Final thoughts

I have been home for two weeks now, and it is amazing how quickly one returns to the daily grind and the memories begin to fade. Maybe current events accelerate that process, as I'm sure everyone is aware of the grim financial news these days.

Best and worst---The best thing about the trip was the undisturbed alone time. It is actually quite a rare thing in our society today to spend an extended time alone, or even away from the influence of friends/family/job. I believe it changes your world view a bit. In my case, maybe I feel less affected by events around me, and value more than ever the ties of friends and family. What else is there, really.

Worst----or perhaps better stated as most surprising and most disturbing. I heard the comment several times from young people "I could never do that." Well, OK, there are some things I will never do. I won't climb Everest or K2. That said, I haven't ruled our Rainer on some future date! (Let me know if you want to sign up, that won't be a solo trip) I won't compete in the Tour De France. (But you never can tell, the "Furnace creek 508" might bite me yet, and I do hope to crew for a RAMM rider!)

Point is, especially for young folk, how on earth would you know if you can do a thing or not, if you have never tried. Especially something like a long bike ride, if you can ride a bike for 50 miles, you could do 2000 miles if you determined that was what you wanted to do. How do you know you can't do public speaking, learn Chinese, rock climb, play chess at a competitive level, surf, grow a garden, write a book, knit a sweater, etc. etc. etc. if you have never put any effort into one of these things?

Maybe an article I read in a climbing magazine at one of the Hostels I stayed in had a partial answer. The author was discussing fear, specifically as it pertains to climbers. He stated that there are three fears, fear of failure, fear of falling (DUH---), and finally one I would never have considered, fear of extreme effort! His point was that most of us get in a comfort zone of moderate effort, and we are fine with doing that, but if extreme effort is required to reach the next goal, we shy away from that, because it is uncomfortable. Something to consider . . .

I'm done now. Hope you enjoyed it a little bit. I considered posting about gear, but decided if anyone has gear questions, drop me an email. (There is so much information out there, not sure my addition would be of much value).
Pbrunton@gmail.com

email Paul

My goof---I had miss stated my email at some prior post. It is pbrunton@gmail.com

Sorry for any confusion.

Paul

Ride Photos

I have put together a few pictures in a web album. Here is the link. http://picasaweb.google.com/pbrunton/AlaskaRide#

I hope you enjoy them. If I were starting over on this venture, I would take a better camera. Oh well.

I will post one or two more items over the next week.. one will be "final thoughts", and the other will be my take on cycling gear. If you are planing on any cycle-touring, it might be of interest to you.

Thanks once again for all the support from my "virtual road crew".

Paul

Home at Last

I arrived safely home about 4:30 last night. I am very happy to be here. Sheila had gathered quite a crowd, and we had a little party (pictures here: http://picasaweb.google.com/sheila.brunton/PaulSWelcomeHomeParty). Within the next couple days I will post some final thoughts and some gear comments for those who are interested.

Last Post From the Road!

I spent the night in Salmo, within easy striking distance of the border. Soon I will be back in the good ol' USA! It has been a fantastic trip, and I thank my "virtual road crew" one more time . . . especially Sheila, who has been very understanding and supportive from the get-go. I will post some final thoughts and a couple comments on gear once I get home (tomorrow night). I look forward to seeing some of you tomorrow when I arrive. If you are reading this blog and have any desire to email me, pbrunton@gmail.com will reach me every time. Till then . . .

The Hardest Two Parts of Any Job

Paul is fond of quoting the old adage that the hardest two parts of any job are starting and finishing. It seems like just yesterday that he was telling me (as he was packing panniers for this trip), "I'll be glad to get a week under my belt." Now here he is within striking distance of home and I think it is safe to say that he is very eager to be here! He will cross over the border tomorrow and then one more day to home. He is humoring me to time his ride home on Thursday to sometime between 4:00 and 5:00. If you'd like to help welcome him home, please join us at 7903 E. Princeton Ave. Call me for directions if you need them 953-7931.
The next post should be from home with a link to pictures - Yay!

