Ride on, Highway Cat !!: The Cayoosh Creek Creeper

DAY 11, Fri. 07 29, 2016
Lillooet to Pemberton.
Dist: 97km., Avg Spd. 16.4km/hr. Time: 6 Hrs, Max Spd.62.9km/hr., Calories: 4000, Avg. Hr. 130, Road conditions: HWY 99. Varied from ugly climbing, lovely flats to insane decline.

A nice weather start to the much anticipated day. After heading up the hill into town for sangies (sandwiches), I was on my way along the 99 at a bit after 7:15am. I was excited about this 100 km stretch as I had no idea what the conditions would be like, and there would be no amenities along the way. The other issue was the fact that there was a well known hill that I would descend near the end of this leg. (Duffy Lake Road).
    The first while was crappy. Hot, lots of climbing. About 11% on a twisty roadway, amazing vistas though. I noticed a dark spot in my mirror that gradually enlarged as time marched on. I assumed that it was another cyclist, but couldn't be sure. After a good chunk of time, I finally realized that it was indeed another cyclist. This young woman was on a bike trip with her husband from Anchorage Alaska to somewhere in South America and then fly back to home in Australia. Awesome.
I rode with her for a little while, her husband wasn't in my distant mirror, maybe that was a safety tactic. Smart. Anyway, she was pulling a "Bob style trailer", a nice set up and it was clear that she was more than a recreational rider. Way too fit looking. This was confirmed when she told me that she raced mountain bikes. I don't like trying to talk and ride as the odd car would disrupt, so I decided to pull away and get some distance from her. Nice talking, but too dangerous. 20km or so ahead I stopped for a food break. I thought that I might see "them" pass by but I didn't.
   After my little break, Shirley and I resumed the journey wondering what happened with the Aussie girl. That sudden expenditure of energy I used to pull away from her was not without a cost. Leg cramps. I dealt with it and moved on. The road was quiet and I was surrounded by trees and at one point I came upon a small footbridge that led from the road over a creek and into the dense isolated forest. I slowed down to look as this seemed odd.To my surprise and horror, there was a "Mountain Man" standing at the far end of the bridge! What was he doing there? Where did he come from? To my knowledge, there is nothing but forest for miles. Scared the crap outta me. I was dying to take his photo, but I was so taken aback that I freaked out and took off. Checked my mirror as I rolled away. Ha ha, wow! Ya had to be there.
    The ride was slowly becoming more gravity assisted. I came upon Joeffre Lake http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/joffre_lks/ and thought that it would be worth seeing. Turns out 26 000 000 other people felt the same. I zoomed by (trying to avoid getting doored by one of the many autos) I'm now on a 12% descent. A female rider coming uphill forces me to stop. Think of a freight train stopping for a squirrel. After all that effort to stop and degrade my rim walls by 18% I ask in yelling voice: "What do you need!!" She replied: "How far to the top?"
AAAAAAAAARRRRGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! Stupid Moron!!! 💀💀
Anyway, my anger was soon replaced with fear as I approached the steepest portion of Duffy Lake Road. There were switchbacks with up to 15% grade. I was nervous, but it went well.
    Got a crappy, overpriced room at the Pemberton Hotel. Compensated with beer.