"Roll the dice, pay the price" was a line a friend always used and it was on my mind all day. Today the dice were not in our favor; the treacherous winds of Saskatchwan turned against us completely and the sun cranked it up to a 30 degree day with no shelter to be found.
Our original intent was to make it to Swift Current with 145km or so from camp. However, with a slow cruising speed and every hour of sun wearing on us, we decided it best to concede with 5 hours riding under us. We calculated it would have been around another 3 hours of ride time to make it to Swift Current. The winds are a very prickly thing on the plains and we can only hope tomorrow brings us winds at our back or no wind at all!
A note on gear: some of our gear is in beginning stages of breaking or fraying. It makes it far more obvious now that one must weigh any small detail as a strength or liability. Zippers: liability - once they break, you are really in trouble. Mesh on important pockets: a liability, as it can easily rip making holes. Even my bike shoes have a tiny hole underneath as an air vent for your feet that proved to be a major liability once rain and puddles came into play. It's interesting to look at what you bring and divide into breakable and reliable components. Heck, sometimes it's really hard to say which way it goes as my same bike shoes use Velcro instead of laces. So while I can slip in and out really quickly, what if the Velcro wears down? Some neat things to consider!
We hear there is a storm system rolling in tomorrow so we are wondering if we can dodge it by heading out early. Or perhaps it would be a small blessing to cool down in the rain after all :)
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Friday, June 29, 2012
Maple Creek, SK - 112km
Guess who made it to Saskatchewan! These guys! :) Huzzah!!
After losing lots of time trying to gather up supplies in the box store lagoons of Medicine Hat, we hit the open road and had quite a decent tail wind. And wouldn't you know it, we happened upon yet another fellow adventurer! Pierre, a 66 year old man who is a mind blowing walker - pushing a little carriage in front of him, he *walks* wherever he's going. He's in the midst of a massive walk from Vancouver to Newfoundland! He expects to arrive some time in October. He regaled us with some incredible stories of his previous walking journeys, such as Vancouver to Alaska as well as Vancouver to South America. At one point he had to cross the border at Panama and they would not let him. He explained that he was a Canadian who was determined to walk everywhere. After trying to convince him to take a bus across to his destination they realized he was steadfast in his intention - walk or nothing. They called in the big guard, naming him the the "canadiano loco" (sorry if I'm butchering this!) and ended up escorting him through with a police cruiser creeping behind him the whole way, flags waving and all. We await your book, Pierre! Hopefully we can see you when you come through Ottawa/Gatineau. Stay tuned for pics with the crazy Canadian walking man!
Just when we thought the sun had stayed its welcome we found our checkpoint in Maple Creek. Here stopped at an amazing gem of a restaurant in called The Star Cafe & Grill for some ribs, chicken, and great desserts! (We are trying to load ourselves with calories all day) The chef even personally came out to meet us and ensure everything was delicious - we're pretty sure the impossibly clean rib bones left over answered that question. Excellent place!
And what a way to end the day - we found one of the most remarkable places of our trip in the Ghostown Blues Bed and Breakfast. This place has to be seen to be believed, so we are going to take lots of photos. The owner takes great pride having restored historical wagons and cabins. You can stay in one of the only original wagons in existence today (or even sleep in your tent if you have one). The piece de resistance, however, is a giant restored classic church that is now home to the mess hall of the camp ground. It's beautiful, classic, and dripping with character. Although he used to be a cowboy and even helped in some films (was even John Voight's double in Return to Lonesome Dove) he says he recharges his soul and spirit out here. When he's not busy doing industrial construction, he's at home here restoring new places to stay for travelers so all can have a taste of old hospitality in comfort. We cannot recommend this place enough and can't wait to get pictures up!
Finally we both want to say thanks to all who have sent us messages or left comments! While we haven't had time to respond to them all, be sure that we are loving any words you send. When I wake up the first thing I see are Jan's feet...but then I see the mailbag and the world is great again. ;)
After losing lots of time trying to gather up supplies in the box store lagoons of Medicine Hat, we hit the open road and had quite a decent tail wind. And wouldn't you know it, we happened upon yet another fellow adventurer! Pierre, a 66 year old man who is a mind blowing walker - pushing a little carriage in front of him, he *walks* wherever he's going. He's in the midst of a massive walk from Vancouver to Newfoundland! He expects to arrive some time in October. He regaled us with some incredible stories of his previous walking journeys, such as Vancouver to Alaska as well as Vancouver to South America. At one point he had to cross the border at Panama and they would not let him. He explained that he was a Canadian who was determined to walk everywhere. After trying to convince him to take a bus across to his destination they realized he was steadfast in his intention - walk or nothing. They called in the big guard, naming him the the "canadiano loco" (sorry if I'm butchering this!) and ended up escorting him through with a police cruiser creeping behind him the whole way, flags waving and all. We await your book, Pierre! Hopefully we can see you when you come through Ottawa/Gatineau. Stay tuned for pics with the crazy Canadian walking man!
Just when we thought the sun had stayed its welcome we found our checkpoint in Maple Creek. Here stopped at an amazing gem of a restaurant in called The Star Cafe & Grill for some ribs, chicken, and great desserts! (We are trying to load ourselves with calories all day) The chef even personally came out to meet us and ensure everything was delicious - we're pretty sure the impossibly clean rib bones left over answered that question. Excellent place!
And what a way to end the day - we found one of the most remarkable places of our trip in the Ghostown Blues Bed and Breakfast. This place has to be seen to be believed, so we are going to take lots of photos. The owner takes great pride having restored historical wagons and cabins. You can stay in one of the only original wagons in existence today (or even sleep in your tent if you have one). The piece de resistance, however, is a giant restored classic church that is now home to the mess hall of the camp ground. It's beautiful, classic, and dripping with character. Although he used to be a cowboy and even helped in some films (was even John Voight's double in Return to Lonesome Dove) he says he recharges his soul and spirit out here. When he's not busy doing industrial construction, he's at home here restoring new places to stay for travelers so all can have a taste of old hospitality in comfort. We cannot recommend this place enough and can't wait to get pictures up!
