more pictures

So I am now safely back in Edmonton.

For your viewing pleasure, there are more pictures! you can see them below:

Vancouver and Train Ride

in those pictures, you'll see my pictures from vancouver, and of the train, where I had the surprise company of Hindlebear and Fezaboom! who I was chasing through the mountains, while they were also on bikes.

the train was awesome, bumping into some old friends, and making some new ones, clearly a great way to travel.

Also, Fern/Dave provided some wonderful hospitality, with their crazy cats, in Vancouver.

Now that I'm done, it's time to plot out the next trip...

Photos from Juan de Fuca park.

Photos from my time on the Beach:

Juan de Fuca Provincial Park

Vancouver

Vancity is largely as I remember it, wet, gritty, and dull grey, with moss/mould growing on it.

People here seem to move a little faster than they do on the island, this city has a certain amount of hustle and bustle to it.

The hipsters here sneer and try to look cool. On the island, they smile, wave, and talk to strangers.

I'm staying with some old friends, it is good to see them, and I'm greatful for their hospitality.

I should get back to my walk around town. I've already obtained the goodies I was after (new {to me}pants! $6), now I'm just walking about. I'm going to go through chinatown, then mosey back to my friends' place for dinner.

Packing up, and turning towards home.

It's 07:15 and I think I'm all packed up now.

I'm going to miss this place, but I'm ready to come back into my place in the world. Tonight, victoria, tomorrow Vancouver, friday, train, saturday, home, in Edmonton.

I'm almost done...

Food

I am almost out of food.

I am down to a handful of apricots, blue gatorade, a can of ham, and three tortillias.

And no coffee, or tea (growl).
I will have to lunch in sooke again, ideally where they have the fish and chips that I got on my way in.

I'm going to miss the solitude of the beach, but I'll be glad to taste that fish again. It was the best yet.

Beach bum

I'm taking another day at the beach.

I've run out of coffee, and neglected to bring tea.

It's low tide now, I've restarted the fire (kept going all night, wet, smouldering wood)

The wood burns like giant cedar incense, a glow nub on a giant sponge. There is a terrific amount of smoke from the fire, kept billowed by the cool breeze from offshore, also bringing moisture. I can't see the mountains, only the fog creeping across the sea.

*

The beachfront hermitage

Tomorrow I pack out. I'm pretty much ready to start heading back towards my life in society at some point, on the other hand, it means turning around, and heading home. I'm no longer in motion to the ocean, but in carriage to my home, and the people I miss dearly. The adventure isn't over though, I've still got some time to spend in vancouver, and then the grande finale train ride home. I really, really hope that the kamloops stopover is breif.

I've got two trips to calgary in september, so it'll be more travelling for me.

Holiday.

I am on holiday.

In the spirit of this, I am taking a nap.

I think I will break camp tomorrow, and then make for Vancouver on wednesday.

Man up

So, I just turned a driftwood log, and turned it into a stack of firewood.

Finally, I've managed to make a beach fire, following the "driftwood only" rule. The axe is what's key to this.

Grunt.base.masculine.grunt.

The waterfall.

I decided to look around, and found a waterfall.

There was a little bit of bushwhacking involved, but it led to a place so beautiful, that it was entirely worthwhile. The plant life, in a costal, rainforest, waterfall, where it never freezes, is incredible.

Exiting to the beach, the mists roll over peninsulas, and muting the edges of the vision.

Eagle

A bald eagle just flew past my site along the beach. Such a magnificant creature.

Sadly, my camera is in my tent.

Incidentally, the mountains across the sea in washington are clearing through the haze.

Full Moon Low Tide Sunrise: Bear Beach.

I woke up this morning to the low tide, here at my island hideaway, in Juan de Fuca park.

After the crazy bike ride, and the strenuous hike to get here, I've elected to keep this, the best campsite of all; for an extra day.

It's so quiet here, just the sound of the surf lapping against the rocks. Packing in, have put me several kilometes of trail away from the nearest road access. There's an outhouse around the corner, a freshwater creek for the filter up the way, and very, very few other human beings. No car noises, no train noises.
It's completely detached here, minus the occasional passer-by on the beach trail. It will be even fewer tomorrow, when the week-enders departing today.

