This morning I left my camp again around 10 am and continued the climb to the Allison Pass summit. It was a gorgeous day but I could not get my energy flowing. Up up up and up and then the head wind picked up too. Ended up pushing my bike up one of the steeper hills when a truck driver drove by, stuck his head out the window, gave me the biggest smile ever, thumbs up and yelled something I could not make out but it totally pumped me up. Back on the bike I go and up up up up up.
At one point I noticed a cute, brown Black Bear up on the slope beside the highway. It was just ambling around and sniffing the ground. Then it saw me. He stopped dead in his tracks and gave me a puzzled stare. then he moved himself over a bit and plopped himself down behind a little tree. Safely "hidden" behind the branches of the young fir, he eyed me suspiciously. I must have never seen a neon yellow and pink creature on wheels before. As I moved by, he leaned over and followed my movement with his head wondering whatever bears may wonder in situations like that. It was so funny. I could not help but laugh out loud and compliment him for his cuteness. He obviously did not like that because he turned and galloped up the hill. Animals are so entertaining! Again, I missed the photo op.
YYYEEESSS!!!! Made it!!!! 1342 m elevation!
After Allison Summit, elevation dropped down to about 1000m again only to rise up to just over 1300m again on Sunday Summit. That's not it though. There were two more nice down hill stretches followed by unpleasant climbs. And when I thought Princeton was only a step away there was another hill. Grrrrrrrr. Princeton Booster Juice boosterjuiceboosterjuice...Please don't close before 6. The vision of a nice, cool, refreshing smoothie magically pulled me up and over the hill and down to Princeton, where lo and behold, Booster Juice was still open. Wow, it has never tasted so great!!
After a quick stop at the grocery store, I found a nice little camping spot on the Similkameen River. Just a little ways over, another touring cyclist had set up his tent. He later came over and we had dinner together. It was great having someone to chat with. His name is James, he is from England and has been on the bike for almost a year. He started in France and headed east through Europe, Eastern Europe and Asia and flew into Vancouver a few weeks ago. Amazing!!!! I am so inspired!
He is taking the same route to Castlegar as I am so it looks like I will have a buddy for the next week or so. Fantastic!
Bed time. I had a bit of a hard time falling asleep because a little mouse discovered that my inner tent makes for a great climbing gym so it was constantly climbing all over the outside of my inner tent. At one point I saw it sitting right above my head and was afraid it would pee on my face. I reached up and scratched its feet and belly through the mesh. It did not like that at all but it was back climbing all over the tent within ten minutes.What a mousy night.
Linda, i am so happy for having a chance of meeting you and James - I had to look up for a moment you two met..
ReplyDeleteGreat story.. ;)