From the Kootenay Park lookout

Our final day was a long, moderately difficult but mostly sentimental ride from Invermere to Banff.  At this point in the trip, nothing was going to stop us from making it the final 150 km.  We started off with a brisk ride to Radium hot springs and headed into the Kootenay National Park where we climbed up an impressive 11% grade easing into a steady climb to the Kootenay Park lookout for photos and a rest.  On our climb to the top, we passed two magnificently large horned sheep watching us closely from the roadside; we were quickly accompanied by a humbling feeling that we were just visitors passing through.  Lunch break was another 40 km away and we finished up any remaining food and had our last hummus and salami wraps, chocolate milk, bananas and coke for the ride.

I'll miss the vastness and the openness of the Rockies

Our final climb of the trip brought us up to the Continental Divide, the border between BC and Alberta.  It was an emotional transition to finally make it across the border and the climb felt difficult because we pushed hard.  At this point of the trip, the scenery had transformed once again and we were now surrounded by brilliant rock faces blanketed by trees at their base.  The Rockies are so high that the peaks are barren and still covered by slivers of snow.  Some of the mountains nearby were grey with the remnants of a massive forest fire that swept through the region over 8 years ago.  The trees that remained wrapped the mountains with an eerie ghostly looking forest and after all those years, there was no evidence of any regrowth.

The continental divide, half the bike in Alberta and half in BC

Description of the wildfire

The only wildlife I was able to snap

Martina's only wipe out, off the Esso

Following the Continental Divide, we descended into Johnston Canyon for an ice cream cone and to wait for the rest of the team before making our final ride into the city of Banff.  The final ride was quiet and peaceful as we sped through a back road, surrounded by trees, a sentimental return to my first training rides up Seymour mountain.  Finally merging onto Highway 1, which we hadn’t seen since Day 1, we made our final ride into Banff and the sense of accomplishment finally set in after hugs and cheers by the welcome sign.  Our ride had finally come to an end and in some ways it felt like we had been riding for months, in others, it felt like we just set out yesterday.  It seemed so long ago since we were joined by the other riders up Manning Park, almost even a different trip altogether.  Regardless, together we’ve been able to achieve what we set out to do: to raise awareness, to educate and to raise financial support for cystic fibrosis research.  Undoubtedly, my life has changed as a result of the ride, I’m just not sure how.  However, my only hope is that together we’ve been able to change the outcome of those with CF, but there’s still so much to do.

The final stretch before reaching Banff; I'll never forget it

One last turn

Arrival at last

Ride Statistics:

Total Distance:  150.96 km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: a bit less than 800 m
Average Speed: 25.2 kph
Maximum Speed: 72.9 kph
Total Time Spent on the Saddle: approx. 6 hours

The Strange's reunited

Carter lives with CF; that's why we ride

Complete Ride Statistics:

Total Distance:  1205.8 km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: Approx. 8100 meters
Total Time Spent on the Saddle: Over 51 hours

***

After returning home today, the buzz of the trip still painting pictures in my mind, we pulled into a Chevron station and the man filling his car in front of us looked strangely familiar.  We looked at each other and I knew I had to step out and talk to him.  It turns out, I was introducing myself to Dr. John Yee, Eva Markvoort’s surgeon and the director of the BC Lung Transplant Program.  I spoke with Dr. Yee briefly about the $120,000 the ride has accumulated for CF research.  Unspoken, we acknowledged Eva’s legacy.  What a way to bring closure to this journey into the world of CF.  Cystic fibrosis is around us and near us; let’s make sure we don’t forget.

***

Heading toward the Rockies

We rode from Cranbrook to Invermere through heavy headwinds across the long remaining stretches of the #3 Highway.  The ride was long but not overly difficult; the challenge laid in the beating that our bodies had taken in the past 7 days and the mental hurdle that a headwind forces upon us.  Breakfast at the Cranbrook Denny’s, which turned out to be much better than any Denny’s in Vancouver (but only marginally so), fueled us for our trek to the base of the Rockies.  A few of us were hurting badly but we all managed to find our way to Invermere before heading down to the lake front for a kin hosted dinner.  There was a wonderful opportunity of sharing from the researchers and other members of our team that revealed the diversity of the motivations and approaches for our ride and work.  For me, the day has gone by too quickly for me to recall many specific details so instead I’ll allow the pictures to tell the story.

