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!