Finally we both want to say thanks to all who have sent us messages or left comments! While we haven't had time to respond to them all, be sure that we are loving any words you send. When I wake up the first thing I see are Jan's feet...but then I see the mailbag and the world is great again. ;)
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Medicine Hat, AB - 110km
Today's report: endless grassy fields on a straight path. End report.
...but seriously, another great day for riding even if we lost our tail wind! It's part of the reason we decided to push ourselves yesterday, as we wanted to take advantage while the going was good. Today we were riding at a decidedly lower clip, with almost no break to speak of.
There are other terrors that lurk within the prairies, and that is the unyielding beating sun. There was no shade from the moment we woke until we arrived at camp. On that note, sun screen has been an ongoing challenge for us, as the days we almost got burned were overcast. We're not fooling around, as we are applying a 60spf screen around 3 times a day if not more!
The prairies have already proven to be an introspective experience. We turn on some tunes and get time to think. In this way I actually don't mind it. Our tiny mp3 players that we brought are helping immensely. Plus, nobody can hear me sing in the fields :)
That being said, you never know when you'll run into something or someone extraordinary - today we came upon a fellow cyclist named John Baker, who is also cycling back to Ontario and just turned *90 years old*. He had ridden this before back when he turned 78. Under the blazing heat in the middle of nowhere we shared water while he told us of going to the war back in 1939, his brother being shot down over Europe, his kids scattered all over, and losing his wife only some years ago. He is a very happy guy who is enjoying life and the incredible kindness we have noted being seen from Canadians on the long road home. We traded some more stories (one about him getting hit by a car, going to the hospital, then buying a bike and continuing home) and bike tips before we headed onward, but he left us with a parting thought: enjoy every day you can! John when you read this later, know that we are all cheering for you! May the winds be at your back.
Enjoy every day. Accomplish anything.
...but seriously, another great day for riding even if we lost our tail wind! It's part of the reason we decided to push ourselves yesterday, as we wanted to take advantage while the going was good. Today we were riding at a decidedly lower clip, with almost no break to speak of.
There are other terrors that lurk within the prairies, and that is the unyielding beating sun. There was no shade from the moment we woke until we arrived at camp. On that note, sun screen has been an ongoing challenge for us, as the days we almost got burned were overcast. We're not fooling around, as we are applying a 60spf screen around 3 times a day if not more!
The prairies have already proven to be an introspective experience. We turn on some tunes and get time to think. In this way I actually don't mind it. Our tiny mp3 players that we brought are helping immensely. Plus, nobody can hear me sing in the fields :)
That being said, you never know when you'll run into something or someone extraordinary - today we came upon a fellow cyclist named John Baker, who is also cycling back to Ontario and just turned *90 years old*. He had ridden this before back when he turned 78. Under the blazing heat in the middle of nowhere we shared water while he told us of going to the war back in 1939, his brother being shot down over Europe, his kids scattered all over, and losing his wife only some years ago. He is a very happy guy who is enjoying life and the incredible kindness we have noted being seen from Canadians on the long road home. We traded some more stories (one about him getting hit by a car, going to the hospital, then buying a bike and continuing home) and bike tips before we headed onward, but he left us with a parting thought: enjoy every day you can! John when you read this later, know that we are all cheering for you! May the winds be at your back.
Enjoy every day. Accomplish anything.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Brooks, AB - 202km
So after two days of resting, we bounced back with our biggest ride of the trip! We were initially planning on stopping in Bassano for 150km, but since we got there at 5pm, we were feeling good enough to hit a massive 202km total!
While we were taking days off in Calgary, we tuned up our bikes and ended up replacing our chains since we've been completely neglecting them the entire trip. Now, after a quick crash course from Blair, we know a bit more about bike maintenance - it involves the use of old socks! We also pumped our tires up to higher pressure than before to maximize efficiency as we start to make our way through the prairies where every small boost will help us get through a bit faster.
Some combination of our new tune ups, tire pressure, and a great tailwind gave us insane speeds today. At times we were pushing 45km/h on flat ground, and actually broke our previous top speed record set on a BC hill! On a slight downhill, we were being passed by a truck when we realized it was barely moving faster than we were. A quick glance at our computers showed that we were going 65km/h! Amazing, since it didn't even feel like we were moving anywhere near that speed.
A few areas did give a bit of trouble, though. The route today alternated between going east and south, and whenever we were going south, that amazing tailwind transformed into a fierce crosswind, almost strong enough to blow me over! Jason seemed mostly fine, so we think that our weight difference is a big factor in bike stability. For me, I had to sit on one side of my seat, angle my bike, and lean against the wind just to move in a straight line!
We're hoping for the weather to continue to be on our side as we go through the prairies since we're already done enjoying this scenery. :)
While we were taking days off in Calgary, we tuned up our bikes and ended up replacing our chains since we've been completely neglecting them the entire trip. Now, after a quick crash course from Blair, we know a bit more about bike maintenance - it involves the use of old socks! We also pumped our tires up to higher pressure than before to maximize efficiency as we start to make our way through the prairies where every small boost will help us get through a bit faster.
Some combination of our new tune ups, tire pressure, and a great tailwind gave us insane speeds today. At times we were pushing 45km/h on flat ground, and actually broke our previous top speed record set on a BC hill! On a slight downhill, we were being passed by a truck when we realized it was barely moving faster than we were. A quick glance at our computers showed that we were going 65km/h! Amazing, since it didn't even feel like we were moving anywhere near that speed.
A few areas did give a bit of trouble, though. The route today alternated between going east and south, and whenever we were going south, that amazing tailwind transformed into a fierce crosswind, almost strong enough to blow me over! Jason seemed mostly fine, so we think that our weight difference is a big factor in bike stability. For me, I had to sit on one side of my seat, angle my bike, and lean against the wind just to move in a straight line!
We're hoping for the weather to continue to be on our side as we go through the prairies since we're already done enjoying this scenery. :)
Monday, June 25, 2012
Calgary, AB - 124km
We made it to Calgary! We officially left the mountains and started the introduction phase in the plains of Canada.
