Day 13 – June 30th 2018 Canmore to Calgary

Today's ride was from Canmore to Calgary.  The ride is about 110 km.  The wind was out of the west at 20 kph so we averaged 26 kph and RJD mentioned that we had a record day for our fastest 40 km section which I am sure was that road just west of Cochrane.

 

Though JG planned the TCH from Canmore to Calgary because it was familiar, RJD suggested the 1A which of course proved to be a magnificent decision.  We had views of the Three Sisters and then Grotto Mtn, then Yaminiska.  Soon our mountain views were behind us and we got to enjoy the Bow coming in to the prairie and Ghost Lake.  Of course, we only had to stop and turn around to see the mountains.

We stopped in Cochrane for a McKay's ice cream which for some is the destination of the ride from Calgary to Cochrane.  It was not the best ice cream but probably made the top three and closer to drive to than Dutchman Dairy.  The climb up the Cochrane hill was still a good climb but probably just making the top ten of the trip.  As we sailed into Calgary, RJD had his second flat of the trip, with the first being still on Vancouver Island.  The only other maintenance I can recall was the need to tighten some bolts on John's seat to eliminate a squeak and to replace a cleat bolt that fell out on the first day.

As we were rolling into Calgary with that fine west wind at our back, feeling like Superman as we glided along at 30 kph on the flats, the wheels were in motion for the next ride in 2019 through the prairies.  You might have thought as I finished the ride, it would be with a sense of relief but the truth, it was no different then stepping off a cruise ship and knowing the incredible adventure is complete.  Okay, my legs are a little sore but nothing a year's rest can't fix.  Off to the shower.

 

And the caloric cost of the 13 days ride was 31557 kcal or about 9 lbs of fat.

If you can ride 80 km/day and are willing to push yourself a little, I highly recommend the ride which was our Day 5 - Day 13.  Just get a friend to shuttle you to Sunshine Valley and ride to Calgary.

Day 12 – June 29th 2018 Lake Louise to Canmore

Today took us over the familiar terrain of Lake Louise to Canmore.  An 80 km ride with almost no climb if you ride on the Trans Canada (TCH).  So we rode on the 1A from Castle Junction to Banff and then the Legacy Trail from Banff to Canmore which meant that a lot of the ride was not the normal Lake Louise to Canmore.

The first few km have Mt Temple over your right shoulder and there is no more spectacular mountain on this ride.  Once it was behind us, then Bulwark, Armor, Protection and then Castle dominate the left side.  At Castle, we jumped on the 1A (closed west off Castle for bridge repair) and rode the quiet pace of the Bow Valley Parkway.  No trucks though still motor homes and campers.  There seem to be many more cyclists on the road around this area.  Met a guy who cycled Anchorage to Lake Louise at the hostel last night, two people cycling to Mexico, a guy who cycled here from Minnesota and was heading up to Alaska and two couples just riding up to Jasper.  Seems a 300 k ride is considered small on these roads.

 

We saw two black bears just west of Moose Meadows but so far off that we did not get a picture.    Further on we saw the resident big horn sheep.  Along with animals, the 1A gives different views of the Bow as it winds its way through the valley.  We rode slowly because the ride was just so beautiful.  If you want to have a great ride, ride the 1A anywhere from Lake Louise to Cochrane.  It would be a great weekday ride when the roads are quieter.  Get an 8 AM start to get the most out of the ride.

In Banff, we linked to the legacy trail and it just allowed you to roll along without worry of cars.  In no time, we were at our hotel in Canmore, three hours before checkin.  Twelve days of riding and about five minutes of rain while we have been riding.  It is good to be lucky.  We did have a downpour once we were checked in.  Today we wore our coats because it was 5C for the first hour and probably took until 11:00 to hit double digits.

Day 11 – June 28th 2018 Golden to Lake Louise

 

Today's ride took us from Golden BC to Lake Louise Alberta. RJD and I are in the hostel in different rooms so I can only give you the MapMyRide details.  The Alberta border is the highest point in our ride this year and probably on the ride across Canada.  It is downhill to Calgary.