I really needed a quiet day relaxing on the beach, and I've gotten it.

I also drank all the coffee, this might get ugly. I should try and barter with someone who would like one less item in their heavy pack (I'm near the terminus trailhead).

Camera battery is also running low.

I walked out to look at the tide pools, and observed hermit crabs, with some other, larger crabs. Nothing large enough to be delicious, sadly.

Being on the sea, makes me wish that I had a sailboat.

Juan de Fuca

While the theme of my bike ride was being in motion, to the ocean, the endless push and effort to get to the destination; I have arrived, and am working on island time.

The theme for this leg of the adventure is "take your time". That, I am doing, as I lazily stumble through the woods, soaking in the wonder that is the costal rainforest. I'm taking lots of breaks, looking around at the scenic view points, and all around, taking things a lot easier (even if hauling the pack is acutely more physically demanding).

This is what the pace of a holiday should be.

China beach

Today I rode my bike from victoria, to china beach, in the juan de fuca provincial park.

I've left my bike, extra gear, and business card with the park-narcs who were more pleasant than usual.

After loading my hiking pack, moving equipment from my panniers, to the new pack, I think that I may have to re-consider the canned meat route to adventure fuel. It's great on the bike, because it contains the mega calories that are required in your stomach for touring. While freeze dried is terribly expensive, it's true advantage is size and weight. Lots of calories, in a lightweight packaging: just add water. The canned food does have it's advantages (scent proof) and high calories.

I'll be off to the trail tomorrow, which should be nice. The bike has become somewhat cumbersome, as it carries so much stuff. It'll be nice to only have to worry about my self, not the machine, and it's endless mechanical faults (flat tires and broken kickstand.). I've considerably reduced the amount of things to carry. Replaced water storage, with filter (leaving two bottles behind.).

I'm going to get up early tomorrow, really make a good start. Adventure waits for no one!

Sooke

I'm in sooke, about to ride up to the park. I'll be hiking and will be out of cell range until I return on tuesday or wednesday.

I have a new camera, a canon TX1 which is a solid state video/still hybrid.

The hiking should be awesome, and I'll be sure to document every bit of it.

Juan de Fuca

Tomorrow I am obtaining some camping gear, and a new camera, and mounting an expedition to juan de fuca provincial park. Bicycles will be traded for hiking boots, panniers, with backpack.

I'll likely be out of reach of cell service, but I'll be sure to document it.

The sea!

I'm hanging out beside the sea, looking in rocky tide pools.

I just found a bunch of little crabs!

I wish my camera wasn't broken.

Another leg

Me and fez (who also rode here from Edmonton) are plotting a trip up the coast to juan de fuca provincial park. It's 100 km up the road from here on the ocean.

My plan is to go thursday beach friday, ride back saturday or sunday.

We all deserve some island time, and I want to loaf about on the beach. we earned it.

View Larger Map

View Larger Map

Prairie to the Sea

I'm going to try and line up the posts with the pictures.

Total distance.

1296km : 10 days

The end of the road.

I made it to twassen, and onto the 20:00 ferry. 175 km all told today, and trough the traffic hell of surrey during rush hour. I think I'm going to have to go back to the north end of the valley, it's really beautiful there.

I'm about ready to pass out now.

I'm done. There is no sight more beautiful than the sea.

Blackberries!!!

As much as I promised myself that I would hammer at the road today, I could not resist the urge to stop and gorge myself on blackberries growing on the side of the road.

Delicious!!!

In motion to the ocean

I just rounded a corner, and the valley opened up to the sea.

NO MORE MOUNTAINS!!!

I think I may have just shed a tear of joy.

The Grand Finale

This is going to be greulling. My GPS says that the shortest route is 175 km to twassen, and that takes the freeway. I'm probably doing something on the order of double century today.

I'm going to cross the bridge at mission, and then weave my way through. It's quarter after 7, and I'm pretty much ready to go. I've got until 20:50 to get to the ferry.