It was a seriously long haul into the city today, clocking something around 5hrs and 45 minutes on our bikes. The change of scenery was really neat though. Immediately after leaving the mountainous regions that BC is known for, everything gets a bit "country". We saw fields of grass, RV sales lots, and a bale of hay with the word "hay" on it in the middle of a wide-open field (and of course took a photo of it ;))
We're now staying with our incredibly gracious hosts Aleks and Blair, who gave us a bed to sleep in, a warm shower, and a washing machine to bring life back to our tiny collection of clothes. I'd actually say we even smell good again! On that topic, I have to make mention to how clean and meticulous Jan is. In his work he's incredibly meticulous and detail oriented as well, but he applies that to everything around him. Where I just stuff things my bag and get going super fast, he plans it out every morning - delicately rolls and folds things into perfect sections and cleans every inch of himself before and after rides. The take-away there is that the phrase "oh we're camping, it doesn't matter!" only applies to very short camping trips. When you're on the road for 7-8 weeks you gotta start thinking long term!
This city is huge! It's ten times larger than all the towns and cities we've seen since vancouver combined. With something around 1200km of biking time since we landed in Vancouver, we've got a number of things to stock up on and repair. My rear deraileur needs tuning, and even more important is that neither of us have been maintaining our chain grease! Can you tell that neither of us are super experienced cyclists? We imagine that getting proper chain cleaning and grease is going to make us a bit more efficient in the coming weeks.
We did a huge update on the photo map! Our camera marks our photos with GPS so we just upload it and you can see exactly where it was taken. It's a nice way to see the route we took as well! We even got the pictures of the baby mountain goat we found up there :)
It was a seriously long haul into the city today, clocking something around 5hrs and 45 minutes on our bikes. The change of scenery was really neat though. Immediately after leaving the mountainous regions that BC is known for, everything gets a bit "country". We saw fields of grass, RV sales lots, and a bale of hay with the word "hay" on it in the middle of a wide-open field (and of course took a photo of it ;))
We're now staying with our incredibly gracious hosts Aleks and Blair, who gave us a bed to sleep in, a warm shower, and a washing machine to bring life back to our tiny collection of clothes. I'd actually say we even smell good again! On that topic, I have to make mention to how clean and meticulous Jan is. In his work he's incredibly meticulous and detail oriented as well, but he applies that to everything around him. Where I just stuff things my bag and get going super fast, he plans it out every morning - delicately rolls and folds things into perfect sections and cleans every inch of himself before and after rides. The take-away there is that the phrase "oh we're camping, it doesn't matter!" only applies to very short camping trips. When you're on the road for 7-8 weeks you gotta start thinking long term!
This city is huge! It's ten times larger than all the towns and cities we've seen since vancouver combined. With something around 1200km of biking time since we landed in Vancouver, we've got a number of things to stock up on and repair. My rear deraileur needs tuning, and even more important is that neither of us have been maintaining our chain grease! Can you tell that neither of us are super experienced cyclists? We imagine that getting proper chain cleaning and grease is going to make us a bit more efficient in the coming weeks.
We did a huge update on the photo map! Our camera marks our photos with GPS so we just upload it and you can see exactly where it was taken. It's a nice way to see the route we took as well! We even got the pictures of the baby mountain goat we found up there :)
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Banff, AB - 85km
Some of you map nerds have already realized that it's only 55km to Banff from Lake Louise.
It would have been a short trip today, so we figured we'd stop by Moraine Lake, just 15km out of Lake Louise since it was a highly recommended sight. We were told that it would be one of the most beautiful things we'd see on our trip (which it was) but we weren't told that it would be a 300m climb to get up there! At around 1900m elevation it starts getting really cold! We passed by progressively larger patches of snow and by the time we actually got to the lake we were freezing! Also the guard rail on one section of the road was completely torn off due to an avalanche some time ago! We did manage to get some photos of the ten peaks surrounding the lake and see the amazing color of the water. It's a strong bluish green color that almost looks milky - it actually looks almost artificial!
Aside from that, today was actually the first day that we got caught in the rain. Every other time it's rained, we've been able to outrun it or wait it out. After a few hours in the rain, we just wanted
to get dry and call it a night. In a hasty decision, we ended up putting our
tent down in a rest area not far off the highway.
Sure enough, some time later we had a visit from a park warden telling us that we'd have to move camp. He was actually very nice, though! He warned us that there was a grizzly sighting not far from that rest area, and offered us a ride in his truck for a free stay at a nearby campsite. Nice guy!
Unfortunately by the time we got there, the rain was in full force. We managed to set the tent up and get inside, but a lot of our gear got soaked. The rain was also coming down so hard that even with earplugs we didn't get a good night's rest. Luckily we have a rest coming for us in Calgary at the end of the day! :)
It would have been a short trip today, so we figured we'd stop by Moraine Lake, just 15km out of Lake Louise since it was a highly recommended sight. We were told that it would be one of the most beautiful things we'd see on our trip (which it was) but we weren't told that it would be a 300m climb to get up there! At around 1900m elevation it starts getting really cold! We passed by progressively larger patches of snow and by the time we actually got to the lake we were freezing! Also the guard rail on one section of the road was completely torn off due to an avalanche some time ago! We did manage to get some photos of the ten peaks surrounding the lake and see the amazing color of the water. It's a strong bluish green color that almost looks milky - it actually looks almost artificial!
Aside from that, today was actually the first day that we got caught in the rain. Every other time it's rained, we've been able to outrun it or wait it out. After a few hours in the rain, we just wanted
to get dry and call it a night. In a hasty decision, we ended up putting our
tent down in a rest area not far off the highway.
Sure enough, some time later we had a visit from a park warden telling us that we'd have to move camp. He was actually very nice, though! He warned us that there was a grizzly sighting not far from that rest area, and offered us a ride in his truck for a free stay at a nearby campsite. Nice guy!
