Closing the Circle

DAY 12, Fri. July 27, 2018

Coquihalla Motel  ➔   Castle Bishop
Hope BC.                    Sardis BC.  

Stats:  Cateye - Dist: 64.8 km, Avg. 21k/hr, Max. 54km/hr, Time: 3hrs.
            Polar    -  Cal. 1697, Avg Hr. 116, Time: 3:10. Total time: 4 hrs (pics and breaks)

    Got up at a respectable time of 7:30, went across the street for a giant omelette. Back at the motel, I was able to stall my departure easily by watching the Space Channel. Two great Sci Fi shows, Andromeda and Stargate SG1 (both filmed in Vancouver BC).
    After stalling, I was out by 10am. This was a bit of a sad day as it was my last one on the road and I  would soon be back to the daily grind.  I grabbed Water St. to Hwy 1 across the Fraser River, then West on the #7. (familiar territory). This road is quiet flat and dials in a huge shoulder. After about an hour, I caught up to what turned out to be a unicyclist. At a distance he appeared as a strange silhouette with an odd visual signature.  I passed him wide as to not startle him and I offered some positive feedback. He replied "Wanna race?" Ha ha. I don't know what his destination was, but he had about another 30 km of nothingness ahead of him after the 20 or so he just rode. Who knows, he may be riding back from Thunder Bay Ont. for all I know. 
    Anyway, we made it back to my sister's place to complete the cascade loop 2018.

No more Hope

Let's try 7 West

We came upon a unicyclist. This is a long stretch of Hwy. Impressive

Random chair

We were thinking of taking this to Sasquatch Prov. Park but we are chickens

Agassiz Rosedale bridge links #7 with Hwy 1. I had 2 inches of tire space. After about 15 minutes watching traffic and swearing to myself,  I decided to make the crossing. I knew that it was gonna be a white knuckle event. Once across this 1.9 km 1956 piece of shit bridge I saw several semis cross in both directions. Some times you just gotta throw the dice. (apparently this bridge was widened). Must be the worst bridge for cycling in the lower mainland.

Yale Road. Crazy huge shoulder for a bit

No further pics as things got confusing near Chilliwack. It's just as well.
The End.

There's always Hope...

DAY 11, Thurs. July 26 2018

Mule Deer Campground ➔ Coquihalla Motel
Manning Park                      Hope BC.

Stats:  Cat Eye-Dist: 80km, 20.7k/hr Avg, Max 61k/hr Time: 2:25 (pedalling), 4hr total
                 Polar -   Cal. 1229, Hr. 116 bpm, 

Easy ride but Hwy. 3 has some sketchy sections on the long downhill. Was stressful on the turns which pissed me off. Highwycat was fine with it.

Upon arrive in the fine town of Hope BC. (Rambo First Blood, 1982) I found myself scanning potential hideouts. I settled on the wonderfully crappy Coquihalla Motel. $85.00+tax.
I did some riding around town taking pics. This is a nicer place than I thought. Got beers and the "Best Damn Pizza" at Hope Pizza Place. Med. Italian $26.00+ Hey, I'm holiday ya know!

Morning selfie. Leaving Mule Deer

Breakfast, Manning Cafe

Abnormally awesome blacktop (temporary)

The top

Going down?

"We won't be needing brakes"

Annoying a deer (Motorhead's 1st single. Was never released)

Hope slide (Largest landslide in Canada as of 2019) It happened in 1965

Helpful information sign. Millions of tons and only 4 deaths

Green on brown isn't the most readable colour combo

Home base

Hwy Cat and Gandalf

Highwaycat gets a massage

Expensive but good. Creepy logo right?

Rest Day

Day 10, Wed. July 25, 2018

Was super nice to get up late and mill about, which included setting up a bear bag. I probably didn't need it, but was fun to do so anyway. Took a little ride out to the Manning Park Resort. On the way, I visited "Hampton Campground" Looks like they invested a bunch of money on it as it had been expanded substantially. There are over a hundred sites and a beautiful new washroom facility. I saw only a few people there as the water was shut off.  They also upgraded the area around the resort. Theres a bunch of new cabins set up almost like a separate neighbourhood. Beautiful, but expensive.
    Back at the site an older guy had moved in across from me. I spotted him checking out my site from a distance, he was obviously curious. Of coarse he came over to ask me questions. I told him about some of my bike trips including my cross Canada one. He said that he always wanted to do that. I told him that it's never too late.

Waiting for coffee like the sands of time through the hourglass...

The finest breakfast plating/cutlery.

Strange poser sightseeing ride

New facility at the Hampton campsite 15 km up the road 

Big upgrade to this site. It's nice but I kinda liked the less popular small no frills site that it was. However, more sites = more opportunity during peak season, I guess.

Posing by the Similkameen River, notice the "dent" in my bicep. Broken but not ...

Cat rocks

UFO

Trying out my power pack. Thanks TBaal !

Making do with rock, Im Irish, OK ?!

ANGRY CAT DAY!

DAY 9, Tue, July 24, 2018
Princeton Municipal Campground → Mule Deer Campground, Manning Pk.