OK, I Admit It, I Conveniently Forgot

What did I forget? I forgot how hilly it is along the big lakes in Canada...no, it is not a mountain pass, but there are lots of plenty big hills, and it's raining, and I am ready to be home now---

All of which are good things, really, especially from Sheila's view----I think she is pretty happy that I want to be home! I am still hoping to make it on Thursday. Looking at the mileage it looks like it should be a piece of cake, but riding in the rain really slows things down. I find it next to impossible to get into a good rhythm that can be sustained for an hour or two----let alone three or four hours. Once you get wet through, I just start thinking about where I can stop and get dried out a bit.

On the bright side, I just had lunch at the "Middle Earth Cafe" in Nakusp. If you are ever here, do stop in----the decorating is superb, the owner and his wife friendly, and the food great! I see a little break in the rain (it poured while I had lunch) so I am going to hit the road. I should know pretty much for sure tomorrow night if I will make the Thursday arrival date. I hope so!

Home Thursday, Lord Willing and the Creeks Don't Rise

Paul hopes to be pedalling into his own driveway Thursday evening. If you would like to come and help welcome him home, I am planning to have ribbon strung across the driveway and some whoops and hollers from those of us that have been inspired by this epic journey. Please join us at 7903 E. Princeton Ave. at about 4:00 or so. Paul hopes to time it to get home around 4:30 - 5:00. We'll have some snacks and beverages on hand. I thought about surprising Paul with this, but wanted to make sure it was something we could work out timing wise and that it is something he would enjoy. He was delighted to think anyone would be interested:)

Rain to Start, Rain to Finish

I am in Revelstoke, and it is raining. I just stopped and threw all my clothes into a dryer, so for the moment I am dry. I still hope to make Nakusp tonight and Ainsworth tomorrow.

Rogers pass was big. My friend Doug Beu (who kindly delivered me to the airport to commence this journey) had assured me that he had driven it not long ago and was sure it wouldn't be bad. Hmmm---well OK, I guess , but it was LLLooooonnngggg and steep and there were the tunnels, but other than that, it was darn pretty, and very satisfying to reach the top of my last mountain climb.

I am satisfied! I purposely chose the route I did to take in the mountains. I am very satisfied with the mountain experience----don't get me wrong, I am not saying that I am "sick of them," just that I feel I have had enough for now. Some things (eating pizza, for example), it is good to do until you really don't want any more. I feel inside kind of like a morning cup of coffee that you poured a little to full, and need to quickly take a sip or it will spill over. Surely it will fade as these things do, but I feel all filled up!

Canyon Hotsprings - Last Day Open!

Paul did fine on the pass and the tunnels weren't too bad. He said he only had one dicey moment. The truth is, he said there was only one moment he thought he was going to die . . . did I mention how much I appreciate your prayers on his behalf? He made it to Canyon Hot springs on their last day open (they're closing early like so many places up there this year). Paul hopes to make it to Nakusp tomorrow. Hopefully he will get to do another post himself.

Rogers Pass Today!

Paul called and said he will go over Rogers pass today. I'm not sure he knows about the tunnels (see below), but maybe ignorance is bliss.
I can hardly wait to talk to Paul and get his report!

The picture and following info is from:
http://www.britishcolumbia.com/regions/towns/?townid=3496
Travelling through Rogers Pass requires you to go through five long tunnels, which add a measure of protection from avalanches, although they can be a bit unnerving the first time. The lofty sensation of crossing Rogers Pass is one of the rewards for travelling here.

Rogers Pass (elevation 4,534 feet/1382 m) is located at the summit in Glacier National Park, and operates the Park's main Interpretation Centre.

Whoa, Dude, that was Gnarley!

I had been warned that the road to Golden had some pretty tough spots with no shoulder and lots of trucks, and it was true. There were spots with literally zero shoulder and one lane uphill and one lane downhill. Grit your teeth and go . . . that said, it was darn pretty, and a big down grade. I crossed the continental divide again yesterday, and it has been mostly downhill for the stretch from the "Bow Summit" on the ice-fields parkway to Golden. Now I get a little flat, then "Roger's Pass", the last BIG climb left.
There will be a few more hills, but no more mountain passes. I have lost count, but I have climbed a lot of passes.

