The Yellow Brick Road

May 27th 2007 5th Day of riding

49 19.171 N 124 19.988W

99 Km total 523.8 Km



I was up early again today. I'm kind of excited about today as it is the last day of riding in the wrong direction. To get from Selena's to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal Selena suggested that I look up some cycling routes on the Internet. A very good call on her part. the route through Surry, Delta and Ladner was well marked, with nice quiet side roads and was easy to follow. I only had to consult my map a couple of times and that was more for my own reassurance. At one of these times a local cyclist asked me if I was lost and then guided me for a few km. I didn't catch her name but it was very nice of her. It took me almost exactly 3 hrs to get to the ferry terminal from Selena's place.

It took me 3hrs 10 mins to get to my aunt Brenda's house in Parksville from Duke Point. I could have done it faster but I was too busy smelling the flowers.....literally. It was like being spit out into OZ. The embankments were a riot of colours with all the different flowers. I only know the names of a few but it was just beautiful. I hope the pictures I took when I post them turn out as well as in person. The cycling lane for the first 20 Km was huge. Easily the size of one of the car lanes. But all good things must come to an end, (lions, and tigers, and bears; Oh my,) and it seemed every time they upped the speed limit for the vehicles they decreased the size of the cycle lane. The last 5 km were nerve racking, it really confirmed my decision to not take the Coquihalla as a good one.

It is great to see everyone again. I love family; how you just fall into place like the right puzzle piece. Comfortable and snug. I'm taking my bike to one of the local shops to have them check my brakes again. I just had them done at Spoke-n-Motion before I left but they feel soft again and the rear one is squeaking. I'm not too happy about that. hopefully I just need new pads.

Rest Day?

I don't think I want to call them rest days. Although they are less physically demanding with all the running around, bike repairs, laundry, posting, etc. calling them a rest day is miss leading. That said I do feel rejuvinated. I'm off to Parksville today, riding light as I am leaving all my camping gear at Selena's. I am looking forward to seeing how that effects my fatigue level and my times.

Instant Karma

May 25th 4th Day riding
49⁰ 11.328N 122⁰ 45.543W
119.3 Km Total 424.8 Km
I was up early courtesy of the crows. Bird song in the morning is best saved for meadowlarks. I think I beat my 6:00 alarm by 45 min. I was well rested as I have been sleeping well in the hammock tent with the new sleeping bag. I am definitely cocooned in there. Take down took about an hour and a half. I think that is a little time as I can get it down to. Really when you look at long it takes to get ready at home in the morning, eat, bathe, clean up etc, I’m not doing too bad. I took the #7 Hwy from Hope. Fairly flat roads today with one nasty hill. According to my GPS I gain 67 Metres in 1.1 KM the sign at the top said 11% grade but I don’t believe it. So being fatigued I ended up walking most of it. I’m sure the first of many.
I met a young guy from Montreal named Jacob (?) He had already biked from Montreal through the Maritimes flew to Vancouver and was biking home.
The hardest thing about biking today was the loss of my mirror. Phebea (my trusted stead) took a tumble and it snapped off. It made riding in the city traffic that much harder. It wasn’t too terrible but the shoulder in spots is just the white strip then falls off into gravel. Other parts were broken up with tire grabbing cracks. It’s shame really when you think of what a popular cycling route this is.
I took the Albion ferry across to Fort Langley. If I have more time on the trip back I think I’ll spend a little time there. It looked like quaint little place. I took 96 Ave until it turned into the Barnston Dr to get to Selena’s place. One of those streets that gradually gets busier and busier. The semis were great giving me lots of room. It was the sedans doing 90 in the 60 zone that were scaring me. One guy pull up alongside me rolled his passenger window down and told me that I shouldn’t be on the road but should be riding on the sidewalk across the street! (It was the only sidewalk.) I thanked for his input and he left very upset that I wouldn’t get off the road. After about another kilometre there was section of the road that made been cordoned off so cyclist and pedestrians could have safe passage. I had been enjoying that when I saw two vehicles parked in that lane. I was going to give them a comment when a realized it was the same guy sharing insurance info because he had rear-ended someone else. (Minor damage). So I got off my bike and walked around their two vehicles. He didn’t say word to me that time. I had misjudged the distance to Selena’s house so it came as a pleasant surprise when suddenly I was there.
I was greeted with a warm welcome, a hot bath, a cold beverage, and a great meal. Last night I had been happily munching on rehydrated burger, with some dried veggie flakes mixed with instant potatoes. As a chaser I was drinking crystal light out of a camel back. Tonight it was Ahi tuna, seared and blue rare, over stir fried asparagus, snow peas, and carrots served on afresh bed of spinach. My chaser was caramel apple martini. The difference a day makes.

