A Pattern Emerges

July 5, Golden, BC
Somewhere, Anita Bryant is laughing: we have had no orange juice in camp, and consequently sunshine (as well as summer in general) is proving elusive.

Day 6
With a sunny but chilly start (6 degrees at breakfast) complete with mostly smooth roads and even a tailwind, we were optimistic that our weather luck had changed as we headed for Pritchard, just east of Kamloops. The Weather Network had even predicted 5 days of sunshine.

 Smooth roads, a tailwind, and transition to rolling hills 

Atypical wildlife

Conditions were so good that many of us even elected to take a partly-dirt road bypass for a change of pace and to get away from traffic. I then doubled back to visit Kamloops to check out their Canada Day celebrations, where I discovered you cannot take a photograph of a bylaw enforcement officer (on a bicycle) without his supervisor's approval.

Captain Canada visits the park (note the bylaw officer in the background)

Unfortunately, weather conditions deteriorated as the day progressed, ultimately necessitating a brief stop under a highway overpass to avoid getting wet (for a change). Hoping that Fate might compensate our bad weather luck, I bought a 6/49 ticket - something I intend to do in every province.                                               Waiting for the showers to pass (note the wet road)       
Thankfully, the weather soon relented and we were able to set up camp easily and enjoy lentils and rice, followed by the requisite fireworks ( for Canada Day, silly!)



Day 7

Enjoying a morning descent

The day started off cool (as ever) but finally warmed into something our eager minds greedily considered to be summer-like. Even better, today`s route seemed to defy Euclidean geometry by offering lengthy downhills in exchange for only moderate climbs.

Just outside Salmon Arm I stopped to visit a small auto museum I had visited in 1994; I can`t really say if things other than ownership (and the cost of admission) have changed in the intervening years.

I will say, though, that BC highways are LOUD, and it was good to finally leave the Trans Canada and get on a less-travelled provincial road.

Looking across to Salmon Arm.

Just entering the city










Just before our campsite, we descended to a valley that offered our first views of the snow-capped peaks to come.









Day 8
The day started out promisingly. It had rained overnight, but by the time we were ready to roll, openings in the cloud deck had started to appear. The languid descent into Sicamous was marred by the return of cold and cloudy conditions, but coming into Revelstoke the sun managed some brief appearances. And that's how the day proceeded to unfold: periods of cloud and spitting rain interspersed with brief snatches of sunlight as we started the climb towards Rogers Pass.

The day started promisingly enough; Lake Mara.

Craigallachie - site of The Last Spike in the CPR

A classic Rockies view; the temperature was dropping as we climbed.

Cycling then and now at the resort in Three Valley Gap.

 Cold but not wet, and when the clouds lift we get glimpses of snow-capped peaks 

It was a welcome respite to get away from the road noise and commune with the Giant Cedars.








Day 9

Ever the optimist, I had hoped we had merely awoken in a cloud that lingered after the overnight rain, and that would dissipate as the morning wore on. Alas, that was (almost predictably) not to be, so we laboured on in the cold, wet, and traffic to finally arrive at Rogers Pass.

 Just heading off... (still relatively dry and warm)

The first of several tunnels (made more bearable by the attendant break from the rain). 

Allegedly there are mighty peaks to be seen here. We had to take their word for it :(

 Wouldn't you know it - finally dry on the other side of the pass (after a rather cold and unpleasant descent). It turned out the weather was improving, and slower riders actually enjoyed  dry conditions!

It may have been dry, but traffic to Golden was almost continuous, as if a ferry had just docked and disgorged its cargo.

After that kind of day, I allowed myself a tourist moment entering Golden.