Unfortunately by the time we got there, the rain was in full force. We managed to set the tent up and get inside, but a lot of our gear got soaked. The rain was also coming down so hard that even with earplugs we didn't get a good night's rest. Luckily we have a rest coming for us in Calgary at the end of the day! :)
Lake Louise, AB - 82km
Goodbye BC and hello Alberta! Since there was curiously no roadside fanfare from Alberta about crossing over, we instead got some pictures of us at the "Welcome to BC" sign. People honked at us and gave us thumbs up in celebration :) Woohoo!!
BC seemed to keep the best (read:hardest) for last. Getting to the border was an enormous ~8km uphill into the mountains. Jan and I were joking that once we got to semi flat land up top and continued at a paltry 20km/hr we felt like we had a rocket on our back and weighed nothing. Just a bit past the border we're now resting in a ski village of sorts. Little stores and everything is really expensive. Whoops :p
Before going to sleep we did some major leg stretching. After many days without rest our legs (and my butt) in particular are starting to feel really sore! There's no question our strength went up though. The huge run into Alberta would not have been able to happen even just 2 weeks ago
Our last 2 day push into Calgary is coming up! There we will have a rest and finally update the photo album for you all. We have a special detour planned for scenic reasons - more on that later if it works out ;)
One last note: both of us think we look about the same as when we left. Jitters is still pretty thin and I still have some extra weight around mid-section. I personally see this as a good sign that we are eating and drinking enough :)
BC seemed to keep the best (read:hardest) for last. Getting to the border was an enormous ~8km uphill into the mountains. Jan and I were joking that once we got to semi flat land up top and continued at a paltry 20km/hr we felt like we had a rocket on our back and weighed nothing. Just a bit past the border we're now resting in a ski village of sorts. Little stores and everything is really expensive. Whoops :p
Before going to sleep we did some major leg stretching. After many days without rest our legs (and my butt) in particular are starting to feel really sore! There's no question our strength went up though. The huge run into Alberta would not have been able to happen even just 2 weeks ago
Our last 2 day push into Calgary is coming up! There we will have a rest and finally update the photo album for you all. We have a special detour planned for scenic reasons - more on that later if it works out ;)
One last note: both of us think we look about the same as when we left. Jitters is still pretty thin and I still have some extra weight around mid-section. I personally see this as a good sign that we are eating and drinking enough :)
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Golden, BC - 82km
Another great day of riding! Out of the summit in the morning we had a really great downhill start for around 12km, that was quickly offset by headwinds that really slowed us down. We're finding it a matter of acceptance with wind in general. At a basic level, wind (and all weather) is just a coin toss - a dice roll in or out of your favor. As game designers, we generally dislike elements of luck! :p However, we are playing to win. The only thing you can do is accept it and make your form consistent to push through. One good trick we find is to focus on pedaling in perfectly efficient circles rather than left-right bursts, as well as keeping you and all your packs as low profile as possible. This way you have slight less drag. Strategy! :)
When we finally got to golden we were so happy to see proper supplies again! Since it was a two day leg before any pit stops (the lodge at summit only had a restaurant) we finally grabbed more delicious foods for the next 3 day haul to Calgary.
We have to re-iterate a crazy phenomenon we are experiencing while riding - there have been many times while riding after prolonged periods where we lose our sense of incline or grade. Our instincts tell us we are on flat or even downhill yet for some reason it's very hard to pedal. When we look behind us we realize we've been climbing the whole time! It's incredibly hard to describe until you've had it happen first hand but it's definitely real and a strange sensation when you can't trust your inner bearings.
More on gear! Sometimes the best stuff on you is super simple. For us it was a last minute purchase in our wet shoes. They are ultra simple 8 dollar rubber-soled wet shoes from Canadian Tire. When you finally get to camp you need to air out your feet. These puppies are even great in rain and mud in almost all terrain near your tent. And most importantly, because they are soft construction they can be squeezed into a small pocket in your bag!
A question from our friends Pam and Nick: how are we feeling? Tired, optimistic? Good question! We both are feeling really sore all over, there's no question. Cycling is definitely not just your legs when you go this long. We are doing arm, neck and shoulder stretches, as well as working on our core to lessen burden on arms, etc. We're feeling pretty optimistic about our progress though, yeah! If we were only half way through BC we'd be pretty demoralized, but if we push hard now we are going to see Alberta border in a day or two. And I'm happy to say we did a double-take with our time-check today because we are now in a new time zone! :) Only 2 hours behind Ottawa now. That's a big achievement for us! Spirits are up!
Attaching some pictures of our little egg holder getting filled as well as our delicious steak sandwiches we had for dinner tonight (with sauce we squirreled away from Nando's Chicken ;) shashasha)
Good night all!
When we finally got to golden we were so happy to see proper supplies again! Since it was a two day leg before any pit stops (the lodge at summit only had a restaurant) we finally grabbed more delicious foods for the next 3 day haul to Calgary.
We have to re-iterate a crazy phenomenon we are experiencing while riding - there have been many times while riding after prolonged periods where we lose our sense of incline or grade. Our instincts tell us we are on flat or even downhill yet for some reason it's very hard to pedal. When we look behind us we realize we've been climbing the whole time! It's incredibly hard to describe until you've had it happen first hand but it's definitely real and a strange sensation when you can't trust your inner bearings.
More on gear! Sometimes the best stuff on you is super simple. For us it was a last minute purchase in our wet shoes. They are ultra simple 8 dollar rubber-soled wet shoes from Canadian Tire. When you finally get to camp you need to air out your feet. These puppies are even great in rain and mud in almost all terrain near your tent. And most importantly, because they are soft construction they can be squeezed into a small pocket in your bag!
A question from our friends Pam and Nick: how are we feeling? Tired, optimistic? Good question! We both are feeling really sore all over, there's no question. Cycling is definitely not just your legs when you go this long. We are doing arm, neck and shoulder stretches, as well as working on our core to lessen burden on arms, etc. We're feeling pretty optimistic about our progress though, yeah! If we were only half way through BC we'd be pretty demoralized, but if we push hard now we are going to see Alberta border in a day or two. And I'm happy to say we did a double-take with our time-check today because we are now in a new time zone! :) Only 2 hours behind Ottawa now. That's a big achievement for us! Spirits are up!
