Today was definitly a SHUT UP AND RIDE DAY!

110km – note this shows days 3,4 and 5 due to blackouts in coverage.

Woke up pretty tired and slept in until 8:30. Most the morning was spent catching up on internet stuff including blogging and I started re-organizing all of my gear and repacking it on my bike. This is totally expected and you can not plan too much for where to put what. I also realized after some searching that I must have a left a pair of bike shorts at my Uncle Dave’s – DOH! Of well less weight right? I also brought too many t-shirts so I rounded them and an extra towel to send back home when I find a post office.

It was a beautiful ride into hope with views of the Fraser and lush green forest. I am now down to one pair of gloves, left them on the back of the bike when I took some pictures and now they are gone. I also found out after the fact that my phones touch screen works just fine with gloves on.

In Hope I went to Rona to pick up a few things for the bike so I can mount the camera and have an odometer. I was leaving and decided to stop at a local sandwhich shop instead of subway or anything else for that matter. They were very interested in the trip as well as the delivery guy who might be able to get me accommodation in Newfoundland. I left town and remembered I meant to send some extra clothes back home so I turned around and headed back. In town I found the post office and chatted up the ladies there about me trip. People are so friendly in Hope!

Off I went and immediately started up into the mountains. It was a long ride up to Hope’s Slide and I figured I should take a look but it was cloudy, rainy and cold. Luckily my Stormtech was kicking so serious ass.  

After a nice descent it is all climbing into Manning park. Did I mention it was raining since leaving Hope? While beautiful it was a little bit cold and miserable and the mountains were punishing (I can hear Brett laughing at me). I find I am taking a lot of breaks to take pictures and video but also just see how far I am progressing which is very little. There were a few classic climbs with kilometer long straight aways with big wide bends at the top leading to a another long climb. I managed to eat most of my food by the time I got to the West Gate of Manning park but I was okay for water.

I kept slugging away all the while noticing that I was going upstream meaning as long is there was decent river flow I had a long climb ahead. I don’t think I took it of granny gear (the easiest gear on the bike) very often and on a few occasions had to do a little dancing (standing up on the pedals for leverage). As I neared my curfew of 7pm there were a few flat spots for a tent but there was always a bear around so I kept going. I decided one more hour to find a campground. There was nothing…

Climb after climb I was burning out and cursing the river for not petering out. Eventually it got less and less but no crest of the mountain or campsite. Finally a campground “Cold Creek” if I recall but the water wasn’t working – shit! Okay a little further. As soon as a pulled out from the campground another hill was up the road. I hesitated then said “WTF”. Luckily after a last slog up the mountain I reached the crest: Allison pass at 1342 meters. From there it was a serious downhill until I reached the Manning park resort where I booked a hostel room for $33. The restaurant was closed but front desk guy seeing my dismay went in the back and gave a little take away box with muffins, yogurt and fruit – I guess I have a bit of a lost puppy face.

Coincidentally there two young guys there packing up their bikes. They are also riding across Canada but for MS. Unfortunately the third member of the group crashed about 5 km West of the resort and wrecked his shoulder. They were off to find a camp ground 10 km up the road but I am sure I will see them again. I told them to be safe as it was dark now.

All in all the ride was 110 km and 7 hours and 58 minutes. Because Manning park is basically a dead zone, I couldn’t update MapMyRide so today and tomorrows rides will be combined temporarily. I really feel I’m in the shit now with no more safety net. This makes me happy and makes the trip real for me.