I'd also like to comment on just how remarkable the change in landscape has been, every day. Yesterday was tumbleweeds and the brown tinderbox of the interior. Today, is the ferns and moss of the costal rainforest. The trees are big here too.

Now, to the road with me, for the most greulling day yet.

View Larger Map

From locust to lotus

Today was very, very long. I did 120 km through some of the most challenging bits of highway that this country (if not the world) has to offer.



The morning started with a 40km/h headwind, with gusts that must have been clearing 60. As the headwind eased, there was a series of hills, which all had 100-200 metre elevation changes.



There was also a series of tunnels, which were terrifying, if not entertaining (and, each one skips a hill!)



At Alexandra bridge, I got lost, and couldn't find it, saw it from the bridge on the highway (which I walked across, instead). I also cleared jackass summit (they named one after me!), cleared hell's gate (aptly named) and managed to get two flat tires.



One flat, was alongside a gravel slide area, where I could hear stones falling with every passing truck. It took all I had to contain myself when I snapped off the valvestem on my freshly patched tube, and had to fix it all over again (with a new tube) I got another snakebite flat later down the road, after hitting a rock, hard. My poor tire is taking one hell of a beating back there.



My left achilles is killing me, as do my hands (from a day of "active" braking).



All told, 120km.



Tomorrow, the grand finale? My gps puts it at 177km of urban assault. I can do it, but it will sap every ounce of energy from me. I've gotta be at the ferry terminal before 20:50, or I'll be camping out on the ramp.

Goldpan, to beyond Hope.

Today will be long, and hard. Thankfully the headwind has died down, and it is still. The sun still hasn't cleared the mountains.

At some point last night, I broke the LCD in my camera. Which sucks, but I was looking for an excuse to get a new one anyway. (Or, maybe, just maybe, a new blackberry) so, the pictures from the rest of the trip, may be a little on the dodgy side.

When I went to tear down my tent, I discovered that I had a little friend with me. He is a little toad, that crawled under the tent. He's lucky that I didn't squish him.

Okay. I need to drink my coffee, break camp, and get on the road.

Trains.

I just laid down to go to sleep early, at 19:43 (I was up at 05:00, rode a metric century today, and an imperial one yesterday) only to discover that there are train tracks on both sides of this campsite.

Charming.

I really need this sleep.

Goldpan Provincial Park

I had enough of the headwind so I cut off the road a little early.



This is perhaps the most scenic site that I've had yet, perched beside the Fraser river, deep in a windswept canyon.



The mountains have been getting bigger, and greener as I go, less scrub and tumbleweed, the taller they get.



I can't put into words just how windy it is here. This is the first night that I've fully pegged out the tent.



This park is a "self registration" campground, which usually means you can get away without paying (like I did last night ;-) but, this time I got busted. I thought I should put something in the envelope, so I left $5 and, assuming that the envelope wouldn't be opened, until it crossed some bureaucrat's desk a week later, checked myself in. Sure enough, the park rangers came by, requested the extra $10 (which I happily paid) and were on their merry way.



Now, don't get me wrong, I don't mind paying for camping, but if I do, I want them to pay someone to collect the money from me. Without attendants, it's just a parking lot on the side of the highway, with potable water, outhouses, and a view (usually). So far, I'm going three for six on the "not paying for camping in provincial parks" this summer.



There is a falcon, hovering above my site. He's just sorta standing, like a kite, midair in the wind. When he let's up his stance, he goes whipping back up the valley, at a speed which is ridiculously fast, even for a bird of prey. This wind makes me excited for the ocean.



The next two days are going to be "demanding" I'm not sure if I can make it to the ferry by monday night if this wind doesn't let up.



I found a map of the lower mainland. I'm going to try and plot out a route from hope to twassen tonight. There is no direct way of doing it, that does not involve controlled highway.



That's all for tonight, I'm out of cell range anyway, down here in the canyon.

Spences Bridge.

The highway crosses the fraser river here, and I won't be up against the rock wall anymore.

I fell shortly after that last post (a "no speed" crash) and twisted up my ankle a bit. Thankfully, I got up before the next convoy went through.