Attaching some pictures of our little egg holder getting filled as well as our delicious steak sandwiches we had for dinner tonight (with sauce we squirreled away from Nando's Chicken ;) shashasha)
Good night all!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Roger's Pass Summit, BC - 70km
We're now travelling into the Rockies, and it's been tough, but the amazing views have been worth it!
Distance does not mean difficulty! Just the other day we rolled over 100km, and even though we only clocked 70 today, it was much much harder.
Today's hill climbs have been intense, to say the least. We started in Revelstoke, elevation 440m, and we've been climbing basically all day. The air has been getting thinner, snow peaked mountains (and the frost line!) have been inching closer to us and even some mountain goats made an appearance! A pack of them were chilling next to the road and blocking traffic while we took some photos. :)
We ended up having to hike the final few kms to get here but finally we're resting our legs in the lodge at the summit of Roger's Pass at 1330m!
Also, we bumped into another fellow cyclist! He was decked out with quite a bit of gear and had done a few cycling tours in the past, including going from Holland to Spain (about 3000km) in just a month! He's also heading to Ontario, but taking a different route than we are. Good luck Lou!
Distance does not mean difficulty! Just the other day we rolled over 100km, and even though we only clocked 70 today, it was much much harder.
Today's hill climbs have been intense, to say the least. We started in Revelstoke, elevation 440m, and we've been climbing basically all day. The air has been getting thinner, snow peaked mountains (and the frost line!) have been inching closer to us and even some mountain goats made an appearance! A pack of them were chilling next to the road and blocking traffic while we took some photos. :)
We ended up having to hike the final few kms to get here but finally we're resting our legs in the lodge at the summit of Roger's Pass at 1330m!
Also, we bumped into another fellow cyclist! He was decked out with quite a bit of gear and had done a few cycling tours in the past, including going from Holland to Spain (about 3000km) in just a month! He's also heading to Ontario, but taking a different route than we are. Good luck Lou!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Revelstoke BC - 102km
Today started off as the coldest day by far. We woke up so cold we were huddling over our little tea for warmth while the rain fell. Luckily when we got moving we warmed up a bit!
Near the end of our ride we finally reached the edge of the Rockies! We made it through coastal mountains, desert, inner hills, and are just now approaching the last big barrier between us and the prairies.
Revelstoke is a neat little town - because it's on the border of the Rockies it has an incredible view, which I'll attach. We grabbed a hot meal and ice cream when we got here. Aww yeah!
I thought I'd try to make mention of some of the gear we took with us, and how it helps. One thing we brought is called "TowTabs". They are the size of a mint, and when you add just a bit of water it will expand out to a full face towel! It's also 100% bio degradable so you can throw it out anywhere. This is supremely handy for when you need to clean your face or crotch areas (!) after a trek, or even to wash your bowl after a meal.
We realized we completely missed our update on our Kamloops rest day, where a much needed shout out has to go to some great guys at the local Sportchek. They gathered around to go over our bikes in the shop and see if they could true the tires. The only place that gave us help that day and talk about the trip. When you're on the road, having local techs to help is amazing. You guys were awesome! Thanks!
Near the end of our ride we finally reached the edge of the Rockies! We made it through coastal mountains, desert, inner hills, and are just now approaching the last big barrier between us and the prairies.
Revelstoke is a neat little town - because it's on the border of the Rockies it has an incredible view, which I'll attach. We grabbed a hot meal and ice cream when we got here. Aww yeah!
I thought I'd try to make mention of some of the gear we took with us, and how it helps. One thing we brought is called "TowTabs". They are the size of a mint, and when you add just a bit of water it will expand out to a full face towel! It's also 100% bio degradable so you can throw it out anywhere. This is supremely handy for when you need to clean your face or crotch areas (!) after a trek, or even to wash your bowl after a meal.
We realized we completely missed our update on our Kamloops rest day, where a much needed shout out has to go to some great guys at the local Sportchek. They gathered around to go over our bikes in the shop and see if they could true the tires. The only place that gave us help that day and talk about the trip. When you're on the road, having local techs to help is amazing. You guys were awesome! Thanks!
Monday, June 18, 2012
Salmon Arm, BC - 128km
Riding time: 5hr 34min
What a beautiful ride today! Deserts are behind us and replaced with rivers and hills.
We are completely beat after such a long ride! We just now finished getting the tent up and gear stowed away under the fly. As sundown was almost upon us we just tried to find an open field to throw our tent in but it's hard to know what is privately owned or not. Since we're low on time we grabbed a camp spot at a campgrounds instead. And boy are they expensive at times! It's $28 for what boils down to a tiny patch of land that we need. We are thinking of offsetting our checkpoints so that we end the day outside a town and thus have an easier chance finding open fields.
We had some interesting moments with rain today as we realized our rain gear is just plainly too hot to do any intense cycling in due to overheating. However if the mountain air gets cold enough you could get incredibly cold due to exposure. It's a tough call for us abut how to tackle such conditions. The easy answer is to pay good money for waterproof breathable wear I guess. Still, I got a good shot of Jan trying our makeshift waterproof gloves (that are zip lock bags :p) and am attaching it.
Also Jan said he uploaded new photos into the gallery last night so have a look!
What a beautiful ride today! Deserts are behind us and replaced with rivers and hills.
We are completely beat after such a long ride! We just now finished getting the tent up and gear stowed away under the fly. As sundown was almost upon us we just tried to find an open field to throw our tent in but it's hard to know what is privately owned or not. Since we're low on time we grabbed a camp spot at a campgrounds instead. And boy are they expensive at times! It's $28 for what boils down to a tiny patch of land that we need. We are thinking of offsetting our checkpoints so that we end the day outside a town and thus have an easier chance finding open fields.
We had some interesting moments with rain today as we realized our rain gear is just plainly too hot to do any intense cycling in due to overheating. However if the mountain air gets cold enough you could get incredibly cold due to exposure. It's a tough call for us abut how to tackle such conditions. The easy answer is to pay good money for waterproof breathable wear I guess. Still, I got a good shot of Jan trying our makeshift waterproof gloves (that are zip lock bags :p) and am attaching it.
