My Peanut Butter Bike Tour 2017

Day 7 - June 28th - Canoe    The first long ride today, 130km! The kilometres are starting to add up! The course followed Highway 1 all the way from Knutsford to Canoe. We did have a beautiful downhill section through Kamloops. In fact, the first  30k was downhill with wind at our back!     It wasn't all downhill, there were some difficult climbs as well.     Highway 1 is a very busy road and it required all my attention. There was. no sight seeing. We did have something unusual happen. When we were stopped for a break, an RCMP officer crossed the highway to talk to us. We thought we were not supposed to be on that road. As it turned out, she saw our group and wanted to know who we were and where we were going. She is a randonier and has ridden on many long rides.     It rained today so I had to ride the last section in the rain and then put up the tent! This is why I don't like camping!    Anyway, the campsite, Hidden Valley, is very cute and we all look cosy! Bedt

Day 3  - 24 June - Hope - 92km The days ride took us along the Fraser River. It is a beautiful river and it was quite swollen from the melting snow up in the mountains.   In the bottom middle of this picture is a Bear.  Not sure exactly why I thought stopping to take a picture of a bear was a good idea, but it turned out okay. A bridge crossing over the Fraser, and below a view down to the river.

Day 6 - 27 June - Knutsford - 89K Leaving Merritt on my way to Kamloops!! Me, standing in front of Nicola Lake -its a big lake up in the mountains- its about 30 kms long.  I was thinking of taking a dip in the lake, but my riding partners were anxious to continue our adventure. The majestic Bald eagle.  They are the American national bird, but there is a rumour going around these parts of the country that they have all left America since Trump has become President.  Lots and lots of logging trucks on the road.  Its hard to tell from this photo but the grade on this hill is 10%, doesn't sound like much, but believe me it really is. 

Day 5 - Merritt - Rest day    Thank God for rest days! After the disastrous ride yesterday it was nice to spend  a wonderful day walking around the small town of Merritt. I did some laundry. You know you're on horse country when the sign on the washing machine tells you not to wash your horse blanket!    I also made the trek to Canadian Tire to get a new air mattress! Three nights of no. Sleep is enough!

Day 2 -23 June - Mission Our group photo before we head out on our Epic journey. A tradition: putting our back wheels into the Pacific Ocean.  Only around 70 days and I'll be dipping my front wheel in the Atlantic. Hopefully I won't get so lost that I have an opportunity to dip it in the Artic, or really lost and dip one in the Indian Ocean! 80 kms later I arrived in Mission British Columbia.  I took a few wrong turns and saw a little more of Vancouver than I intended to, but who knows when (or if) I will ever be back, so a little extra touring is good for the soul.  I am sure it won't be the last time I take a wrong turn on this adventure, as long as I keep heading East I should be okay.

Orientation Day - 22 June    The day has finally arrived! We spent the entire day reviewing all the details we would need to be safe and happy on our big ride! There are twenty one riders from all over the world. It's is a good mix of folks, some young, some old!    We ate our first peanut butter sandwiches at lunch and for dinner we set up the kitchen and cooked four kilos of pasta! Whoa! That's a lot of pasta    To walk off our dinner some of us went to Wreak beach. I did not know it was a 'clothing optional' beach! We will say goodbye to this beautiful city tomorrow. The weather has been lovely. I am looking forward to first day.

Tuesday 20th June  Last full day with Doug. We decided to go walk around the university then go to the Museum of Anthropology to see the totem poles. I loved this UBC sign Great decaf latte's here! Doug flaked out on my bed in my dorm room! View from our 12th floor dorm room! What a view! The museum has carvings, weavings, and contemporary artworks. We wandered around outside to see  the Haida houses, poles, and Musqueam houseposts Here we are at the Lacaro beach!

Monday 19th June    We spent a lovely afternoon wandering in the UBC Botanical Gardens not far from the university. There were gardens for everyone. I especially like the rain forest! So lush!    The Tree Top Walk was very springy. I loved walking so far off the forest floor. The walkways were connected to platforms attached to huge trees! The views were amazing and full of birdsong! This is not a Val or Jan walk!   It was good to see so many bees!     Doug at the Moon Gate entrance       The exit of the Tree Top Walk