The end of one epic little adventure....
 |
| Quite a challenging route for ones first bike tour. And to lug a tent, camera equipment and camping gear? |
 |
| The in-favorable incline. I think this rates as tough. |
Winter.
: )
Total money raised so far... $1105.55. Thankyou everyone and this will be left open just a few more days so if you know any other amazing people get on the link above and give them some money!!
Day 11: Wild Rose Country :)
Sunday 14th October stats:
Depart Radium 9:30am,
Kilometres cycled: 140 gruelling k,
Punctures 0,
Climbed 4688ft,
Descended 2959ft,
Start elevation 3225ft,
Finish elevation 4609ft (Highest finishing point),
Lowest elevation 2880ft,
Highest point of elevation 5697ft,
Low 4c,
High 13c,
Did the usual and left at 10am after some triple oatmeal and sandwich from supermarket. I was STILL hungry after. We took some supplies to get us at least to the visitors centre which we knew was half way to Castle Mountain junction and has a restaurant. That would be my first goal and then hopefully the junction by the evening. We knew there would be some camp spots if needed, but it was sincerely miserable out. It reminded me of England, rain that came down and up at the same time.
We knew it was going to be tough, but not this tough. It was cold, windy and relentlessly raining and we cycled up for hours and forever. We got hot cycling up in our layers and we sweated out our already wet clothes. Then the first downhill resulted in all of that wet just freezing to us. I put heat packs in my gloves and I had 2 pairs of thermal socks on with the shoe covers and I still couldnt feel my feet. And I wouldnt for another 11 hours. After a SLOW descent due to windchill we started what would be the longest uphill section of the bike ride. I hit a wall for the first time and was cycling about 5 miles an hour. Adam encouraged me and we made it to the visitors centre. Closed. It was already 430pm, not looking good. NO food. We hit a real low. I thought about giving up. 80k to go still at 430pm and no food Adam remembered the noodles in his bag and his last bit of gas. He cooked up road side noodles from a stream and we had hot tea, triple T bag. A cuppa tea ALWAYS saves the day, and I think it did.
The rain continued, but with our bellies full of noodles and hot tea we made our way faster, up to Castle Junction and into Alberta. Over halfway with spirits lifted and careless to the rain we boosted through. We saw the sign, 'Wild Rose Country' and knew we had ridden across British Columbia, this was a big achievement for us both. And in little over 10 days with all this crap.
We continued into the dark and hit the final 6k downhill to the Castle junction and that was the coldest part of the cycle yet. Misery, but just get it done. Castle mountain junction shop was closed.... So we had no choice, but to layer up, put lights on and get on with another 30k. I found the Kendal mint cake my grandma sent me for my birthday that I was saving for an emergency and I think this gave us enough energy to get back to Banff. We put on anything dry we could find. I was wearing everything I had. The pain became effortless. We just concentrated on the small area of light the head torch made on the road in front. There were NO cars on the parkway either. It was a case of dodging potholes and praying I didnt get a puncture. Not being able to feel my hands I would have little chance of changing a tube.
9:15pm after 11 hours cycling the longest 140k known to me we arrived home. Safe, sound, cold, wet and HUNGRY. I pulled up to the house and there she was walking home from work in front of me. A fairy tale ending....
To the Magpie and Stump for beers and food!
Depart Radium 9:30am,
Kilometres cycled: 140 gruelling k,
Punctures 0,
Climbed 4688ft,
Descended 2959ft,
Start elevation 3225ft,
Finish elevation 4609ft (Highest finishing point),
Lowest elevation 2880ft,
Highest point of elevation 5697ft,
Low 4c,
High 13c,
 |
| Day 11 record longest period of uphill in one hit, nearly 80k. Total of 110k uphill in the rain with headwind. |
 |
| Wet, tired, stoked! |
 |
| Up forever. |
We knew it was going to be tough, but not this tough. It was cold, windy and relentlessly raining and we cycled up for hours and forever. We got hot cycling up in our layers and we sweated out our already wet clothes. Then the first downhill resulted in all of that wet just freezing to us. I put heat packs in my gloves and I had 2 pairs of thermal socks on with the shoe covers and I still couldnt feel my feet. And I wouldnt for another 11 hours. After a SLOW descent due to windchill we started what would be the longest uphill section of the bike ride. I hit a wall for the first time and was cycling about 5 miles an hour. Adam encouraged me and we made it to the visitors centre. Closed. It was already 430pm, not looking good. NO food. We hit a real low. I thought about giving up. 80k to go still at 430pm and no food Adam remembered the noodles in his bag and his last bit of gas. He cooked up road side noodles from a stream and we had hot tea, triple T bag. A cuppa tea ALWAYS saves the day, and I think it did.