In the first 10 k of the ride, we left behind any sights of the Purcell's and climbed higher in the Rockies.  The TCH has changed in the last thirty years coming out of Golden so there are only two climbs and one descent.  On the second climb, RJD reminded me to look around because I was climbing too fast and he knew therefore that I was focused on the road, not the ride.  It was not totally correct but it was close.  I did miss one train bridge crossing the Kicking Horse.

 

And one point we stopped and saw the three ways a route can be built through the mountains.  The Kicking Horse took many years and wore a route that was defined by rock hardness and minimum effort.  The railway was built over fewer years but followed the river closely.  The TCH rose up and down and at times blasted 200 m deep canyons through a rock outcropping to enable five lanes (two bike, two traffic, and a passing lane) to descend through the valley.

 

We stopped for second breakfast where the highway crosses the Kicking Horse River around km 38 and saw two deer who probably used the culvert to cross the highway.  I noticed Wood Lilies in the ditch.  They usually are blooming around Canada Day.  For the next 10 km, the ditches were painted with daps of orange.  If you like Tiger Lilies or Wood Lilies, this is a good time to ride this section of road.  Bad time to drive though because bridge work meant that cars were in a queue 6.7 km long heading west.  The west direction actually had the green light for about thirty minutes and this allowed RJD and I to cycle in peace for about seven km uphill.

We rode into Field and both RJD and I found it awesome.  If it is the glaciers, the river, the mountains, the quaint CPR town or any combination that catches your eye, you know why this is a beautiful section.

The uphill out of Field seems long and unrelenting but it eases off after a bit and you fall into a rhythm of climbing.  Soon you are at the provincial boundary, the Banff/Yoho boundary and the continental divide.  After riding up River for what seems like days (there are no rivers coming out of Roger's Pass that I take notice of), everything changes.  The Bow River with its blue waters replace the silty Kicking Horse and Columbia.  Then in to Lake Louise and to the bakery which was out of cinnamon buns and then to the hostel.

My neighbour in the hostel rode here from Anchorage via Yukon and BC making our one province ride seem mundane.  But he had no WiFi to share the trip with others.  More bugs but less traffic so you never have to think about anything but the scenery.

It is 8:08 PM and well past my bed time.

Day 10 – June 27th 2018 Hot Springs Canyon to Golden

 

The ride was supposed to be 117 km but I must have used the wrong location in Golden because it was only 115 km with 1285 m of vertical.  It was a 2592 calorie day.

 One quality that RJD brings to the ride that makes the ride so much better is his ability not to focus on a small goal but to see the broader picture.  It was evident as we rode through zone two of the ride.  But more about all the parts of the ride.

This section can best be considered as three rides.  The first ride was a 34 km ride up to the Roger's Pass Summit which follows a narrow valley with the summit mountains at the end.  The climb averages 1.9% with some flat sections and some parts at 4%.  You find a gear that works and just keep peddling for a couple hours.  We climbed at 17.8 kph which was faster than I expected.  Around km 30 of the ride, you pass the Illecillewaet Glacier viewing area.  It is the same view you would get from a car heading west but we got to enjoy it for many minutes.  We hit the summit with the time zone change around 11:15.

 

The second part of the ride was a large descent that was to include lunch at Heather Mtn lodge and restaurant.  We did not have reservations and we found out that they open only for supper.  So we did not have to worry about a break in the second third of the ride.  We made it through the snow sheds aided by construction that had everyone at 30 km per hour so we just rode in the lane.  We stopped at the information pullout that talked about why the Selkirks and the Purcells have such different shapes for mountains so close together.  Purcells are the round range on the south side of the highway impacted by glaciers, the Selkirks to the north that avoided this glacial action or this is my recollection.

As we rode though the second third of the ride, RJD commented that the view to the left was stunning.  I had my tunnel vision on focused on the mountains in front.  The view to the north was spectacular so thanks RJD for keeping me aware of the beauty of the ride.  The focus of this section is definitely the Rockies for the first time in the ten-day ride.

