Nelson
City Campground, Nelson, Canada, 22-08-08
All aboard the tourist trail
Hope to Penticton
(4 cycle days; 1 rest day; 286km; 2378m)
Hope to near Coquihalla Pass (62 km; 1142 m)
near Coquihalla Pass to near Coalmont (80 km; 294 m)
near Coalmont to near Bankeir (59 km; 438 m)
near Bankeir to Penticton (84 km; 504 m)
After enough rain to warrant a clear day,
we set off in the sunshine and in fine spirits, ready
to experience Andrew McCullen's masterpiece of engineering: The
Kettle Valley Railway. An abandoned railway bed
that winds from Midway and Hope. It has station names
that will definitely ring a bell if you are familiar
with Shakespeare. Apparently, McCullen, an avid fan
of the Elizabethan writer, was said to have cited his
poetry round the campfire of an evening during the construction
years. The first leg of the journey to Othello tunnels
is like a dream come true. Hardened earth paths winding
in and out rain-forested hillsides, tunnels and bridges,
gorges and gushing waterways. If it is like this, all
the way, then we are in for a real cycling treat...
Tip of the month: Bear-proofing
Camping in a
spot with no food cache?
Then, here's a tip, besides the tedious
hanging your food bags between two trees
solution:
If a rubbish bin is in close vicinity,
open up the back (you'll need two hands
for this operation) and underneath where
the rubbish bags hang is enough space to
store your food overnight without it getting
contaminated by the rubbish that comes in
from the front.
Hope (BC, Canada) - Ellensburg (WA, USA)
Kilometres: 1449 kilometers and 54 meters
Riding days: 21
Alti meters: 14,688 metres
Weather: well, just sunny I suppose !
Best accommodation: Fletcher Falls only just
pipping Darley Springs' post: peaceful, tranquil, beautiful and for free
Special thanks to:
Monti Phillpot from Darley Springs for the best
story telling this side of the Rockies • The Veenendaal's from Vernon for their campsite
at Mabel Lake • Also at Mabel Lake: Paula for the salad and
corn, firewood and armchairs • The family from Site No 3 at Shelter Bay for
firewood • Tiki and Brian for the stroopwafel (haven't
had one of these since The Netherlands).
Breakdowns:
06: 2 broken spokes (Son)
24: flat tyre (Son)
29: flat tyre (Ali)