Dustin (my brother-in-law) making an apple martini.

Trucks and Tunnels

May 24th 3rd day riding
49⁰22.811N 121⁰ 25.510W
102.2 Km Total 305.5 Km
It was a downhill day and I was still barely made my Km quota. I have 100 Km to get to Selena’s and the way I’m feeling I hope I make it. Nothing hurts to much more just general fatigue. Today was the first day I had to put a jacket on. It was chilly and I wasn’t working that hard. I made Jackass Summit early while I was still fresh.

Breakfast for the soul.

It actually felt good. A little breakfast for the soul. From Lytton to Boston Bar the roads were great. For the most part smooth with wide shoulders. I understand rumble strips form a driver’s point of view but for cyclist they are a nightmare. There were times when there was technically a 3-4 ft shoulder that I couldn’t use the area closest to the road (the cleanest) had a 1 foot rumble strip and beyond that was a mine field of loose gravel, garbage and car parts. I was clocking down the hills at some fair clips and venturing over there would have been suicide. Luckily traffic was light.
I don’t like tunnels. I used but not anymore. I had to go through 6 (?) there is nothing like pedalling like your life depends it ( because it does) while a semi sounding like the hounds of hell slowly gains on you. I don’t want to have that much fun again for awhile. After that I walked through the long tunnels (there was a sign saying ride on the sidewalk but it was in the same condition as the 3 ft shoulder. I was afraid of puncturing a tire or getting bucked off into the road), or rode like hell through the short ones. After Yale the trip was very pretty and very uneventful. I’m spending the night at the Coquihalla Campground in Hope $14.00 and pay showers. Hmmm showers.

Hills and Headwinds

May 23rd 2nd Day riding
50⁰11.133 N 121⁰34.326 W
88.5 Km total 203.3 Km
Today was a harder day than yesterday. Headwinds, hills and mule breaks, (the ass refused to go any farther).
I woke later than I had hoped and then it took longer to break camp than I had anticipated. I was pleasantly surprised at how well I felt. I was only ten Km into my trio when I bumped into Ted from Salt Spring Island. He is on his way to see his new grand baby in Calgary. We compared notes (or rather I took them from him and he analyzed mine). He did the cross Canada trip 2004 and he shared some good ideas. He had left Spences Bridge that morning and still hadn’t eaten anything. The only restaurant in town didn’t open until 11:30. I gave him a spare orange and we parted ways. Hwy 8 was quiet all morning 24 cars in 42 Km. It was the damn headwind, there is something very disheartening about having to gear down to go downhill. I fought down the hills and then I fought up the hills. After I got on Hwy 1 I had planned on making it a short day by stopping at Skihist Provincial Park. I rolled in at about 4 pm. I rode up (I mean Up) 800 metres to the park entrance. $17.00 for the night, cash only, exact change only. I only had a twenty. I sat there debating stay or go when an old guy in a brand new diesel truck rolled up pulling a state of the art 30 ft trailer and was able to pay $8.50, the senior’s rate. Raza fraza, mumble, mumble. So I rode back down to the day park had a nice long dinner break and then rode just south of Lytton and found a very picturesque stealth spot.

Just me and a humming bird.

On the Go Finally!