I stopped at a fruit stand for cider. Apparently this is a bad year for cherries, and they lost tens of thousands of pounds of them due to frost.
35 km to go today. I am soooo ready to call it quits for the day. Yesterday, I'd be done in an hour and a half. Today, that 35 km could mean three hours.

The mountains seem to be getting bigger. Hopefully they'll sheild some of the wind.

Also, I ran over 1000 km this afternoon. It makes the trip odometer blink.

Thompson Canyon

I am just before the highway 8 turnoff on the transcanada.

This part of the road is really tough. I'm battling a headwind, blowing up the canyon, that's gotta be at least 30km/h, if not more.

The shoulder dissapears when the highway snakes around the rock walls, and a seemingly endless convoy of tractor trailers, winnebagos, and speeding idiots don't seem to want to either slow down, or spare me an inch.

All trip I've been playing a game with nyself when passing these walls, and seeing the debris on the shoulder, looking at the rocks and wondering "death" or "injury", if each fallen rock had landed on me.

I will be glad to get to lytton, I think it's going to be an early bedtime for me tonight. Today has been hard.

Savona.

So, I really, really needed to get out of kamloops. that city has now made it on my shit list, perhaps even moreso than toronto or calgary.



I'm camped at savona provincial park, on the banks of lake kamloops.



The country here is scrubby, with tumbleweeds, and dust storms. There was a few great descents, and some mean hills. Also, of note was the salt ponds, that smelled of sulphur. They had mostly dried up, leaving the salt behind.



Tomorrow, I hammer at the road some more, but perhaps not as much as today. I wanted to find out where my absolute, physical limit is for one day "loaded" and that's 100 miles (actually, a little more, I got lost -> 165 km.) Tomorrow will tell if that was "too much" or not. I don't know how far I'm going to get tomorrow, but it'll be the day that I "officially" get ahead of fez, who took a detour up on the scenic route.



I should get some sleep. I think it's going to storm tonight. If it's raining, I may just wimp out and sit on my butt for a day.

Kamloops.

I am in kamloops.

I restocked my food, and found water and a place to charge my batteries.

I think that this is perhaps the single most bicycle un-friendly city ever. Even by the insane standards set out by edmonton and calgary. I'm a little concerned that this storm hasn't broken yet. When it does, it'll be one hell of a whopper. I can't wait for my batteries to charge so I can get the hell out of this godforsaken place.

I also add, this part of the province is a tinderbox, between the 35 degree heat, and the pine beetles. Barriere looked like fire had already gone through it.

The next few days are going to be hard, I think. I really hope the rain holds off.

Day Six

I'm up, and I'm going to make hard for kamloops, which is 110 km south of here. I'm givn'r all I got today, changing my route will mean longer days. I'm just going to finish up my second coffee and hit the road should be good.

I'm thinking I'll make it as far as savona today.

Routing

Upon closer examination of the map, better judgment dictates taking the trans-canada highway instead of the coquihalla pass.

This will mean longer, but much, much more pleasant days. The greatest uphill along that route appears to be less than 100 metres.

Clearwater.

I have passed clearwater, and I am camping in a little forest, between the fraser river, and the highway. This, is perhaps the nicest site, clandestine or paid that I have found. My only concern is that it may be a little to close to the highway. Not that it matters, because I doubt that anyone would go into the woods at night, and I intend to leave pretty early tomorrow morning.

The site itself is on mica sand, which is at once both shiny, and soft. This is nice.

Today, I did about 130km, and tomorrow I will roll through kamloops. I have revised my plan, and I'm also going to roll through vancouver, but spend more time there next week.
I'm hellbent on getting to the end of the ride, so I'll be trying to get to twassen by monday night, arriving in victoria then.

I'm also going to have to get food in kamloops. This, will also increase my weight going over the hill. I've also gotta stop at abbotsford, as I can't camp in town, and will likely need to be fresh to do the 75 km between there and twassen.

Tonight's site features 5 bars of EVDO cell service. This is a real treat after being in the black hole of cellphone service that is the bc interior. There was, however analog service in blue river, but that only added to last night's discontent.