The Rockies reflected at the Canal Flats

One of the unique rock faces

I'm not sure where the all you can eat crab comes from

Or it could mean that Santa Claus is coming to town

Riding on the bus to the lake with Simon

Lake Windermere in Invermere

Too bad we didn't see this until we were leaving

Tomorrow will end in Banff.

Ride Statistics:

Total Distance:  130.46 km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: a bit less than 500 m
Average Speed: 24.8 kph
Maximum Speed: 62.5 kph
Total Time Spent on the Saddle: 5:16:09

Finally an honest sign for cyclists

In contrast to yesterday’s sweltering climb to the peak of the Salmo-Creston, today’s ride was essentially a recovery for us.  Before we even started, we walked over to a fabulous Polish restaurant which served us the best breakfast of the trip so far.  Chatka-styled scrambled eggs, sausage and a crispy potato pancake, today had to be good if just due to the breakfast alone.  We set out of Creston, an otherwise extremely unremarkable town, and headed down the No. 3 Highway until the town of Yahk.  Apparently the residents of Yahk have a great sense of humor as we saw a number of amusingly named landmarks such as the “Hay U” R.V. Resort and the ride-appropriate sign pictured to the right.

Me and my roommate Stan

Simona doesn't know either

Martina blazing her way to Cranbrook, GU gels really work!

We finally made it into Mountain Time and have thus lost an hour, much to our disappointment.  At least the mornings will be cooler but it also means getting up an hour earlier for breakfast.  Our descent into Cranbook ended the shortest ride of our trip even though I slammed into a loose rock and blew my rear inner tube.  If there was any day to receive the inevitable flat, it would be today and with the help of Andrea, I was able to get back on the road in a few minutes.  Cresting the final hill of the day, we finally got a glimpse of our destination and final challenge, the Rocky Mountains.  So far we’ve traversed the Coast mountains, Cascade Mountains and the Selkirks.  Our final climbs will be through the Rockies which will eventually bring us to Banff.  Everyone on the team arrived at our destination in less than 4 hours of riding.  It’s amazing to think that we’ve now come over 920 km from Vancouver.  I am absolutely going to miss this experience when we land back in Vancouver on Monday but the reality is that there is a lot of work to be done and as a researcher, my responsibility is in the lab.  Following this experience, it is unlikely that my journey in the CF world will simply be coming to an end.  Though I don’t know where I’ll even be in a year, finding a cure for CF will always have a special place in my heart.

Rebecca considering a tattoo, or not

Finally a peek of the fantastic Rockies

Yes Sam, your sweetheart and princess are in Cranbrook, BC

Tonight we rounded off our evening with another wonderfully hosted meal by the kinsmen and kinettes of Cranbrook.  We ate at a local golf course and even got to meet the Sweetheart and Princess of Sam Steele, a competition based title given to grade 11 students of Cranbrook, ripe with history related to the city.  Following the meal, we relaxed and stretched our backs in an embarrassing round of balls at the driving range.  Tomorrow we’ll be arriving in Invermere where we’ll gear up for the final stretch into Banff and the end of our 2010 ride for cystic fibrosis.

Ride Statistics:

Total Distance:  106.2 km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: approx. 300 m
Average Speed: 26.3 kph
Maximum Speed: 55.7 kph
Total Time Spent on the Saddle: 4:02:16

I'll stick to cycling

Martina and Rebecca... in the middle of the street

The crew with the local kin groups

The sun unfortunately broke through seconds after departing

Today was the hardest climb of my life.  The combination of a poor start, the beating sun and a long and difficult climb created an absolute grueling ride over the Salmo-Creston, what I can safely describe as a climb of epic proportions.  Even though the total cumulative elevation gain is not as much as a combination of Cypress and Seymour mountains, the unrelenting grade and lack of flat breaks takes a huge toll on the body.  Today was a lesson in the value of friendships and teamwork.  Alone, neither Martina or I would likely have finished the mountain in the way we did and without the support team looking out for the riders, there would be no way we would have all made it up the mountain.

Sudden weather changes didn't happen, 56 km mountain did

Making it to the top of the Salmo-Creston was a special moment, made even more special by the special dedications of some of the riders to their loved ones with cystic fibrosis.  I wondered myself how powerful love can be and how it can drive us to do things we might consider impossible, just for the opportunity to help others beyond their means.  I cannot thank each of you enough for your donations to the CF cause.  The tears of joy that we shared together at the peak of the Salmo-Creston was proof that each dollar, each hug and each smile contributes to real love for those with CF.  I consider myself lucky that I am not personally affected by the disease through a loved one but today I felt that I was part of a greater family that embraces everyone who suffers from the disease.  Before the ride, I felt concerned that I would be on the outside, looking in, but clearly, my apprehensions were put to rest.

