My GPS Is Trying To Kill Me! -368 miles

The day started out innocently enough. A lovely warm morning - a great breakfast supplied by Jan, routes pre programmed the previous evening. I did think it was a little unusual, the seemingly unnecessary bypass of a small town, but didn't worry. Maybe I should have......

We waved bye bye to Jan, thanking her for two days of wonderful hospitality, and headed off north along Hwy 19A, which runs parallel to freeway-style Hwy 19. Much prettier, so when the GPS attempted to re-route us up to the major highway, I ignored her and continues on towards Campbell River, the town she wanted to avoid.

Getting nearer, I knew we would eventually have to transfer to Hwy 19 so I finally obeyed her directions. Up on to the freeway we went, but had not gone far when the instruction came to turn left off the major road and take some small street behind a service station. We began to suspect something was up when we went down a suburban street with speed bumps. Then it was in to thick bush pressing in from the sides and a quick right-left to confuse me. I missed it and had to make a U-Turn. "Off Route - Recalculating" she sneeringly intoned. Jack was looking at us with questioning eyes, but I was intent on finding my way back on track. Down some more dark and forboding streets, with ramshackle houses and rusting pickups in the yards. The people suddenly looked menacing to us, or were we imagining things. Charleen wondered if the GPS was leading us to an axe-murderer in the deep bush. I wasn't sure.

Then it happened. We came upon a gravel road. We stopped and got off the bikes, wondering what to do next, when a dark pickup slowly approached us from the dirt road, travelling on the wrong side. We could barely make out the driver.........

Then we saw it was a man walking his dog as he went by and waved hello, smiling. We discussed it and decided to take the proffered gravel road, and sure enough, two point four miles later we were back on Hwy19.

I'm still not sure though.

The highway to Port Hardy, our northernmost point for this whole trip, is an excellent and well made road that travels over huge mountain ranges, with snow-drifts still clinging to the steep sides. A very pretty drive. Also pretty long at 140 miles. And pretty cold this morning. The temp dropped to 55F (12.5C) and we stopped to put that extra layer on again.

We kept pretty much to the speed limit. Canada - or at least British Columbia - has low limits. Only 90 or 100kph in open country. But every one seems to completely ignore them and several large vehicles whistled past on our left from time to time.

Finally making it to Port Hardy, we worked out you'd need to be hardy to live there. It was still cold. We found ourselves some hot chocolates then went and took the photos to prove we were there. Original plan had us staying the night, but a quick consensus was reached that we return to Campbell River near to where we will catch the ferry tomorrow.

Back along the picturesque Hwy 19 we went, watching out for upcoming large SUV's in our mirrors. I had selected a campgrounds outside the town and when we got near the town, the GPS sent us off into the wilderness again. We crossed a dam wall and at the next intersection she proudly announced "Arrive at destination on left". There was nothing there.

We searched up and down the road and soon found the place we were looking for, a lovely park set amongst tall pine trees, with excellent amenities and run by a very nice couple.

Our day turned out safe and well after all.

Here's a few pictures:

Plentyof Oyster gatherers along here

Totems are everywhere too

The dreaded gravel road

North Vancouver Island stunt rider

Another totem at Port Hardy

Just to prove we were there - yes it was cold - no we are not hardy

Humming birds at our campsite

"I'm too cute"

"Look Ma - no wings"

Our campsite in the pines

Today's modern campsite. Complete with wireless internet access.