I am now in Golden, and will press on a few more miles and camp, then to face Roger's pass in the morning. Tomorrow night will be spent at Canyon Hot Springs, then on down the road. Home is drawing close, and it is tempting to hurry, but I really want to enjoy these final few miles. (I passed the 2000 mile mark yesterday)

Morning

It is my ever so humble opinion that if you miss mornings, you miss much of the best of life. The last two nights I have stayed at hostels, and I am up and gone before most activity commences. What a joy to witness the sun beginning to peek over the snow capped peaks!---to watch the shadows recede on the mountainsides, to see the birds and small animals awaken, to be up before either the dew or the frost have hit!

I truly believe that several of life's pleasures are at their most intense in the morning----the smell of freshly brewed coffee----lighting the fire in the wood stove---smelling the bacon cooking, or simply stepping out and seeing the moon and stars recede into their daytime hiding places. Or, if in the city, witnessing the sun breaking over the horizon seeming to light the skyscrapers on the Jersey shore afire-----Wow!

Of course, cycling down a deserted road before the days activity has begun ranks right up at the top!

I am about 45 miles from Lake Louise, and I may press on down Highway 1, as the weather is beginning to change. Less than a week to go, if nothing happens to change things. It has been grand . . .

I Am So Amazed

I will never cease to marvel at a day like today. I started off in Hinton, where there was a view of the mountains in the distance. Very quickly they grew larger, and in seemingly no time at all, I was surrounded by, or maybe engulfed by the mountains! Mountains hold a kind of fascinating primal draw for me, even though I am certainly no "mountaineer" by any stretch of the imagination. Maybe it has something to do with our timeless past, who knows, but big mountains are very awe inspiring to me, and I know to many of you as well.

It is fascinating for me to occasionally stop and look back where I have come from and to think wow, I just came from way on the other side or those mountains, and now I am here, with nothing but my legs and a bicycle.

The weather is beyond anything I could have hoped for. I am so happy that the poor weather was at the start of my quest, and I am simply delighted to be in the Canadian parks with absolutely stunning fall weather. It makes riding a pleasure, and I will be able to camp a couple more times, I hope. Tomorrow down the Ice fields Parkway, next day to the village of Lake Louise, next day to Canyon Hot Springs if all goes according to plan. I am tempted to press on a bit with the weather being so kind to me, but I also want to soak up the parks a bit.

Water

It is interesting to note that Canada contains approximately 30% of the earth's fresh water. A couple interesting things----rest areas along the Alaska Highway do not have water. Ever. I stopped at most of them, and they have toilets, garbage cans, and maybe a picnic table, but not water. I have found that in Alberta, parks/campgrounds do have water. (Water is very important to a cyclist.)

The next interesting thing is that Canadians seem to use as much if not more bottled water as anywhere I have been. Often you are handed a bottle of water upon arrival at a lodging place, and every little dive has bottled water for sale. Seems odd to me.

Last night was spent at a Campground at "Sheep Creek" about 20 miles short of Grande Cache. It had been a hard 11 hours of riding, and I was short on water (go figure), I was really beat, and unsure what I would do. A truck stopped in a pullout area, and as I rode up the driver was getting out to stretch his legs. We chatted a bit, and I asked if perchance he had a little water he could spare, and presto, was handed a bottle of water! And glad to get it too, let me say---

Short story long, he gave me a description of the rest of the way to Grande Cache, and as it was nearing dark, mentioned a nice campground a little further up the road. I asked if there was much left in the way of hills, and he replied that the last 5-6 K into Grand Cache was a long brutal hill. Decision made, camp and do the hill in the morning, so that is what I did!

It was a beautiful campground by the creek (?) - river, if you ask me. He did not lie about the hill, it was a real bugger. Motel tonight, and on to Hinton tomorrow. The young fella at the tourist information said the road is mostly down with significant flat areas, as Grande Cache sits on a plateau. With luck, I will be in Jasper on Tuesday! Milage will be shorter in the mountains, not just the hills, but daylight comes later and dark (or at least dusk/shadows) comes earlier. I am greatly looking forward to being in the park and marveling at the mountains.

The weather is stellar, moon nearly full, and the next few days should be the highlight of the journey.

Well Duh---

I am in Grande Prairie---it is called Grande Prairie because it is in a Prairie, a big flat beautiful prairie! Almost no hills, certainly none worth mention. In addition, I had a little tailwind much of the day, so arrived easily by 3:00 this afternoon. I knew I would have a day like this eventually! Tomorrow I am off for Grande Cache, and I think at least a portion of the day will be similar to today.

