves. The riding was great and the weather matched. Saturday BBQ was a great hit. Wife loved meeting up with everyone and is looking forward to next year already.

[The emperor has no clothes]

What a great ride report ! It looks like you guys are a big happy family.  (I've got to agree with Beardo, Southern BC doesn't really get winters)

Do you guys have a date set for next years Valhalla ?

[Dusty]

Mike
 I was not sleeping I was people watching     

Good ride report   

Thanks

Dusty

[Redline +]

Redline, the Vermin club of Western Wa President..making it back just in time for Happy Hour after taking the long way around on the day's ride
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Thanks for the ride report and the great photos, I will make one correction, I'm a past president of the Vermin Club.

Thanks to the BC Chapter for another great gathering, can't wait to come back and ride more of those assume roads. Special thanks to the cooks, Saturday evenings feast was a nice treat after a hard day of tight twisties and high speed sweepers through absolutely gorgeous country!    

Next year we need to get that Idaho Chapter to join us.

The next Valhalla event will be held at the same location (Grand Forks, BC) on June 21-24 2018. An extra day of fun, Thursday, has been added. Book your rooms now, here's a link with the info.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,95895.0.html

Redline

[NewValker]

Great ride report!!  Thanks for taking the time.
Craig

[msb]

Redline, the Vermin club of Western Wa President..making it back just in time for Happy Hour after taking the long way around on the day's ride
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I will make one correction, I'm a past president of the Vermin Club.

Aw shucks, Cal.... I'm so sorry to hear that you got the boot 

[gordonv]

Thanks for the report Mike. I was wondering if you where going to post that picture of yours close to home.

Cal, I thought you where the rep for VRCC-WA?

Just for the others. My second attendance at a MC rally with my convertible. This time, it was my first time behind the wheel in 3 months, as I had lent it to my daughter. It was a great ride, top down all the way there, and wasn't till I got back to an hour from home and had to park, that I but the top up in the rain.

Most of the gang enjoying the nice dinner the women had planned for us.


and our narrator with something hot and buttered in his hand.

[Redline +]

Redline, the Vermin club of Western Wa President..making it back just in time for Happy Hour after taking the long way around on the day's ride
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I will make one correction, I'm a past president of the Vermin Club.

Aw shucks, Cal.... I'm so sorry to hear that you got the boot 

After two terms as Vermin Club President I decided to let someone else have the job. Have you ever tried herding cats?

Redline

[Redline +]

Cal, I thought you where the rep for VRCC-WA?

Yes, I'm still on the books as the Washington State Rep.

[Gryphon Rider]

Where is the Fart-Toot Highway that his shirt is advertising?  Is it served by lots of gas stations, or do riders need to be sure to be completely full of gas before they traverse it?

[Jess from VA]

Thanks for sharing.  Fun. 

[gordonv]

Where is the Fart-Toot Highway that his shirt is advertising?  Is it served by lots of gas stations, or do riders need to be sure to be completely full of gas before they traverse it?

Or maybe there is something to do with the large pot of beans that's on the picnic table?


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[Wizzard]

Thanks for sharing your ride. Brought back many memories of riding through there last summer on way home from Alaska. Awesome report 

[icandoitfaster]

Great ride report Mike. Thanks for sharing. Hopefully I can make the next one.
paul