Leg 28 - Kamloops, BC to Blaine, WA (Fourth Corner) to Seattle, WA

Left the motel in Kamloops, BC at 5:25 am with the air temperature at 61 degrees.

I stayed at a motel named Scott's Inn and Restaurant in Kamloops. Right next to the motel is Scott's Restaurant, a favorite of local senior citizens. They usually have a special home made dinner on the menu. Last night I had their lasagna special which came with a starter cup of chicken noodle soup, a caesar's salad, garlic bread and a berry cake dessert. All delicious and for $13.95 Canadian, a good value. Gotta love places senior's frrequent.

Scott's Inn and Restaurant, Kamloops, BC

The ride out of Kamloops, BC, 347 meters (1140 feet) goes right up in elevation. In less than a half hour I found myself at 1445 meters (4740 feet) with the air temperature at 45 degrees. I stopped and put on an extra layer of clothing.

The ride from Kamloops, BC to Hope, BC was some of the most spectacular scenery I have seen, rivaling the ride through Banff National Park and Glacier National Park. The high mountain road took long sweeping turns through pine filled and snow capped peaks. There were two mountain passes, both around 1400 meters.

Coming out of the first pass, I came down into the Nicola Valley. The wide expanse of the valley outstretched ahead while coming down out of the mountain was spectacular. Just after riding through the valley, the climb into the high mountains began again.

Riding through the second pass, I came around a wide sweeping turn to have Nak Peak come into view on the right side. At first site I gasped at it's incredible beauty. 

Coming down the mountain into Hope, BC was a thrill. The steep decline of the road with the wide sweeping turns gave quite an adrenaline rush. I would ride another 10k miles just to do the stretch from Kamloops, BC to Hope, BC again.

I stopped for breakfast in Hope, BC at a little diner. There a smiling waitress served up a canadian bacon and poached eggs breakfast that put warmth right back into me. 

I crossed back into the US at Aldergrove, BC, a small border crossing at around 10:00. It took about 30 minutes, but once I presented my passport I was quickly sent on my way.

From there it was a short ride into Blaine, WA, the fourth and final corner of this tour. I stopped at the Blaine, WA post office to document my stop.

Blaine, WA (Fourth Corner)

I then rode to a local Chevron gas station to get the requisite gas receipt to further document the trip. The receipt dispensed by the pump did not have the name of the town so I went in to ask the attendant for one. When I asked for a receipt with the name Blaine, WA on it, he asked if I was doing the Four Corners. I answered that I was and then he asked how many corners I had done. He gave a big smile when I told him it was my fourth.

As I was putting on my helmet and gloves getting ready to leave, the music piped out to the gas pumps began playing Frank Sinatra's 'Young At Heart'. Honest, I am not making this up. I rode out with a bit of sadness with this being the final corner.

I rode on to Seattle, WA arriving around 1:00 pm. I will be staying with my elder daughter for a couple of days. I plan on getting back on the road July 1st.

Overall, 335 miles and 7 1/2 hours.

Leg 28 - Kamloops, BC to Blaine, WA (Fourth Corner) to Seattle, WA

Officially, I have completed the Four Corners motorcycle tour. However, I still have over 800 miles of riding before I return to my home in Novato, CA. I will be blogging the remaining legs of the trip, one of which will include my all-time favorite local ride, Hwy 128 from Mendocino, CA to Cloverdale, CA.