The last third starts at the Columbia River crossing and takes you into town.  For some reason I thought this section would be drudgery but I was so wrong.  Maybe the winds helped to propel us up the river but unlike a car ride where you are trying to get somewhere, the ride today allowed us to focus on the mountains a little more.  The Rocky Mountains on our left and the Purcells on our right provided great views.  Then there were views of the Columbia River and the CPR rail lines.  The only thing that might make this better would be a board walk out into the Columbia watershed to see this third landscape up close.

We rolled into Golden and had lunch around 2:30 which on a 2600 calorie day might be a little late but it was the first option other than a bag of potato chips (crisps).  Hot tub, some email, and I think we are ready for supper.

On today’s ride, there were a couple sections of construction where the bike lane was beside a large drop to the ground work below.  Once this drop was six feet and I learned that I need to ride about six feet from the edge when there is a six-foot drop.

Day 9 – June 26th 2018 Sicamous to Hot Springs Canyon

On this thirteen day ride, I believed that today would be the high point (emotionally and scenically, not altitude) of the trip.  The day exceeded my expectation.

 

Today's ride took us from Sicamous to a location 35 km east of Revelstoke, part way up Rogers Pass.  The net climb was 350 m but we doubt the MapMyRide vertical and so we only have the Garmin with a vertical of 900 m of ascent.  The ride was 110 km with a few extra k in Revelstoke buying groceries, more on this later.

Sicamous is situated on the eastern edge of the Shuswaps so it is only a minute or so and you leave behind the lakes.  But within half an hour, you come across Eagle River and you spend a while cycling beside it.  



 





It is a wonderful River, meandering at first but a mountain stream higher up.  And on a bicycle, you do not miss Kay Falls though I would think that 99% of car passengers would.  You head higher and come to Enchanted Forest which the park aside, is still enchanting.  The stream that contains Kokanee Salmon in the fall runs though the valley and, though there were no moose in the meadows, creates a tranquil area.  

Again we met a friendly road crew who let us ride a construction section while it was closed to traffic which allowed us to avoid having to worry about cars for a few minutes.

Shortly after, we cycled along another lake, calm and offering lovely reflections.  It was around this area where we scared a Golden Eagle out of the ditch.  Someone had dumped pea pods on the shoulder and I can only guess that he eagle found some little vegetarian enjoying a tasty meal.  I failed to mention that we saw a Bald Eagle on the west coast day 1..



We stopped for a fruit break at Three Valley Gap and this was the window of rain for today.  There was a good down pour but we hung out under the eaves of the restaurant, enjoying the views.  We finished our oranges and the rain stopped.  While we proceeded east, there was a train going through the tunnels on the North side of the lake, something I always wanted to see.

 

Coming into Revelstoke, we met a car with a bike on the back who was honking.  In solidarity, we waved back.  A few km later, we saw the car again, the driver having come back to take our picture as we rode by, wow.  It was only when the person yelled Happy Birthday that I realized it was Deb from Calgary.  She knew from my wife's social media site that we were in the area and whether it was just that tall skinny biker appearance or what but she guessed it was us.  As much as RJD is a great travelling companion, a surprise visit was amazing.  I don't know if it was a rain drop, a sweat drop or a tear but my one eye was moist as I cycled away from the meeting.  Never under estimate the impact of friendship and never minimize the impact a small gesture of friendship might have on another.  Deb's part of my trip will be one of many lasting memories.

 

In Revelstoke we stopped at Subway for lunch and grabbed dinner food.  Now I knew and had conveyed to RJD that all our food for dinner needed to be microwaveable.  But we bought noodles and sauce.  Fortunately, RJD also bought a slice of cake that came in a single serve container which could act as a plate.  Did you know that you can microwave pasta by intermittently heating the water and letting the pasta sit in the hot water.  If you are hungry enough and Scottish enough, you will find a way to turn the food you have into a meal.  We had to eat the cake first though to have bowls for pasta.

