Sorry for delayed posts, but there is a reason(s). Logistics first: when posting during the last trip, we used an iPad, which allowed for easier composing due to the keyboard and larger screen. But it weighs about 2 pounds. Not a weight we wanted to carry on this trip. So we let it and figured we would use our phones. Now, Bill is out resident photographer (Mike can take a picture, but his thumb usually covers the lens), so we count on him for good photos. However, somewhere during yesterday’s ride the phone came loose from its mount and fell off. We don’t know where. Bill is backtracking in a car now with a kind gentleman who offered to see if they could locate it. We’ll see. Bill has a lot of other info on the phone so it’s important to try and find it.
As for Mike, his bike has a gearbox, as opposed to a derailleur, and it’s making noises that it shouldn’t. Still rideable but very disconcerting. Could be an easy fix - or not. I guess we’ll find out soon enough. Hopefully not complete failure at night in the middle of nowhere. Did we mention that there is a lot of “middle of nowhere” on the route?
Ok, some trip highlights. We’re two days into the ride and, aside from logistical issues, it’s been all that we thought it would be, and more. More beautiful and more challenging. We left Banff around 1:00 on Saturday, later than we wanted but on par for us. The ride out of Banff is supposed to be - according to maps - mostly a descent. It may be but there were about 4,000 feet of climbing on rocky, steep, scree-type slopes. Lots of large and small loose rocks. Very difficult. We got through it, though, and camped for the night at an empty campground. Not eerie, but strange. Plenty of bear boxes, though, which is comforting to know you can place your food where a grizzly cannot get it, but also an obvious sign that grizzlies are in the area. Anyway, the night passed uneventfully and we took off in the morning for Elkford.
The second day (Sunday) was a grind. Similar climbing but mostly on unpaved dirt roads. A beautiful day, though. The sun was out, the wildfire smoke from fires in Alberta and BC had cleared, and we had some truly spectacular views of the Canadian Rockies. Really something. We went over Elk Pass on our way to Elkford. Got tougher as the day wore on. Hotter and dryer. And plenty of climbing. We got to Elkford around 7:00 PM. Looked for a motel - sold out (but then everyone knows Elkford, BC, is a happening place, right?) - so we camped at the municipal campgrounds. Actually, a very nice place. Only $20 and the campgrounds had bathroom and shower facilities. And we needed showers. Amazing how being clean raises your spirits. Doesn’t do much for tired legs, though.
We’ll get a late start today as it will take some time for Bill to get back from his search. And Mike needs a certain size hex wrench to check his cranks (one is loose, which could be the cause of noise). Then we’re off to Fernie. We’ll try for more frequent posts but internet access and late arrivals at our destinations make challenging conditions.
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