Hixson, BC to Seattle, WA: 555 miles. (View in Google Maps)

I started out early, mainly because the highway noise was bothering me, but also because I knew I had a long day. I packed up and got headed out of the camp. A gate was closed in front of the camp- I didn't feel like getting off the bike to see if I could fiddle with the lock and chain, so I found a way to ride around it. Pretty impressive, considering it was still mostly dark and I was on a fully packed bike.

Mainly, it was very cold- 39 degrees F. I wore my summer mesh gloves with the Triple Digit covers- mainly because the mesh gloves were dry, and my Helds weren't. I bungeed the Helds on to the back of the bike so they would dry in the wind.

My first stop was only about 40 miles down the road, in Quesnel. This was my only visit to a chain restaurant- a Tim Hortons. How could I invade Canada and not go to a Tim Hortons? I got a single mocha, bagel with cream cheese, and small cinnamon roll. While I was eating, I got to chat with a motorcyclist and learn about electrical engineering and PLC type programming in lumber mills. It was a great conversation with a nice guy- we never exchanged names, but had a great conversation.

I felt sick for about an hour after Quesnel- too much sugar at Tim Hortons. I normally don't eat breakfast, and I'm not a big sugar junkie. Oops.

I planned on stopping next in 100 Mile House, about 205 miles from my last gas stop in Prince George. I knew there were several gas pumps there, and it was about right for range. For no good reason, I didn't end up stopping- mainly because I was looking for a pump on the west side of the highway, on the south side of town. There weren't any, so I continued on. I was happy to stop at 70 Mile House, about 235 miles into my tank.

The spacing was good, though- it meant I wouldn't need gas until I got across the border to Sumas (cheaper gas prices). I had a nice little chat with the lady at the register- she said it was -2 degrees C (28 F) this morning- wow. Mercifully, it was about 40 degrees F when I was there.

Things warmed up quickly from there. It isn't suprising- the conditions become desert-like. In a short amount of time it was 65 degrees out, which felt pretty good.

Traffic got heavy by Hope, and I think it is always heavy from there to Abbotsford. I waited in line for about 45 minutes to cross the border into Sumas- I suppose lunchtime isn't the best for that. I gassed up in Sumas and continued on.

I knew there would be a detour coming out of Sumas- and there was. I chose to take a slightly different route, taking 539 through Lynden. That was a very bad choice- it's basically 15 miles of urban sprawl, and apparently there is a fair around there, so it took forever to make it down to the freeway.

I made a stop at the fabrication shop in Lynnwood to drop off my cracked aux tank, then home (through horrible evening traffic) in Seattle. I was a little worried that my countershaft sprocket nut had backed off, because I was getting a scary noise when I would accelerate through first and second gears. So I was pretty nervous in traffic. Upon further inspection, I think it was a kink in my chain- I'll clean and lube it very well, but it probably needs replacing after all the gravel.

Nice to be home- 6928.6 miles (including 1400 on gravel), 13 days, 1200 photos, 0 drops.