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| Western Skunk Cabbage |
The pungent stench of skunk cabbage made a huge impact on my nostrils that day. It faded away gradually as we drove further down the logging road where I was
treated to the bouquet of tree bark, blossoming leaves, budding flowers and the
distinct smell of dust thrown at us by passing trucks. Our destination was Stella Lake.
Initially, we had turned east off Highway 19 north onto the
Elk Bay forest service road. Its teeth rattling potholed condition and the
crackle of shattered glass-like gravel under our knobby tires was our first
inkling that our trek would be a grand adventure.
Logging trucks, regular trucks and vehicles hauling boats shared the network of graveled roads with us on this Vancouver Island
excursion. Our Ural was no match for a massive load of felled trees on the back of a truck or the speed of a
4-wheel drive got-to-get-there-fast vehicle. The dust they kicked up
clogged our senses and the flying rocks pecked and rattled our windshields. We ducked into a ditch and waited for the monster trucks to pass.
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| Stella Lake Serenity |
Even over the roar of the bike engine I could hear the
screech of birds calling to one another from the treetops warning each other of
our approach. As I looked up into the sky to watch the frantic birds swooping
to protect their nests, I was thrilled with the dynamic sketches made by the
trail of smoke from fast moving jets. I glanced forward and watched as Frank forced our steed down a steep twenty percent narrow rock
covered grade. Our reward at its end was Stella Lake. We picnicked there and
then headed for home.
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| Road east off Highway 19 North |
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| Adventurous Road Conditions |
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| It's a logging road |
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