Also Jan said he uploaded new photos into the gallery last night so have a look!
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Kamloops - 84km
We made it!
Right now we are thrilled that Kamloops is a real city with all the things we love; stores, cinemas, and lots of food at every corner!
It's kind of interesting that each day presented its own unique challenges. Today was definitely head wind day. No more than 5 minutes after we left camp, we came straight into headwinds and crosswinds through an enormous canyon corridor. With the strong winds on us our speeds sank and every push felt like a hill. Unlike other challenges, wind forces you to stay in stance and keep peddling. If you sit up you are causing more drag, so the best strategy we found is to get in position and draft behind each other. And when we saw the sign that said "strong crosswind - next 7km" we knew today was going to be another "mind over matter" kind of day.
Determination mode was also definitely in full force on the massive mountain we climbed about half way in. It was by far the biggest and largest hill we've had the pleasure of climbing yet. After many kilometers of pure uphill we made it to 580 meters above sea level. The CN Tower, by comparison, is only 550 and change!
We had one small injury today though - Jan's bike fell over on a road-side snack stop and the teeth on the pedals punctured his leg a bit. Thankfully we had our trusty mini first aid kit! :) still, we're getting it checked in town just in case.
And finally, we have to re-iterate that Canadians really do live up to their reputation of kindness. A man approached us at camp today to tell us of his cycling trek across Canada in 2005. He imparted a number of valuable tips upon us and told us a great story of his incredibly fast and arduous race across the country. Try to talk to as many people as you can while traveling - you never know who you'll run into!
Even with the hardships we had a lot of fun and are loving our hard earned test in Kamloops!
Right now we are thrilled that Kamloops is a real city with all the things we love; stores, cinemas, and lots of food at every corner!
It's kind of interesting that each day presented its own unique challenges. Today was definitely head wind day. No more than 5 minutes after we left camp, we came straight into headwinds and crosswinds through an enormous canyon corridor. With the strong winds on us our speeds sank and every push felt like a hill. Unlike other challenges, wind forces you to stay in stance and keep peddling. If you sit up you are causing more drag, so the best strategy we found is to get in position and draft behind each other. And when we saw the sign that said "strong crosswind - next 7km" we knew today was going to be another "mind over matter" kind of day.
Determination mode was also definitely in full force on the massive mountain we climbed about half way in. It was by far the biggest and largest hill we've had the pleasure of climbing yet. After many kilometers of pure uphill we made it to 580 meters above sea level. The CN Tower, by comparison, is only 550 and change!
We had one small injury today though - Jan's bike fell over on a road-side snack stop and the teeth on the pedals punctured his leg a bit. Thankfully we had our trusty mini first aid kit! :) still, we're getting it checked in town just in case.
And finally, we have to re-iterate that Canadians really do live up to their reputation of kindness. A man approached us at camp today to tell us of his cycling trek across Canada in 2005. He imparted a number of valuable tips upon us and told us a great story of his incredibly fast and arduous race across the country. Try to talk to as many people as you can while traveling - you never know who you'll run into!
Even with the hardships we had a lot of fun and are loving our hard earned test in Kamloops!
Friday, June 15, 2012
Cache Creek - 82Km
The day began like a scene out of any classic film where it transitions using a shot of the white hot sun and silence to show the change of climate. That was the first thing I saw when I opened the tent. The second thing was a feast for crows - not the book, mind you, but literally our bag of bread had been pecked by crows! Cawww caww!
Cutting to the chase: today was by far the most intense day yet. We cycled through heat in the desert with monster hills and pretty much no pit stops to be found! We guzzled our wąy through our water bottles before half way and luckily had two emergency hydration bags filled this morning. Without any roadside stops we even ate through almost all our supplies in an effort to push tthrough his forsaken wasteland!
Even with drinking and snacking as often as possible, the heat was wearing us down. With 10k to go we happened upon an oasis of sorts. A restaurant tea house with a lush green lawn, flowers, and the most delicious lunch. They apparently work quite hard at keeping their place beautiful and water the entire place any day it's not raining to keep it from drying.
We were able to find supplies in Cache Creek and are preparing for tomorrow's big rainy ride to Kamloops! Right now everything is hidden under the shelter of our tent's fly. Coincidentally we have been singing songs with "fly" in it any time we have to pack it up. Top three:
I believe I can fly
Fly Like an eagle
Lenny Kravitz' "I want to get away i want to flyyyy awayy"
I'll attach a photo of jitters with a camera affixed to his helmet today for our photography experiment.
Special thanks to all those leaving comments. We love reading them all!!
Cutting to the chase: today was by far the most intense day yet. We cycled through heat in the desert with monster hills and pretty much no pit stops to be found! We guzzled our wąy through our water bottles before half way and luckily had two emergency hydration bags filled this morning. Without any roadside stops we even ate through almost all our supplies in an effort to push tthrough his forsaken wasteland!
Even with drinking and snacking as often as possible, the heat was wearing us down. With 10k to go we happened upon an oasis of sorts. A restaurant tea house with a lush green lawn, flowers, and the most delicious lunch. They apparently work quite hard at keeping their place beautiful and water the entire place any day it's not raining to keep it from drying.
We were able to find supplies in Cache Creek and are preparing for tomorrow's big rainy ride to Kamloops! Right now everything is hidden under the shelter of our tent's fly. Coincidentally we have been singing songs with "fly" in it any time we have to pack it up. Top three:
I believe I can fly
Fly Like an eagle
Lenny Kravitz' "I want to get away i want to flyyyy awayy"
I'll attach a photo of jitters with a camera affixed to his helmet today for our photography experiment.
Special thanks to all those leaving comments. We love reading them all!!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Lytton BC - 112 km
Riding time: 6hrs.
Total time on road 10.5 hrs
What a day! We are taking it as a huge accomplishment to conquer the 112 km stretch from Hope and Lytton. We are completely beat. However, the ride was almost undone before we had ridden our first leg...