Climbing the Salmo-Creston with Martina

Highest year round open pass in Canada done by bike!

We'll pretend that the sign says "Brakes aren't allowed"

Our descent from the peak of the Kootenay Summit was an exhilarating ride which took nearly 45 minutes at an average of 55 kph.  Again, emerging from the mountain passes, once again we arrived in a new climate, this time vast green plains of grass and farmland in hot and humid air.  Tonight we shared a fabulous meal sitting around an empty fire pit with a variety of Greek foods; the food was good but it was the company that made it stellar.  It’s amazing how much easier it is to talk when looking each other in the face rather than our rear ends.  Tomorrow, we’ll be traveling to Cranbrook.  I don’t know much about the ride but I am just happy that today is over and I can finally rest.

Ride Statistics:

Total Distance:  124 km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: approx. 1600 m
Average Speed: Unknown (accidentally reset)
Maximum Speed: 75.7 kph
Total Time Spent on the Saddle: Around 5 hours

The view just before the summit

fin.

Still smiling, though our backsides aren't.

We’re finally past the halfway mark to Banff and to be honest, I have to admit that it is a sad revelation.  When else in my life would I be able to dedicate my life to cycling, raising financial  support and awareness for CF, meeting a cast of diverse personalities and simply spending time taking in the land, nature and the beauty of BC that is greatly under appreciated by Vancouverites?  Don’t you ever wonder what’s beyond the normal grind, our enclosed circle of friends and the same walls that constantly surround us?  Even more, have you had a chance to consider what kind of an impact you could have if you were just given an opportunity to let yourself loose from the barriers that we’ve set up around ourselves?  I don’t underestimate what you or others have accomplished but these are all thoughts that have been swimming in my mind in the past few days and to be honest I’ve never felt more freedom to realize my ambitions than I have during this trip.

Setting off toward Christina Lake

Paulson Summit

Today’s ride began as a very warm descent to Christina Lake, an absolutely vast and beautiful stretch of water surrounded by trees just beyond Grand Forks.  I felt good today and the energy and mindset was quickly put to test in the upcoming tough climbs, the first to Paulson Summit (1535 meters) and the second to Nancy Greene Summit (1575 meters).  The first climb to Paulson summit was surrounded by a wonderful landscape of dense trees that seemed to last forever.  The route itself was hedged by rocky cliff sides which reminded me of the Sea to Sky Highway.  The grade was tough and consistent and the combination of the steep climbs and the sun on our backs forced us to dig deep [into our pockets for energy gels].  At the peak, determined Tom, whose knee swelled to unnatural proportions because of the steepness of the slope, promptly urinated at the base of the summit sign and took off down the road; yes, he absolutely owned the summit.  After reaching the peak (we just took photos), we descended into Nancy Greene park and fueled up on a quick lunch.

Myself, Martina and Rebecca wondering if Nancy Greene would approve

Back on the highway, we pushed our way to the peak of Nancy Greene Summit which was probably challenging because of our daily afternoon-induced fatigue and began our long descent from 1500 meters, through Rossland and eventually just past Trail.  The descent into Trail has quickly surpassed the descent into Princeton as the most exhilarating  moment of the ride so far.  A descent on a 10% grade, weaving along a thin shoulder while being flanked by trucks, cars and “rush hour” traffic is a must-try experience.  It only takes 5 seconds to go from 0 to 60 kph on a bike down a 10% grade.  In the evening we were treated to a massive meal at a nearby restaurant by the local Kinsmen and Kinettes.  Beef ribs, the perfect food after a long day of riding.

Ride Statistics:

Total Distance: 110.00  km (somehow)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: approx. 1300 m
Average Speed: Approx. 19.8 kph
Maximum Speed: 72.4 kph
Total Time Spent: 5:33:14

Rebecca climbing up some long dreadful hill

Yes, the views are vast, green and much better than this photo

Looks like a lion or Optimus Prime or something not good for cyclists

Guess it's only O.K.

Another beautiful end to a day.

It seems that the general consensus of the riders is that tomorrow’s ride to Creston is THE ride of the trip.  We will be ascending and descending Kootenay Pass, also known as the Salmo-Creston, which will be the highest point of our trip and quite possibly one of the highest altitudes I’ve ever been to.  It is known as the highest pass open year-round and may possibly be the toughest challenge of the journey to Banff.  I’m sure you will be able to identify the peak of the Salmo-Creston below.  As before: if it looks like it would be painful to sit on, it will definitely make it painful to sit.