One little mishap today---I pulled off on a side road to do what a fella has to do occasionally, and it was gumbo clay mud that instantly covered the tired, gummed up the brakes, filled the forks, and made a terrible mess. I spent 15 minutes cleaning it off somewhat with a stick, and fortunately found a car wash a few miles further down the road. Interestingly, I don't really like being in a "city," as Grande Prairie has 50,000 folks . . . a little dicey getting around by bike!

Trivia---

I like numbers quite a bit, and think about them as I ride---such as "let's see, 5 miles is 1/2 of 1/10 of the 100 miles that I hope to do today, and I am 1/5th of the way there" ---I know, pretty lame, but I sort of cannot help myself. Sooo, just in case you wondered, I have been "on the bike" approximately 130.5 hours. This equates to seven thousand eight hundred and thirty minutes, and if you figure an average cadence of 70 rpm, (sometimes as slow as 45 on the hills, and 90+ when I am cruising along) that gives a grand total of five hundred forty eight thousand one hundred revolutions of the pedals! (548,100) - fascinating -It is raining out right now, which makes me happy since this is my rest day and I am inside. Hope for a nice day tomorrow and on--

Mile "0"

I must say, I had goosebumps riding up to milepost "0". I have now ridden the entire "Alaska Highway," from start to finish. Logged a little over 1500 miles---no exact number due to malfunction of the cyclo-computer. I am taking a rest day today, gathering all of the items I mailed or had mailed to myself here, eating, sleeping, looking about!

Tomorrow it is on to Grande Prairie, Alberta, at which point I will have been in Alaska and three provinces of Canada (Yukon, British Columbia, and Alberta) and will have crossed into my third time zone! Then south to Jasper, down the Ice fields Parkway to Banff, West on Highway 1, Glacier Park, Mt Revelstoke, and south for Ainsworth Hotsprings and on to home!

Road surface----the vast majority of the Alaska Highway is "chip seal," ranging in size from fairly fine to the size of railroad ballast rock. There are a few stretches of "Ash-Fault," a substance very similar to the asphalt we use in the states. The worst joke "Ha Ha" was a stretch yesterday where there was a nice wide (30 inches approximately) shoulder,which some lame brained engineer decided to put a rumble strip right down the middle of. I cannot imagine why you would do such a thing . . . This left about a foot on either side, not much room and lots of traffic, big truck hauling equipment, etc. I know, whine, whine, whine.

Maybe more later, thanks for all of the support from the "Virtual road crew"

Guest Post by Richard Baldasty

September 11, 2008: 50th anniversary of the death of Robert Service, bard of the great and far north, poet of deep, abiding cold, minstrel of miners and outlaws, romancer of lands unforgiving and beautiful in their vast defiance of puny humans upon them. Robert Service came to North America from his native Scotland looking to make his way in the New World. He succeeded beyond the wild dreams of any gold seeker. Those popular and sing-song rhymes were not great literature but they were, and remain, superb entertainment. He took snapshot photos with words. Many a reader who wouldn't have wanted five minutes actuality in the Yukon couldn't get enough of the book-by-fireside version of it Service provided. His was a one-man National Geographic band.

And what did the frugal Scot do with the wealth his writing brought? Why, took it with him to France. The deflating fact of it--Robert Service died September 11, 1958 not on the marge of Lake Labarge where they cremated Sam McGee but at his summer home in France. Unlike his characters, he was no unshaven outsider but the husband of a fair Parisian, long accustomed to the sweet life. And when World War II necessitated his departure from France, why he spent the war years safely in Hollywood, the Dream Factory.

And so we observe with mixed emotions the golden 50th of his departure. But there's no question what he'd have thought about Paul and his journey. It would have deserved immortality in poetry. It's a story with all the Service materials: determination, individuality, a dash of the absurd (why this?), loneliness, distance, the hero small yet magnificent in his smallness amid the mightly elements. "Get down to bedrock and meet people": Service said that was his credo. Huzzah for Paul. There are fine things done in the land of the midnight sun by the man who holds the road.