While grabbing an ultra quick breakfast at McDonalds, one of the employees decided to move our bikes out of the way to wash some windows...while they were locked to themselves. When we came outside the locks had been rolled, twisted into the spokes and fenders. Casualties: my front tire needs truing, a bent spoke (that miraculously went back in place), jitters' fender bracket is damaged, and my front deraileur was out of alignment. Afer a bit of tinkering we decided to just hit the road and make the best of it. We just can't figure out why the employee wanted to clean the windows that badly.
Today was our first experience with the real hills and tunnels that we were told of. Many of our 112km ride was spent at 7km/hr up an 8% grade hill. It felt like the first incredibly grueling test of endurance for both of us. Even with the chilly mountain air we dropped our layers and sweat it out. And the 6 tunnels we had to navigate were interesting - we had a tiny walk-way to the side just wide enough for one person or bike.
We happened upon some truly strange finds today too - first an Elvis diner in the middle of a mountain hill, filled to the brim with memorabilia and very kind staff. Second, we discovered that BC has a desert! We are now in it, as it starts right around Lytton and grows to Kamloops. We can see snow tipped mountains behind us and dry, dusty shrubs ahead.
After several days on the road we agreed the best money we spent so far was on the waterproof jackets we have, called Wetskins. They were a big gamble - rolled up they still take one major compartment each (pants and top). What's more is they don't have armpit vents. However it's incredible how fast your body temperature drops when not active. The moment we dawn our Wetskins we get our temperature back, which has been incredibly helpful in this freak chilly weather BC is having.
Total time on road 10.5 hrs
What a day! We are taking it as a huge accomplishment to conquer the 112 km stretch from Hope and Lytton. We are completely beat. However, the ride was almost undone before we had ridden our first leg...
While grabbing an ultra quick breakfast at McDonalds, one of the employees decided to move our bikes out of the way to wash some windows...while they were locked to themselves. When we came outside the locks had been rolled, twisted into the spokes and fenders. Casualties: my front tire needs truing, a bent spoke (that miraculously went back in place), jitters' fender bracket is damaged, and my front deraileur was out of alignment. Afer a bit of tinkering we decided to just hit the road and make the best of it. We just can't figure out why the employee wanted to clean the windows that badly.
Today was our first experience with the real hills and tunnels that we were told of. Many of our 112km ride was spent at 7km/hr up an 8% grade hill. It felt like the first incredibly grueling test of endurance for both of us. Even with the chilly mountain air we dropped our layers and sweat it out. And the 6 tunnels we had to navigate were interesting - we had a tiny walk-way to the side just wide enough for one person or bike.
We happened upon some truly strange finds today too - first an Elvis diner in the middle of a mountain hill, filled to the brim with memorabilia and very kind staff. Second, we discovered that BC has a desert! We are now in it, as it starts right around Lytton and grows to Kamloops. We can see snow tipped mountains behind us and dry, dusty shrubs ahead.
After several days on the road we agreed the best money we spent so far was on the waterproof jackets we have, called Wetskins. They were a big gamble - rolled up they still take one major compartment each (pants and top). What's more is they don't have armpit vents. However it's incredible how fast your body temperature drops when not active. The moment we dawn our Wetskins we get our temperature back, which has been incredibly helpful in this freak chilly weather BC is having.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Hope BC Rest Day
We're taking it a bit easier today, refueling!
We used this opportunity to plot out a 3 day game plan to Kamloops. We discovered we have to take the highway 1, even though it's more roundabout on the map, as highway 5 doesn't allow cycles. We know that thE next 3 days will be among the hardest of the whole trip, so we are enjoying every moment of rest.
For the curious, here's the food we have on us right now:
-cured meat
-bacon
-eggs
-4 vector energy bars
-1 pack of jambalaya (we will mix the cured meat into this)
- half a loaf of bread
- little packets of PB&J from a diner
-small portion of mom's granola (that we're saving for rainy morning)
- pack of small dried fruit (we snack on this during 5 minute breaks)
-2 water bottles each, 5 liter hydration bag for emergencies.
We just uploaded new photos to the we album (link on the side) that include up to Hope itself. And while we could post photos of Hope itself, it's easier if you just watch Rambo: First Blood (1982) it turns out our man Rambo was here and the town has been proud of that legacy for 30 years strong!
We are planning to hit the route at 8am sharp tomorrow - bright and early!
We used this opportunity to plot out a 3 day game plan to Kamloops. We discovered we have to take the highway 1, even though it's more roundabout on the map, as highway 5 doesn't allow cycles. We know that thE next 3 days will be among the hardest of the whole trip, so we are enjoying every moment of rest.
For the curious, here's the food we have on us right now:
-cured meat
-bacon
-eggs
-4 vector energy bars
-1 pack of jambalaya (we will mix the cured meat into this)
- half a loaf of bread
- little packets of PB&J from a diner
-small portion of mom's granola (that we're saving for rainy morning)
- pack of small dried fruit (we snack on this during 5 minute breaks)
-2 water bottles each, 5 liter hydration bag for emergencies.
We just uploaded new photos to the we album (link on the side) that include up to Hope itself. And while we could post photos of Hope itself, it's easier if you just watch Rambo: First Blood (1982) it turns out our man Rambo was here and the town has been proud of that legacy for 30 years strong!
We are planning to hit the route at 8am sharp tomorrow - bright and early!
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Hope, BC - 50km
Back to civilization! It's nice to be in a small town again so we're taking a break in a motel and getting ourselves a burger!
Great rides again today. A few hills, but what goes up must come down! We managed to hit a max of 55km/h, breaking the speed limit of 40. :)
Just for fun we pulled into a truck weighing station and had a nice (but in other ways terrifying) conversation with the man working there. We told him about the trip so far and how we're having trouble with the hills when he tells us "I wouldn't even call anything between here and Vancouver a hill." We are apparently in for several days of true hill climbing, most of it being an 8% slope. Seeing on the scale that my bike and gear weighs 40kg, I realized we are going to have lots of hiking ahead of us.
