Backlog!

Sorry folks but I found out some of my posts didn't go thru because my cell reception was poor! One is from the night of Penticton (may 10) the next is from canyon hot springs (may 14) and the last is on my arrival to golden after Rogers pass (may 15). I have taken some time off to move into our new place in Windermere and spend some time at home. Did make it to lake Louise (may 16) and will send an update on that soon. Starting again soon from lake Louise and feeling good about heading east!

In Golden 8ish pm

Long day (dpt @8:09 n plan was to LV by 7, alarm sent for 5 n woke up @4???. Cleaned n oiled chain, etc. rode up a bit and wire broke so no more kite #2 but likely #3 may be ready for Flight tomorrow AM. Made it 120km today which I thought would go smooth.
Alarm for6 n Bkfst at 7

Canyon Hot Springs

Soothing hot pool for sore muscles. Spent about 45 mins in there soaking n stretching. Ed n Karen Butrenchuk met me for lunch at 3 Valley Gap n we had a good visit. It was precipitating there most of the morning. I left there at noon n stopped in Revy for supplies(new kite, etc) for an hour n arrived here about 5:45 (66km - there is no accommodation past here until Golden on the hwy. I will depart early to go the 100+km and climb over Rogers Pass. Lots of snow in these mtns.

Downhill run!-YES!!!

Had a good day n started later(9:30ish) after Bkfst. Target was Keremeos but got there by 2:30ish(31on Arr n 32 degrees Dpt) and killed 2hrs hydrating n eating ice cream! Hwy3 Princeton to Ker follows near flood level Similkimeen R(photo) downhill all the way-yippeeee. Continued to B n B at top of low pass b4 Penticton. Had dinner with owners n up til 11pm. Scenery-deer,birds,mtns,snow,etc

I can't believe I got wet!

Plan was Revelstoke for tonight(was 120km) but a shower came through and I hid under a big fir tree for an hour & dpted when it stopped n riding on wet hwy when big amount of precipitation attacked me in my water tight rain gear and fancy shmancy fenders. I rode about 12km into 3Valley Gap(100 from Enderby) and hung em up an hour later when it was still coming down. Beautiful scenery + snow starts about 500 ft-150m above the hwy here. May have to sleep in tent tomorrow night as I heard Rogers Pass Hotel is not open yet-yikes!

Bike now has fenders-photo 2morrow

In Enderby at end of day 6 & enjoying the challenge. Very lucky with weather n tailwinds(as usual). I decided after doing Hope-Princeton(hwy3) with 3 stiff passes that 5more(min) passes goin Cranbrk +up through CsstleJunc is out n hwy 1-Rogers n Kicking Horse passes(2only)is in! Yak trlr n no panniers(greyhound parcel sent 2Calg 2day-14lbs) since 3pm today as I discovered that minimalist is the only way. Spent 4hrs today@ Home Hdware in Kelowna jerry rigging fenders(weather?) on the bike using hand tools n wire. Didn't dpt until 3:45. Lost my kite about 6pm. Aiming for long day tomorrow - perhaps make it to Revelstoke@~110km. Will meet Butrenchuks Tues for lunch on the hwy. Photos 2morrow

Topical Okanogan day(32 in Penticton)

Enjoyed visiting with the folks at the BnB n was sent off after a terrific Bkfst n a couple of pets for their dog. Minor uphills today until I assumed(should know better) that I could take the paved lakeshore road through Summerland instead of up with the hwy(frkn oops that was). Walked the bike uphill bk2 the Hwy at the N end of town -30/45mins. I spent the best $11.69 of my life at Home Hdwre(see photo and also photo of first view of Skaha Lk with grape workers in the field(specks). Settled in Kelowna for the night.

One more pass than I new about

Val took my trailer and bags in the morning and dropped them off at Manning Park Resort past the summit of Allison pass(I mistakenly believed that the brutal climb from Hope to Sunshine Valley was the first pass - not the case). Sooo I'm towing the trailer thinking that it basically downhill to Princeton and about 45km b4 it I come to the climb I'm not expecting and determined keep pedaling up UNTIL the climb is not ending and is pretty steep n I'm tuckered from pedaling so I walk for quite a while and then pedal for a while until it gets steeper again. I walked up a lot and low n behold come upon a sign saying Sunday Summit(today's photo n one of snow beside the hwy in Allison Pass) 1284m I think - c the photo but Allison was 1342m so both nearly the same - ouch! Arrived safe n exhausted in Princeton and may take a smaller bite tomorrow. Body feels good but has some sore muscles that I didn't know we're part of me

Last night at Sunshine Valley

Cousin Gary Bischoff picked me up at Tuesdays finish and took me to his home for overnight and we went for pasta dinner with wife Joy and Rod Germaine, a friend of Joy's who has ridden across Canada and gave me some good council wrt the ride I'm doing. Gary decided to drive along with me cycling for yesterday and stay overnight at Sunshine Valley and carry my gear in the car -yippee! It made the day very easy and saved a ton of time including on the nasty n never ending/relentless climb from Hope at 48m elevation to Sunshine Valley at about 800/900m is my guess. Gary reserved a double suite with kitchen and Val showed up about 7pm from Vancouver Island n we had a hot tub b4 Val arrived. Cooked steak n pasta dinner and visited until I crashed on the couch just b4 11pm. Photo is the Hope slide about 4km b4 the motel. Water lilies in the morning.

8km to Mission n done 4today

Very difficult to navigate through Vancouver. Got lost about four times. Bike lanes on Lougheed hwy #7 r sometimes very skinny. All in all a great first day. Flowers blooming along Marine Dr this AM leaving Horseshoe Bay. Big dinner n a bed tonight so roughing it can wait. Photo is tracks from bike n trailer dipping in Pacific Ocean tidal pool

Twas the night B4

Will get on the first ferry n go east

Prologue

I'm planning to depart from Horseshoe bay on the morning of may 7. I will give a short update daily of my progress!