 |
| Road side EA. (Eat emergency) |
 |
| Positive chat! Reflected on our luck with weather on the trip : ) |
 |
| The struggle continues...wet & frozen. But STOKED! |
The rain continued, but with our bellies full of noodles and hot tea we made our way faster, up to Castle Junction and into Alberta. Over halfway with spirits lifted and careless to the rain we boosted through. We saw the sign, 'Wild Rose Country' and knew we had ridden across British Columbia, this was a big achievement for us both. And in little over 10 days with all this crap.
 |
| ALBERTA!!!! |
 |
| The Rockies... |
 |
| Home! Official crossing of British Columbia complete. |
We continued into the dark and hit the final 6k downhill to the Castle junction and that was the coldest part of the cycle yet. Misery, but just get it done. Castle mountain junction shop was closed.... So we had no choice, but to layer up, put lights on and get on with another 30k. I found the Kendal mint cake my grandma sent me for my birthday that I was saving for an emergency and I think this gave us enough energy to get back to Banff. We put on anything dry we could find. I was wearing everything I had. The pain became effortless. We just concentrated on the small area of light the head torch made on the road in front. There were NO cars on the parkway either. It was a case of dodging potholes and praying I didnt get a puncture. Not being able to feel my hands I would have little chance of changing a tube.
 |
| LAST BIT OF FOOD! Thanks grandma for the Kendal mint cake. Saved it for an emergency... This was an emergency. |
 |
| Final leg. Frozen, wet, burnt, blistered, sore and hungry as hell. But! happier than you could imagine. |
 |
| DONE. |
 |
| Mission accomplished and more!!! Lots learnt. |
 |
| Well done bike!! You ve been awesome : ) and a pleasure to ride! |
 |
| Kristens welcome home for me! |
Day 10: He who dares, wins...
Saturday 13th October stats:
Depart Cranbrook 12:00 NOON
Kilometres cycled 148k,
Puntures 0,
Climbed 2109ft,
Descended 1866ft,
Start elevation 2933ft,
Finish elevation 3225ft, (record finish height)
Lowest elevation 2532ft,
Highest elevation 3225ft,
High 15c,
 |
| The first none mountain accent day! |
Woke up late after one to many wobblies and thought, 'Sh#t we ve missed the free breakfast and I ve still got that puncture to fix'. What slackers. Adam ran to the kitchen and salvaged some waffles and toast for us. Legend. While he made the poor motel owners wife and baby re start the kitchen I fixed my bike. We left at 12 NOON! after more Tims. Both really stuffed from carb overload we set off to convert that into energy. And boy did we ever!
 |
| Radium!!!! wooo, dark clouds... |
 |
| Epic cycling! |
Today's forecast was rain, but the wind was behind us and it didnt actually rain. It seemed like the whole thing was downhill, but I know for a fact that Radium is higher than Cranbrook so we must have just got even stronger.
 |
| Ready for the rain that did not. |
 |
| Sweating out after wearing waterproof sh#t for 2 minutes. First Banff sign. #BIGDEAL |
 |
| Yeah really nasty weather... |
 |
| Canal Flats, very pretty place. |
 |
| Smashing it. |
 |
| Not sure what this means |
 |
| Fairmont, BC. |
 |
| Fairmont |
We amazingly arrived at our destination, Fairmont. This was 90k we had cycled in less than 5 hours. We looked for a camp spot and enquired in a lodge, but all to pricey and the lady insisted that if we rode another 20k to Windermere we could get a cheaper motel. So it would be another long day in the saddle...We rode so fast. I managed to get my bike up into the third chain ring which id only done once on this whole uphill bike journey. We were quoted $90 for motel in Windermere and it looked horrible. We rode in the dark to Radium. We were pumped! If we made it to Radium then it could be possibly our last night.....
 |
| Windermere bound. |
 |
| Windermere looks crappy, lets carry on... |
 |
| Inveremere!! 140k in 7 hours! |
 |
| Ready for Radium. |
 |
| This could be our last night! sleeping in style! |
We had cycled 150k in less than 8 hours. We had gained elevation and we were STOKED. The motel was EPIC. There was a huge selection of motels, bars, restaurants. I had the greatest burger ever. I nearly bought a T-shirt representing the establishment, already forgotten. That burger though... so good. Beers as usual and chilled in anticipation for what 'could' be the end. However, prob the most challenging bit of road yet tomorrow, thrown in with the worst conditions. Tomorrow we are expecting high winds, rain and cold. Hopefully Banff! Today was one of the best days cycling yet. LOVED IT. x (dont I say this everyday?)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)