| May 21/13 to May 23/13 | Castlegar to Revelstoke |
| June 7/13 to June 15/13 | Revelstoke to Invermere |
| June 18/13 to June 20/13 | Invermere to Kinbasket Lake |
Pulling the canoe over Rogers Pass was much easier than the Blueberry Paulson, up and over, had been. I was able to ride the entire distance. Didn’t like the constant noise of all the truck traffic along the Trans Canada though. Hopefully, I will never ride that highway again. The trip to Invermere took two and a half days.
Both mountain passes were only doable with the help of my portage partner, Greyhound Bus and their shipping division. They are the solution to my, ‘too much weight to pull over hills’ concerns. Anything not needed for on road travel is shipped ahead. That includes the rowing unit. It is necessary to fabricate a box of the right size out of heavy enough cardboard, usually scrounged from dumpsters.
On the second day I was stopped twice for photo requests. Then a park official, camera in hand, did the same. His interest differed though, as he soon informed me that in his opinion, I was a hazard to traffic. When I asked why, he said it was because I was so long. I didn’t respond further as in my opinion he was looking to find a problem where one didn’t exist. (How then do I differ from two cyclists traveling 25 feet apart, could have been asked.)
He also expressed concern about me getting through the narrow, dark, avalanche snow sheds – a reasonable concern and one I shared. What I didn’t know, and he never mentioned, is that they have snow removal access trails on the downhill side that can be easily walked around without going through the tunnel. I think, if his concern re the sheds, was genuine they’d have a sign recommending that cyclists walk the outside.
Had a first flat, on the trailer, coming down from the pass. It set up a chatter I could hear, but didn’t affect handling at all. Nice to know. It did destroy the tire but these were tires that came with the bike and they had been replaced with better before I started.
Skunk Cabbage Boardwalk picnic site. A dry spot to spend a showery night. It even had a wood stove.
Cedar Waxwings at Skunk Cabbage Boardwalk. I’m amazed at the quality of this pictures. These were taken with a very cheap little camera that I took along for the first year. Thanks to my subjects too, for sitting still, and letting me get so close.
Taking the safer route past the snow sheds.
Reader board info mentioning my favourite woodland songbird the Swainson Thrush. Certainly, if you’ve ever walked B.C. interior woods at dusk you know his call, but not an easy bird to spot. Should you be curious just who he is have a look and a listen to this youtube video.
Stopped to take a picture of this waterfall but lucked into the bonus of seeing a black bear emerge from the bushes and make his way down the very steep cliff.
Careful fella that’s quite a cliff.
Loop Brook railway extension stone pillars.
An explanation of the loops. How you get a train up a too steep mountain section.
What you don’t see when you drive through Rogers Pass. This is adjacent to the highway at the big curve a few kilometres west of the summit. I’ve never noticed this creek driving through. Barricades block the view from a car.
Second night camp spot beside the Beaver River. This was the first place on the journey to have some mosquitoes. The lack of mozzies is very strange but I’m not complaining.
Campspot beside Highway 95 south of Golden. Nice to be done with the nutso traffic on the Trans Canada.
