Itching

I am just itching to get going again. The last few days have been solid with strong winds that would sail me straight to Ontario while I stare wistfully out the window. I've been busy around the house getting food dehydrated for my hiking trips, visiting, cleaning and (gasp) even cooking. (Now you know I've got it bad.) I know the family is happy to have me home but they all work so much that it is me at home with drop in visits from every one else. I wish I had just kept on going. 35 days till I'm on the road again. Sigh.

Random pictures

A New Record

June 19 2007 20th day of riding
53 35.312 N 116 24.613 W
171.7 km Total 2047.9
I had a strong tailwind for most of the day so even with a three hour break in Hinton I pulled some big numbers. The weather was pretty good for most of the day but a nasty thunder storm made sure I arrived at the campsite cold and wet. I was going to make mashed potatoes for dinner but there was a pizza across the street calling my name. I feel a bit like a horse to a barn the closer I get the faster I go.

June 20th 2007 21st day of riding.
54 17.854 N 116 15.454 W
137.0 km Total 2144.9
Today was tough day. Strong headwinds again for most of the day. At Whitecourt I called Flip and he came to pick me up. At the same time I rode as hard as I could with the tail wind towards him. I made it to 40 km east of Fox Creek. It is good to be home.

So... so far I've averaged 102 km per day of riding. That is through BC and the Rockies. I'm pretty sure that if I give myself 60 days I could finish the trip up. Only time will tell.

The reason I bike is because the outfits make me feel so damn sexy. Meow.

Home Sweet Home

I'll blog more about last few days later. Just wanted everyone to know that I'm home safe and sound. I'm floating around in happy euphoria. I'm glad to be here but I can't wait to get going and finish my trip.

Mother

June 17 2007
52 39.641N 117 52.584 W
Today 107.3 Total 1834.2
I don't think I've been this cold since last August long weekend. (A little inside joke for Chris. We went hiking and got caught in a blizzard.) I left the hostel full of vigor.

Coming up the pass.

I managed to make it up the highest pass gaining 650 metres of elevation, taking a half hour break, and still doing 40 km in 4 hours. I was feeling pretty proud of myself. Whoo hooo. Its all down hill from here. Ha ha ha. Then mother nature decided to be a mother &%$@. It felt like I was in a hurricane. Driving rain and winds. The freezing cold rain felt like ice pellets hitting me. I couldn't see a thing. If you would like to duplicate how I felt put some spandex on. Take a fan into your bathroom and turn it on high. Cover your sunglasses with Vaseline then turn the water on full to straight cold and jog in place for three hours trying to stay warm. Take a fifteen break (do not leave the shower) and eat something. Then start jogging again for another three hours. It took me 6 hrs to do 67km with an elevation loss of 800 meters. Nasty. I managed to injure my left Achilles heel somehow. Its pretty sore but I'm taking a partial rest day tomorrow in Jasper so hopefully that will help.Edith Cavil Mountain; Kelly style.

P.S. I'm still glad I'm doing this. Every day is a new lifetime. Enjoyable, punishing, and fulfilling.

Cyclists

June 16 2007
52 02.565 N 116 51.813 W
Rain again today. I started my day with a side trip to the actual lake of Lake Louise.

Lake Louise.

27 min up and 5 down. Whee. I saw bears #2,3 and 4. They were all surrounded by the paparazzi, so I sailed on by. I did the Bow summit today. It is the highest or second highest one I will do so it felt pretty good to get it done. I am staying at the Rampart Creek Hostel. Lots of cyclists here. I met a young guy who started out from Montreal 47 days ago. He gave me a great cycle map of Laval and Montreal. Great info. Most of the cyclist are a bike group from Edmonton doing training. They did the Icefield Summit today and are doing the Bow summit tomorrow.