Stats:
Cat Eye:  Dist, 61km, Avg spd, 15.3km, Max 58.3, Time, 4 hrs.
Polar:      Time, 3:40, (omitted big downhill sections) Cal, 2067, Avg Hr, 120

Well, despite consuming a kings share of hops and barley that night, I woke at around 5:30 and headed out. I stopped at the washroom and bumped into the girl cyclist that was tenting 50 feet across from my site. It turns out that she is just as introverted as me, ha ha. I guess that I can stop feeling bad for not talking to her and her partner. Anyway she said (in a european accent) that the ride through Manning to Princeton was terrible as the shoulder was dangerous. Having cycled this section a couple times in the past and never had a problem, I thought that she may be a novice.
    I found out later that she was right.
The climb out of Princeton was no surprise, but the road conditions were. The shoulder was degraded and dangerous. Sounds like a metal album. After hitting "Sunday Summit", (1284 m/4213 ft.) about 37 km W of Princeton, there were some twists and turns and then... Wammo! Road work. They were doing rock scaling and had traffic stopped in both directions. I ended up talking to the traffic control guy. He was a youngish dude with tattoos and piercings that seemed lonely and eager to talk. He noticed that my heart monitor was beeping. "Hey dude, what's beeping?" he said. I told him that it was a heart monitor and that I needed it to warn me of my heart exploding. He was very satisfied with that answer. It is an interesting situation when different cultures collide. He asked me all kinds of questions regarding cycle touring. I was happy to relieve his boredom, but I was losing TONS of time and needed a green light!
    He FINALLY gave me the green light (was at least 30 min. delay) and said he would also give me an early departure to bypass the construction. Well, his "Head Start" was about 30 seconds when I needed 5 minutes! 
While climbing in the hot sun, I rounded a corner to find NO SHOULDER with construction equipment and debris blocking my way. All traffic was unleashed at the same time in both directions. As I tried to navigate through the unpleasantries, I kept wondering if this would be my last day of existence.
    After that shit show and at the 53 km mark,  I found myself at the "East Gate Gas Station/store". This is a few km from the east boundary of Manning Park. Pee break and Gatorade fill up. Also, I scanned the store knowing that I would be back for goodies.
The road ahead into Manning Park sucked. Lots of broken blacktop. I was surprised about the state of disrepair. Anyway, I found myself an OK site at Mule Deer Campground,  got set up and returned to the store for a bunch of beer and ice. (less than 10 km)
    Burp

Leaving Princeton...

Shoulder is not good

Sketch of road stoppage due to rock scaling. Was held up for maybe 30 min. The ride ahead was very nasty. Road crews have no concept of danger for cyclists. It's a rare situation, but should be a standard rule. Cyclists get no respect.

HWY 3 silloette

Climbing with the big boys

I've been here a few times before. Not sure why I keep punishing myself. Anyway, that was sooooo much fun as per usual.

East Gate gas station/store/sanctuary. A quick stop for a pee and electrolites. I will return later for beer and ice.  No other retail for maybe 80 km accept for Manning Park Resort until Hope BC.

Sleeping area

Tent peg inspection

Fuel has arrived...

My bear bag set up. Not a car camping situation. Also prob. fine in a Prov. Park. Just fun to set up I guess.

carabiner cat

Cat spotting...

Nightlight cat

Bad Planning

DAY 8, Mon, 07 23 2018
Hedley ➜ Princeton Municipal Campground
Dist, 36.8 km, Avg, 18 k/hr, Max 35.6 k/hr, Cal, 793, Hr 106

    Well, after a 6 egg scramble and 4 cups of Joe, I was ready to roll...
The owner of the grocery/beer store was very cool. Long grey haired hippy type that is ready to retire was so friendly. I only wanted a few eggs, so he gave me a knife and let me cut a dozen egg carton in half. Cool. I made the cut with great precision.
    Anyway, today was a simple, short ride due to poor planning. I was very disappointed in my lack of attention. Anyway,  I got myself a fine site at the Princeton Municipal Camp, then headed into town for the essentials. I have been to this town a few times in the past and always liked it. Today was no exception. The ride into town was maybe 9 minutes.
    Once back at the site, I got organized and spent some time on my log. A couple just rode in on old school bikes with camping gear. The guy was very nerdy looking with super retro style happening. (probably is a software engineer)  and the girl was an oddball set up that I cant describe. Maybe a Thrift store model.  Anyway, they were the focus of my entertainment for a bit. At one point, the guy took a ride to the shower. As he passed my site area, he dropped his clean clothes and towel in the mud while fumbling with his toe clips. I was amused. Highwaycat was furious that a flawed human was allowed to camp within 50 metres of our camp.
    Anyway, I had some fine eats and beer, not to mention mosquito attacks and was feeling ready for tomorrow's Allison Pass fun time! 

Hwy 3 (Crowsnest Hwy) at Similkameen River. Turns out there is a nice road on the other side of the river that I wish I chose. (Old Hedley Rd) Oh well

Not again

Tough ride, flat and windless 37 km. Sigh

Camp

Neighbours

Night planning with HWC