Day 9 , rest day in Golden

The sun was shinning when I got up lighting up the mountains on the edge of camp which really tower over us .

First order of business was laundry and there were only two machines here in camp so a line up formed, all in all not so bad as the laundry room was the only warm place to huddle up in. While I waited I had breakfast and cleaned the bike , after laundry was done some of us headed into town and I had a second breakfast at the “Big Bend Coffee”  , it’s amazing how much I am eating !!!

Now I’m sitting here in the shelter beside the truck , a gathering place for all of us , some on there computers , others doing laundry , some cleaning bikes and yet others eating lunch. The weather is chilly and occasionally a rain cloud goes over dropping a few drops on us , dinner planes are being made for tonight at a local restaurant. 

Tomorrow we tackle Kicking Horse Pass , the climb starts right here in town , from were I sit I can see the trucks slowly climbing the road that is high above us . Apparently no electricity in camp so probably I won’t be able to post tomorrow .

Day 8, Rogers Pass

The day started soggy , it had been raining most of the night and there was no let up as we left camp. Right away we started climbing towards Rogers Pass 36 km away. And even though I had full rain gear on I got soaked as I had to open the jacket during the harder parts of the climb. Along the way we had to go through some snow tunnels which was interesting as it was a tight squeeze and a couple of them dark. As a pleasant distraction to climbing we saw a bear eating along the railroad tracks !!!( my first bear and I got his picture !! ) So when we finally got to the pass we quickly snapped a few pictures at the top and headed for the rest area to warm up and eat . 

The waiter at the rest stop was kind enough to throw our soaked shirts and sock into the dryer so at least we had some kind of warmth to start the long decent. It was funny to see a whole bunch of cyclist in different stages of undress walking around the restaurant ! me included . And as we walked out the door the rain stopped making the way down much easier as it was fast and there was a million cars on the road. Of course after what seemed forever going down we were faced with climbing again and this time the grade was a bit steeper. But the sun was out and it was warmer then the 11 degrees up at the pass so we just carried on and had a very good ride , the mountains here are huge !!! tops covered in snow.

Tomorrow is a rest day which I must say I’ll enjoy and then more climbing .

Total ridden today : 120. km -  average 22.0 -- ridding time 5.20

My first bear sighting !!

Waiting for clothes to dry up on Rogers Pass

Day 7 , dwarfed by giants.

Today we were dwarfed by giants as we rode along the Trans Canada Hwy again. For most of the way they towered over us on both sides sending fast flowing streams of blue water rushing past us there granite tops at times obscured buy clouds and every now and then letting us catch a glimpse at the real monsters in the distance with there white top peeks.

Riding the Trans Canada is deafening as the roar of cars, trucks and trains is incessant  making it just about impossible to talk to your fellow riders and leaving you with a ringing roar in your ears even after you get off the Hwy. At least there is a wide shoulder to ride on.

We started the day cooking breakfast , I actually made french toast for forty people !!!!, I can’t take all the credit as the whole galley crew pitched in to make it all work boiling water for clean up , setting out peanut butter and jam for lunch sandwiches , cooking porridge, setting out bananas , cereal , milk, sugar ,gorp,  making coffee , serving breakfast , cleaning everything up and putting everything away and loading all the duffle bags into the truck , etc... It meant we were the last to leave camp and Bridget , Trevor and myself were sweeps ( we travel last to assist anyone who has trouble on the road ).

As we traveled the temperatures fluctuated between mid teens to mid twenties , meaning that several times during the ride cloths went off then back on and off again, it seems to be a pattern here in the maintains . 

We visited the site were the last spike was set for the transcontinental railway , and I made a short side trip to see a very nice water falls on the Perry River .

Todays route had a fair bit of climbing but nothing severe ,at the end of out ride we started to climb towards Rogers Pass ( tomorrow we go over ) 

And of course it rained a little at the end of the ride another regular occurrence in the mountains .

Total ridden today: 126.6 - average : 22.2 - ridding time : 5.41

Day 6 , Tim Horton run !!!