 

If you missed the cake note and Deb's wish, yes today is my 55th birthday.  We are not at a summit but we did have to climb to our night's accommodations so I had a drink of scotch to celebrate the day.  The next two days have a level 1 climbs and our highest elevation so I think I have two more evenings where I deserve a scotch.

 

We are at Hot Springs Canyon which is a "resort" part way up the Roger's Pass.  The hotter pool is 40C and the other 32C so it was a relaxing way to unwind after the ride.  I sit in my bed composing the note and listening to a train come down the CP tracks.  I say down because of the pace and a squealing of the brakes.  If you love the sound of trains, I don't think you will find a better place to sleep except maybe in a sleeper on a Via train.

View from the Warm Pool

Day 8 – June 25th 2018 Vernon to Sicamous

 

So today was our shortest day since Day 1 taking us from Vernon to Sicamous.  It is a ride that anyone can do with about 70 km and almost no vertical.  You ride out of Vernon through beautiful farm land with mountains on either side of the valley.  The orchards are behind us so the farms are dairy, beef, and sheep with associated corn and hay.  I did see one field of grain but it was too early for me to know the crop.

As we rode North, we crossed the Shuswap River which to my surprise flows North into Mara lake.  The water was high, though only half way up the boats and ducks.  As we headed along, we cycled up Mara Lake which provides longer views on a bike compared to car.  The shoulders seem better than I remember 25 years ago but there is still that one section where it disappears and you ride just in the belief that no driver wants to have to clean a cyclist out of the grill.  That section is a couple hundred meters and then the shoulder returns.  It was poor condition in others but this creates a cobblestone impression which reminds us of cycling in Europe again.

 

We made it in to Sicamous by 11:30 and had checked in and cycled to Subway by 12:00.  It was the first time we ate so late and had to queue up.  We then cycled to Dutchman Dairy for dessert.  Being practical, we purchased a litre of ice cream for $5.75 instead of a 250 ml cone for $4.00 and cycled back to the room to eat it.  It is the best approach because for $2.875, you get all the ice cream I could want but RJD finished the container after me and I don't know if he got enough.  If you know RJD and I well enough, you can surmise the answer but RJD would not complain if I asked.

 

So as I sit on the balcony of our motel, my laundry dries on the rail and the sky is turning from ominous clouds to some blue so I guess I will send this note and walk down to the river which is at the end of the parking lot but obscured by trees from where I sit.  Looking North is the Trans Canada Highway (TCH) and the Shuswap Lake while the other direction looks towards Mara Lake and Vernon.

Day 7 – June 24th 2018 Penticton to Vernon

 

Day seven took us from Penticton to Vernon.  It was the midpoint in the ride in terms of distance and days.  The distance of today's ride was suppose to be 118 but with some creative detours, we were able to stretch it to 130 though the extra was on the flat and so the vertical was 1150 by RJDs Garmin, which is always less than MapMyRide.  The extra detours were always to put us on quieter roads where we could enjoy the scenery without all the traffic.  We also stopped by Joanne and Lee's for lunch which added a few more metres.  It was the longest ride so far.  Though not conveyed by the MapMyRide distances, we actually have had each day being longer than the last for the first seven days.

The shocking news for all this data, it was our second lowest calorie output day.  And after our load at the Penticton Buffet where we ate all we could to power us through what was suppose to be a big day.

The Okanagan I think lived up to expectation.  We did stop early at a fruit stand and bought BC cherries for a higher cost than Washington cherries at Superstore. The cherries lasted the whole day and were a nice treat.  The weather was typical Okanagan weather and the woman at our hotel's front desk even described it as hot (as we like it).  The views were more beautiful than the pictures will convey.  On a bike you get to see orchards and properties that are missed by car traffic because they are behind you and only evident when you stop to look behind you.  We saw plenty of cherry and apple trees though I am sure there were other fruits as well.  At this time of the year, the grapes are not evident enough to know if they are red or green but acres of vineyards.

RJD saw a few sail boats as we cycled but the motor boat was the most common water vehicle.  We did watch someone slalom skiing for a few turns.

