After leaving Midway, I proceeded to Greenwood were I found a hotel owner nice enough to let me shower there for 5 dollars. Best money I have ever spent, I then proceeded to Grandforks and had a quick lunch at The Grandforks Hotel. It is possibly the best Russian food I have had in B.C, I must say I did get some strange looks going through the hotel in my Spandi's. I then hoped back on the bike and proceeded to Christina Lake and continued up the Paulson. The Paulson is a tough ride, there is no way around it, it is 75 kms and 30 of those you are climbing. The total elevation is 1534 meters. The climb itself is not the hard part, it is climbing at a slow increase of grade for 30 kilometers with touring gear. I reached the plateau and felt relief for having completed that section of the ride. I must say drivers can make a difference on a long day of riding like this one, things like positive honks, double thumbs up and a symbolic one arm up up showing strength can help one elevate. With the hard part of the trip over I proceeded through the long descent into Castlegar that was roughly 45 kilometers and then proceeded into Nelson where I stayed at my parents home for the night which felt so good to sleep in a real bed.
The day was spectalur, 190.38kms over a km of climbing and 11:20 minutes of cycling. Now for a few recovery days so I can benefit from this work.
Monday, May 28, 2007
First Section Completed of Le Tour
I was now ready to start hammering away on the pedals, well rested I proceeded to jump on my bike and spin out of town. I rode at a higher cadence in the morning to recover from the previous day of climbing. Riding through the Okangan felt as if I was in the south of France, hot dry and extreemly sunny I slowly baked away in the sun. I quickly reached Osoyoos and had a quick lunch break. I was ready to hammer up Osoyoos hill, the climb wasn't half as bad as I thought it was going to be. About two thirds the way up the hill my mindset changed and I just started having a blast I was truly loving climbing and the freedom to just ride. I hammered away over the peak of the summit and continued down the hill riding into the night turning on my headlight proceeding to Midway B.C.
The days ride was awesome, 189.92km's Eleven hours and 42 minutes of lugging that heavy touing bike around. When I arrived in Midway I was a little hungry so I proceeded to find the only place open in town. I decided to throw on some more normal looking clothes not knowing what could happen to a distressed cyclist wearing spandis in a small town bar. I decided to grab a chair near the locals and easedrop a little to get a real impression what the town was about. The bartender was a pretty awesome dude who when I tried to ask for the simplest thing on the menu being a burger he told me the grill was closed but he could help me with anything fried, Guess it had to come down to Chicken wings and French fries? Oh well I think the eleven hours of cycling probably burned off a few chicken wings.
Full from high carb, high fat french fries I proceeded to the local park. I rode past some local teenybops who were extremely confused when they saw me on my bicycle. A strange silence fell over them as they watched this weirdo cruise by late at night with enough gear and lights on to be the leader of Midways anarchist militia. I then proceeded in a stealth way to the local park and threw my bivy sack and camping gear out and proceeding to go to sleep. Then at 4:30 someone in the town rebelled against the leader of the militia, they had a defence mechanism called " Automatic sprinklers!" So high tech they were trying to scare me out of town with soaking me with water in the wee hours of the night. Luckily I had a defence mechanism Goretex! Thats right I had a Goretex bivy sack for advanced protection. I escaped unscathed and proceeded out of town on my way to Nelson B.C
The days ride was awesome, 189.92km's Eleven hours and 42 minutes of lugging that heavy touing bike around. When I arrived in Midway I was a little hungry so I proceeded to find the only place open in town. I decided to throw on some more normal looking clothes not knowing what could happen to a distressed cyclist wearing spandis in a small town bar. I decided to grab a chair near the locals and easedrop a little to get a real impression what the town was about. The bartender was a pretty awesome dude who when I tried to ask for the simplest thing on the menu being a burger he told me the grill was closed but he could help me with anything fried, Guess it had to come down to Chicken wings and French fries? Oh well I think the eleven hours of cycling probably burned off a few chicken wings.
Full from high carb, high fat french fries I proceeded to the local park. I rode past some local teenybops who were extremely confused when they saw me on my bicycle. A strange silence fell over them as they watched this weirdo cruise by late at night with enough gear and lights on to be the leader of Midways anarchist militia. I then proceeded in a stealth way to the local park and threw my bivy sack and camping gear out and proceeding to go to sleep. Then at 4:30 someone in the town rebelled against the leader of the militia, they had a defence mechanism called " Automatic sprinklers!" So high tech they were trying to scare me out of town with soaking me with water in the wee hours of the night. Luckily I had a defence mechanism Goretex! Thats right I had a Goretex bivy sack for advanced protection. I escaped unscathed and proceeded out of town on my way to Nelson B.C
Sunday, May 27, 2007
First Section Completed of Le Tour
It was day two of my Cross Canada journey as I slowely woke up and procceded to have a homemade energy bar for breakfast. I was setup for the day, my hard work the night before paid off, doing things the night ahead makes you strong and confident in yourself. Now it was time get pedaling up the Crowsnest pass from Hope to Princeton B.C.