Day 6 elevation map: the Salmo-Creston.

Riding towards the Anarchist

Today’s ride was in some ways easier than expected but in others harder than expected.  The “Anarchist Mountain,” nicknamed the “Anti-Christ,” turned out to be a much gentler climb than expected.  Perhaps we were scared out of our wits before we even started the climb or because the mountain climb was split into two distinct passes, Martina and I (riding duo for about 2/3rds of the day) and the rest of the riders all conquered the mountain and sped through some absolutely gorgeous pastoral sceneries to get to lunch.  I was particularly proud of Tom who managed to climb the mountain on virtually one knee without a warm up.  His determination doesn’t just drive him to the top of each pass, but the entire team.  Unfortunately, I don’t think the photos do the scenery any justice and you would definitely have to be there to believe the magnitude and vastness of the greenery in the area.  Coming off the descent of the Anarchist, you would think that you had fallen off the face of the earth and ended up on the other side of the planet because of the dramatic change of scenery from desert to lush grass.

This is what we saw... for over an hour.

Our motel is over there, by the water

From desert to plains...

Riding partner Martina, coasting down to Rock Creek

We went over it, but lifting the sign seemed appropriate enough

Unfortunately the ride also felt long, in fact we spent over 6 hours in the saddle regardless of the relatively short 125 km ride today.  Riding through Rock Creek, Midway, Greenwood and eventually Grand Forks, we were faced with a decent headwind that was strong enough to almost slow us down during our descents.  Aside from a few random animal sightings (i.e. sheep, horses and llamas? being penned together!), the ride was relatively stale and we couldn’t wait till we made it to Grand Forks for steak dinner cooked up by our hearty and hardy kinsmen volunteers Wayne and Malcolm.  After rolling into Grand Forks, we took a dip in the pool and soaked in some sun before eating supper and heading off to bed.

Tomorrow’s ride seemed to invoke a few shivers in some of the past riders.  At just 104 km, the ride would appear easy but we’ll be climbing to new heights tomorrow, an altitude of 1579 meters on our way to trail.

Ride Statistics:

Total Distance: 127.57  km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: approx. 1400 m
Average Speed: Approx. 19.5 kph
Maximum Speed: 60.1 kph
Total Time Spent: 6:32:31

The horse really was much closer than it appeared

Greenwood's claim to fame; smallest city and 3rd best tasting water!

The final road to Grand Forks

- Longest single ride of my life, over 7 hours in the saddle
- We traversed what seemed like 3 seasons going from 8 degrees and heavy rain to 24 degrees and bright sunshine
- Cherries in Osoyoos are way better than Vancouver
- Descending into Princeton is the single greatest thrill I’ve felt on a bike so far
- Check out the route here

Gloomy and wet start in 8 degrees rain

Riding buddy 1 - Rebecca

Susan about to fly by descending to Princeton

Lunch break just after Princeton

The view from the bike

Riding buddy 2 - Martina

Riding buddy 2.5 - Andrea (only .5 because we could never keep up)

The view somewhere around Hedley (not the band)

Overlooking Keremeos

Thank God for tailwinds; yes, better than chocolate

The long road ahead

Finally a peek of Osoyoos, 7 hours later

A dip in the lake to cool off the burn... 24 degrees and sunny!

And finally time to relax and enjoy paradise.

Ride Statistics:

Total Distance: 184.68  km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: Too tired to calculate
Average Speed: Approx. 25.4 kph
Maximum Speed: 75.9 kph
Total Time Spent: 7:15:57

Tomorrow’s ride will start off with the biggest climb of the trip.  As the image shows: if it looks like a mountain, it’s because it is a mountain.

Yay! Osoyoos to Grand Forks, only 124 km!

Foggy Rainy Peak

Today was a tough ride.  The wind was picking up and dark clouds called for rain jackets and rain gear in anticipation of a down pour.  After sleeping in and missing breakfast (alarm set every morning from now on), I gulped down some of Stan’s superman protein mix and set off with Tom, Andrea and Susan.  Today was a lesson in what to wear and I went through 3-4 different outfits before we made our way to Manning Park.  After making it to our first rest stop just before Hope, I set off with Christoph who was my riding partner for the rest of the day and started the climbs.