Just not to leave you with the impression that every day is idyllic, today was supposed to be a heavy traffic day and it lived up to the expectation.  The climbs included Harley motorcycles with no mufflers and diesel trucks pulling RVs to negate the tranquility that one might expect riding through comparable vineyards in France.  If you recall rides in France where traffic gives you many feet of margin and pass at a few kph faster than you to avoid startling you, this is not true for all Canadian drivers.  I look forward to the quiet days ahead as we leave the weekend vacation traffic of the Okanagan behind.

Got to our hotel and the hot tub was hot and the pool open so we could relax and stretch to get ready for tomorrow.  Tomorrow, the ride of mountain lakes.  Stay tuned.

Day 6 – June 23rd Princeton to Penticton

 

Today might have been the best ride so far.  As we left our motel in Princeton, there were two deer across the road.  No other big game but a good start before we hit the highway.  The ride began with a 60+ km descent along the Similkameen River from Princeton to Keremeos.  It was a lovely route with a constant descent of 1% and I think we averaged about 27 kph for this section.  We stopped a few times to see the river and the surrounding hills.  The picture of the river was not the nicest view we had but one that gave an unobstructed view.

 In Keremeos, we had a Subway lunch and picked up some fresh picked raspberries to be enjoyed over the next 25 km.  Just outside of Keremeos, the ascent began but at an average of 2%, it was neither taxing or uninspiring.  Part way up the climb, we stopped to pick Saskatoons off a tree.  RJD was not so excited to try a fruit he had never eaten before but I can tell you they were excellent, still warm and at peak sweetness.  The trees will be at their peak in a week but I could find enough to eat.  We still had a long climb so I did not want a belly full of berries.  As we stopped, a cyclist passed us and we joked whether we would see her again given she looked to be riding a triathlon bike.  But we did, when she finished her ride at the turnoff to Apex ski hill.  The climb was lovely with flowering trees in the ditches.  The second picture displays this.

 At the top of the summit, we stopped for a picture by Twin Lakes and then rode on to a store that sold Dutchman Dairy ice cream where RJD had a mint chocolate double scoop cone while John finished his raspberries.  If there was a picture at this stop, RJD would have had a big smile but he was enjoying himself too much to pull out his camera.  And do you see how I am starting to get that old man stubble.

The descent into Penticton was beautiful.  At one point around the Gray Monk vineyards, there were a row of cherry trees close enough to the shoulder to pick.  I wanted to stop but RJD was close behind and I feared a crash if I jammed on my brakes to steal some cherries.  If would be a photo to recreate a similar photo from France where I picked a pound of cherries from a huge tree where the fruit was plentiful if you were taller than a tall Frenchman.  We rolled into Penticton past kms of vineyards.

On the down side and so we do not create the sense that all is good in retirement, it was the second hotel/motel of our trip where the pool was out of order.  

P.S.  Cherries are 3.99$/lb in the Okanagan.  It pains me to spend that much when they are free in the ditch but I am going to have to swallow my frugality and buy some tomorrow.

Day 5 – June 22nd 2018 Sunshine Valley to Princeton

Today was the Manning Provincial Park day.  It was also the only day with three summits but when we got to the third, we learned that it did not have a name and so we only climbed Allison and Sunday Summit.  In truth, the third summit was only a 70m climb from the dip off the last summit and therefore probably why it went unnamed.

We awoke to low level clouds and cooler temperatures.  RJD commented as we rode downhill that he was pedalling not to go faster but to keep his legs warm.  But at km 12, we got our first climb, albeit only a 4.8 km climb to warm us up.  A kilometre and a half later, we hit our second up Allison summit.  At the bottom, there was construction with a flag person who let us through and then stopped traffic.  Of course, they did not start traffic in the other direction until we cleared the section and then they let traffic go again in our direction.  This meant about twenty minutes where no one passed us and we could ride on the newly paved highway instead of cowering on the shoulder.  But all through Manning, the roads were good and we had various streams along side the road to provide visual entertainment.