Tomorrow, kamloops.

Clearwater.

I am in clearwater, and am finally back in reception.

It's hot, like 35 degrees in the shade.

It's looking like I'll make it to the island by monday night if I keep up this pace: I'm waaaay ahead of my plan.

I think I'm going to keep going, and see how far I can go tooday... I'm within striking distance of kamloops, and I'd like to overshoot it a bit tomorrow. I'm skipping the rest day that I had planned-> I'm too close to stop now.

I'm really moving through these hills, but the next few days are going to get difficult as I go from 420 metre elevation, to 1400 metre elevation, in a day.

I feel strong, but my mind has turned to mush, headstrong at getting to the coast.

Blue river morning

For some reason, I've got "moon river" stuck in my head, only, instead of "moon river" it's "blue river". I'll thank jill barber for getting me on to this song.

I found water, and an unattended outdoor plug at the changeroom of the public beach. I've filled my bottles, and now I'm making coffee while my batteries charge.

I got eaten alive by the bugs last night, and this morning. My lower eyelid got bit, and my eye is swollen. It looks like I got in a scrap with someone twice my size.

I've definitely gotta get some bug juice.

The trains here seem to span for miles, this one street was blocked for not less than 45 minutes, and it's still blocked.

Today, I make for clearwater. I'm still deciding whether or not to go through merritt on the 5 or to go around it (further, but skipping the hill) on the trans-canada.

It looks like it stopped raining, I should hit the road.

Blue river

I rode 130 km today, from mount robson, to blue river.

I am now officially ahead of the itinerary by a day.

Much to my surprise, blue river provincial park, is closed for the season. I'm camping here anyway, until told otherwise.

It appears as if they're clearing out all the pine-beetled trees (there's lots) while simultaneously upgrading the place. Bottom line, is that it's a nice quiet spot to camp.

The text messaging isn't working on my phone, I'm guessing this is part of the cellular "black hole" that is the BC interior. Oddly though, email appears to be working.

The road today was long and hard. I need to find water before I leave tomorrow, I'm thinking that I should have looked into a water filter as there's lots and lots of mountain creeks around, just none safe to drink.

This would have also significantly cut back on the weight methinks. I probably would have carried two less bottles otherwise.

I'm not sure how much longer I can keep up this pace, even if it was all downhill today. I wouldn't be surprised if I had already passed my one buddy today, without realizing it.

I'm really exhausted, but there's still another hour of daylight to kill.

I'm not sure what tomorrow's goal will be. I'll figure that out later.

Valemount / highway 5

I am in valemount now.

At the bike shop I replaced my back rack, and got myself some bear spray, and some bear bangers. This, cost too much, and I will have to attempt to conserve my remaining funds.

Nevertheless, I think it was a good investment, as I now have some defence from bears. The next haul features a lot of empty mountainside, with few towns, or parks to speak of. This means stealth camping, and a very real risk of bears. It's also funny to think that I'm carrying a restricted weapon.

The heat has been turned on, it's somewhere between 30 and 35. This is why I leave early in the morning (even if today had a late start.)

My BC hippie beard is beginning to come in, I'm starting to look like a mountain man. I'm not sure how far I'll get today, and I suspect that the next three days will have cell service that is patchy at best.

I'll probably make kamloops in three days, if I keep up this pace. It's pretty much downhill from here.

HOWEVER:
On thre topic of hills, there's a big one on the way. The road goes up a kilometer in elevation between kamloops and merritt. That... Will perhaps be the singgle most difficult physical undertaking of my entire life. My bike + gear probably weigh in between 125-150 lbs. Plus my own ass.

I'm almost tempted to try and hitch a ride up that...

Beautiful British Columbia / Mount Robson.

I write this post from the mount robson basecamp. I'm smack dab in the centre of the cellular black-hole that is this highway. I have no service, so I will send this tomorrow, when I pass through valemount.

My apologies to all who would like to hear from me today.