Christoph

Descending into Hope was quick and brought back memories of when I was last there over 15 years ago.  Hope only lasted for a couple of minutes because just around the corner we would begin our first major climb of the trip.  The climb was much akin to climbing the local mountains and I felt well prepared for the climb.  The peak was so foggy we couldn’t see very far in front of us and even cars seemed to appear out of nowhere.  On our way to the top we passed a few guys riding across Canada packed with full panniers, serious respect.  I almost felt bad passing and asking them how they were feeling because they definitely couldn’t have felt good.  After making it to the peak of the Hope Slide and descending, we met up with the support vans and got a chance to fill up on sandwiches, chocolate milk and other goodies.

Road to Allison Pass

Unfortunately the worse was yet to come and started up Allison Pass, supposedly the highest point of Crowsnest Highway.  Without doubt, this was the toughest moment so far of the ride.  Christoph was a great encouragement and an awesome partner during the ride.  We climbed and climbed what we call “fake flats,” low percentage grades that give us no time to rest and keep us at a crawl of around 20 kph.  Eventually the climbs became steeper and multiple gel packs, bars and gatorade packs later, we finally made it to the peak.  It was bittersweet to see Christoph off as he had to head back to Vancouver in the evening but I was glad that we were able to ride together.  After all, Christoph invited me on the ride which has so far turned out to be an experience of a lifetime.  At Manning Park we gathered around, ate a great meal of sphagetti and meatballs, bid farewell to some of our riders and headed to sleep.

I would like to specially mention Margaret, the first person I knowingly met that has cystic fibrosis.  She and her husband Brian rode the first two days with us on a hundred pound tandem bike.  No small feat but really nothing compared to what they’ve gone through so far.  Margaret is over 50 years old and received a double lung transplant over a decade ago.  Today she and her husband climbed over 1400 meters.

Margaret and Brian

Ride Statistics:

Total Distance: Approx. 125 km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: A bit more than 1400 m
Average Speed: Approx. 25 kph
Maximum Speed: 69.2 kph
Total Time Spent: Just over 5 hours

Eventually we made our way south to 0 (zero) Avenue which pretty much separates Canada from the USA; in fact, some street signs on one side of the road read mph while the other side of the road read kph.  Views consisted pretty much of American cows, Canadian cows, American raspberry bushes, Canadian raspberry bushes… etc.  One highlight of 0 Avenue was passing the long line of cars waiting at the Pacific Crossing.  During this ride, I had a chance to hear fantastic stories from Kitty and have chats with Bernard and Rebecca.  The rolling hills of 0 Avenue seemed to go on longer than expected and at one point we had to resort to calling our lovely support ladies, Simona and Tracey, for directions.  Eventually we arrived at a wonderful home and kinsmen hosted lunch to fuel up and prepare for the final leg of our ride today.

My afternoon ride was a completely different animal than my morning ride as I decided to set out with Christoph and Simon as we pummeled our way to Chilliwack and to our end point Harrison Hotsprings.  We rode together at a brisk 35-38 kph along the shoulder and cut right through Chilliwack in no time but unfortunately missed our turn off and ended up riding past the town and into a quiet residential area.  Freakishly, Simon’s inner tube exploded for no reason in a way you would expect from a Disney movie and we ended up being left stranded and in need of our tag-team support ladies to bail us out again.  Soon after, we bulleted our way straight to Harrison Hotspring and arrived just in time to receive a warm welcome.  If there are lessons to be learned from the trip today, bring plenty inner tubes, pack an unending source of air pressure and be extremely nice to the support teams.

At Harrison, I was able to spend some time with mom and dad who came out to visit and spend some time with me after my ride. For dinner, some of our team ate together in a German restaurant where I ate the largest Schnitzel I’ve ever seen and witnessed a miraculous consumption of the largest restaurant pasta dish I’ve ever seen (puts Anton’s to shame).  I also got a chance to meet the three children my roommate, Stan, is riding for.  They were so positive and absolutely floored me with the encouragement for our team for helping to find a cure for the CF that they have to live with.

Today was a great ride and a wonderful opportunity to get to know many of the riders.  Tomorrow will be the first and what some consider the most challenging climbs as we make our way up to Manning Park.  The weather is very uncertain at this point but I know that nothing is going to stop us from giving it our best shot.

Ride Statistics:

Total Distance: Approx. 125 km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: Less than 300 m
Average Speed: Approx. 26 kph
Maximum Speed: 52 kph
Total Time Spent: Just over 6 hours