 

I saw what I thought was my first deer of the ride though RJD indicated he had seen others and after I had some sugar in my blood as I sat composing this note, I could also remember at least one other.  I also saw my first wolf of the ride but he did not stick around long enough for RJD to see him.  He crossed the road a few hundred meters up and when I got to the crossing point, he was still hanging around in the forest.  His shoulders seemed almost brown but his haunches were lighter to almost grey.  He looked at me only so briefly and with the forest light, I did not get much of a face view. Always nice to see a wolf.

 

So the summary of today and everyday seems to include very beautiful scenery on lovely roads interspersed with poor roads that don't allow you to enjoy the scenario as well.  We as a country need to do a better job at maintaining the shoulders.  Maybe if BC had more industry and therefore more tax revenue, they could do a better job maintaining their infrastructure to promote Eco vacations.

Today you get two ride pictures.  The first is at the West Gate of Manning where we stopped for second breakfast but I think RJD took the picture of third breakfast.  Food is an important part of the ride because we are burning so many calories a day.    My two sandwiches came with mayo on the side and I used my crusts to wipe the container clean because any calories are good calories.

 

 

 

The second picture is of Sunday Summit, the second of the summits.  Even if RJD is smiling less than me, at the end of the day, he stated that today was not the hardest day for him and it was for me so you know he is.holding back in the pictures.

Day 4 - June 21st 2018 Mission to Sunshine Valley

So today had us leaving the Fraser Valley and entering the mountains.  The first 85 km was riding ENE out of Mission towards Hope with a SSW wind blowing around 20-25 km per hour so instead of riding at 22 kph, we were around 30 kph through lovely pastoral settings of the Fraser Valley.  Early on in the ride, we passed a farm selling fresh strawberries but it was early and I was not hungry.  We would pick some up later.  Little did I know that this would be the last option.  No fresh strawberries on day 4.  So after flying along with a mostly tail wind on the flat as a board Fraser Valley, we made Hope before noon and enjoyed lunch with a view of the Fraser River.

 

The roads we cycled in the morning were cool and mostly quiet.  We did have a number of dump trucks that were moving gravel but once we passed the gravel pit, the rode was quiet.  This was a welcome change from the ride in Vancouver.  As the miles passed, the views of the mountains became more evident.  The cloud cover, that we had at 6:30 AM was almost totally burned off by the mid morning.

The picture below is on the bridge coming into Hope.  Good Bye Fraser River and Hello mountains.  I do not know if it is the open roads or the prospect of mountains but RJD is looking way more excited in the photos.  But rest assured, RJD has been excited even if the photos don't create this impression.

After lunch, we climbed the Crowsnest Highway out of Hope towards our evening accommodations in Sunshine Valley.  The climb started at 12:37 with temperatures of 34C and ninety minutes later, had cooled to below 28C as we reached the top and the Hope slide.  The bonus of eating lunch at Subway is that we can add ice to our water bottles and drink ice cold water on the climb.  Today that was appreciated.

 

So we started the day 11 m below,sea level and finished the day around 715 m above sea level.  Okay, the Garmin might have a bias but you get the sense that we have risen into the mountains. We look forward to tomorrow and the wonderful roads ahead.

Having a great time in the interior of BC.

 

Day 3 - June 20th 2018 Vancouver to Mission

Today's ride started two blocks from the ferry and if you think we skimped by not starting at the ferry, we did get lost and climbed more height and cycled more distance than from the ferry to our hotel.  If you are ever looking for a hotel when you are either getting off or on the ferry, Horseshoe Bay offers a location only twenty minutes from downtown Vancouver with the feel of a small resort town.  

We cycled on Marine Drive over to Stanley Park and rode enough through the park to get a few pictures.  We would occasionally be passed by people riding to work who were probably shaking their heads at these slow cross Canada riders delaying their commute.  We then left the park and rode down Alberni Street to a cross road and then over to West Hastings.  It was then another 75 km on mostly this street though it changed names and we had a couple zigs and zags before we arrived in Mission.  Similar to my career where I worked 31 years in one department though it changed names and had me move twice.