May 22nd 1st Day riding
50⁰ 09.622 N 121⁰ 03.032 W
114.8 Km Total 114.8 Km

on my way

All in all it was a great first day. The weather started out with clear blue skies and no wind. By early afternoon the cumulus clouds were scattered about keeping the temperature reasonable I had a little head wind coming into Merritt and they continued until I stopped for dinner. Hwy 5a from Kamloops to Merritt was a great road to bike on. Stump Lake

Stump Lake was the prettiest part of today’s journey unfortunately there were tons of flies. It was a trip for the senses, the warmth of the sun, lake vistas, meadow larks singing, the feel of the smooth road beneath my tires and the taste of teeth filtered mayflies. Low traffic and wide smooth shoulders. Hwy 8 from Merritt is rougher with minimal shoulders. Its saving grace is there is almost no traffic. I found a nice forestry camp site for my first night called N’Kwala. It was the perfect time to stop 7ish. That gave me time to bathe, set up camp and do my journal.

Geared up

Well I'm geared up. As far as equipment goes I think I have everything I need. I've checked other people's lists, spread everything out on the floor, repacked it all into the saddle bags. unpacked and rechecked it all. Repacked it again. I think I have everything I need.
I'm sure there are things that will be added and things that will be sent home but here it is.

For the Bike

Pump
Tire gauge
Patch kit
2 spare tubes
6 spare spokes
Chain oil
Brake pads
Zap straps
Topeak Alien bike tool
Multi tool Leatherman Juice
Pedal wrench
Duct tape
JB Weld

On the Bike

Review mirror
Bear spray
Rear flasher
Headlight, rechargeable windup*
Water bottle *
Bear bell *

On the Rider

Helmet
with headlamp* and rear flasher*
Sunglasses
Bike gloves
Vest
Shirt
Sports bra
Bike shorts
Socks
Gore-tex trail shoes
RIO mp3 player

Handlebar Bag/Carry bag

Map case
Map
GPS
Emergency contact card
Bike Lock
Sunglasses case with changeable lens for sunglasses
1 bike key
Cell phone
Camera
Toiletries kit-
Sunscreen
Bug spray
Tissue
Peppermint soap
Hand sanitizer
Wet naps

Wallet
2-litre water bladder
Sport watch

Left Saddle bag

The “For the bike kit”
Blue pack towel for greasy clean up*

Kitchen-in cook pot-
Primus cook pot
Stove
Pot stand
Windscreen
Matches
Lighter
Bowl
Spoon
Spices

Thermos*
Fuel bottle
Bear bag and rope
Toiletries Bag-
Camp towel orange
Peppermint soap
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Floss
Cleansing cloths
Toilet paper
Pads
Makeup

Medicine Bag-
Bag Balm
Vaseline
Allergy relief
Imodium
Ibuprofen
Visine
Alcohol wipes
Bacitracin ointment
Pepto tablets
Seam grip*
Electrolyte tablets
Bandages
First-aid tape
Krazy glue
Needle and thread

Water filter
Spare water bladder
Food
Glove liners
Over gloves
Arm warmers
Balaclava
Rain/wind jacket with zip off sleeves

Right Saddle bag

Everything bag-
Duct tape
Compass*
Multi-tool
Spare lighter
Spare matches and tinder
Sharpie
Tweezers
Nail clippers
Knife sharpener*
Whistle
3 LED squeeze lights
Carabineers

Book bag-
Journal
Mini dictionary *
French phrasebook *
Personal Contact card
Phone charger
Pen
Pencil
Extra memory cards for RIO

Spare Ziploc bags
Laundry bag
Clothing bag 1-
Bike shorts
Sports bra
Sport shirt
2 pair riding socks
Wrap skirt
Down vest
Bathing suit

Clothing bag 2-
2 pair long wool socks
2 pair underwear
Wool cap
Wool long john bottoms
Wool long john top
Water/wind proof camp pants
T-shirt
Crop top
Dress shirt
Caprice

Spare fuel bottle*
Roll of quarters*
Tent pegs
Croc camp shoes
Rain wind pants *
Spare batteries

On rear rack
Folding hat*
Large dry sack* with
1st Compression sack
Sleeping bag
Foamy
2nd Compression sack
Hammock tent
Tarp

Spare key
Photocopy of ID

Believe it or not I've actually have quite a bit of room left in my saddle bags so my biggest challenge now is to resist the temptation to start throwing in extra 'what if' things.

All the * items I sent home or abandoned after the first leg of the journey.