I started out fairly early and attacked the mountain before the mountain could attack me. My tactics paid off and I had quickly reached the summit of the Crowsnest pass, at 1342 meters. I felt solid to climb up there with all that weight on my trusty steed. I was set to start this trip off with some climbing and that is what I did, the pass was relentless, lots of steep climbs that carried on for many kilometers at a very steep grade. The climbing would end and then a small descent followed by more and more climbing that was really entertaining with my overweight steed bicycle it really pushed my froglegs to hop. I had one technical issue that could have put me up a river without a paddle, that was chain suck. Yes Chain suck 75kms from the nearest town my chain had gotten so stuck between my middle gear that the cranks should have been removed and the chain replaced. That is a little difficult when all you have is a multi tool. So being the technical wizard I am I wailled on the crank and freed my companion as if it was a poor grizzly stuck in a leg hold trap.
I then arrived just after five in Princeton after riding for 8 hours and ten minutes, I rode 128.21 kms which isn't alot but considering the amount of climbing it was succesful. I reached a new top speed of 66.94 Km/hour which is starting to sound alright considering it is a touring bike with a ton of gear on it. I proceeded to convice myself that I deserved a hotel room for the night, I spoke with a really nice guy that managed the Econolodge in Princeton and told him what I was doing, he offered me a great room rate and a spotless room that felt sooooo good to have a shower and enjoy little soaps. Elisa my girlfriend met up with me that night after battling fellow drivers on the rode outside of Vancouver. It was great to see her and we had a final goodbye.
I started out fairly early and attacked the mountain before the mountain could attack me. My tactics paid off and I had quickly reached the summit of the Crowsnest pass, at 1342 meters. I felt solid to climb up there with all that weight on my trusty steed. I was set to start this trip off with some climbing and that is what I did, the pass was relentless, lots of steep climbs that carried on for many kilometers at a very steep grade. The climbing would end and then a small descent followed by more and more climbing that was really entertaining with my overweight steed bicycle it really pushed my froglegs to hop. I had one technical issue that could have put me up a river without a paddle, that was chain suck. Yes Chain suck 75kms from the nearest town my chain had gotten so stuck between my middle gear that the cranks should have been removed and the chain replaced. That is a little difficult when all you have is a multi tool. So being the technical wizard I am I wailled on the crank and freed my companion as if it was a poor grizzly stuck in a leg hold trap.
I then arrived just after five in Princeton after riding for 8 hours and ten minutes, I rode 128.21 kms which isn't alot but considering the amount of climbing it was succesful. I reached a new top speed of 66.94 Km/hour which is starting to sound alright considering it is a touring bike with a ton of gear on it. I proceeded to convice myself that I deserved a hotel room for the night, I spoke with a really nice guy that managed the Econolodge in Princeton and told him what I was doing, he offered me a great room rate and a spotless room that felt sooooo good to have a shower and enjoy little soaps. Elisa my girlfriend met up with me that night after battling fellow drivers on the rode outside of Vancouver. It was great to see her and we had a final goodbye.
First Section of Le Tour
On May 23, I left Vancouver B.C and headed for my first destination spot on Le Tour, Hope B.C. I left West 16th Ave after finishing a few life errands and getting to pedal out some of my stress. I started to hammer on the pedals around 8:30am Wednesday morning as rush hour traffic picked up. I asked myself probably a dozen times, " Who is crazier myself, or these lemmings waiting in traffic to go to work? Maybe on a Wednesday morning I should be in traffic staring at the car in front of me wondering why they don't know how to turn left? Instead I ask myself who will have a longer work day? Myself or Larry? The guy across from myself in the right hand lane driving a white Ford pickup with a sticker on the back that says " Touch my truck I break your face!" So I proceed to be on my very way and eat Larry's exhaust.
I ventured out of the city to say quick goodbyes to my younger brothers Ross and David and head out on the open road. I was then bombing down Barnet Highway and reality started to click in! No more girlfriend, no more family, no more friends and no more cheap sushi in Vancouver.