A few parts of today's ride were less than tranquil because the shoulder seemed too narrow and the trucks too close.  I think the city riding is nearing an end and it will feel like the open road tomorrow.

Past rides in BC have featured black berries hanging from the bush but this was in July and August.  The bushes are currently loaded with blooms and today I saw a single red berry so I don’t think we will get any black berries on this ride.

Day three did not have an ice cream stop but we did buy a litre of PC Ice Cream and though the quality was only very good, the quantity was excellent with RJD and JG lying quietly on the beds trying to assimilate the calories.  RJD’s Garmin told us today was a 2500 calorie day so not quite up to what awaits us but respectable just the same.

Day 2 - June 19th 2018 Port Alberni to Vacouver

Today’s ride could be considered four sections.  The first was a 3.3% grade for 13 km as you rode to Port Alberni Summit.  This is just that grade that you think it will be difficult but it is not.  But at only 432 m above sea level, the views are not Roger’s Pass spectacular.  The second section is the spectacular ride through the temperate rain forest and along side Cameron Lake.  The third section was the farm lands of the island with snow capped peaks in the distance and the fourth was the road into Nanaimo to the ferry.

The climb was before much traffic was on the road and in the cool morning so a pleasant climb.  It built our confidence in our ability to climb as sea level with recent training all being in the mountains.

The decent into Cathedral Grove was pleasant with trees and occasional streams.  We took our picture of the day in Cathedral Grove (old McMillian Blodel Park) and we enjoyed the scenery.  If it were not for RJD’s helmet, you would not think this was a cycling trip picture.  RJD walked around the trails so he had better photos but this is the one with the two of us.

From there, it was an enjoyable ride through the farm land with mountains in the distance.  When we joined the main N/S road on the east coast, the ride became less leisurely but views of the Strait of Georgia would come into view and provide a noteworthy difference from the earlier three sections of the day.  Both of us are feeling good and though tomorrow is the longest day so far, no worries from us.  Maybe the note tomorrow will give you a sense of the difficulty but good trip to date.

P.S.  Day two and three ice cream stops to date.  Dutchman Dairy is still in first place.

Day 1 - June 18th 2018 Tofino to Ucluelet

We put the bikes on the car and drove to Tofino to begin the ride at the dock.  Today’s ride was always intended as an easy ride to check out the bikes and riders.

The original intent was to ride to Kennedy Lake but we changed and rode to Ucluelet where we met our shuttle vehicle.  We loaded the bike and after a lunch of fish and chips and a quick jaunt out to Amphitrite Lighthouse, we drove to Port Alberni.

The toughest hill of the day was riding off the dock to town.  After this, it was 40 km of scenic meandering along the coast.  Though the temperate rain forests block out the views of the ocean which is usually less than a kilometer away, the cool humid air was a pleasure to cycle in.  We stopped a couple times at Long Beach to take in the magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean.  The first 5 km and the last 10 km of the ride were on bike paths that parallel the road which leant itself to a more relaxed ride taking in the scenery.  Just outside of Ucluelet, the Rhododendrons were blooming in a couple places.

Day 0 - June 17th 2018

 

This blog is normally filled with the travels of the Not So Worldly Traveller but has been

commandeered by her husband (JG) to document his ride this year from Tofino to Calgary.  As well, these entries have been posted after the fact with the actual ride happening from June 18^th to June 30^th.  Many of the graphics about the ride are coming from the MapMyRide site from Under Armour.

The ride was from Tofino to Ucluelet and then after by-passing the section from Ucluelet to Port Alberni (we did it in a car but I have also done it using the MV Rose), from Port Alberni to Calgary.

 We have arrived in Tofino and are ready to begin the ride tomorrow.  The ferry to the island was beautiful with strong west winds.  They should continue to blow for days with warm weather and a high pressure to our west.  The drive over confirmed that skipping Kennedy Lake to Port Alberni was a good decision.  So a short ride tomorrow.  We did some Nanaimo bars for sugar and fat loading today with fish tacos in Tofino thrown in.  We took the classic pictures of our feet in the Pacific in Cox Bay.