Great rides again today. A few hills, but what goes up must come down! We managed to hit a max of 55km/h, breaking the speed limit of 40. :)
Just for fun we pulled into a truck weighing station and had a nice (but in other ways terrifying) conversation with the man working there. We told him about the trip so far and how we're having trouble with the hills when he tells us "I wouldn't even call anything between here and Vancouver a hill." We are apparently in for several days of true hill climbing, most of it being an 8% slope. Seeing on the scale that my bike and gear weighs 40kg, I realized we are going to have lots of hiking ahead of us.
Harrison Mills photo
As Jan said we did a major milestone yesterday of 85k to Harrison Mills. Here's Jan near our camp last night. What crazy scenery near here!
Monday, June 11, 2012
How did the chicken teriyaki know?
Our first big riding day is behind us - 85km plus a wrong turn that caused us two extra hill climbs. We've both underestimated how much a hill will slow you down. When we're riding on the flats we're cruising at around 30km/h but as soon as we hit any incline it drops to 15. These BC hills have us crawling along at 8km/h sometimes, and you definitely feel it in the legs after even a small handful of hills.
Luckily most of our trail today was along the river and through some farmland with incredible snow capped mountains in the background at all times.
We only now feel like we're out of the main Vancouver area. Those suburb type places just never seemed to end, though we did have some great rides in Vancouver's Barrhaven and Kanata equivalents.
Luckily most of our trail today was along the river and through some farmland with incredible snow capped mountains in the background at all times.
We only now feel like we're out of the main Vancouver area. Those suburb type places just never seemed to end, though we did have some great rides in Vancouver's Barrhaven and Kanata equivalents.
first camp
We found our first camp and set up with just enough time before sundown. We were delayed in Vancouver while looking for a double kickstand for my bike with no luck. It's Amazing the kind of things that become valuable when doing trips like this! Kick stands with super heavy packs is almost a must.
The way here was pretty funny - we anticipated a 1hr ride to camp but it ended up being double that since we spent an hour going uphill. Now we know - from here in, distance on a map will be irrelevant without elevation information :p
We got to use our little trangia stove. This thing is genius engineering. Tiny little stove with pots, pans, and a kettle. All collapses into a tiny space. We made "tex mex" chili. It was interesting but we're glad we brought salt in our little spice missile :p
The way here was pretty funny - we anticipated a 1hr ride to camp but it ended up being double that since we spent an hour going uphill. Now we know - from here in, distance on a map will be irrelevant without elevation information :p
We got to use our little trangia stove. This thing is genius engineering. Tiny little stove with pots, pans, and a kettle. All collapses into a tiny space. We made "tex mex" chili. It was interesting but we're glad we brought salt in our little spice missile :p
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Bikes are good!
We got tune ups for our bikes! Apparently my gears were out of positioned after the flight. Back in action!
Today we went for a huge ride through vancouver downtown then a full loop around Stanley Island. By far one of the best bike trips we're ever likely to have. We were even fortunate to get perfect weather, which the Vancouverites have been quick to tell us has been rare lately. So good!
After getting a bit more gear we decided to get some ramen for dinner at one of the spots in the city. When you're really active, a huge bowl of soup can give you amazing energy.
Once again we are really impressed by how great the city looks and how kind people have been here. Hopefully the rest of the people we meet on the road will be this kind.
So now we rest for tomorrow where we saddle up and head east to Coquitlam!
Also, as the picture shows, we are making better than expected time on our trip :p
Today we went for a huge ride through vancouver downtown then a full loop around Stanley Island. By far one of the best bike trips we're ever likely to have. We were even fortunate to get perfect weather, which the Vancouverites have been quick to tell us has been rare lately. So good!
After getting a bit more gear we decided to get some ramen for dinner at one of the spots in the city. When you're really active, a huge bowl of soup can give you amazing energy.
Once again we are really impressed by how great the city looks and how kind people have been here. Hopefully the rest of the people we meet on the road will be this kind.
So now we rest for tomorrow where we saddle up and head east to Coquitlam!
Also, as the picture shows, we are making better than expected time on our trip :p
Friday, June 8, 2012
First Day In Vancouver
Since Vancouver is one of the best spots we will see on our trip, we thought it smart to sped some time to explore the city. It's positively gorgeous here! We can't believe people just wake up with such a view every day. The air is very fresh.
Of course we had to have at least a couple geeky moments. An amazing game producer (you know who you are ;)) took time out of his incredibly busy day to get us coffee and chill out with us. You made our day! Keep up the great work, we are rooting for you!
Only thing is right now my (jason) bike is in need of a small tune up. It's doing some funky clunking back and forth between certain gears. So tomorrow is tune up day! We are going to use it to get a tune up and see more sights before finally heading into the east. Beside that minor hiccup we consider it a miracle that our bikes are functional. Jan's bike was upside down and had *exploded* open there in transit. Mine was so tightly packed that my tire and bike handles punctured the box.
Final note for today - we have met some seriously nice people in Vancouver already. I hope this keeps up. :)
Of course we had to have at least a couple geeky moments. An amazing game producer (you know who you are ;)) took time out of his incredibly busy day to get us coffee and chill out with us. You made our day! Keep up the great work, we are rooting for you!
Only thing is right now my (jason) bike is in need of a small tune up. It's doing some funky clunking back and forth between certain gears. So tomorrow is tune up day! We are going to use it to get a tune up and see more sights before finally heading into the east. Beside that minor hiccup we consider it a miracle that our bikes are functional. Jan's bike was upside down and had *exploded* open there in transit. Mine was so tightly packed that my tire and bike handles punctured the box.
Final note for today - we have met some seriously nice people in Vancouver already. I hope this keeps up. :)
In Vancouver!
We are here and after 3 and a half hours the bikes are assembled and we are ready to head into Vancouver!
Thursday, June 7, 2012
First!
Hey all! This will be our home for the blog - We're flying to Vancouver tomorrow morning bright and early. We'll do our first updates once we're on the other side of the country.
We're going to do our best to keep this updated with our updates. As soon as we find internet we'll be sure to provide maps and journal entries :)
We're going to do our best to keep this updated with our updates. As soon as we find internet we'll be sure to provide maps and journal entries :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)