I went much further today than I had planned on. 130 km all told. Add that to yesterday's push, and I'm forty km short of arriving in vancity a day early. I'm tempted to bump up the milage to 125 a day, and see how I feel.

Now, for my day...

Beautiful weather all told, hot, but not unbearably so. I saw goats outside of jasper, and a baby deer later on, as well as another deer outside of this campground.

I decided to skip the tourist trap of jasper (I was there around noon) and keep trucking onwards to BC.

I broke my rack at some point, and it will have to be replaced at the earliest opportunity (here's hoping on valemount!!!) The weld broke, and a bolt rattled loose. Ordinarily, this would be a trivial replacement part, but not when you're this far out. Thankfully, after the little bit of string failed (I was tempted to reinforce with chewing gum) I found some wire and a roll of electrical tape on the side of the road.

So, yes. I stopped to fill up my water bottles at the lucerne campsite on yellowhead lake -> Just over the continental divide (where I spat). I suspect the camping was cheaper there than here, but the shower I just took made it all worthwhile. Also, the parc-narc has not collected my money.

Also, I waded into the water at yellowhead lake. The temperature was around 30, and the icy cold water felt wonderful on my butt, which now must have open saddlesores on it.

Which brings me to my next point. The mental resiliancy of cyclists (and other endurance athletes). I assure you, that it starts hurting after the first 20 km. It doesn't stop hurting, until days after the ride. It doesn't get better as the ride goes on, it does get worse, and more painful. Where the magic happens, is that your ability to tolerate pain increases, the further you ride.

Really, in comparison, all other problems that one might come across living the quiet life of a mostly sedentary office worker seem trivial in comparison to the searing, burning pain in my legs, or the saddle sores, which feel three strokes from abcess: even though I'm not quite halfway yet. (Tomorrow, I will likely cross the halfway point.) Mental toughness comes from learning to ignore all of this, man up, and soilder on. This mental toughness means ignoring logging trucks, four feet to the left, dust clouds, heat, searing, unbearable pain, while still smiling and taking in the scenery. The cyclists ability to cope with mental, and physical duress over long periods of time is perhaps unrivaled to any other sporting activity. I think that it is this toughness that endears me to the sport, amongst a multitude of other practical reasons.

I am not going to take the rest day yet, I am in motion to the ocean!!!

If I keep up this pace, I'll be early. Way early. Like tuesday or wednesday. Monday, if I really, really push it.

Roadkill buddies.

I have two new friends who are going to join me on my adventure. One, is "roadkill bart simpson" a keyring figurine that's slightly mangled and bug eyed.

The other is gumby, who survived the yellowhead traffic, without too much harm done: he is, afterall.... Gumby.

I'll post pictures when I can find me some "true" internets, maybe in jasper.

You find the weirdest shit on the side of the road. These two pals, wil be my buddies.

As for my actual buddies (who left last week, also for the sea, also on bikes) they last reported in cache creek BC, which is just on the other side of the border. They're priobably only a day and a half away, but it sounds as if they've picked up a bit of steam as well. Regardless, it took me three days to get to where they were after a week. It's an inevitability that I will pass them, it's just a matter if when.

I do however have a significant advantage, in that I'm alone, which means fewer breaks, and likely longer days. I push as hard as I can, rather than pushing as hard as the slowest can keep up with.

Still, it'll be nice to see some friendly faces, it can get squirrelly on the road with no-one to talk to: espescially at the end of the day when camp has been made.

Today will be amongst the most beautiful riding that this country has to offer. The weather is supposed to be nice, so, it should be enjoyable.

Last nights rain wasn't too bad, the tarn, really is a great tent. I've gotta fetch my mp3 player from the park narcs, who let me charge it overnight. It'll be good to have some tunes for the road.

that's all for now.

Jasper National Park

So, more about today. I felt strong, all the way through. After obed summit, there was a number of great descents, the best being on the way into the park (45kmph, on a trip that has averaged somewhere around 15)

People seem to be terribly friendly when I tell them what I'm doing. Maybe it's just the small town charm. Maybe I'm doing something that's otherwise crazy.

The beautiful weather only served to make me stronger, strengthening my resolve to go further.

