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| Day 9 - July 6 - Albert Canyon to Golden 120km |
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| Everyone sleeps late this morning - my reason is the freezing cold temperatures. I feel much more rested today than usual. French toast for breakfast today. It's the sort of thing I would normally have for Sunday brunch, but I'm not complaining. I slap together a couple of sandwiches for the road and fill my water bottles. I leave camp at 8 and cycle 30km alone. I meet up with Leslie, Debb and Spencer along the way and we have a sandwich break just before Rogers Pass. The scenery, as you can see in the photos, is unbelievable. It takes my mind off the 10km climb up Rogers Pass and it seems like I get there in no time. |
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| We all stop at the gas station/souvenir shop to buy postcards and fuel up on banana bread and Powerade. There won't be another stop for 80km. The following 60km are all hills with a few tunnels to keep things interesting. Problem is, the tunnels are not very well lit and I'm cruising along at 45kmh when I hit a 2" x 4" with my 23mm tires. Fortunately I can hang on and make it through without crashing. There are so many trucks in the tunnels that when I see one approaching in my mirror I break into a full sprint to beat it to the end. If I am unlucky enough to have a truck pass me in a tunnel, it sounds like a plane taking off right behind me. The noise is ten times the normal level as it bounces off the tunnel walls. And because of the oncoming traffic, there is usually only one foot of clearance between me and the truck. |
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| It's a very hot day in BC once more and the long hills are getting tiresome. The last 20km is flat as we come into Golden. Then it turns out our campsite is 2km uphill, so I'm quite tired by the time I get there. A hot shower makes a big difference after a day like today. And a hot meal doesn't hurt either. I feel much better after both. |
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| As I sit here typing, there are ants crawling into my tent. But on the plus side, at least the squirrels are gone. |
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