So today as I was part of the galley that had to help cook dinner I hit the road early as I wanted to be sure I got into camp early . The ride started along the Trans Canada Hwy and even though it was scenic as it skirted a couple of beautiful lakes the traffic took a bit of the magic away so I just rode on pushing a bit more then usual as I headed for the Tim Hortons in Salmon Arms ( my first Timmy’s of the trip ). I started with Bob , and later rode with Mark for a bit, but most of today I was on my own. 

There was some good climbs and great long descents. The country side changed again today as it got greener and the mountains are getting bigger !, they are changing from round tops to jagged tops, soon we will be in the real mountains !!! . Once we left the Trans Canada the trip got much more enjoyable without as much traffic . And a surprise today was seeing Len on the side of the road waiting to greet us as we road by his neck of the woods ( Len, it was a pleasure riding with you ! ) 

Cooking was interesting as we had to make chicken paprika , rice and vegetables , we all pitched in and with Trevor’s cooking we laid out an amazing meal getting numerous compliments , tomorrow we cook breakfast so it will be a late start .

On a foot note , last night being Canada day some fireworks were bought , since we couldn't wait till dark as most of us would have been asleep we set out across the Hwy and railroad tracks for a wonderful daytime display of fireworks which ended a very pleasurable Canada Day. 

Total ridden today: 100.6 - Average : 22.8 - ridding time : 4. 24 

I am not able to get online today so I’ll try again tomorrow to post this .

Day 5 : Canada Day !!!

It was a cold morning as we left camp just 10 degrees and I had my rain jacket on covering my Canada shirt I wore just for the occasion. Todays route was quite simple 78 km on the same road out of town throw beautiful valleys, no serious climbing just curving roads and around every bend the scenery just seemed to get better. For most of the ride one had the felling of being in the middle of nowhere as there really wasn't any buildings for miles just road , lakes and mountains. The land was arid covered in sage brushes , what ever agriculture activity there was had irrigation ( sprinklers ) and that land near the rivers and lakes was lush . Lots of wildlife : deer , loons ,eagles and ospreys ( maybe pelicans ) and lots of domesticated animals : cows , horses and llamas and a burro also , it’s funny but I think the animals where just as much interested in us as we where in them as they would watch us ride by intently, ears perked.

After the first 78 km we went off road as we had the option of a shorter but more scenic route but it involved 11 km of gravel, well it was amazing, a narrow valley with cows grazing on the side of the road with no fences ( they have Texas gates all over the place to prevent them leaving the area) , there were horses that looked wild as wild can be with long manes blowing in the wind and every now and then a ranch . The weather was warmer in the valley so I was able to display my Canadian colours !!. The road returned to pavement and on we went until an unmarked left turn needed to be done which again was a dirt road but this time it was loose gravel and it looked like it went to nowhere , so after some consultation with a passing motorist it was decided it was the only way to get back to the Hwy and off we went , down and down, sharp turns and all ( just like mountain biking !!! ) and finally we were back in civilization ( the trans Canada Hwy ) from there it was a simple 20 km ride to the campground .

Oh Canada , what a beautiful country you are !!!!

Total ridden today: 130.2 - average 22.7 - riding time 5.44

Day 4 : rest day

So a change in pace today , slept in till 6 AM !! 

We are camped on the banks of the Coldwater River on the outskirts of Merritt , it’s a small mill town nestled in a valley surrounded by arid mountains, a very western town with a country and western theme as there are murals of country singers on many of the store walls and many of the locals could be called cowboys donning large cowboy hats.

Not mush to do exempt for eating and laundry, it seems that just about everything I have needed washing , the laundry mart being a very popular TdC meeting place this morning as everybody was in the same predicament after two rainy days.

After that it was a good long cleaning of the bike accompanied by guitar music as a bonus courtesy of John!!! Once that was done my stomach started grumbling so off I went to the Coldwater Hotel for a huge burger and cream of chicken soup ( the burger was so big I had to eat it with a knife and fork !!! )

The rest day seems a bit long as there really is nothing to do, I went into town about 4 times already , took pictures , read the newspaper and now am bloging, but it’s a very necessary day after yesterdays climb , tomorrow is a long day 147 km with an option so rest is good !!!!.