I have a nice site for tonight, nice and secluded, while still having the services that a federal park offers -> I'm charging my batteries in the bathroom, which has running water, flush toilets and hydro for the lights.

The 15 minute charger that I got before I left was definitely a good idea. 15 minutes of charging will get me three days of blackberry or four days of GPS.

Tomorrow, I make for mount robson. I'm still trying to decide if I want to go to millette hotsprings, but it's 15 km uphill from here. I might go, first thing in the morning with the bike unloaded. It would likely be an agonizing way to start the day, but with a nice reward at the top, and a fun ride down the twisting, mountain road.

That's all for tonight folks...

Jasper

I am in jasper, camping at pochahontas. Long day, my batteries on the phgone are almost dead.

Obed summit.

I'm at obed summit, elevation 1152.3 metres. It's all downhill from here baby!

Sorta. There might be a few little ripples between here and the sea...

Obed lake

I'm at obed lake. There is an awesome "olde timey" water pump here, that filled all my water bottles with icy cold water.

I went to make coffee and, it appears as if my stove has run out of fuel. I'm hoping I can find more in hinton. Today's weather is much, much more pleasant.

I'm thinking of camping inside the park afterall. That said, "folding mountain" proivincial park might be a bit cheaper. Still, the services inside the federal parks, tend to be nicer.

More later.

Mountains

I'm 15 km west of edson, I just crested a hill, and mnade my first sighting of the mountains.

The past two days of misery, suddenly became worthwhile.

Fuck, it's beautiful.

Day two wrapup.

So, I have found a clandestine campsite just west of edson. I'm sleeping on moss that's about six inches thick ->more comfortable than my own bed.

Today was rough. I had three flats, got (lightly) rained on again, and didn't really feel as strong as I could have. Also, my butt hurts. A lot. All the rain from yesterday, and today have left a bad, bad chafe. Tomorrow I get baby powder.

My mp3 player having a large memory (20 gigs) is awesome. I've got it on random, and it played a townes van zandt song about a "yellow headed devil" it was probably the high point of my day. For those who don't know, the northern trans-canada in alberta is called the "yellowhead highway" yes, yellowheaded devil.

Tomorrow I head for hinton, and put myself in striking distance of jasper. Also, foothills. I'm excited.

I'm tempted to take a day off in mt. Robson park, but I might just feel strong after I hit the hills.

Good night!

Flats

I am currently fixing flat tire #3 for the day. Goddamnit.

Also, it rained again (but it's sunny now)

22km until edson, then a wee bit until I find a site.

Nojack

I've passed nojack, and my GPS started working again, once I dried it out. I knew that headwind had to be good for something!!!

It's still slowgoing, but I'm moving steadily, which is good. I should roll into edson around six, and then go a bit further to stealth camp...

Flat tire.

I just fixed my first flat, 10 km east of nojack. Gps is not working, I put it (dissassembled) in my front mesh pocket to dry out we'll see if that works. Oddly enough, it's the only gadget that fell to the wayside from yesterdays rain; it's also the only one with any variety of weather seals.

Phone, mp3 player, laptop, and camera... All fine. GPS, with ruggedized case, o-rings, and manufacturer's promises of waterproofness... Has moisture in it's LCD. Stupid garmin.

Wet.

I am wet. So is all my stuff. I'm off to edson this morning, once I get packed up. My I think my gps does not like the humidity, and is misbehaving, which is not the end of the world... There's only one road.

Entwistle.

I have arrived in entwistle and made camp at pembina river provincial park.

I got soaked on my way in, I crested a hill, only to see BLACK clouds.

Rained so hard that you could feel it through the coat.

Thankfully, they found room for me at the park, and the weather has cleared up. Yes, blue skies.

I'm very, very glad that. Bought the drybag for my sleeping bag.

Now, to the showers!

More wind.

I'm at 16 and 16a. I'm really having to fight for every inch against a nasty headwind. I'm averaging 14kmph.

The rain that I spoke of last post, let up about 30 seconds after I put my rain clothes on. Oh, alberta.

