So how did this gong show start?  how did I get in to this.  Surfing the net on a rainy wet coastal day I came across an advert, "KTM Adventure Rally BC"  to occur at Silverstar Ski resort BC.  A measly 1500km away from my little northern home.  I put a post out to my local adventure group to see if anyone else was interested.  A friend Davinder and a couple others said ya so I made arrangements and paid for my entry fee.  Over the couple of months leading up to the rally I logged some pretty decent kilometers.  trips into the interior, nearly running out of gas on the backroads of ootsa lake, trip to Fort St. James, Trip to Babine Lake.  most of these ranged 2-5 day trips with 1800km to 3500km in the saddle.  We would hit as much off road, technical riding as possible and slowly everyone backed out of the rally.  And so  with only weeks to go Only Davinder and Myself were going.  I was in the process of roofing my house and I had promised my wife that I would have the house covered before I left (she was not comming)  so on thursday (Davinder and I were supposed to leave on friday)  I was up on the roof and I heard the unmistakable sound of his bike turn off the highway and come up the dirt road leading to my house.

Slightly confused I climbed down the ladder.  "I've gone stir crazy, I gotta get outta here!"  said Davinder.  

"Dude, I cant leave until tomorrow!  I gotta finish this or I wont have a wife to come home to!"  I replied.

I generously offered Davinder a spot on my roof roofing, (which he had already helped a couple times already throughout my extensive renovations).  He declined and we dicided he would pick along the backroads and I would hit the main highway the next day and ride like hell to catch up.  I didnt know it at the time but this was a great decision on my part!!!  It was comming to the last week of September and we were heading through the interior of north central British Columbia.  

Davinder took the backroads up the Nass Highway across the dirth and overlanding through the Hazeltons in sleet and freezing rain where he spent a very cold wet night shivering for warmth.  It was bad enough that he awoke at 5 AM packed his gear on the bike and sped towards Prince George 500km east to find a hotel and try and dry out.

I was unaware of davinders predicaments.  I had spent a lovely night with my wife in a warm comfortable bed and awoke in the morning to a light mist.  I finished a few chores and finally managed to get on the road by 11, not leaving Terrace for the main highway until noon.  I experienced off and on drizzel mixed with sun but be-lined it to Prince George at speeds unnacceptable for a loaded bike.  I had since recieved a text that said something along the lines of "miserable, heading to PG,  meet me there" with a link to a crappy hotel near the cities downtown core.  

I arrived around dinner time, relatively dry but very cold and tired.  Riding at high speed while dodging huge Ice chunks flying off of the roofs of semi trucks as the temp rose slightly above the freezing point.  The scene I pulled up to was typical of Davinder but I am sure would surprise many.  Tent and gear draped over his bike and curb of the hotel and Davinder standing in the parking lot in his long underwear with a big smile (a couple beers into our first of many over the course of this trip).  

He helped unload my bike as my hands were no longer working from the cold.  I had set up a wind deflection system and was trying to keep my hands worm but failing miserably.  Even using those disposal hand warmers.  I needed to figure out something more effective.   

I showered and we decided to go out for fancy Pizza and beers to celebrate the official first day of our first extended trip together. After the first few beers, I had warmed up significantly and we checked out a few micro brew beers and toddled back to our hotel for some well deserved sleep.