I stopped in quickly to Experience cycle in Maple ridge and said my final goodbye to my friend Chris and hopped back on my battle ship ready to hop into warp speed! Oh, I seem to have remembered attaching about 5 panniers full of gear to this bicycle making it almost as effective as an anchor to a boat more than a mode of transportation.
Full of hyperactivity, I cruised out of the Lower mainland on are rare sunny day. I was pleasantly welcomed to the city of Mission by one of my favorite farm animals the dairy cow. As I proceeded through the Fraser Valley I felt a great deal of excitement coming over me as if I only had one thing to do and that was cycle. The bike was purring as if it was a new Ducati motorcycle and I was nice and fresh like warm laundry.
Time seemed to fly by the first day of my journey after seeing gorgeous lakes, wonderful farms and pleasant mountainsides I was already in Hope. I cruised through town and decided against the Truck stop hotels that I was sure quickly down my path they would seem as if they were the Ritz. I proceeded to climb out of town and start looking for a place to call my own. I came up to a great Provincial park just about ten Kilometers East of Hope. I proceeded to set up Fort Deanocamporino. I attacked my camping spot as if I was a Navy seal, I through out my bivy sack, sleeping bag, foamy, tarp and even threw in a pyrotechnics display for the neighbours across the trenches from myself. I proceeded the start of many camp chores, washing my cycling clothes, dinner, boiling water and using the modern day outhouse curtousy of B.C parks.
The day was a complete success, a 168.47 kilometers ridden, 1000 feet climbed, and a low maximum speed of 55 kilometers an hour on the touring bike.
I ventured out of the city to say quick goodbyes to my younger brothers Ross and David and head out on the open road. I was then bombing down Barnet Highway and reality started to click in! No more girlfriend, no more family, no more friends and no more cheap sushi in Vancouver.
I stopped in quickly to Experience cycle in Maple ridge and said my final goodbye to my friend Chris and hopped back on my battle ship ready to hop into warp speed! Oh, I seem to have remembered attaching about 5 panniers full of gear to this bicycle making it almost as effective as an anchor to a boat more than a mode of transportation.
Full of hyperactivity, I cruised out of the Lower mainland on are rare sunny day. I was pleasantly welcomed to the city of Mission by one of my favorite farm animals the dairy cow. As I proceeded through the Fraser Valley I felt a great deal of excitement coming over me as if I only had one thing to do and that was cycle. The bike was purring as if it was a new Ducati motorcycle and I was nice and fresh like warm laundry.
Time seemed to fly by the first day of my journey after seeing gorgeous lakes, wonderful farms and pleasant mountainsides I was already in Hope. I cruised through town and decided against the Truck stop hotels that I was sure quickly down my path they would seem as if they were the Ritz. I proceeded to climb out of town and start looking for a place to call my own. I came up to a great Provincial park just about ten Kilometers East of Hope. I proceeded to set up Fort Deanocamporino. I attacked my camping spot as if I was a Navy seal, I through out my bivy sack, sleeping bag, foamy, tarp and even threw in a pyrotechnics display for the neighbours across the trenches from myself. I proceeded the start of many camp chores, washing my cycling clothes, dinner, boiling water and using the modern day outhouse curtousy of B.C parks.
The day was a complete success, a 168.47 kilometers ridden, 1000 feet climbed, and a low maximum speed of 55 kilometers an hour on the touring bike.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Ready to roll
Its Thursday May 17th 2007, I have come to terms with having to get all my Mise en place ready for my cycling adventure this Spring and Summer. The bike is all ready to roll and I have been busy breaking it in.
I spent last Sunday messing around with fenders and racks getting everything dialed. I do admit that spending countless hours tweaking a bike for a journey has a really nice feeling.
My Friend Chris Lane, from Experience Cycling in Maple Ridge ordered in a Rocky Mountain Sherpa for my trip. It is a 55 cm frame with Shimano Tiagra components, as much as I love Campy it does get you very far in when something goes wrong in Hope and Canadian tire is all out of freewheel cassettes.
The bike is almost set up I have some balancing to do with the load and some grocery shopping to do this weekend and I should be all set by early next week.
I spent last Sunday messing around with fenders and racks getting everything dialed. I do admit that spending countless hours tweaking a bike for a journey has a really nice feeling.
My Friend Chris Lane, from Experience Cycling in Maple Ridge ordered in a Rocky Mountain Sherpa for my trip. It is a 55 cm frame with Shimano Tiagra components, as much as I love Campy it does get you very far in when something goes wrong in Hope and Canadian tire is all out of freewheel cassettes.
The bike is almost set up I have some balancing to do with the load and some grocery shopping to do this weekend and I should be all set by early next week.
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