Wind

I'm just outside spruce grove riding into a strong headwind. My average speed is awful -> less than 15 kmph.

It's starting to rain too.

It starts

After months of planning, many, many trips to mec, and a lot of trashtalk, I'm off, and on the road.

Next stop: entwistle.

The Bike.

I thought I'd make a post about my bike.

She's a early nineties Miyata triple cross, with shimano exage 300lx deraileurs, crank, and brakes.

Crank brothers candy pedals.
Mec brand racks and lights.

Aero bar (from dave's bike dump (ottaea)) suntour half ratchet thumbies mounted sideways on the aero bars. Shimano slr brakes.

I'm going to get some new wheels before my departure: ideally doublewall deep dish with lots of spokes, and a cassette

Itinerary

August 2 Edmonton-Entwistle 105km
August 3 Entwistle-Edson 100km
August 4 Edson- Hinton 100km
August 5 Hinton-Mount Robson Park 100km
August 6 Mount Robson Park-Valemount 100km
August 7 Valemount-Blue River 100km
August 8 Blue River-Clearwater 100km
August 9 Clearwater-Kamloops 110km
August 10 Rest day
August 11 Kamloops-Merritt 80km
August 12 Merritt-Hope 100km
August 13 Hope-abbotsford 100km
August 14 Abbotsford-Vancouver 75km
August 15 Vancouver-Victoria

All of these dates are tenative, but I think it's good to have a plan.

Pidgeon Lake

Pictures of the Pidgeon Lake 256

Pidgeon Lake training ride: part 2, the return

So, we woke up early, made coffee, broke camp and went for a quick swim.



After yesterday's late start, I was rather keen on starting early, I also received some news that made me want to get back to edmonton in a big hurry.



The going was a lot smoother, we improved our average speed, by about 4 kmph over the day before, and took a different route, through leduc and beaumont.



Outside of Calmar, I got a beesting while riding, which was perhaps the single most painful minute of my adult life. Worse, it was on my calf, so every pedal stroke made it pound a little harder. Searing, localized pain, like I haven't felt before.



My lunch in calmar was lousy, "western" chinese food, served with fork, in a nasty gelatinous sauce. The service was good though, and they filled our waterbottles up with icewater. Leduc was a strange combination of small town and suburb, as was beaumont, with it's quaint eglise on the hill. It's a very strange thing to see evidence of francophones in alberta.



We finished strong coming up 50th street with a tailwind and the drive of being close to the end at 35 kmph, and had a nice quiet ride along ada boulevard.



All told, 256 km, 8473 calories. Also... The longest weekend tour I've ever done.

Pidgeon lake training ride: part one

Me and fez rode down to pidgeon lake, a long, hard, loaded ride. 125 km, 4600 calories. I broke a drive side reasr spoke before I got out of town, my new tools and spare spokes saved the day.

What I learned today, as I arrived around 11 at the campsite, is that it is absolutely imperative to depart early. We left at 2, and that's just too late. Tomorrow, we take a different route back. Part 2 to follow.

Training rides

So, I've completed two major training rides in two weeks.

1) Edmonton to east of Smoky Lake, AB 125 KM, 30 degree dry alberta big sky heat.

2) Edmonton to Devon, AB, 100KM round trip, loaded (picnic), heavy rain in hills.

These two rides were both challenging and rewarding, as I pedalled my way across the prairie in opposite directions. Both rides had challenges provided by the weather, the first ride had ridiculous, 30+ heat. The second ride had a torrential, prairie thunderstorm.

I think, I'm confident about my strength going into this trip, it's the mechanical aspect that worries me.

From the Devonian Garden ride, before the rain started:

The Bike

Foreward

This Blog will serve as a record of my Trip planned August 2-24 From Edmonton, AB to Victoria, BC. I will ride my bike to Victoria, and Take the train home.

Yes, I am awesome. I intend to liveblog the whole thing from the road.

All told, it should be around 1158 KM of cycling, with a Nice Relaxing Trainride home. We'll see about the distance.

Before the ride, I'll try and give a rundown of my equipment, and training, then give updates from the road.