Slept well, so up early and breakfasted in the room. Bob the owner of the motel came out to see that we had everything and wish us good luck. He is a really nice guy.
We were on the road by 7 am and cycling in the cool air. The road went up slowly, just enough to make you feel that you were working too hard for this speed, but no visibility of going up. We went through Greenwood with its old fashioned buildings and slag piles and the old railway tunnel with the flags of the world painted
on it. We have a photo of this already from a previous trip about 9 years ago. It was a millennium project for local school kids.
The slope did increase a little and after 31kms we breasted the summit of Eholt. (1028m) However, the road continued to rise for the next few hundred meters, so we don’t know what that was all about. What followed was the most perfect descent for old fogies like us; 15km at 40kph. We were in Grand Forks just after 10am.
We took a long time over lunch and a visit to the Tourist information, where Mary and her friend gave us useful info. We also chatted with a local lady named Marjean who told us about the locality and its history. We made the decision to go on another 19km to Christina Lake and reduce tomorrow’s ride. This was a good and bad idea, the downside was it was now 37C, we had a strong head breeze, and the road was very undulating, dropping us into the granny gear several times. We finally got to the camp site, very tired, only to find it down a very steep hill. OK today, but hard for tomorrow as we will probably walk it to avoid stretching the chain.
For tonight, supper is a beef stir fry with ginger, peppers, mushrooms and courgette. The libation of choice is probably water tonight as it tastes so good here. Night, night, that’s all the news that’s fit to print.
Margie’s observation: Two beautiful deer in a field, a flock of swallows swooping around their burrows in a sandy cliff, and most majestic of all, a very large light brown raptor sitting watching on a post by the roadside. Unfortunately all these eluded the camera. On this site there are lots of groups who are very introspective and do not seem so friendly as in other places. (Except for Karen and Jim the camp owners who are excellent folks in all ways.)
Pictures
17.9 kph average
Distance: 79km
Total Distance: 2746km
Alt change: 600m
Total Alt change: 17749m
The slope did increase a little and after 31kms we breasted the summit of Eholt. (1028m) However, the road continued to rise for the next few hundred meters, so we don’t know what that was all about. What followed was the most perfect descent for old fogies like us; 15km at 40kph. We were in Grand Forks just after 10am.
We took a long time over lunch and a visit to the Tourist information, where Mary and her friend gave us useful info. We also chatted with a local lady named Marjean who told us about the locality and its history. We made the decision to go on another 19km to Christina Lake and reduce tomorrow’s ride. This was a good and bad idea, the downside was it was now 37C, we had a strong head breeze, and the road was very undulating, dropping us into the granny gear several times. We finally got to the camp site, very tired, only to find it down a very steep hill. OK today, but hard for tomorrow as we will probably walk it to avoid stretching the chain.
For tonight, supper is a beef stir fry with ginger, peppers, mushrooms and courgette. The libation of choice is probably water tonight as it tastes so good here. Night, night, that’s all the news that’s fit to print.
Margie’s observation: Two beautiful deer in a field, a flock of swallows swooping around their burrows in a sandy cliff, and most majestic of all, a very large light brown raptor sitting watching on a post by the roadside. Unfortunately all these eluded the camera. On this site there are lots of groups who are very introspective and do not seem so friendly as in other places. (Except for Karen and Jim the camp owners who are excellent folks in all ways.)
Pictures
17.9 kph average
Distance: 79km
Total Distance: 2746km
Alt change: 600m
Total Alt change: 17749m
Well hello M&R,
ReplyDeleteTomorrow, July 5th should have been a rest day or at least a late start, if you were going to catch the mens final that is. If you didn't catch it you missed a great match but with todays technology you will be able to see it when ever you like.
Glad to see you're making good time, It looks as if you're in for a couple of wet days around Castlegar so you're planned rest day, might be serendipitous.
Good Luck and keep you're powder dry.
Alwyn
Looks like you went back in time!
ReplyDeleteI'm beginning to think this blog, with it's lovely pictures, would make an interesting book.
Annie's observation: The roads look sooooo smooth compared to Quebec. Shall we deliver some cushions for when you reutrn to La Belle Province?
Hi Annie, I think we'll sell this bike and buy one with springs. Appearances can be deceiving wrt the road conditions. We are having a rest day today so its cleaning the bike and doing the laundry. Oh we got a 111$ back off Bell as well. See next blog for more details..
ReplyDeletelovya rontxx
Well that'll buy a few springs I trust! :-)
ReplyDelete