Cold Days & Nights

After leaving Vancouver it was quite apparent that we are probably a month or two early to cycle across Canada.  Once we hit Hope I enquired at the Visitor’s Centre and the lady was surprised we were cycling in early April.  We were the first cyclists she had seen this year. 

We were originally planning to cycle through the Kettle Valley Trail but that is still covered in snow.  So we changed our route and took the Trans-Canada Highway. 

Given the cold and unpredictable weather, we constantly contemplated if we should play it safe and get a ride from Revelstoke to Calgary.  There is some of the toughest terrain on the Trans-Canada Highway.  And if a storm passes through it is no place for cyclists.  However, once we got to Revelstoke we decided to have a go and cycle that stretch since the forecast showed sun for the next few days. 

The Rockies were an uphill battle all the way to Lake Louise.  I think we were at around 1700m crossing from BC into Alberta.  It was tough but really rewarding scenery. 

Most nights thus far we have free camped and it gets very cold in the early hours of the morning.  I go to sleep with all my layers of clothing on and even that isn’t enough.  It is very tough packing away our tents and gear with the freezing temperatures.  I think in Golden, BC it was -5 C when we woke up.  Ouch.

Right now we are warm at my great aunt Fran & great uncle Joe’s place in Calgary.  It is always great to stay with people along the way.  Even more so when it is freezing outside!  

Trevor all dirty in Hope.  We cycled through a lot of rain that morning and experienced some fierce winds.  Trevor likes to tailgate me so he received a lot of splash from my back wheel.

First flat of this trip goes to Trevor.  Just after Boston Bar this one happened.  Nice for me though as some First Nations people invited me in the community centre there for some coffee.  I am not a coffee drinker but when it is free and the temperature is very cold I will accept.

Interesting sign we passed going through this Indian Reserve.  Now you know where some of Vancouver’s garbage goes…

It hasn’t been really difficult finding a place to free camp each night.  I am stoked here as we got a great spot up on a hill above an Esso gas station near Chase.  This really nice First Nation’s lady let us spend the night here on her property.  Sweet deal.

The Last Spike.  Also where we camped out another night.  I don’t think we were technically allowed to but we were up on a hill far away where no one could see us.

A small Emily Carr reunion with one of my elementary school classmates, Giles.  Really nice of him and his lovely wife Marnie to let us crash at their place in Revelstoke.  It was great to see him again after many years.  Got a quick tour of his workplace at the Revelstoke Dam and had a delicious vegetarian dinner.  Good times.

We were really lucky that the sun was out and about whilst riding through the Rockies.  This is the kind of scenery we took in.

After a treacherous uphill climb to Lake Louise we made it to the famous lake.  Not sure though if all that work was worth it… definitely way better to see in the summer that is for sure.