Beautiful but wet British Columbia.

I think this is day 5 on the road – I’m starting to loose count.

We have climbed some huge hills, Anarchist Mountain being my least favourite. It went on and on. We are now at a place called Christina Lake and waiting till tomorrow morning to climb Bonanza Pass. It is the highest continuous climb in North America. That means it never lets up. I’d rather do that fresh in the morning than last thing in the afternoon.

Lake Christina

 

The bad weather we had climbing Allison Pass and the following day has finally dissipated, but caused flooding and mud slides in Calgary and through the Banff highway. When we tell people who ask, that we are going that way, they either say in a panicky voice that” we will never get through”. We tell them it will be all cleared up by the time we get there. Or they say” oh you will be alright in 3 weeks by the time you get there”. 3 weeks!! I could walk there in that time. People have no idea how long a touring bike takes to get places. It isn’t that had to work out, but people seem to have no comprehension.

So let’s clear it up now; a loaded touring bike can do an average of 100kms a day. If Calgary is 500kms away, it will take 5 days to get there.

 

Later: We climbed Bonanza Pass and it was the same as Anarchist Mountain, although I didn’t find it so bad as I was psyched up for it. 4 and a half hours up and 40 minutes to descend 35kms – what a blast – that is what cycle touring is made for. I dragged my tired body another 50kms to Winlaw. It is in a lovely valley full of self sufficiency types and alternative lifestylers. I felt at home here, being a self sufficiency fan.

Arrow Lake.

Catching the free ferry across to the other side.

 

 

Still Later: Yeah finally wifi. It's been an amazing couple of days. We saw a Grizzly Bear cub only 2 to 3 metres from us on the side of the road. It was under a bush then Niel and it saw each other and it ran up a rocky bank when I saw it too. God it was gorgeous. It then turned and stared at us. Apparently the cafe worker in New Denver - the next village said there is a mother Grizzly and 3 cubs in that spot, thank god we saw the cub and not the protective mother or we may not be here to write about it. Then today we were on a remote stretch of road when a fully grown Black Bear crossed the road on front of us and didn't see us. It has been a very scenic view days, and we are now in Revelstoke. We will have  day off here and check out the road over the Rogers and Kicking horse Passes that are apparently washed away, and new bridges have had to be built. 

In the 7 days we have cycled here from Vancouver - only one of those days has it not rained. The rivers are full with constant rain and snow melt.